Savers is a thrift store chain with locations across the United States. The company focuses on buying and reselling used goods such as clothing, furniture, books, toys, and household items. Savers operates over 300 thrift stores in the US, Canada, and Australia. The company’s slogan is “Where Thrift Meets Trendy.”
When was Savers founded?
Savers was founded in 1954 in San Francisco by William Yellen. Yellen came up with the idea for the thrift store after noticing large amounts of useful items being thrown away at waste management facilities he owned. He saw an opportunity to reuse and resell these discarded goods while also providing job opportunities for people with disabilities and other employment barriers. The first Savers thrift store opened in San Francisco’s Mission District.
How did Savers get its name?
The name “Savers” refers to the concept of saving usable goods from landfills and offering savings to thrifty shoppers. The name ties into the company’s sustainable reuse and recycling focus. Founder William Yellen stated he wanted a name that would communicate the dual mission of “saving” goods and offering value to customers.
What is Savers’ business model?
Savers operates as a for-profit thrift retailer. The company purchases used goods from nonprofits, businesses, and individuals for resale in its thrift stores. Savers then sells these items to customers at affordable prices compared to traditional retailers. This reselling of pre-owned goods generates revenue while diverting items away from landfills.
Key elements of the Savers business model include:
- Purchasing used goods from a variety of sources
- Sorting, cleaning, and preparing donated goods for resale
- Retailing goods in Savers thrift stores at affordable prices
- Reusing and recycling unsold goods to maximize sustainability
The revenue generated from Savers thrift operations helps fund community donations and employment programs coordinated by the Savers family of nonprofits.
What types of items does Savers sell?
Savers thrift stores sell a wide variety of pre-owned goods across many categories. Typical merchandise categories at Savers include:
- Clothing – shirts, pants, dresses, coats, shoes, accessories
- Furniture – chairs, tables, sofas, cabinets, desks
- Housewares – cookware, dishes, utensils, small appliances
- Books – novels, non-fiction, textbooks, children’s books
- Toys – dolls, action figures, board games, stuffed animals
- Electronics – stereos, DVD players, alarm clocks, lamps
- Collectibles – artwork, knickknacks, vintage items
Savers thrift stores also carry some new merchandise such as clothing, household goods, and personal care items. The selection at each location varies based on local donations and purchases.
How does the Savers donation process work?
Savers accepts donations of used goods from community members at all of its retail locations. Donors can drop off bagged clothing and boxed household items during business hours. Some stores also have attended drop-off centers for larger donations.
Savers associates sort through donations, determining what items can be resold. Clothing is evaluated based on condition, style, and seasonality. Household goods must be clean and in working order. Unsellable goods are recycled or repurposed whenever possible.
Donors should note that Savers does not offer tax receipts for donated items. However, some locations may provide donation receipts documenting the date and location of the donation.
How are Savers prices determined?
Pricing at Savers thrift stores involves evaluating each donated item’s condition, desirability, and sales potential. Clothing is priced individually by Savers associates based on style, brand, and current trends. Housewares and other goods are priced according to similar selling items.
As a discount retailer, Savers aims to price goods affordably for thrifty shoppers. Pricing goals include:
- Offering savings compared to department store prices
- Reflecting the item’s quality and demand
- Supporting high inventory turnover
Special discounts are often available through sales events, loyalty programs, and coupon offers.
Does Savers sell items online?
Yes, Savers has an online store where select goods from its retail inventory are sold. The savers.com website offers online shopping across many categories including clothing, accessories, shoes, books, toys, collectibles, and electronics.
Key features of Savers online shopping include:
- Large selection of “New with Tags” clothing and shoes
- Detailed product descriptions and photos
- Regular discounts and sitewide sales
- Free shipping on orders over $99
The Savers online store provides greater access to shop its thrift inventory for customers not located near a physical store.
Who owns and operates Savers?
Savers is a privately-held for-profit corporation owned by Savers, Inc. The company’s headquarters are located in Bellevue, Washington. Savers was originally family-owned until founder William Yellen sold the business in 1982.
Today, Savers Inc. owns and operates all Savers stores along with the nonprofit organization Savers Value Village. Value Village is the parent company for a network of nonprofit partners focused on employment services.
What is Savers’ relationship with nonprofits?
Although Savers is a for-profit thrift retailer, the company has close ties with several affiliated nonprofits focused on community impact:
- Savers Value Village – Parent nonprofit supporting local agencies and employment programs
- Easterseals – Provides services for people with disabilities
- Community Aid – Funds programs for children, families, and education
Revenues from Savers’ thrift operations help support these partners’ missions. Additionally, many local Savers stores have community donation programs supporting local nonprofits.
