THRIFTING FOR A LIVING

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A THRIFTING

Located in Waltham, MA, Global Thrift is a local thrift shop that was founded in 1996. The brand sells vintage clothing, as well as all kinds of antique items. The business draws in all types of customers, ranging from people searching for quality, affordable clothing to people who are simply searching for older, one-of-a-kind clothing that cannot be found anywhere else. How did the business get here in the first place? The owner of the shop, Cindy Pochesci, explained the journey the business made from a simple thrift store selling affordable clothing into a shop where everyone, from anywhere, can buy, donate, and even sell their own clothing. Being an alumna of Lasell University’s undergraduate program, Pochesci fondly remembered her times as a photographer for POLISHED Magazine. This community involvement would carry on into her career.

As can be distinguished, there are several benefits to shopping at a thrift store like Global Thrift. The clothing they provide will no doubt draw the attention of consumers and passersby. Because all kinds of people are drawn to different things that intrigue them, it can certainly be acknowledged that Global Thrift has something for all.

“It started out as a joke… I was in the rehab industry and wanted to do something to give back to the community. It was a way to do both…an idea I had and didn’t think would last,” said Pochesci.

From there, Global Thrift kept growing and evolving until eventually, it developed into a business that supported the community. Pochesci loved helping the community from the very beginning.

In the past, Pochesci worked at other places that supported donations and charity, providing assistance to those in need. She had also worked at a handful of rehab centers, always wanting to help out the less fortunate in one way or the other. Pochesci was also inspired by her prior interests. As a hobbyist herself, she obtained new and creative ideas from being a makeup artist. At a time in her life, she had worked for organizations such as the Boston Ballet, before pursuing the start of Global Thrift, unknowingly causing the success of the shop. Determined to aid those in need while also looking for a career, Pochesci attended Boston University where she graduated with a master’s degree in Business, ready to start her own organization.

Where does all of the clothing come from? Global Thrift is affiliated with charities which donate clothes to the less fortunate including shoes, socks, sweatpants, coats, and other articles of clothing. They obtain their inventory by purchasing clothing from different charities, like the Jacqueline Olivo Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides continued support to the homeless community. The Jacqueline Olivo Foundation’s mission is to provide clothing to the homeless with the goal of helping as many people as possible through different outlets, using stores like Global Thrift to advertise and draw attention to their cause.

Throughout the life of the business, Global Thrift garnered quite a reputation with its constantly evolving customer base. Thinking back to when Global Thrift began, the customers consisted of people looking for affordable clothing but it soon expanded.

“The customer base has changed a lot throughout the years,” said Pochesci.

Further elaborating on this, she claimed that recently she has been getting many visitors who “love the thrill of the hunt” when it comes to vintage clothing. What makes this process even simpler is that the items sold don’t have individual price tags, but rather everything is priced by category. For example, all gloves in the store are listed under one price or all coats are listed under another.

The business and its unique pricing model have since piqued the interests of business-savvy individuals. These consumers range from resellers to e-commerce moguls, and even those looking to recoup funds lost during the worldwide pandemic.

Upon visiting the shop, customers are greeted with a creative take on classic window advertisement. Painted couches and chairs with unique designs greet customers at the shop entrance. These pieces were created by different artists as an outlet for expression and serve as another example of community collaboration. The influence of art is found freely throughout the shop, with there even being a painting gallery inside. This artistic flair is what helps to bring the consumers through the door.

Many independent designers or small businesses dealing in clothing are permitted to set up their own pop-up stands within the shop while getting to keep all of the earned profits. Global Thrift has provided inspiration and motivation for people seeking the opportunity to start their own pop-up shop and sell all kinds of merchandise. Pop-up shops are small kiosks where one could advertise their products on the property of another, in this case, different designers being able to use the grounds of Global Thrift. Pochesci allows brands and businesses to use a massive section of open space in the store. This collaboration enables any designer to advertise and sell their clothing while helping to support local businesses. She expanded on the idea after the pandemic which restored the livelihood of businesses and individuals affected by the unexpected financial difficulties of the last few years, including COVID-19.

From artistic collaborations to the focus on affordability and charitable contributions, Pochesci is determined to help people in need every step of the way and has gone to great lengths to do so. She exhibits her attention to detail and passion for unity through self-expression in every aspect of the business. She and the Global Thrift motto are wonderful examples of building community connections and will continue to demonstrate this successfully in years to come.

@global.thrift.store