To enter the giveaway, just “share” this post on your facebook timeline and we’ll randomly select a winner on May 9.

* No purchase necessary to win. This giveaway is from the Newton Et Cetera Shop and is in no way affiliated, sponsored, endorsed, or administered by Facebook or WordPress.

Newton Et Cetera Shop is a non-profit thrift shop with a mission to provide quality, affordable, recycled merchandise to the community; encourage volunteerism, stewardship and recycling; and benefit the work of Mennonite Central Committee (MCC).

In 2012, Et Cetera also began setting aside ten percent of its proceeds for local community giving. We are fiercely committed to our communities and believe that global peace and justice is intertwined with local health. Since our opening in 1976, Newton Et Cetera Shop has donated over $2,000,000 to MCC. With MCC’s blessing, we are growing into this new phase of shared giving. We know the needs are great here and around the world.

That’s where your organization comes in. We are seeking qualified applicants for our Local Giving Fund. Applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered:

–hold legal non-profit status
–operate out of and serve at least one of the following local communities: Newton, Hesston, Goessel, Moundridge, Whitewater, Elbing, Halstead, Walton
–operate in manner consistent with MCC, guided by purposes consistent with MCC’s Priorities: disaster relief, sustainable community development and justice and peacebuilding.

For a more detailed description of MCC’s core values, principles and practices, visit the following sites: http://www.mcc.org/systems/files/MCCPrinciplesAndPractices_web_0.pdf and centralstates.mcc.org/about/mission.

Based on our 2012 proceeds, we are making available three $5,000 grants. A small sum will be available for emergency requests.

Applications for a Local Giving Fund disbursement must be received by April 1, 2013, either by E-mail or via post. Awardees will receive notification and follow-up instructions no later than April 12.

All applications will be reviewed by a committee comprised of the Newton Et Cetera Shop general manager and several board members. Top-candidate applications will be presented to the entire board at the April meeting, at which time awardees will be chosen.

Organizations selected must agree to actively promote and participate in a Local Giving Day event. Local Giving Days will be promoted to the community as days when their purchases support the partner organization. Volunteers from this organization will be available to assist customers and promote their organization’s work in the community.

Once selected, organizations may apply again after three years. The maximum amount available may change from year to year, depending on available proceeds.

Questions may be directed to the Newton Et Cetera Shop general manager.

50% OFF STOREWIDE Tuesday Dec. 18
50% OFF CHRISTMAS Dec. 17 – 22

CLOSED @ 5:30 Sat. Dec. 22
CLOSED @ 5:30 Sat. Dec. 29
CLOSED Dec. 24 & 25
CLOSED Dec. 31 & Jan. 1

While this industry generates over $20 billion each year, satisfying the elite group of fashion-hungry buyers with rather deep pockets, there is a place for the average Jane to indulge in these trends. Fashion does not have to be for the elite alone.

Two months ago, I took it upon myself to launch a project. I spent $50 and all of my spare time, and put together a photography studio just above the Newton Et Cetera Shop. I reached out to people that I know, and before I knew it, I had models and a hair & makeup team composed of graduates from Eric Fisher Academy. I pulled pieces of clothing from the bags of donations I was sorting as part of my working shift, and coordinating outfits that may have otherwise been overlooked by shoppers. We had a photo shoot. No expensive equipment; I borrowed a tripod from a friend and used my iPhone to take the photographs.

I wanted to prove that there is more to our store than what meets the eye. I wanted to give our customers the feeling of excitement that comes with a special purchase, and to present these styles in such a way that our customers can have a new perspective on second-hand buying. These pieces will make up OOTD.

Over the past month I (Becca Epp, sorter at the Et Cetera Shop) have been collecting, mending and cleaning vintage dresses for a fashion shoot. I have always loved vintage styles and was so excited to be able to organize a special project involving these wonderful clothes.

Last weekend I set our with four of my friends to Bartlett Arboretum, a gorgeous oasis of blooming color and lush foliage. Complete with a vintage formal garden, I could think of no better place to set this shoot. I am so pleased at how the photos turned out and hope that all of you enjoy them too!

