Solutions ITW is the company behind Solutions DGR, a point of sale (POS) system used by Goodwill stores across the country. (Since many people in the industry refer to the software as Solutions ITW, we’ll use that shorthand throughout this blog).
For independent thrift stores, Solutions ITW’s greatest strength — its enterprise-grade complexity — can actually become a drawback.
Not sure if Solutions ITW is right for your thrift store? In this blog, we’ll explore its pros and cons, and provide some top alternatives that may be better suited to your needs.
| Solutions ITW feature | Why it’s beneficial for thrift stores |
|---|---|
| Accurate discounts | Keep track of color-tag discounts and current promotions. |
| Roundup donation support | Allow employees to easily round customers’ purchases to the nearest dollar. |
| In-depth reporting | See data on sales, donations, loss prevention, and more. |
| Area of concern | Why it’s a problem for thrift stores |
|---|---|
| Fragmented experience | Solutions ITW is a collection of separate products rather than a single software solution. This can create a fragmented experience that’s difficult to navigate. |
| Too much for independent thrift stores | Since it’s designed for large chains like Goodwill, Solutions ITW can be too complex and in-depth for small, independent thrift stores. |
| No transparent pricing | No pricing information is publicly available. Instead, prospective customers need to contact Solutions ITW to get a custom quote. |
| Lengthy onboarding | Solutions ITW doesn’t describe details of the onboarding process, but it suggests a 12-month return on investment (ROI) window for new customers. That means it might be a year before everyone is on the same page and using every available feature. |
| Limited reviews | Since Solutions ITW primarily caters to large organizations like Goodwill, it’s nearly impossible to find unfiltered reviews from real users. |
Solutions ITW doesn’t have publicly available pricing.
ThriftCart was built specifically for thrift stores, just like Solutions ITW. But with its all-in-one system, upfront pricing, and exceptional ease of use, it’s a top alternative to Solutions ITW you don’t want to overlook. Here’s a breakdown of ThriftCart’s most noteworthy features.
| ThriftCart feature | How it benefits thrift stores |
|---|---|
| Unified experience | Access all the tools you need to manage and run your thrift store from one place. |
| Transparent pricing | Determine if ThriftCart’s pricing works for your budget — without spending hours on the phone with a sales rep first. |
| Wealth of user reviews | See how ThriftCart has worked out for other thrift stores like yours. |
| Detailed yet intuitive reporting | Get accurate reports on sales, inventory, production, customer loyalty, timesheets, and more. |
| Specialized AI assistants | Let intelligent assistants help you with marketing, communications, SEO, and commerce. |
| Precise donation management | Track every unique and one-of-a-kind item from the moment it’s donated to the moment it sells. |
| Roundup donation program support | Give customers a convenient way to support your mission by prompting them to round up at checkout. |
| Live donation tracking | Keep tabs on every donation, whether it’s dropped off or picked up. |
| Color-tag discounts and automatic pricing | Schedule color-coded discounts by assigning colors to items as they’re priced. |
| Built-in marketing tools | Create a customer loyalty program, run enticing promotions, implement SMS marketing, and build customer profiles, all from your POS. |
| Volunteer-friendly UI | Help new volunteers get comfortable using your POS in minutes rather than hours with a beginner-friendly UI. |
| Easy payment and accounting | Process secure payments while maintaining compliance. Then, watch as the system automatically sorts revenue and donation streams. |
| Cloud-based access | Run your POS from a wide range of devices, and take advantage of automatic updates to make sure your system always has the latest features and security measures. |
| Flexible hardware options | Avoid unnecessary expenses with the option to use the hardware you already have. |
| Convenient integrations | Sync ThriftCart with third-party solutions like Shopify, Shogo, and Charityproud. |
| 24/7 support and dedicated onboarding | Receive live phone support around the clock, plus a dedicated onboarding specialist to help you get your POS system up and running. |
ThriftCart’s pricing starts at $99 per month, but you can customize a quote in minutes with our Build and Price tool.
Related Read: Solutions ITW vs. ThriftCart: Which thrift store POS is right for you?
| System | Best for | Standout features | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thrift Works | Thrift stores that prefer to lease hardware |
|
Starts at $3,600 for hardware, starts at $75 per month for software |
| ThriftTrac | Stores focused on business metrics and donor tracking |
|
Starts at $150 per month for a single module at a single location (not including the setup fee for $250) |
| AntiqueSoft | Antique malls and thrift stores that rent out space |
|
Custom quotes |
| SimpleConsign | Stores that offer consignment |
|
Starts at $99 per month for the first six months, or until your store makes $50K in sales |
| S-Tags | Stores that prioritize production speed |
|
Custom quotes |
| Square | Thrift stores looking for simple software they can implement quickly |
|
Offers a Free plan, with paid plans starting at $49 per month |
Go to our comparisons page for an in-depth look at how different systems compare to ThriftCart.
You might need a Solutions ITW alternative if:
Since Solutions ITW doesn’t publicly disclose its pricing, comparing costs requires a custom quote.
To find the best Solutions ITW alternative for your thrift store, here are a few questions to consider:
If you switch to ThriftCart, our data migration team handles the transition for you, including your inventory, customer records, and consignment history. While some reporting data may not migrate to ThriftCart from your current software, our experts will map out exactly what carries over before you commit.
Yes, many of the top Solutions ITW alternatives feature donation management functionality.
Remember: No matter which POS you choose, it’s important to pick one that’s built specifically for thrift stores, not for general retail. A specialized system’s donation management features make it easy to track donated inventory that can’t be repurchased.
It depends on the alternative you choose to adopt. Some thrift store software packages require you to purchase proprietary hardware, but many allow you to use whichever hardware you prefer.
The best Solutions ITW alternatives aren’t simply other POS systems that can technically work for your store — they’re thoughtfully designed solutions that are tailor-made to meet the needs of independent thrift stores.
That’s what ThriftCart does. It combines powerful donation management, color-tag discounting, roundup functionality, and secure payment processing into a single platform. Plus, the UI is so intuitive that even brand-new volunteers can pick it up in minutes.
Ready to start comparing Solutions ITW alternatives? Make sure your choice supports the way your thrift store operates. Learn what to prioritize in our guide to choosing a thrift store POS.