Society of St. Vincent de Paul, St. Louis Council, announces New Store in Creve Coeur
By: Gena Bast / SVdP St. Louis Council Director of Marketing and Communications
The St. Louis Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul recently opened a new thrift store located in Creve Coeur, Mo. This store is the ninth SVdP thrift store in the St. Louis area. The store was opened in late-May. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Tuesday, June 12. The Council held a customer appreciation celebration this past Saturday where they served hot dogs, chips and beverages to customers as they browsed the new store.
“We feel this is a good opportunity to serve in an area where St. Vincent de Paul stores don’t already have a presence,” said John Foppe, executive director of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul –
St. Louis Archdiocesan Council. “This new store will bring a thrifty and fun shopping experience that will benefit the surrounding community and our neighbors in need.”
The new Creve Coeur St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store will offer employment opportunities with approximately five full-time and 20 part-time positions. The job openings are posted on the organization’s website, www.svdpstl.org. Volunteers will also play a large role in supporting the work at the store. Those interested can also learn more at www.svdpstl.org.
Items sold at the store are both new items and gently used clothes, housewares and furniture. One of the thrift store’s signature products are its low-cost mattresses and mattress sets. New bed frames, sheets, comforters and pillows are also sold at the stores.
Donations of clothing, home goods and furniture will be accepted at the store. A convenient drive-up drop-off area is located at the side of the building. Donations can also be placed in bins located throughout the St. Louis area. (www.svdpstlouis.org/locate-donation-bin) Arrangements for large donations to be picked up can be made by calling 314-881-6006.
What is the number one consideration when thinking about opening a thrift store? Is it location? Square feet of the building? The location of the back door?
All these things are important – but according to John Walters, director of stores for the St. Louis Archdiocesan Council of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul – the most important consideration of all is the community itself. “Need has to be present,” he said. John is referring to local people who live near the store. “We look for a community where we can better serve local people in need.”
John has led the efforts to expand the number of the Society’s thrift stores serving the St. Louis area, most recently opening the Society’s ninth store. The newest is located in Creve Coeur, Missouri. “Creve Coeur is a solid bedroom community of St. Louis, but it also has families in need. Our first customer when we opened the thrift was someone with a voucher.”
Learn from John. Click here to download St. Louis’ SVdP Thrift Store start up guide.
SVdP Sauk Prairie (WI) Thrift Store participated in the 5th annual Vintage Shop Hop, a self-guided road trip for thrift store enthusiasts. Each participant received a map for $30. “We were the only St. Vincent de Paul store listed out of 480 participants,” says Karen Fabisiak, store manager. The collaboration worked well for the Society.
Organizer Ann Campos visited the successful SVdP store and later wrote a great review and posted more than a dozen photos, recommending to thrifters that they check out our thrift. Karen reports between 500 – 700+ shoppers visited the store during Shop Hop and that they sold more than 3550 items, including 89 pieces of furniture, 698 pieces of clothing, 315 books and 300+ antique items. This exposure has resulted in new buyers continuing to come to the store.
Important to note that SVdP Sauk Prairie WI is in a community of just over 5000 people. Congratulations!