BUY NIFTY AND THRIFTY IN NED

By Pam North

Thrift shops are handy establishments to have around for a variety of
reasons.  Prices are attractive (it’s a real pleasure to pay a tiny
price for something that might normally dent the budget).  Inventories
yield unexpected treasures to a shopper with a discerning eye
(occasionally a valuable antique or collectible will occupy one of
those shelves or bins).  All seasons are represented; it can save the
day to find a warm jacket (mountain campouts can get cold) or a
swimsuit (a must-have for that unexpected hot tub party).

Often a compliment made on an article of someone’s attire evokes the
response that the wearer unearthed it in a thrift shop.  Purchasing a
previously owned item from a second-hand store might once have been
kept a carefully guarded and perhaps slightly shameful secret, but
these days it’s more a mark of astute, lucky shopping in an economy of
ever-increasing retail prices.

Nederland is fortunate to have two establishments now that fill this
niche, each slightly different in scope from the other:

BEAR NECESSITIES - 1 West First Avenue, Wolftongue Square - (303) 258-3387
Hours:  Monday through Saturday 10-5, Sunday 11-5

If the name sounds familiar, there’s a reason.  Bear Necessities used
to be a part of Nederland’s business district until it disappeared
from the scene in 2004.  As of August 12th, this popular shop has been
reinvented and located in new digs, much to the delight of local
residents who once perused the previous location’s nooks and crannies
for goodies.  Tiffany Beaudin, who managed the Bear Necessities
predecessor from 2000 to 2004, is committed to making her new,
attractive store even better.  A native of Sturgis, Michigan, Beaudin
has lived in Nederland for over twenty years, and is into health,
fitness and rock climbing.  She is the mother of an eleven-year-old
son, Tyler, and an eleven-month-old daughter, Leah.  She loves living
in the mountains, and thinks it makes one a stronger person.  She
enjoys interaction with people, and feels that her shop is a necessity
for the town, providing a service to the community as a place where
residents can recycle no-longer-used items and turn them into cash.
Bear Necessities actually more accurately falls into the consignment
store genre, although donations are accepted as well.  The consignment
deal usually prices an item at about 50% of its original value, and
when it’s sold, the price is split 50-50 between consignor and
consignee.  Unsold items are either picked up by their owners or
donated to Goodwill or Mountain Forum for Peace.  Beaudin says it
takes about two years to get a proper handle on the consignment
business, to learn the market and how to make good choices in
merchandise to stock.  She looks for quality items that are clean and
in good repair, with no stains, pet hair or damage.  Her inventory
covers a broad spectrum: clothing and shoes for men, women and
children; jewelry and accessories; small household appliances and home
décor accents; assorted interesting odds and ends.  Her shop is an
interesting collection of things that reflect Nederland’s casual
mountain lifestyle, with additional bits and pieces of trend and tech.
It’s fun to snoop here.  Beaudin states, “I look forward to seeing my
friends and past customers again.  The Bear is back!”


NEDERLAND THRIFT STORE - 86 State Highway 119 South - (303) 258-3253
Hours:  Wednesday through Saturday 10-6
     
Shoppers will remember this mini-market as the former 2nd Hand
Revival..  Kathy Harris brought her individual stamp as the new owner
as of July 1st.  Born in Massachusetts, Kathy moved to Boulder when
she was fourteen, and she has been a resident of this area off and on
for thirty years.  She feels a real affinity for the mountain energy
and climate, the diversity of its residents, and the challenges of
living here.  She thinks our current economy is tough for lots of
folks, with much financial grief.  Her goal is to serve the community
as a source of reasonably-priced, gently-used necessities and
luxuries.  Her enterprise allows residents to shop locally, saving the
gas and spare time that would be entailed by a trip down the canyon.
Her shop works totally off donations, allowing her to keep prices on
her merchandise really low.  Donations can be deposited at will
directly on her doorstep, preferably while she’s there.  The small
square footage of her building dictates that she think smaller-scale
on the size of items stocked, but she is considering installing a
bulletin board where larger, bulkier things may be posted for sale.
When her business is better established, Kathy also plans to donate a
portion of her sales to worthy causes.  The inventory of Nederland
Thrift Store focuses on clothing for all seasons, household items,
toys and whatever unique tidbits Kathy can manage to unearth, and
Kathy promises some nice surprises for her customers.

Our two new thrift shops are just two of several great retail
businesses in Nederland’s quaint “downtown.” Local interest and
support are essential to these enterprises to survive and flourish,
and they in turn offer locals interesting wares, convenience, and gas
and time savings in our shopping.  So try to buy locally whenever you
can - it’s a good thing for all of us.