It is considered one of the biggest thrift markets in the country. ThriftCon is making its way to Charlotte just in time for the holidays.
ThriftCon is a giant traveling fashion market with over 150 vendors. It will set up shop Sunday, December 3, 2023, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. at The Park Expo and Conference Center on East Independence Boulevard. Attendees will be able to sort through racks, bins, and piles for items ranging from expensive collectibles to deeply discounted deals.
Is It A Flea Market?
Just imagine a flea market on steroids. The organizers of ThriftCon started their first event in Denver, Colorado in 2018. It was a small neighborhood market. The idea, they say was to bring several different vendors and businesses together under one roof to sell their secondhand and vintage items. Today, ThriftCon is in several cities and hosts over 40,000 attendees each year.
ThriftCon has stayed true to its mission: "To encourage a more sustainable way of life by repurposing perfectly useful — often forgotten — pieces of the past."
Buy, Sell, Trade
The concept of selling secondhand items isn't new. It has evolved over the years. From a societal point of view, there was a time when receiving secondhand items was frowned upon and was viewed as an option for the less fortunate. Now, American culture has adopted a more environmentally conscious attitude. With the influence of the fashion industry, there is more concern on the impact fashion has on the environment. The ThriftCon staff says that's where they come in. They want to encourage more sustainable ways to enjoy fashion and bring new life to older pieces of clothing.
At ThriftCon, attendees will be able to "buy/sell/trade". This means attendees can bring in one bag per person with items they want to try and sell or trade for other items.
Click here for tickets. Kids under 13 get in for free.
7 Amazing Charlotte Thrift Store Finds
Shopping at thrift stores is one of my favorite things to do. Finding items for a steal and those that are unique and truly one-of-a-kind has always been a joy for me. When I moved to Charlotte, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there are so many thrift shops and liquidation stores within the area.
These days of rising prices, many people are looking for deals on great items at thrift stores and bargain stores. Take it from me, you can find some amazing deals that will make you and your wallet happy. But I get it, sometimes you need a little motivation and inspiration With my help and thrifting skills, these 7 finds will inspire you to find your treasures.
1. Tagged Finds
Visiting the Goodwill here in Charlotte was one of my favorite trips. As always, thrifting finds were amazing during this visit. I found so many tagged finds during one visit that I was overwhelmed. Everything is in excellent condition and brand new. There were so many items from Target too. I swear, every time I visit this Goodwill I always find tagged items.
2. Weird & Strange Items
For me, thrift stores are anything that sells liquidated items, pre-owned items, or items that deserve a second chance. There are many stores in Charlotte, North Carolina, and one that I found nearby was in Concord. There were some weird things in these places, but they are unique and they are cheap. Personally, my favorite thing is shopping at thrifts/liquidation stores like this to score some fun gifts. On Sundays, every item was only $7. Here are some of the strange items I found.
3. Pants For Under $2
You'll see on my TikTok account that I'm a big fan of Goodwill bins. In fact, I lived less than 10 minutes away from the bins for over 3 years and never visited there. What's the reason? In hindsight, I swear I beat myself up for not visiting it all those years ago since I had no idea what it was. Imagine what I might have missed! Anyway, during my first visit, I found so many cute pants. You can wear sweatpants, jeans, or corduroy pants. Yes, you have to search, but every pair was under $2!
4. Graphic Tees
Graphic tees are always in. You can find so many amazing vintage ones for under $5 at thrift stores. The Goodwill bins are a great place to find these graphic tees. I found so many during a recent visit.
5. Designer Finds
I love this place. It's only open on certain days but it's a great place to thrift and saves on designer finds. There are tons and tons of pieces that are extremely discounted. At low prices, they have on-trend clothes and name brands that normally break your wallet. Whenever I need a new wardrobe, especially now with the holidays, I mark down the sale dates.
6. Holiday Decor & More
If you buy brand new holiday decor...I am currently judging you from a distance. Going to thrift stores like the Goodwill, Salvation Army and liquidation outlets are where you should be getting your holiday decor and more. The best time to shop is after the holiday you are shopping for has passed. Why? Because so many people get rid of their unwanted holiday decor to save space for next year to buy more. (or because all the new stuff they bought doesn't fit in their storage boxes) A win for you!
7. Brand Name Finds Under $6
Last but not least, one of my favorite finds was actually a new one. It's a new Goodwill in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the thrift store is big and beautiful! I spend almost three hours looking in this store because there were brand-name finds like Free People, Zara, and Urban Outfitters.