A special thanks to Tiana, Emma, Erin and Leah for being my models and also to Robin Macy at the Bartlett Arboretum for so graciously allowing us to use their wonderful space! To see the full album of all the vintage dresses visit our facebook page. And don’t forget to come and visit us in the next two weeks to get look at all these gorgeous dresses!

There are some things you should keep in mind when thrift shopping if you don’t want to squander your hard-earned cash in the wrong places. Buyer’s remorse isn’t just for home-owners, after all. Luckily we’ve come up with some key strategies to help you have control when you’re shopping and make the most of your money.

1.  Assess Your Closet- Knowing what you have BEFORE hitting the stores is important. Go through your closet and make a mental note of things you DON’T need. For example, “I have seven black dresses; I probably don’t need to pick one up today.” Focus on things you want to get your hands on, instead. It can be easy to fall into a shopping rut, where you seem to buy the same type of items over and over again. Break the cycle and expand the wardrobe, not duplicate it.
2. Browse Your Style Online- It’s like virtual window-shopping, without draining the precious fuel in your car. You have endless possibilities at your fingertips! Pinterest has a wide array of fashion boards, or you could always look at your favorite department store’s website. You could even browse around at stores that aren’t in your area, or your continent for that matter! Have some fun with it- see what people in Europe or Asia are rocking, and you might be inspired to look for something totally different to add to your wardrobe. You probably aren’t going to find EXACTLY what you saw online, but remember key characteristics with the items and look for something similar.

3. Compile a List- There is no greater tool in keeping yourself organized than a list. Put your list together after you’ve assessed your closet and browsed online for a bit. If your budget is especially tight, keep the list fewer than ten items. More than ten items can become overwhelming and you’ll be more likely to ditch the list and go for impulse buying. Be as vague or as particular as you want in your list. More seasoned thrift shoppers tend to be very specific with what they are out to get, but this isn’t necessary. It could be as simple as “brown boots” or as complex as “ankle-high brown suede slouchy boots with 2 buckles and a 1-inch heel”. Just keep in mind that the complexity of the list outlines the complexity of your task at hand.4. Stick to the List- Whatever you do—stick to the list. Sometimes this can be a painful thing to do, because it will mean you are leaving some stores empty-handed. This can be difficult for even the most skilled and dedicated thrift shoppers. Your budget will decide how much leeway you have in straying from the list, but the panel of professionals here strongly suggests “stick to the list.” If you have a wide budget and a short list, pencil the extra item in. No one will be the wiser, *wink wink*.

5. Make Regular Trips- If you make your trips to the thrift stores more frequent, you won’t have as much trouble walking away with nothing if you don’t find something you are looking for each time. Just tell yourself “it’s alright, I’ll be back tomorrow/next week, etc.” This can also help you get familiar with the store and cut down on time spent searching through racks, you will find yourself gravitating towards items that you know have recently been put out. This is your thrift shopping instincts getting stronger. Feel free to rejoice.

6. Bring a Friend- Some people prefer having a second opinion when shopping in malls and department stores; thrift shopping is no different. In fact, newbies in the thrift shopping world may find this to be quite helpful, as some stores can seem like an explosion of items that would take hours to go through. Having an extra pair of arms to flail through the racks can make the process move faster, and who knows? Divide and Conquer- Maybe your accomplice will find something mind-numbingly great that you overlooked or never even considered (Just don’t forget about number 4 if your budget is tight). That’s the beauty of shopping at thrift stores, you never know what you are going to find!

Keeping these points in mind and putting them into practice in your life will help you save money in the long run. Keep track of what you’ve spent and compare it to what you would have had to pay if you had bought those items brand new. The difference is astounding, and you may become a lifetime thrift shopper when you see the numbers in black and white. Happy hunting!

‘Tis the time of year Newton gets all set for remembering our cowboy days…

Saturday will be hot (well, it IS July) plus we’ve got the parade…

and a WINDOW FULL of cowboy boots (super trendy these days)

And Saturdays from now till the end of August we have the return of SUMMER SATURDAY SALES

50% OFF all clothing June 30, July 7, 14, 21, 28 and Aug 4, 11, 18, 25

but wait…

if you act between 6 – 7:30 pm on Saturday evenings you can find select household and clothing items are only 25 CENTS. 

We can hardly contain our EXCITEMENT!