Thrift shop recycles $63,000 in donations to Elk Valley

While any business would be thrilled to claim sales of over $100,000 in their first year of operations, not many can also claim the distinction of donating more than $63,000 in profit back to their community. That is exactly what the Elk Valley Thrift Shop (EVTS) has accomplished since its grand opening on December 12, 2013.

Brainchild of Sparwood residents and former Shades of Country gift shop owners Katrin Taylor, Dawn Wyld and Donna and Bob Hunter, the EVTS has a goal to provide the public with a clean, friendly, well-organized shopping experience while providing exceptional value and quality products. 

According to Taylor, who also manages the store, the volunteer work of family and friends was a huge part of the initial start-up success. 

“From collecting donations to sorting clothes, pricing, cleaning, building shelving and clothes racks, painting and much more, within three short months we had collected enough merchandise to fill our store,” she said.

Taylor believes that the key to operating a successful non-profit organization is honesty and perseverance.

“Being accountable financially and working very, very hard,” she said of the shop’s secrets to success. “Also, don’t be afraid to ask for help.”

The tidy interior of the Elk Valley Thrift Store. — photo courtesy Katrin Taylor

The Elk Valley Thrift Shop maintains a no dumping policy for any item received. That means if items are not suitable for sale, they are still recycled or reused through other outlets.

“We have various recycling bins,” said Taylor. “Plastics, paper and glass are taken to the yellow recycling bins in town daily. Electronics are taken to the recycling depot in Fernie. Old towels, sheets, stained clothing and such are cut up to make rag bags, which we then sell at the shop.”

To date a total weight of 26,828 pounds, or roughly 13.5 tons, of materials that would have otherwise become landfill have turned a profit of over $5,000 for the EVTS.

Clothing, shoes and purses are loaded into a storage container and shipped to a textiles recycler in Vancouver courtesy of Intermountain Specialties and Manitoulin Transport. There they are weighed and EVTS is paid for the items by the pound.
Monthly donations of clothing and shoes are sent to an orphanage in the Philippines, and a one-time donation of clothing was recently sent to children in hurricane-ravaged Cabo San Lucas.

The community embraced the store and concept, and on October 29, 2014, the Sparwood Chamber of Commerce recognized the Elk Valley Thrift Shop with its Best Not for Profit award. Taylor said she credits the hard work of many volunteers and generous sponsors for the success of the EVTS—as well as the recognition of the Chamber.

“Of course our team was thrilled to receive the award,” said Taylor. “It’s nice to be recognized for our hard work.”

The Elk Valley Thrift Shop Society is located at 127 Town Centre in Sparwood and has a drop-off bin at the back of the store as well as one in Elkford at Race Trac Gas.

For more information about the Elk Valley Thrift Shop Society, check out its Facebook page or call 250-425-0853.