Savers is a retail thrift store chain primarily operating in the United States. The company was founded in 1954 in San Francisco by William Ellison under the name Value Village (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savers). The stores specialized in used clothing and housewares at discounted prices, sourcing inventory from donations. Over the next few decades, the company expanded across the West Coast under various brand names like Thrift Village.
Today, Savers operates over 300 thrift stores nationwide focused on clothing, accessories, household items, furniture, and books. The stores are supplied by local donations and staffed largely by volunteers. Savers aims to keep used goods out of landfills by reselling them to the public at affordable prices. They are a for-profit company but also partner with nonprofits by giving them a portion of proceeds based on community needs.
Nationwide Presence
As of May 4, 2021, there were a total of 105 Savers locations spread across the United States (Number of Savers locations in United States). This indicates that Savers has established itself as a nationwide retail chain with stores in most major regions and states across the country.
Some key facts about Savers’ nationwide presence:
- States with the most Savers locations include California, Washington, Oregon, Ohio, Illinois, and Texas.
- Savers has stores in high population states like New York, Florida, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Georgia.
- The retailer has expanded to cover both coastal states as well as central U.S. states.
- Major metro areas with multiple Savers stores include Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, San Francisco, and Portland.
Overall, Savers has established a far-reaching presence across the United States, with stores in nearly every major market. Its hundreds of retail locations from coast to coast make it a truly national thrift store chain.
Brands and Store Names
Savers and Value Village are both part of the same nationwide retail company, but operate under different brand names and storefronts. Savers and Value Village are the two main thrift store chains owned and operated by Savers, Inc. (Value Village: Second Hand Used Clothing Thrift & Vintage …). While Savers operates 290 stores, Value Village operates over 1,438 stores across the US and Canada (About Us). Savers has store locations in 20 U.S. states, while Value Village stores are located across 48 U.S. states and in 9 Canadian provinces and territories. Though they have different brand names and storefronts, the shopping experience and business model is consistent across both Savers and Value Village stores. Both offer secondhand clothing, accessories, household goods and furniture at discounted prices. The company uses different brands to appeal to various consumer demographics and target markets.
Business Model
Savers operates as a nonprofit organization with a mission to support community programs through its thrift stores. The company partners with nonprofit organizations to collect and resell donated goods, using the proceeds to fund programs that support people in need.
As a nonprofit, Savers is focused on its mission rather than maximizing profits. The company aims to provide low cost merchandise while also generating revenue to support community causes. According to the Savers website, “We are a self-sustaining organization that funds community programs through the businesses we operate.”
Savers partners with hundreds of local nonprofit groups, providing them with financial support along with opportunities to collect donations. In this collaborative business model, partner nonprofits receive a portion of Savers’ proceeds in their community. This funding allows these organizations to support initiatives related to education, job training, and sustainability in their regions.
The company’s nonprofit status and community-driven approach set it apart from other national thrift store chains. Savers aims to make a positive social impact while also operating successful retail stores. Its mission-focused business model is an essential aspect of the Savers brand and culture.
Product Offerings
Savers thrift stores sell a wide variety of used merchandise across many product categories. Some of the main offerings include:
- Clothing – Savers has a large selection of used clothing for men, women, juniors, kids, and infants. You can find everyday apparel, workwear, formalwear, outerwear, shoes, accessories, and more. There is a heavy emphasis on clothing at Savers stores.
- Home goods – From furniture and decor to kitchenware and appliances, Savers sells a diverse array of household items and furnishings.
- Media – This includes books, movies, music, and video games. Savers has an extensive media section.
- Toys – There is a dedicated kids section with toys, games, stuffed animals, and more.
- Sporting goods – You can find sports equipment, gear, and apparel at Savers.
The core categories that Savers focuses on are clothing, accessories, shoes, books, media, and household items. However, you never know what unique treasures you may uncover browsing the aisles. The ever-changing selection comes from customer donations. “Much of the stock is the usual clothing you would expect to find at a thrift store, but there also are oddities like prom dresses, rock band T-shirts, cowboy boots and tennis racquets.”
