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The secondhand market has been steadily growing since 2021 — and it shows no signs of slowing down. While fewer than 20% of Americans shop at secondhand stores each year, the sector still generated over $58 billion in revenue in 2023. This means demand is rising — and donations are too.
But donation surges can either boost your sales or overwhelm your team. The difference comes down to timing. Knowing when donations spike helps you avoid cluttered backrooms, rushed sorting, and missed chances to sell premium items when demand peaks.
This blog breaks down seasonal donation patterns, outlines what to expect each season, and shows how to prepare your operations to turn unpredictable inventory floods into manageable, profitable cycles.
Let’s dive in.
The Cost of Poor Timing
Only 10–30% of donated items ever reach the sales floor. The rest sit in backrooms, go unsold, or get discarded — wasting space and profit.
Poor timing stalls your operations and undercuts revenue. For example:
- You miss out on sales when unsorted items aren’t on the floor during peak demand.
- You waste valuable sorting space that could be used for new, high-value donations.
- You delay shipments of unusable or off-season items that support low- and middle-income countries.
- You lose the opportunity to sell damaged textiles to companies that turn them into insulation, rags, and other products.
Timing matters. Get donations out of bins and onto shelves before demand passes you by.
Your Seasonal Donation Calendar: How To Plan Ahead
The following breakdown shows peak donation periods, expected volume increases, and top item categories for each season. Use these benchmarks to plan staffing, storage, and marketing campaigns.
Winter (January–March): The Great Purge — New Year, New Donations
January often brings the first major donation spike of the year. Post-holiday clean-outs, unwanted gifts, and New Year’s resolutions drive people to declutter and donate in bulk.
Typical timing: First two weeks of January
Common donations: Clothing, unopened gifts, housewares, holiday decor, perfumes, candles, books, gadgets, skincare sets
What makes this season unique:
- High volume of giftable items — often new or barely used
- A mix of seasonal decor and everyday household goods
- Emotionally motivated donors embracing a “fresh start” mindset
How to prepare:
To get ready, start by reviewing your current inventory in early December and clearing space to accommodate incoming donations. Consider marking down slow-moving items to free up racks and storage areas.
In early January, boost your sorting capacity by adding extra shifts or reallocating staff and volunteers as needed. You can also set up a dedicated intake area for holiday-related donations to keep the sorting process organized and efficient.
Marketing opportunity:
Run a “New Year, New Finds” campaign to promote fresh arrivals and attract shoppers who are updating their homes or wardrobes after the holidays.
Spring (April–June): Moving-Season Momentum
Spring is historically the biggest shopping season for thrift stores. After recovering from holiday spending, people dive into spring cleaning and moving, driving a steady, predictable increase in donations. Unlike winter’s sharp spike, spring builds gradually over several weeks and often includes larger, bulkier items like furniture and appliances that require extra storage and processing.
Typical timing: Mid-April through May
Common donations: Furniture, home goods, appliances, seasonal clothing
What makes this season unique:
- Life-transition donations from moving, remodeling, or downsizing
- Higher volume of furniture and appliances
- Full-room or whole-home clear-outs by donors
How to prepare:
Use the quieter winter months to simplify and clarify your donation process. Provide clear instructions and convenient dropoff options to reduce confusion and encourage more donations when spring arrives.
Make sure you have a website that’s easy to navigate since 93% of Americans purchase secondhand items online. Check if your current point of sale (POS) system has an integrated donation pickup scheduler. If not, consider investing in one. This helps donors arrange large-item donations and lets staff prepare for incoming items.
In March, review your storage layout and consider adding vertical shelving or racks to better organize small, bulky items and free up floor space for larger furniture and appliances. Mark down slow-moving furniture to boost turnover, and plan volunteer staffing to match the expected donation volume.
Marketing opportunity: Capitalize on the influx of whole-home donations by hosting a “Spring Estate Sale” event. Highlight curated collections of furniture, decor, and household items from single donors or themed rooms. This creates excitement, draws in treasure hunters, and encourages shoppers to imagine revamping their own spaces with unique finds.
