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Home : News : News
JBSA News
NEWS | Aug. 3, 2016

Bargains, “hidden treasures” await customers at JBSA-Randolph Thrift Shop

Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Public Affairs

Shoppers can look for a good bargain – and possible treasures – while helping service members and veterans at the Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph Thrift Shop.

The thrift shop, located in building 1048, is open from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and on the first Saturday of each month. Items in the shop are consigned or donated by active-duty members, veterans, military retirees and Department of Defense civilian workers.

Members of JBSA-Randolph Officers’ Spouses and Enlisted Spouses clubs help run the shop, with part of the proceeds made from the selling of items going toward supporting projects and organizations that help wounded service members, including the Fisher House and Center For the Intrepid at JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, scholarships for local high school students and Randolph High School Project Graduation party.

Barbara Bryant, JBSA-Randolph Thrift Shop manager, said the shop accepts a variety of consigned or donated items – including clothing, housewares, office, furniture, toys, hardware, garden supplies, sporting goods, small electronics, books, collectibles, pet supplies, tools, vases, linens, baby equipment and clothing, and furniture – that are in good condition or still can be used.

A consigned item is one in which the owner receives 75 percent of the sale proceeds, and the JBSA-Randolph Officers’ Spouses Club, 25 percent. An item is put on consignment for four weeks at the shop. If the consigned item is not sold at the end of the four-week period, the owner has the option of withdrawing or donating the item to the shop. All proceeds from donated items go directly to the spouses club.

Bryant said customers at the shop can find something that will catch their eye for a bargain.

“I always tell people, you come here to sell an unwanted item,” she said. “But you also come here and find your next treasure that you fall in love with.”

Customers can consign 12 items per day when the shop is open, and also have the option of donating items to the shop directly without consigning them. Consignments are accepted from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the days the shop is open.

Items that are donated come from active-duty members and their dependents who are in- or out-processing, retirees, leftovers from estate sales provided by JBSA members or the 902nd Security Forces Squadron’s lost-and-found, Bryant said.

Bryant said the shop is always busy and receives an average of 30 customers a day who bring in items to be consigned.

The JBSA-Randolph Officers’ Spouses Club raises an average of $60,000 per year in proceeds from sales of both consigned and donated items.

Inside the thrift shop, shoppers can browse through various areas of gently used items, including books; children’s clothing; toys; a room called the “Man Cave” for hardware, automotive, camping and sporting goods; “Temptation Corner,” where jewelry and collectibles are located; and a furniture room.

On the first Saturday of each month – except for January and July – the JBSA-Randolph Officers’ Spouses Club holds an outside consignment sale in the thrift shop parking lot from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Individuals are allowed to consign up to 48 items – from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – during the monthly outdoor sale, including appliances, plants and holiday decorations. These items are not consigned for sale in the shop.

Bryant said a dedicated group of 63 volunteers and a loyal customer base keep the thrift shop going.

“We have a good group of people,” Bryant said. “My volunteers and our customers are absolutely the best.”

Volunteers help run the shop by doing various tasks including working at the cash register, bagging items, processing consigned and donated items, sorting, helping out on the shop floor, working in the office and attending the jewelry and collectibles area.

Volunteer Anne Boatright said she likes working in the jewelry display area because she gets to interact with customers.

“I like my customers because I learn a lot from them,” she said. “The customers teach me about jewelry. They have almost become like family to me. This is my second home.”

Carolyn Hosmer said she enjoys shopping at the thrift shop because she can find all kinds of bargains.

“I donate things at the back door and come through the front door and shop,” Hosmer said. “I’m a hardcore shopper. I love thrift stores.”

Hosmer started coming to the thrift store five years ago after moving into the area from Oregon. She said immediately the volunteers were welcoming toward her.

“These people are so friendly and thoughtful,” she said. “They made me feel at home. They called me by my first name. It meant so much to me.”

In September, Bryant said the thrift shop will mark 70 years being in operation at JBSA-Randolph.

For a list of items at the thrift shop, go to http://jbsarandolphthriftshop.weebly.com. For information on what items can be accepted at the thrift shop, call 658-5990.