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Running a thrift store takes a lot of time and energy.
You’re sorting donations, helping customers, training staff, and trying to keep shelves full — all while supporting a bigger mission. Even when your store is clean and well-stocked, it can still be hard to bring in new shoppers and keep regulars coming back.
That’s where marketing helps.
Good marketing is simple. It gives people a reason to visit and a reason to return.
We’ve put together nine practical thrift store marketing ideas that work for thrift stores of any size. Let’s dive in.
1. Host Sales Events That Feel Fun and Easy
Is your thrift store overwhelmed with inventory you’re struggling to move?
Sales events are one of the fastest ways to bring people into your store and move inventory that’s been sitting for far too long. They work best when they feel fun, clear, and easy to understand.
Some event ideas that work well for thrift stores include:
- Vintage or throwback weeks
- Back-to-school sales in late summer
- Holiday or seasonal home sales
- Color-tag discounts
- Simple price days like “$5 jeans” or “$2 book day”
Thrift store events don’t need to be big to be effective. What matters most is planning ahead and keeping things simple for your team.
Try these tips to help your sales events run smoothly:
- Pick an event based on inventory you already have.
- Pull items ahead of time so staff aren’t scrambling.
- Use clear signs so shoppers know what’s included.
- Make sure everyone on the team understands the pricing.
After the event is over, it helps to know whether it worked. Use your point of sale (POS) system to track sales by category, tag, or date so you can quickly see which events moved inventory, which price points performed best, and which ideas are worth repeating.
2. Start a Loyalty Program People Will Use
Getting new shoppers in the door is important, but repeat customers are what keep thrift stores going. A loyalty program gives people a reason to come back and shows them that their visits matter.
Common loyalty program ideas include:
- Points for purchases
- Discounts for donating items
- Rewards for bringing a friend
- Small perks for frequent shoppers
The simpler your loyalty program is, the better. Loyalty works best when:
- It’s easy to explain in one sentence.
- It works right at checkout.
- It doesn’t slow down the line.
- It’s built into your POS system.
Over time, loyalty programs can help turn casual shoppers into regulars who stop by more often and spend a little more each visit.
Related Read: Creating a Thrift Store Customer Loyalty Program: 6 Tips and Tools
3. Use Social Media To Show What Makes You Special
Most people scroll through social media every day. If you’re not showing up there, you’re invisible to a huge chunk of potential customers.
You don’t need to post perfectly polished content. In fact, the raw, real stuff usually performs better.
Here are some post ideas:
- Photos of unique finds that just hit your floor
- Customer outfit photos
- A “$50 outfit challenge,” where you style a complete look
- Quick videos showing new inventory as you unpack it
- Staff picks and why they love certain items
- Stories about how thrift shopping helps the environment or your community
When customers tag your store or share their finds, repost them. Real people showing off real purchases feels more trustworthy than any ad you could create.
But how can you connect social media to real visits? Mention a special “Instagram discount” in your Stories, or run an in-store weekend challenge where customers can participate. Then ask, “How did you hear about us?” at checkout. This helps you figure out what’s working.
4. Send Emails That People Want To Read
Email marketing isn’t dead — it’s just noisy. The difference between emails people open and emails they delete is that yours should feel genuinely helpful.
Keep your emails short and focused on one topic. For example:
- Event reminders: “50% off furniture this Saturday only.”
- New arrivals: “We just got in 100 books — come check it out!”
- Birthday surprises: “Happy birthday! Here’s 25% off your next visit.”
- “We miss you” messages: “We’ve added lots of new finds since your last visit. Come see what’s new and enjoy 10% off your next purchase!”
When customer emails are captured in your POS system at checkout and tied to purchase history, it becomes much easier to target your emails. For instance, you may want to reach out only to home-goods shoppers, or check in with customers who haven’t visited in 90 days.
5. Connect With Your Community
Your thrift store is part of your local community. That’s why working with nearby groups can help bring in donations and new shoppers.
Many thrift stores partner with:
- Schools
- Churches
- Local nonprofits
- Community groups
When you support your community, they support you back. It’s that simple.
The key is knowing which partnerships are making the biggest impact. When donation sources are tracked consistently, patterns start to emerge — like one church group bringing in significantly more donations than others. That insight helps you focus your thank-yous, recognition, and outreach where it matters most, strengthening the relationships that already work well.
Related Read: Thrift Store Community Partnerships: 5 Tips To Strengthen Local Connections
6. Highlight New Arrivals
Some shoppers assume thrift stores have the same inventory for months — they don’t realize you’re getting new items every single day.
Change that assumption, and people visit more often.
Here are some easy ways to promote new arrivals:
- Set up a “New Today” table right when customers walk in.
- Put a small “This Week’s Arrivals” section in your email.
- Add a sign at checkout: “We get new items every day!”
- Post photos of fresh inventory every morning on Instagram Stories.
This creates a sense of urgency. People think, “If I don’t go today, someone else might get it.”
Behind the scenes, staying consistent is much easier when new items are tracked in your POS system as they come in. When inventory is tagged by arrival date, you can quickly see what’s new this week — and just as easily spot items that have been around longer, so you can promote or discount them before they take up space.
7. Make Shopping at Your Thrift Store Enjoyable
Marketing gets people in the door of your thrift store. The experience you give them dictates whether or not they come back.
These small things make a big difference:
- Friendly greetings when someone walks in
- Fast, easy checkout with no surprise charges
- Clean, organized racks that don’t feel overwhelming
- Clear signs for sales, dressing rooms, and categories
- Visible donation dropoff info so people know how to give
When the shopping experience feels good, people tell their friends. Word of mouth is one of the most powerful thrift store marketing strategies you have.
8. Create a Google Business Profile
If someone searches “thrift store near me,” you want to show up. A complete Google Business Profile helps you appear in local searches and on Google Maps.
Here’s what to include:
- Your mission
- Photos of your store and products
- Current hours (keep these updated)
- Links to your website and social media
In your profile, encourage happy customers to leave reviews. Good reviews from real customers are marketing gold. When someone’s deciding between your store and another, positive reviews make the choice easy.
9. Partner With Local Influencers
You don’t need celebrities. Local influencers with 1,000–5,000 followers in your area can bring customers through your door.
Reach out to:
- College students with local followings
- Fashion bloggers who love sustainable style
- Local parents who share budget-friendly tips
- Community activists focused on sustainability
How it works: Offer them a small gift card or shopping credit. Ask them to visit your store, create content, and tag you.
Bring Your Thrift Store Marketing Ideas Together With ThriftCart
All these thrift store marketing ideas work best when they’re easy to manage and connected. When everything is tracked in one place, staff can spend less time juggling tasks and more time helping customers.
That’s where ThriftCart comes in.
ThriftCart is an all-in-one POS system built specifically for thrift stores. It helps you:
- Reward loyal shoppers at checkout.
- Keep customer information organized.
- Track sales and donations in one system.
- Run promotions without extra work for staff.
Want to see how it can work for your business? Schedule a live ThriftCart demo today to see how simple thrift store marketing can be.