Related Read: 7 Tips To Create a Successful Online Thrift Store Marketing Strategy
Summer (July–September): Back-to-School Rush
Late summer brings a fast-moving donation surge as families prepare for the new school year. Parents clear away outgrown clothing, unused school supplies, and toys to make space for what’s next. The spike is intense but short — and often followed by slower weeks as families take vacations.
Typical timing: Late July through mid-August
Common donations: Children’s clothing, toys, backpacks, books, school supplies
What makes this season unique:
- Strong demand from budget-conscious families prepping for school
- Short donation window with high sell-through potential
- Vacation-related staffing gaps during peak donation periods
How to prepare:
Start organizing your children’s section by early July. Reserve space on racks and shelves for incoming school-related donations. Train staff and volunteers to spot and process school items quickly, so they hit the floor while demand is high.
Check your team’s availability ahead of time. If you’re short-staffed due to summer vacations, consolidate shifts or adjust store hours during late August to avoid burnout.
Marketing opportunity: Host a “Pre-Loved Back-to-School Pop-Up” that highlights fresh kids’ inventory. Feature bundled outfits, backpacks, and books — all at family-friendly prices.
Fall (October–December): Holiday Preparation & Year-End Giving
Fall donations grow steadily as people get ready for holiday hosting and gift-giving. This season brings some of the most valuable inventory of the year — gift-quality items, seasonal decor, and winter essentials.
Typical timing: November through mid-December
Common donations: Holiday decor, winter clothing, giftable items, small appliances
What makes this season unique:
- High volume of items in gift-ready condition
- Seasonal decor with strong, time-sensitive sales potential
- Motivation to clear space for guests and new items
How to prepare:
Start clearing storage space by late September to make room for incoming holiday donations. Prioritize selling or relocating off-season items to avoid clutter. Create separate intake zones for holiday decor so your team can sort quickly and avoid mixing it with general donations.
Prepare for the post-Thanksgiving donation wave by adding volunteer shifts or reassigning staff. Review donation hours and signage to make dropoffs smooth and stress-free during the busiest weeks. At checkout, promote roundup donations to support local holiday programs. Offer a small incentive, like a 10% off coupon, to encourage participation and boost community engagement.
Marketing opportunity: Launch a “Holiday House Finds” campaign that showcases one-of-a-kind decor, gift bundles, and festive home goods — perfect for hosts and last-minute shoppers.
Related Read: Are Roundup Donations Profitable? [ANSWERED]
Maximizing Seasonal Donation Success
Seasonal donation patterns are predictable, but what you do with them determines how successful your store can be. You don’t need exact forecasts — you just need systems that help your team adjust quickly and keep things moving. The more proactive your planning, the more confident you are when inventory floods in.
Staffing adjustments:
- In January, increase volunteer hours to handle the post-holiday influx of donations.
- In spring, maintain consistent staffing but extend sorting hours during donation-heavy weeks.
- In summer, focus available staff during back-to-school peaks and plan around vacation schedules.
- In fall, add support gradually through December to keep up with gift-quality donations.
Storage optimization:
- Set aside extra space ahead of each donation peak — especially in January to absorb holiday clean-outs.
- Use mobile shelving or temporary storage solutions for flexibility.
- Create seasonal staging areas to keep time-sensitive items separate and prioritized.
- Rotate inventory regularly so older items don’t crowd out new donations.
Data-driven planning:
Track donation volume, timing, and item types each week. Use this data to:
- Adjust staffing in advance of predictable surges.
- Allocate storage based on the type and size of donations.
- Time marketing campaigns to align with fresh inventory.
- Improve sell-through rates by focusing on high-demand categories.
Planning ahead means better margins and more impact in your community.
Turn Donation Chaos Into Sales With ThriftCart
Thrift stores move faster and more efficiently when they plan for seasonal donation patterns. ThriftCart gives managers the tools to do exactly that.
The system includes donation pickup scheduling, mobile intake tools, inventory tracking, and color-tag pricing to move items quickly. Staff can scan and process donations on the spot, track aging inventory, and shift products across locations when space gets tight. Built-in reports show which items sell, when donations arrive, and how fast they move.
You can also activate roundup donations at checkout to support local programs and boost year-end fundraising.
Want to prepare for your next donation spike with less stress and better results? Schedule a demo to see how ThriftCart helps you stay ahead.
