Treasure Hunting at Value Village

If you haven't been to Marysville's Value Village lately, you're missing a great adventure!  I spent some time there last weekend, admiring their expanded and refurbished interior and the well-displayed merchandise.

According to Brian Willey, district manager, this is one of over 250 stores in the US, Canada and Australia.  Known by the name Savers in much of the country, the privately owned chain started in California in 1954 but early on moved to the Northwest.  It's corporate offices are in Bellevue, and there are 18 stores in the Puget Sound region.

All donations made to Savers/Value Village stores are purchased from non-profit organizations in the community.  The Marysville store works with two organizations - The Moyer Foundation, to help cover the costs of their camps for children (Camp Erin for children ages 6-17 who are dealing with bereavement and Camp Mariposa, for children and youth who have family members with addictions and co-dependence issues) and Northwest Center, which provides services to people with developmental disabilities.  Throughout the company, over one billion dollars has been given to more than 120 partner organizations to date!  In addition, they send clothing to developing countries, providing small local businesses assistance in micro-enterprise.

I found the store to be incredibly clean and attractive, with an outstanding selection.  Indeed, what could be more lovely than the variety of colors and textures in these women's jackets and scarves?

Whenever Tommy has a little extra time and some spare change, he finds his way to Value Village, where he checks out the keyboards and the electronic toys for circuit bending, and hunts for jeans and t-shirts.  Here he is in a VV jacket.  This day he came home with a sweatshirt, jeans, and a pair of tennis shoes, as well.

Among my recent purchases, this Chinese jacket is one of my all-time favorites.

I ran into my friend Christina in the store.  She said as a kid she would never go to a thrift store, but now she is an avid Value Village shopper.  Her mother's motto, "Always buy the best, but get it on sale," has become her own as she teaches her kids how to recognize a bargain.  She was especially excited about these nearly new, name brand shoes.  They'd be about $150 in a department store, but she found them here for just $25.

Whether it's books you want, or maps, furniture or housewares, you're likely to find it at your neighborhood Value Village!