On Rebranding Thrift

What's changing about the brand and why.

This season and going forward, I want to do more than explore the stories behind the the stuff we let go of or can’t let go of—I want to find and tell community stories. Or, rather, stories of how communities come together, stories of individuals who are making a difference and doing cool things where they live.

Beyond these stories, I want to examine the larger topics that impact our communities. Topics like capitalism, consumerism, sustainability, gentrification.

Most of the guests I talk to on the podcast have found ways to live authentically, to be authentically themselves. Ultimately, is that what thrifting and shopping local is all about? Authenticity. Having your own set of core values to live by. It’s taken a couple years of doing this podcast, but I’ve finally realized the greater meaning behind the stories I was telling about yard sales and people’s stuff.

Plus, I’ve started to expand Thrift to be more than a podcast. It’s also

• a newsletter

• a thrift store

• (soon) a website

• video interview and vignettes (for paid subscribers)

• Quarantine Reviews & voicemails (a sister production)

• (soon) a Rent-A-Stoop app

• (soon) my personal book archive & desert island book interviews

• (soon) a vintage detective agency

After putting some thought into what I want to create and build, I realized that it’s probably time for me to change the name and rebrand Thrift: What Your Garage Sale Says About You. Garage sale interviews are still going to happen, of course, but they won’t continue to be the main focus. You might’ve already noticed that I’ve been playing around with different tag lines at the beginning of each season 3 episode, and I’ve settled on this one: “A podcast about thrifting, becoming a more community-minded citizen, and just getting out to explore your neighborhood.”

As for the name, I’ve changed that, too:

Thrift: Secondhand Community Stories

Thanks for reading,
Maggie