CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QC Life) - Thrifting expert Virginia Chamlee, author of Big Thrift Energy, joins QC Life to share her best secondhand shopping tips. She will be at the Charlotte Home + Landscaping Show, appearing daily March 13–15.
She advises bringing a simple thrifting toolkit, including:
- Tape measure (for furniture sizing and making sure items fit in your car)
- Reusable bag
- Towels or a moving blanket (to protect furniture and wrap breakables)
- Cash (just in case)
- Your phone/Notes app (keep measurements and a running wish list)
If you’re short on time, shop the periphery of the store first - where larger items like furniture, lamps, and art are usually placed, so you don’t get stuck sorting through smaller items in the middle.
She also recommends scanning for quality materials instead of looking at every single item. For clothing, watch for silk, leather, and suede. For home pieces, keep an eye out for solid wood, metal/brass/chrome, leather, and marble.
Virginia’s go-to tool is Google Lens, which can help identify items with a quick reverse image search. She also suggests checking 1stDibs and Chairish to research maker’s marks and comparable pieces, and she notes that resale-focused apps like SellRaze can be helpful for clothing shoppers who want to understand secondhand pricing.
The Greater Charlotte Home + Landscape Show is March 13-15 at the Cabarrus Arena and tickets are $9 for adults. To learn more visit charlottehomeandlandscapeshow.com.
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