WILLMAR -- While many Black Friday shoppers stalked the aisles of Willmar stores hunting bargains on this season's hot gift items, like Hannah Montana clothing, iPods or maybe a Magellan GPS system, others had different gift lists to fill.
The aisles of two Willmar thrift stores -- New2You and Goodwill Industries -- were filled with shoppers looking for bargains on everything from T-shirts and jeans to pots and pans.
"It's been very busy,'' said Ardis Zondervan, who was substituting on Friday for the New2You full-time manager, Heather Bulthuis.
The backup help is needed here because this store at 1401 First St. S. is a busy one, holiday shopping or not. Formerly known as the Bibles for Missions Thrift Shop, the store has been operated for the last year by the Central Minnesota Christian Schools and eight area churches. Volunteers from the churches and parents of students at CMCS share the duties of tending to the store.
The store has seen its sales nearly double in the last year, said Zondervan.
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Many of the store's customers are people who make do on limited household budgets. It serves many people from the community's Latino community and others who are likewise on the entry level of the economic ladder, she explained.
But Zondervan said she would be hard-pressed to attribute the store's steady sales growth to a rise in the number of people making do on limited budgets. "I don't know about that,'' she said.
Zondervan said the store typically sees a wide mix of customers. Many customers are also well-to-do. Many of them enjoy looking for antique "treasures'' among the donated goods.
And by far, most of the store's customers just love to find real deals, like the $1.50 T-shirt and $3 jeans available here, she said.
"It's amazing when you work the till to see the bargains they can buy,'' she said.
A steady stream of people plied the aisle at the Goodwill Industries store at 2424 First St. S. in Willmar looking for good deals as well. Since its opening 12 years ago, the Willmar store has become well-entrenched in the Willmar market and has seen its sales grow, according to Brian Becker, director of marketing for Goodwill/Easter Sales.
Its mission is to provide employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
The store also plays an important role in the community by providing very affordable clothing, small appliances and toys.
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Becker said it is impossible to know if the store is seeing any increase in the number of shoppers from the lower rungs of the economic ladder. It also sees a wide mix of customers, he explained.
"People are always shopping for value,'' he said.
Becker said Goodwill Industries is hopeful of seeing a good holiday shopping season. It is working to attract customers with promotions like "Toddlers Thursdays'' and boxed toy specials, he added.
