Shoppers seeking holiday deals at Value Village
Published 9:34 am Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Often the vision of Christmas shopping revolves around ordering online and crowding inside malls.
In Marysville on Friday, there was a brisk rush to shop, but it was pain-free. There was ample parking, no one in kiosks asking if you own a cell phone, no tempting smells from Cinnabons and no shipping charges.
Value Village was hopping.
Not everyone was shopping at the thrift store for presents, but most were in fine holiday spirit.
Luanna Henderson, 65, of Tulalip said she found great buys on new Christmas decorations. In her basket she had a tree skirt, light clips and bows for packages.
That is a nice thing about Value Village. They sell used goods, smartly arranged, and also offer new items. Arlene Norton, assistant production supervisor, said this year they had a great selection of new pajamas, slippers and gloves.
With a big taped-together box in her cart, Deborah Shoop, 37, of Snohomish waited in line at the checkout counter. She found a used Barbie electronic dancing game for her two daughters.
Shoop said money was a consideration this year, and she was glad she found the $14 Barbie item. She also showed me a new Polly Pocket travel case for one of the girls.
Not everyone was happy. Anna Pennington, 41, from Lake Stevens was slowly browsing up and down aisles, with nothing in her basket.
“I’m depressed,” Pennington said. “Everything is so commercialized at Christmas and prices are sky high.”
She said Value Village might give her some ideas for her expensive shopping list, including teens age 18, 17 and 13.
“The 13-year-old wants a cell phone,” Pennington said. “She isn’t getting one.”
Having teens to shop for isn’t simple, she said. She isn’t exchanging much with her husband because they got new countertops this year, a gift to each other.
White elephant party gifts were on the list for Florence Cavcey from Arlington, who said she and her husband, John, were going to a church party and wanted to bring fun gifts to exchange.
Another party this year had a super theme. Sanya Hanson, 28, from Arlington needed to buy sweaters.
She was going to an ugly sweater party.
She found a couple of doozies, one with colorful bows, snowmen and hearts.
“Everyone wears ugly sweaters,” Hanson said. “We take a group picture and there is a vote for the best ugly sweater.”
Calling himself a year-round shopper, Mike Anderton, 55, of Marysville was looking for special gifts for friends. He pointed out a trinket box with a cat on top, perfect for a friend who owns a cattery.
The antiques and collectibles dealer said he knows a good buy when he sees it.
“I am a selective shopper,” Anderton said. “You can get good stuff if you know what to look for.”
He said seldom buys new, unless it’s a super bargain. He goes to Goodwill stores a few times each week.
Adorable black patent-leather Mary Jane shoes for her granddaughter were a good find for Carolyn Killian of Marysville. She also got a burgundy tree topper for $2.99.
“It needs a bit of ironing,” Killian said, holding the angel topper. “It might work on my small tree.”
She also found a recipe book and a novel.
“I’m kind of avoiding the mall,” she said. “I find great buys here.”
And who knew? Charline Harris, 62, of Stanwood planned to buy Value Village gift certificates for her grandchildren.
“They love shopping here,” Harris said. “You get more for the bucks.”
The ultimate shopper was over by the pants. Linda Fee, 60, from Snohomish had a couple of gifts that could as easily be sold on the Internet. She found a PartyLite tree and a Fitz and Floyd pair of boots that could fetch triple what she was paying.
“You know this,” she said, holding up a Coldwater Creek sweater in beautiful condition. “And I found a set of boxes to put my gifts in.”
For several months, she has been buying coats for the homeless at thrift stores. If a jacket needs a new lining, she tears up shirts she gets from thrift stores and replaces the lining with thrifty material.
“I believe in recycling,” Fee said. “I’ve got a good job, but I have no need to go to the malls.”
Last year, she wore an outfit from Chico’s to a holiday party. She paid $10 for the ensemble, worth a good $200, she said.
We chatted about her casual attire that day, and her ponytail with a few stray ends.
“I’ve just come from a massage,” she said. “See, you save money and you can spend it on yourself.”
On my way out, I noticed a lovely sweater. I rushed it over to Fee, to show her the new khaki model from Liz Claiborne. She agreed it was a wonderful discovery.
“And it’s half off $6.99,” Fee said. “See the purple tag?”
Columnist Kristi O’Harran: 425-339-3451, oharran@heraldnet.com.
