Thrift Store
I would really like to find out what residents think of a thrift store in Presho? Does anyone have an idea of a building where we could put it?
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I would really like to find out what residents think of a thrift store in Presho? Does anyone have an idea of a building where we could put it?
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November 25th, 2007 at 2:41 pm
How about in the Chamber building until something else moves in. It might also go into extra space in a church.
November 25th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
What about the Frank Volmer building that used to be “Franks Place” (once was a filling station) on the highway through town? Maybe he would rent it cheaply. It’s not doing anything just sitting there. Not sure what “fixes” need to be done. Would be a good write-off for him to donate it!!
Or what about the north side of the old hardware store on main? Does it need a lot of fixing?
November 25th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
I found this article online about a thrift store opening in Watertown, it is 10 years old but is encouraging.
Dakota-Montana District Newsletter
Feb - Mar. 1997 Issue
GSI Thrift
About a year ago, the thought of a thrift store in Watertown, SD was just a dream. Some thought it was an idea worth pursuing and 17 people met in Watertown to organize Good Stewards Inc. By all outward appearances, it was not a very auspicious start. We postponed the date of the organizational meeting one week because of the minus 30 degree weather. (Some folks thought we were too soft…we did not know what a tough winter was!) But a board was chosen and plans went forward with the goal of opening a thrift store to benefit Great Plains Lutheran High School and other organizations.
An attorney and an accounting firm both donated their time to help form our nonprofit corporation and to obtain the IRS tax exemption. With the help of these two firms, we likely saved many hundreds of dollars in fees.
A location was found, store fixtures were purchased and donated, a manager (Betty Peterson) and assistant manager (Doris Schamens) were hired. “GSI Thrift” was chosen for the name of the store. All of the pieces seemed to be falling into place. But one questioned remained, “Would this plan actually work?”
As things moved ahead toward the actual opening of the store, the expenses seemed to pile up. Individuals delayed submitting bills because the checkbook balance was too low to cover them all. We were able to borrow $2,000 from the Northwestern Lutheran Academy Alumni Association. Later, we paid back the loan.
The donations of articles to be sold started coming in–at first a trickle, then a flood. The first week of June the store opened and sales averaged about $135 per day.
Oh, it won’t last, no doubt some thought. But anyone visiting the store now would have trouble finding an empty spot on a shelf or rack (or sometimes even a spot on the floor) to put more items to be sold. Volunteers are donating countless hours of their time sorting and pricing merchandise to sell.
As we think how far things have come in just one year’s time, it is truly amazing, isn’t it? But should it be so amazing?
We have given of our time, our talents, our treasures. And the Lord has given to us in return. The Lord’s blessing has exceeded our expectation. He hasn’t scrimped or shorted us. He has poured his blessing out on us.
This first year of operation (June - December) was only 7 months. The total gross sales were over $36,000 with about half of that amount used to pay expenses. Even with all the rough winter weather, GSI Thrift was profitable the first two months of 1997.
Good Stewards Inc. held its first annual meeting on March 9, 1997. The decision was made to disperse a total of $12,000. The weekly “The Lord’s Day Radio Broadcast” sponsored by Trinity Lutheran Church, Clear Lake received $1,000. Great Plains Lutheran High School received $11,000–$1,100 for general operations, $2,200 for endowment financial assistance, $2,200 for direct financial assistance, and $5,500 for special projects. The special projects selected to purchase include 1) choir risers, 2) a video camera, 3) a display board, and 4) a small science lab.
Members on our board are: Karen Livingston, Watertown, SD; Karen Mischke, Hazel, SD; Sue Koistinen, Watertown, SD; Theresa Schaffer, Mound City, SD; Sandy Koenecke, Clear Lake, SD; Eldeen Baer, Canby, MN; Kathy Krause, Clear Lake, SD; Jan Feickert, Aberdeen, SD; and Pastoral Advisor Bruce Mueller, Gary, SD.
Our manager, Betty Peterson, sends out a newsletter every two months to keep us updated on how things are going at the store. Included with the newsletter is a calendar for the work schedule of the volunteer groups that work at the store. If you are interested in helping at the store, please contact Betty at the store at 8 - 2nd Street SE; Watertown, SD 57201 or 605-882-9955. Our store hours are 9:30 - 5:30 Monday through Friday and 9:30 - 4:00 on Saturday. We will be scheduling one work night per month for volunteers who are unable to come in during the day.
