New Wardrobe on a Budget

Goodwill offers high-quality clothing and other items for a fraction of retail prices.

Michelle Hill, assistant store manager at Goodwill on Southwest Boulevard.

As spring approaches, warmer weather brings thoughts of a cooler wardrobe. If you are one of those who is eyeing your ­closet lineup and getting ready to make needed changes, Rita Gilliam, retail sales director at Goodwill Industries of Tulsa, would like to remind you of a wonderful local shopping ­treasure. “Goodwill is a fun place to shop for fashion, as well as home décor, collectibles, and books. You never know what you might come across when you ­visit one of our stores.”

A wide selection of fashion apparel is prominently featured in all of Goodwill Industries of Tulsa’s nine stores. Fashions are organized so that desired items can be easily found, by clothing type, by color and by style ­appropriate for business, formal or casual attire. Shoes, purses, jewelry and other accessories are included in the fashion mix.

“We want to make it easy for shoppers to find what they need,” Rita notes. “At our Southwest Boulevard location in Tulsa, for example, we have ­people who come on their lunch hour a couple of times a week to shop.”

This is also a perfect time of the year to check Goodwill for that wedding or prom dress, with both of these seasons approaching. With all the ­choices, Goodwill makes it easy to find items to fit your overall wardrobe plan and to expand your fashion budget at the same time.

Donations of clothing and gently used household items are processed and prepared for ­shipment to every store throughout each week. This careful ­selection is done at the Southwest Boulevard center with the ­customer in mind. “Our ­customers expect to find selections which are of high quality at affordable prices,” says Rita. Every article of clothing, as well as all other items of ­merchandise, including accessories, books, toys and home décor, must meet certain quality criteria for ­random distribution to each of the area stores.     

Rita points out that since new items are stocked daily and each store gets new stock at least three to four times a week, the key to finding the best treasures at Goodwill is to visit often. “The people who find the most stop in a lot,” she says. “Many customers shop multiple stores on delivery days.”

Every store has a tag sale each day, with certain items of clothing priced half off, so ­anyone who visits frequently will always find a combination of items on sale and new arrivals. Each store hosts a senior day twice a month, and Goodwill ­distributes a monthly Value Planner, filled with news of upcoming sales and events. The Value Planner is available at store locations and online at www.goodwilltulsa.org.

Goodwill is in the process of rebuilding the Joplin store, which was destroyed in the ­tornado last May. Last October, a store was opened in Carthage, Missouri to serve the four-state area while construction continues in Joplin. A grand reopening in Joplin is anticipated for early 2013.

After opening the Tulsa Stone Creek Store at 19021 E. 51st St. in January of 2009, Goodwill has broken ground for the next new store, which is located on Highway 75 at 125th Place in Glenpool. The Glenpool store will be open later this summer.

Also in the summer of 2012, Goodwill Industries of Tulsa will celebrate its 85th anniversary. Special activities and announcements will be ­posted throughout the year via Facebook and Twitter and in the Goodwill e-Shopper Newsletter. The support for Goodwill Industries from donors and shoppers provides employment, job training and support services for people with disabilities and other employment barriers. A description of Goodwill’s ­training programs and ­employment services are ­available in stores and online at the Goodwill website.

For more information, contact

Goodwill Industries of Tulsa

 (918) 584-7291

www.goodwilltulsa.org