“I began my career in the seventies as a clothing designer, and on the side I have always collected vintage clothing and textiles. Ten years ago, the collecting became my full-time career, and now I sell vintage clothing to cool people for a living.

“One of my favorite places to do my hunting and picking is in Goodwill stores. These stores hold a host to treasures that can be found in all departments…but the clothing departments are my specialties!” 

You might ask me where these treasures come from?  Hint: The best treasures I find are those that have been deposited at Goodwill by family who have discovered that Granny and Grandpa have saved everything they ever wore!

Kit Rodenbough and Mike from the History Channel show American Pickers

The Picking Process
I always grab a shopping cart so that I don’t waste anytime later trying to find one when my arms are piled high with fabulous finds!  I then assess the store’s layout to pick a key location inside each store to begin.  I usually start in the Men’s Department. After a quick scan of the racks I start a slightly slower pace of skimming each rack for their vintage items.

Since I was in the clothing industry for many years, I can detect the older colors and fabrics pretty quickly and if I think the item is vintage I inspect it more closely. Vintage has been a trend in clothing design recently, and some retailers can make some pretty good imitations of true vintage.

After some inspection, I scan the labels to validate what’s authentic from what’s imitation. Often the simple phrase on a tag “made in the USA” is validation enough.

I recommend the seasoned thrifter to tackle the denim or T-shirts racks. These racks are usually longer and hold a lot of clothing. And with so many pickers out there who skim those racks daily, the competition is fierce, so put your picking shoes on – I know you’re up for the challenge!  With T-shirts, I look at the neckline and see the way the neck binding is constructed as well as the type of label and brand to determine the age. For jeans, I scan the legs for bell bottoms, and the shade of the denim.

Current fashion trends will dictate how much time I spend in sections like the Children’s Departments. Young hip women have been wearing their tops and coats a lot tighter the last few years and the vintage items often give them the fit they desire. Therefore, I always stop in this department in search of cool colors and then I inspect the garment to see if it could fit an adult.

Take your time in this department.  Women have always shopped more and owned more than men, therefore there is more to dispose of…and more to find! Before leaving the department, always look up and around in case there is something awesome like the beautiful vintage fox fur coat that I found several years ago!

And remember to relax and enjoy your picking experience. You will have good days and great days, good finds and great finds, and I can promise that if you do it right you will never be disappointed.  I usually drive away with a car full to the brim, and cash to spare!

Find Kit Rodenbough on Facebook.

Are you looking to make that New Years resolution that is actually easy to keep? Make the commitment to save some money!  And one of  the easiest ways is to make the commitment to use coupons and save on your shopping bills. You don’t have to be an extreme shopper to save real money. Here are a few easy ways to get started on your savings:

1.  “Purchase the Sunday newspaper. For a 1.50 a week your Sunday paper can contain over 200.00 dollars or more in savings. There are manufacturers coupons from Red Plum and Smart Source. But the Sunday paper also contains coupons for department stores such as Macy’s , JC Penny, Belk and other retailers that offer big savings off of your purchases.”

2.  “Join a store rewards program. Sign up to get a Vic Card from Harris Teeter or a CVS Rewards Card. These reward programs can offer you the lowest price in the store plus other insider savings tips. If you don’t have computerm, all of the stores offer forms you can fill out to receive your reward card.  In the meantime, check out these sits to get started”:

http://www.lowesfoods.com/

http://www.harristeeter.com/

http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/user/home/home.jsp

3.  ”If you do have access to a computer, sign up for special email savings from these same stores. Harris Teeter offers special coupons online for Evic members. If you sign up to receive the weekly email from Earthfare they send out coupons for free items with a minimal purchase.”  Several others shops offer the same e-savings programs.

Take it from me – just following these quick and easy steps can set your budget on a new track for the New Year!

Find Kathleen McGirty on Facebook.

Read Karen Stubblefield’s Success Story below…

After 25 years in Food Service Management, my current position of 5 years that I had hoped I would retire from was phased out. There I was just like over 37,000 other people in Rockingham County jobless. I was jobless but not hopeless. My search began. Weekly you could find me utilizing all the resources available to me in the Reidsville Community Resource Center. I would invest three days a week at the center and two days a week at the public library job searching, researching and thinking. What was I thinking? I was thinking I won’t be out of work long. I have a very strong work ethic and coupled with my years of experience there must be hundreds of jobs available to me.

Hopeful and not without help, Dot Dunlap, the receptionist at the Reidsville Community Resource Center asked me to attend some classes. I did. I enrolled in the Advanced Computer Class, the Employability Skills Class, and the Money Smart Class. I successfully completed them all. While using the Network Room I submitted my resume that was written for me while I attended the Employability Skills Class. I was able to obtain a part-time job, continued to use the services at Goodwill.

