Oct 20, 2009 5:41 pm US/Central
Elgin Salvation Army Closing Due To Slump In Sales
ELGIN, Ill. (CBS) ―
-
-
The Salvation Army Thrift Store in Elgin has seen such a slump in sales in the tough economy that it's closing for the season.
CBS
In these tough economic times, department stores aren't the only shops taking a hit. Thrift store are taking a beating, too. As CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot reports, a thrift shop in Elgin has seen such a slump, it's closing for the season.
The Salvation Army Thrift Store in Elgin makes between $40,000 and $50,000 each year. Last year, the store made only $14,000.
More clothes are also being given away to those in need, rather than being sold. The store also lost $4,000 in profit last year.
"Because of the economy and everything, no jobs, people are trying to hang on to what they have because they can't afford to buy anything new," said Mae Adams, a sales clerk at the Elgin store.
Adams said there are less high-end donations that bring in more money.
This will be the first Salvation Army Thrift Store to close during the winter months. The shop, offering everything from housewares and handbags to clothing and shoes, is giving more clothes away to those in need, than they're selling.
"This is a low-income area and people do not have jobs. They don't even have the money to shop in a thrift store," Adams said.
Meantime, a Goodwill spokesperson says their Elgin store has seen a slight decline, but this month sales have increased.
This drop in profits among thrift stores is part of a much bigger problem in Elgin. Kane County, where Elgin is located, has such high unemployment and poverty, it has been placed on a "poverty watch list" by the Heartland Alliance MidAmerica Institute on Poverty.
With that in mind, the Salvation Army Thrift Store in Elgin, will still provide those in need who qualify, with free clothing during the winter months.
"They will go and get what's called a clothing voucher for everyone in the family to get two complete sets of clothes," Adams said.
The voucher also gives each person shoes and coats.
Tracy McFadden lives in Elgin. While she donates items to the store, she's often shopped there for her children in the past.
"They're the first person I think of when I'm driving past here, donating, because I know there are a lot of women and children that can benefit from coming over here," McFadden said.
The money raised at the thrift store goes right back into Elgin through the Salvation Army's youth and community programs in the area.
Salvation Army Major Ken Nicolai said he wants to reopen the store in the spring, with the hope the economy will be blossoming at that time, too.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Jewish Celebrities
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
Reporting