Does Savers offer any shopping rewards programs?
Yes, Savers has a loyalty program called Club Savers that rewards members with discounts and earning opportunities. Club Savers members receive coupons, bonus points during sales events, and exclusive discounts.
Key features of the Club Savers program include:
- Earn 1 point for every $1 spent
- $5 rewards certificates for every 100 points
- 30% off coupons on birthdays
- Free small coffee or fountain drink on visits
Joining Club Savers is free and provides regular savings on thrift purchases for Savers shoppers.
Does Savers offer any sustainable recycling programs?
As a thrift retailer focused on reuse, Savers has implemented many sustainability initiatives over its history. Some key recycling and sustainability programs include:
- Savers Resource Center – Repurposes donated goods into insulation, carpet padding, etc.
- Reusable Bag Program – Provides a free reusable bag for each bag of textiles recycled.
- Recycling Drop-Offs – In-store recycling for shoes, textiles, books, media, and small electrics.
- Greener Grads – Provides graduation wardrobe for students, then recycles the clothes.
Through these initiatives, Savers diverts over 900 million pounds of reusable goods away from landfills each year.
In what regions does Savers operate stores?
Savers primarily operates over 300 thrift store locations in the following regions:
- Western U.S. – Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Arizona
- Southwest U.S. – Texas, Colorado, New Mexico
- Midwest U.S. – Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio
- East Coast – Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut
- Southeast U.S. – Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia
Additionally, Savers has around 30 stores in Ontario, Canada and 10 stores in Australia. The company continues growing its geographic footprint in areas with ample donation sources.
How many people does Savers employ?
Savers employs over 22,000 workers across its retail stores, distribution centers, and corporate offices. Store positions include cashiers, sales associates, donation attendants, and management roles. Savers focuses on providing employment opportunities to people with disabilities, seniors, veterans, at-risk youth, former inmates, and others facing barriers.
Here is a breakdown of Savers’ workforce:
| Position | Employees |
|---|---|
| Store Employees | 18,000 |
| Distribution Center Employees | 3,000 |
| Corporate Employees | 1,000 |
| Total Employees | 22,000 |
Savers provides inclusive hiring, training, and advancement opportunities for diverse workforce populations.
What is Savers’ impact on the environment?
As a used goods retailer, Savers makes notable positive impacts on the environment each year. Some key statistics on the environmental benefits from Savers include:
- Over 900 million pounds of materials diverted from landfills
- Equivalent to the waste from over 800,000 homes
- Over 270 million pounds of textiles recycled
- Equivalent to 120 million barrels of oil saved
- Over 275 million pounds of CO2 emissions avoided
- Equal to taking 250,000 cars off the road
Through its reuse and recycling of materials, Savers makes significant contributions to reducing waste, saving resources, and lowering greenhouse gases.
What controversies has Savers faced?
Savers has faced a few controversies and lawsuits over its history, including:
- Reselling practices – Accused of cherry-picking the best donations to resell at higher prices rather than passing full savings to shoppers.
- Valuation of donations – Criticized for potentially overstating the value of donated goods for tax purposes by its nonprofit partners.
- Disability hiring – Sued in the 2000s for discrimination against workers with disabilities despite its inclusive employment programs.
- Hazardous donations – Fined multiple times for improperly handling donations containing hazardous materials.
However, Savers has responded by improving training, enhancing reuse practices, and reiterating its commitments to affordable resale pricing and an inclusive workforce.
How has Savers adapted over time?
Savers has evolved considerably since its founding in 1954. Some of the key ways the company has adapted include:
- Expanding beyond California to open stores nationwide
- Adding retail partnerships and store-within-a-store concepts
- Launching ecommerce operations through Savers.com
- Increasing recycling programs and sustainability initiatives
- Offering greater inclusion and diversity in hiring
- Upgrading store designs, presentations, and merchandise displays
By innovating both its thrift operations and community engagement, Savers has maintained growth and impact over nearly 70 years in business.
Conclusion
In summary, Savers is a pioneering thrift retailer providing affordable resale clothing and household goods. Its inventive reuse model offers environmental and community benefits through donation programs, employment initiatives, and sustainability practices. After decades of adapting to industry changes and societal needs, Savers continues “saving” usable goods while providing savings and jobs to the communities it serves.