One day while I was in the network room Ms. Dot told me she was getting promoted and would be working at the Eden Community Resource Center. She asked “why don’t you apply for the receptionist position here in Reidsville.”   I replied, “it’s really not my line of work, but maybe my skills will be transferable.” Dot politely encouraged “you will never know until you try.” I applied, was called for an interview, and got the job!

Now I’m the receptionist at the Reidsville Community Resource Center, and I’m able to assist people who are where I was. I know how it feels to be out of work and seeking employment. Just as all the employees at the center helped me successfully integrate into the labor market, I now can assist others. I put people to work!

For additional information about Triad Goodwill’s Resource Centers and free career exploration, career planning, job search strategies, interviewing techniques, money management and computer skills, visit www.TriadGoodwill.org.

Triad Goodwill loves to highlight fellow organizations working toward a greener world.  Today, our resident “reuse expert” Executive Director of Reuse Alliance, MaryEllen Etienne, shares her zero-waste tips for this holiday season.

If your trash can is already feeling fuller than usual, you’re not alone; according to the US Environmental Protection Agency, our household waste increases by 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day – this translates into an additional 1 million tons each year. That is a tremendous amount of trash in the name of good tidings. To combat this, we have provided a few tips that will help you towards having a zero waste holiday.

1. Rethink your Gifting
“In terms of holiday giving, I recommend that you give gifts that have a lasting impression, help reduce waste, and ideally support local businesses. I personally love to receive “experience” gifts (massages, concert tickets, tea for two). But what about for people who are more into “things”? You can give homemade gifts in reusable containers, pre-loved and upcycled goodies or even regift something you no longer love.”

Homemade: Who doesn’t love fresh baked cookies, cakes, and candies in a reusable tin? And homemade crafts and home décor are easy and fun to give, too. Your loved ones with certainly appreciate the time and effort you put into these special gifts.

Pre-Loved:  Gently used items at thrift stores are great ways to give a zero-waste gift. You can find amazing items at your local thrift, like Goodwill, or consignment shops, antique shop or reseller/swap site. Whether it’s an antique jewelry box, a vintage chess set, or some funky art pottery – it will be cherished.

2. Green your Gift Wrap
“When it comes to wrapping your good tiding this year, be resourceful.”

Reusable Wrap:  If it’s in your budget, I highly recommend reusable cloth gift bag sets. While the method generally uses a specific type of cloth, I don’t see why you can’t go to your local creative reuse center and find some colorful scrap fabric. You can also consider reusable containers such as baskets, wood boxes, cookie tins, decorative jars – and reuse them yearly.

DIY Wrap: You can decorate scrap paper, paper grocery bags, or left-over tissue paper with ink or poster paint using cookie-cutters or rubber stamps.

3. Eco-Friendly Holiday Parties
“Whether you’re hosting or attending a holiday party this year, there are simple ideas to eliminate waste.”

Invitations: You can email your invitations by using an online system like Evite, or just phone your guests instead of mailing invitations.

Serviceware:  Avoid disposables at all costs. If you’re throwing this year’s party and you need extra serving dishes, glasses, or linens, consider borrowing them from friends (the sharing economy is becoming more prevalent around the country). You can also rent reusable plates, cups and cutlery from a party company for just pennies a guest.

4. Planet-Friendly Holiday Décor
“Home décor is one of the biggest places to reduce your environmental impact.”

Trees: Rather than having a paper or plastic debate (i.e. cut real trees vs. fake trees), why not go natural and reusable?  I recommend buying a small pine tree and transplanting it into your garden next spring, or using a potted topiary that can be stored on your patio when not on holiday duty.

Lights: If you’re going to put up outdoor lights make sure you use LED Christmas Lights, which are up to 90 percent more efficient than their incandescent counterpart. Remember to put your lights on a timer, don’t let them burn all night, and recycle old lights.

During the hustle and bustle of the season, you can save time and money, and the planet by embracing these fun and easy zero waste tips.

Happy Holidays!
MaryEllen Etienne

You can follow MaryEllen Etienne at www.twitter.com/reusealliance

Each week, Triad Goodwill will highlight someone who has achieved employment success, thanks to Goodwill.    

Read Sherly Sylvester’s Success Story below…

The Goodwill Career Center has been a positive and encouraging influence in my life.  The Career Center offered many different workshops for everyday use in the work place. One of my favorite workshops, which I enjoyed, was the “Sell Yourself in 30 Seconds.” By attending this workshop, I was able to use keywords relating to the position I was applying for.

The employees were also very knowledgable in their area of expertise, and so I felt comfortable asking questions that were job related. I was also very thankful to have so many available resources at my finger tips. The Goodwill Career Center is the place to be and I absolutely love the work they do!