Congregations are asked to select a GSI Thrift contact person. This contact person 1) can report GSI Thrift activities to the congregation, 2) can coordinate transportation of items to the store, and 3) can help schedule their volunteer group to work at the store. For more information, please contact Betty Peterson as listed above.
Presently Good Stewards Inc. has 32 individual members. If you are interested in becoming a member, please contact our secretary Karen Mischke at RR 1 Box 82; Hazel, SD 57242 or 605-628-2144.
You can find GSI Thrift on the Internet at: http://www.gplhs.org/GSI.html
We want to thank everyone for all the many items they have given to the store. We accept almost anything. Right now we could use more non-clothing items such as: furniture, garden tools, electrical items, beds and bedding, TV’s, and almost any baby item. In general, household articles sell very well. All of the donations have helped make GSI Thrift very successful!
We thank the Lord for all these blessings.
Roger R. Frey, President
Good Stewards Inc. d/b/a GSI Thrift
November 25th, 2007 at 10:17 pm
Thanks for the suggestions! I think the Chamber room is too temporary and the old hardware building just got sold, is there extra space in any of the churches for a permanent location? Otherwise Frank’s sounds good, I think it would be nice to have a downtown location but we would have to use what is available.
November 26th, 2007 at 5:22 pm
i think a thrift store would go good here because the citizens might be saving money on GAS and i would be good so people wouldnt have to drive out og town t get one thinb a thrift store might posibly have!!!!!!
November 26th, 2007 at 5:27 pm
I am very anxious to see a Thrift Store established in Presho so people would be able to donate the things that are still in good condition and people would have the opportunity to buy those articles. I think that some of the suggestions for places sounds good. What about one of the office spaces in the chamber building that is vacant now?
November 26th, 2007 at 5:30 pm
Teresa, thank you for the interesting article about the Thrift store opening in Watertown. That certainly gives us some things to consider in our plans.
November 26th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
i think that the thrift store is perfect except for the looking of the location.
December 14th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
Follow up seems to indicate that Franks building (the old pizza shop as I understand it) is now being used by Kennebec telephone for storage but there are rumors in the air that they are considering buying the fire hall for that purpose so maybe either Franks or some of the fire hall may be available. What we need to recognize is: this will require substantial room and hours of work. Not a 10x 10 temporarily somewhere and for that reason sharing with a hunt house won’t work either (as has been suggested). These shops get very full very fast and all that stock isn’t fun to put up and take down–back breaking work. There is some gossip that the city is thinking of purchasing the chamber building for the city offices. Perhaps they would like to donate the rest of that building for this. It may not be big enough either. Also, to run this as a non-profit we need someone to sponsor as I understand. I suggest we become sponsor for the soon to be operating Senior Meals progam which will require community help. Sounds like a win-win to me.
December 14th, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Frank’s building is used by Moore Bros. Construction for equipment storage. The firehall and chamber room situations will not happen for at least a year. I think if something is going to happen with this very soon, we will have to think outside the box.
December 15th, 2007 at 10:06 pm
Any other ideas out there for a location? I really think the old building we talked about down town would require a LOT of repairs/fixing. It would require volunteer work for us to make it go and I’m not sure that it has a good foundation. I understand it has water in the basement and has for years. That also includes mold. So… how about more ideas. Ask around and see what we can find. Let’s not let this be a road block. We just need to brainstorm some more and get input from the community. Encourage people to visit this blog site and comment!
December 20th, 2007 at 9:45 pm
What about Mark Mowry’s building downtown? I know he was trying to sell it when he left. I think he might be around for Christmas, if anyone sees him we should ask him about it.
January 11th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I e-mailed the Mowry’s and received an answer that sounds like they are interested in selling. No price was quoted but she gave permission to contact the Sr. Mowry’s about a walk thru and encouraged farther discussion. I do get the feeling they have put time and money into the building and it might be outside of our expense range but at least it’s something out there that is on the market. Neil Brakkee, I am told, has also shown some interest in overtures about his building on Main St. but did indicate there will need to be “work” done. We probably need to get someone with experience to look it over and assess the need and give us an idea of probable expense in that opportunity. Perhaps with volunteer labor from within the community this will be a possibility. There will be some funds available from Horizons for projects soon. These can’t be used for purchase of a building, as I understand, but perhaps could be used for updating and equiping one. We need to know what the guidelines are, for use of that money.