CULLMAN, Ala. – Local nonprofit Victoria’s Hope has joined the ranks of other thrift and vintage boutiques creating an online presence and has officially launched its Shopify page. Founder April German said she hopes the online storefront, in addition to the brick and mortar store located on U.S. Highway 278 West, will open another avenue to serve others.
“We stumbled upon our online thrift store actually by accident during a day when bad weather forced us to close,” German explained. “But as soon as we put our items online, we were amazed by the response. People loved the convenience of thrifting from home, or as we like to say, ‘thrifting from their couch.’”
German said that one of the more fun aspects of the online storefront is offering exciting flash sales and coupons.
“We work hard to make it fun for everyone. One of my last sales was a 30-minute window where you could get 30% off your entire order, and you only had an hour’s notice. I like to keep it fun and exciting but also keep the prices as low as possible,” noted German, saying the flash deals are a great way to get people interested and make the online shopping experience even more interactive.
German also said that listing some items online allows supporters of Victoria’s Hope’s mission to show some love from afar, and keeps funds local.
“It also gives folks from out of the area a chance to support us and snag a great deal, all while still keeping those funds right here in our community. By supporting us, even from afar, customers can shop and give back to our community and support our mission of assisting those in need!” she exclaimed.
German maintained that while the online storefront is beneficial for the community, it is beneficial for Victoria’s Hope, too, offering another revenue stream to float the organization through the winter months when in-person shoppers may be less frequent, or a bit more thrifty after the holidays.
“First, it gives us HOPE. It’s been a difficult journey, and we’ve given up in our heads more times than I can count. Launching an online store can potentially create a new revenue stream to support us through the winter retail months,” said German. “Our store and this community are what fund our nonprofit. The more we bring in, the more we can give back.”
She said even with the success of the Shopify page, the physical storefront isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, noting that much of the online storefront’s stock comes from out-of-season donations for which Victoria’s Hope doesn’t necessarily have the storage capacity.
“The generous donations from our community ensure we have plenty of amazing items available at great thrift store prices in both our physical and online stores. Interestingly, most of the items in our Shopify store come from my garage, where we stored the out-of-season items before we had the space we have now. These items have been sitting there for two years, and we’ve never needed them. It’s a testament to how much our community supports us, and we are truly grateful for their generosity!” smiled German.
She also shared that Victoria’s Hope owes much of its success to the community it serves, saying, “I know I may sound repetitive, but I can’t stress enough how much this community has changed my life. They took a small idea I had and turned it into something beyond my wildest imagination. Victoria’s Hope is not just a nonprofit thrift store – it’s a tight-knit community of individuals striving to brighten at least one person’s day. And when I say community, I don’t just mean my family and our volunteers. I mean everyone who shops, our clients, the supporters and the people of this community. We’ve built a strong family that takes care of one another, and that’s what I’ve witnessed in Cullman County. In 2024, I’m hopeful that we can expand and offer more services than we have in the past. The sky’s the limit, and I can’t wait to see where this community will take Victoria’s Hope this year!”
To check out Victoria’s Hope’s online offerings and start a thrifting adventure from the comfort of your couch, visit http://tinyurl.com/vhshopify. Shopping and in-store pickup options are available, with all funds raised staying in the community.
Find out more at https://victorias-hope-thrift-and-treasures.business.site. Victoria’s Hope is located at 230 U.S. Highway 278 W, Cullman, AL 35057.
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