Shopping Experience
Savers stores are known for their wide open layouts and bright lighting to make browsing the racks and displays easy. The stores have multiple departments for clothing, shoes, housewares, books, toys, and more, often color coded so shoppers can easily navigate to the sections they want.
Displays are refreshed frequently as inventory turns over. Shoppers can expect to find new arrivals and deals every time they visit. This keeps the treasure hunt feel exciting. Popular items like jeans, t-shirts, shoes, and toys have dedicated sections up front.
Savers prides itself on offering extreme value for thrifty shoppers. Deals and low prices are a key part of the Savers brand. According to one blogger’s account, most items are priced between $4-8 with some higher priced vintage and designer items mixed in https://momandmore.com/2018/04/6-reasons-shopping-at-savers.html. Savers combines affordable prices with a fun, curated shopping experience focused on discovery.
Donations and Sustainability
Savers relies heavily on donations from the public to stock its retail stores. In fact, approximately 73% of Savers’ inventory comes from donations versus purchases. People donate clothing, accessories, furniture, household goods, books, and more to Savers donation centers and drop boxes. The donations are then processed, sorted, and distributed to Savers stores for resale.
This donation-based model allows Savers to promote recycling and reuse. By selling secondhand goods at affordable prices, they give items new life and keep them out of landfills. The company states that its mission is to “champion reuse,” turning unwanted possessions into funding for community nonprofits. Savers also educates the public about creative ways to reduce waste through reuse and hosts textile drives. Overall, the donation-focused business model enables Savers to operate sustainably while benefitting local communities.
Competition
As a nationwide thrift store chain, Savers competes with other major national and regional resale chains such as Goodwill, The Salvation Army, and Thrift Town. However, Savers differentiates itself through its unique business model and shopping experience.
Unlike Goodwill and The Salvation Army, which operate as non-profits, Savers is a for-profit company. This allows Savers to put more focus on the retail shopping experience and making thrift shopping fun and accessible. Savers stores are designed to feel like mainstream clothing retailers with neat displays, wide aisles, and clean dressing rooms. The stores are also brightly lit and less cluttered than many thrift shops.
Savers further stands out by marketing thrifting as fashionable and eco-friendly. They promote the idea of “reusing” over “recycling” and position themselves as a sustainable alternative to fast fashion. This brand image and focus on retailing has helped Savers expand successfully across North America.
Future Expansion Plans
Savers is actively pursuing expansion and growth into new markets across the United States and Canada. According to the company’s Q2 2023 earnings report, Savers opened 5 new stores during the quarter, bringing the total store count to 315 [1]. Savers plans to continue leveraging its scale, sourcing network, and infrastructure to profitably expand its retail footprint.
The company’s real estate strategy focuses on entering both large metro areas as well as small to mid-sized communities. Savers targets locations with attractive demographics, high traffic counts, and neighborhoods underserved by resale stores. Ideal sites include vacant big box spaces, stand-alone buildings with parking, and endcap retail suites [2].
In terms of new markets, Savers sees significant white space across North America and will continue steadily growing its store count over time. Management aims to maintain a disciplined pace of expansion balanced against strategic priorities like improving existing store performance.
Conclusion
In summary, Savers operates over 400 thrift stores across the United States, Canada, and Australia under various brand names. With its vast network of retail locations and sizable e-commerce presence, Savers has established itself as one of the largest for-profit thrift retailers in North America and a major player in the secondhand industry worldwide.
Looking ahead, Savers seems well-positioned for continued expansion and success. The company’s widespread brick-and-mortar footprint, recognizable branding, commitment to community donations, and sustainability efforts provide a strong foundation. As demand for secondhand clothing and merchandise continues to grow, Savers will likely open additional stores to serve new markets while strengthening its omni-channel retail strategy. With over 60 years of experience in the thrift sector, Savers has proven its staying power and influence within the industry.