Read Darrell Womble’s Success Story below…

One day while leaving the Goodwill retail store in Reidsville, something told me to check out the Goodwill Reidsville Community Resource Center building next door just to see what they had to offer. Upon entering the Center, Ms. Dot Dunlap greeted me and explained the job training services to me. I listened, then told her I was currently employed and left. Who knew in two months, I would be unemployed. So while I was trying to decide my next move, I remembered the Center. This time when I came into the Center, I told Ms. Dot I was unemployed. Her reply was “don’t worry, I’ve been there before and it’s going to be OK.”

She told me about the classes that were offered and some classes also offered at Rockingham Community College, a Goodwill partner. One of the classes offered, called Employability Skills class, caught my attention because I could learn to create a new resume as well as gain interviewing tips – so I signed up. Well I took the class, then sent my resume to a couple of employers and waited. While I waited, I continued to search for jobs in the Center’s Network Room where I could access the Internet and print and fax for free.

Then one day while searching www.TriadGoodwill.org, I saw that the Center was looking to hire a Community Resource Coordinator. I applied and was lucky enough to secure the job.

Now in my first three months as Coordinator at the Reidsville Community Resource Center as well as the new Center recently opened in Eden, this job has been as rewarding and fulfilling as I knew it would be. I enjoy meeting people and serving my community by offering valuable resources that I know will help them, because they helped me.

If you attended the 2011 show, you know that the phrase (that captures the sheer shock at the many facets of Goodwill and uttered so often we finally pressed into Goodwill T-shirts last year) “I Had No Idea,” was never more true than at that show.  Every attendee saw an outfit that would make them look amazing and knew immediately at what occasion they could sport it.  From a suit that screams success to the showstopper cocktail dress that everyone will be talking about at the holiday office get-together, that show offered it all.

For Rock the Runway 2012, we’re bringing back the rockin’ style team that created the looks we now crave, and we’re extending the runway to offer even more combinations for work, play and evening, fresh for spring and summer, and all at Goodwill prices to suit any recessionista…or recessionisto!

And what makes this event so special is when you remember that the money you’ll spend on your ticket will go towards Goodwill’s mission of helping local residents with barriers to employment obtain job training.

Continue to follow real-time, weekly Rock the Runway updates by visiting Goodwill’s Facebook and Twitter (hashtag #RocktheRunway) pages that will highlight behind-the-scenes exclusives, photos and show updates.

Are you ready to Rock the Runway? 

Read Aaron Christopher’s Success Story below…

During a visit to the Goodwill retail store on North Elm street, Aaron discovered the Career Center. Engaged, he wanted to find a job in Charlotte closer to his fiancée. Since he didn’t own a home computer, he utilized the Career Center to search for jobs online. With center coordinator Heather Schneck’s help, he was able to get his résumé reviewed and uploaded to Internet job sites.

Within a week, Aaron was in Charlotte for three job interviews and was offered a job immediately in his field of automotive technology. He’s now starting his life in Charlotte – and Aaron is still getting calls for job interviews!

In August of 2010, I lost my job of 14 years as a delivery driver. At 51 years of age, I was out of a job and unable to draw unemployment. I was truly on my own for income. Then in October, my wife was hospitalized for 10 days. We had no insurance and the bills were mounting up. I was really getting concerned God might have deserted us.

Then, at a job fair, I met Greensboro Community Resource Center Coordinator Gale Murphy. She told me about the classes at Goodwill and how they taught people who have been out of the workplace and were job hunting. I went to the Employability Skills class and also the Money Smart class, and did a little volunteer work for Goodwill. I was introduced to a company and was able to apply for a job there. Thanks to God and Goodwill, I was accepted for the new job! Goodwill is a wonderful place and the people actually want you to succeed. If you are out of a job, Goodwill is the place to go for answers about your potential to do well in a new career field.

Read Nardya Morton’s story below… 

After many years of struggles and disappointments, Nardya was referred to Goodwill
by the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation. Nardya “wanted her life back, whatever that involved,” but she needed help. She began to assemble a group she affectionately calls her “Dream Team” – including her work adjustment coordinator, instructors and job coach – who helped her regain her footing. “I was placed with people who wanted to see the best in others,” says Nardya.

She learned interviewing skills, resume writing and ultimately landed two jobs in three hours! Nardya continues to learn, and with help from her current employer, is able to work part-time while continuing to take classes at the Greensboro Community Resource Center. Her long-term goal is to complete her bachelor’s degree and  have a career in counseling. In the meantime, she’s proud to tell everyone about her latest achievement – she’s Employee of the Month after only three months at her current job!