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Goodwill, Target, and Playing with My Lamps

Most of you know this already, but for the few of you who don’t, I’m going to let you in on a really fantastic secret.  Goodwill gets all of Target’s scratch and dents.  Many times the merchandise found at Goodwill is identical to that found on the shelves at your local Target.  The only difference is the extreme difference in price.  Here are some items I picked up.
This guy below is $19.99 right now on the shelves at Target.  I found it for $3 at Goodwill.

This little one is around $10 at Target and I found it at Goodwill for $1.50

Now the big people and the little people can hang up their coats!  

See these beautiful curtain rod finials?  See that fab $1.99 pricetag???  They are $12.99 at Target.

See this lampshade?  No clue how much it cost in its previous life, but it was cheap and I thought it would look great in my bedroom.


Or would it?…..

(Cue dramatic CSI-ish music)
….dum, dum, dum.

1. So here is what my nightstand currently looks like.  Kind of blah and boring.

2.  So what if I switched out the shade with my new brown beauty?  Hmmm.  It’s okay.  Still a bit boring though.

3.  Then I remembered I had this cute milk glass lamp in the basement.  What if we try the cute brown shade with the milk glass?  Hmmm. Now I feel drawn to the milk glass, but I don’t like the shade with it.   The shade seems way too big for the lamp base.

4.  So perhaps the other shade would work here?  Uh, no.  Hate. it.

5.  Okay, what if we go over and steal the shade off of Hubby’s lamp on his nightstand?  Hmmm.  These two things don’t really look like they fit together.  Too much texture or something.  Ugh.  See?  Things don’t always go smoothly when trying to switch it up.

I think I’m leaning towards option 2, but I’m still not 100% sold.  Perhaps I’ll walk through the house switching up all the shades before deciding and really drive Hubby crazy!
And do you remember those owl bookends before? 

Here they are after.  Who knew all those little holes were there?  Lucky for me, I actually kind of like them.  I think they add to the distressed owl look.  (Oh, and see that cute little placecard?  I couldn’t resist including it in the photo.  Nikki from Lovely Scribbles made some for me. So cute!)


Point of this post?  I have no idea. Let me quickly come up with one.   Ahem, Goodwill is a great place for deals, but your purchases don’t always turn into fantastic creations.  Sometimes you have to be very creative to repurpose those “must have finds”.  I guess I’m still caught in the middle of that creativity :).

How about you?  Pick up anything good from Goodwill that didn’t quite work the way you had planned?

(Don’t forget that the Get Your Face On Party is on for this Wednesday!!!  Click on the pic for more details.)

Linking up with the best party around!

DIY Day @ ASPTL

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Comments

  1. Great finds!
    Target sends their salvaged, some damaged, and some returns to Goodwill. At times, I have seen things go clearance at Target, and once they get to Goodwill, the price is higher than it was at Target. No I don't work for Target; but I am a "vendor" that travels to different Target stores and has to deal with backroom and salesfloor issues. I'm also a thrift store shopper. Gotta love the finds.

  2. you must have a whole different Goodwill than ours. In one direction I have a goodwill that is connected to a certain area and they sell mostly junk, a few miles away is another Goodwill based in a different city and it has better stuff, but none of the Target leftovers. That must be your locale. We did have another thrift store line that I have seen clothing from one of our big department stores. Got a great pinpoint oxford shirt for my husband Geoffrey Beene, and he just said, 'huh?'

  3. I love that GW has Target stuff! There have actually been times where it has something has been more expensive on my GW's shelves than Target's, though so I have to be careful! Our GW is overpriced sometimes. Love your finds!

  5. I've bought a few new Target items from Goodwill as well, much to my surprise! I love, love the milk glass lamp. Very vintage-y and lovely, and those owl book ends are super fun! Awe' shucks, thanks for sneaking my little placecard in there, too! 🙂 Fun post as always, Beth!!

  7. My GW also gets alot of target stuff. I have purchased several things at GW that Target still sells. They now have quite a few new winter scarves for $1.99 that have the $16.99 target tags on them.

  8. Wow Beth – I did not know that! I love those shades. What a fun idea to try all of the lamp ideas out in the same spot to see what they look like.

    I hope you are having a wonderful week!!!

    XOXO
    Jen

  9. You can also find a very similar chandelier/shade to the one I photographed in the store at Ikea! Crazy, right? It's at a great price and you can always spray/stain it whatever color you want.

  10. I really enjoyed this post. I'm a big fan of "Oh yeah, I should probably have a point."

    And I had no idea Goodwill got target's cast offs! That is a great tip.

  11. Thanks Beth…I think I am the only one in Blogland that didn't know that about Target..

    Goodwill here I come….lol

    All the best,
    Kathy 🙂

  12. Beth, you're too funny. I (sadly) have only been to Goodwill once…at least since I started spiffing up my house…and I was not impressed with what there was…but I guess it's always changing, and I just need to go back and see if I can find something the second time around! YOU are ALWAYS finding awesome stuff at yours…I am jealous! Haha!

    As for the lamps…hmm, I actually liked the first lamp the best, before you changed anything! 😉 Sorry, I know, not much help!

    Blessings, Grace

  13. I would go with lamp option #2. I think it looks great! I don't have the best luck at Goodwill. I have better luck at Salvation Army and thrift stores.

  14. My GW doesn't always have the best prices. I actually saw something that was the same price as the original price tag !! Crazy….

  15. Great finds! My Goodwill get's more things from TJ Maxx than Target, also lots of Ikea things. I think I shop Goodwill more than any other store LOL!

    Manuela

  16. I had no idea either. Our GW is not a very good one but then neither is our target. I love a good treausure though.

  17. Great finds- I love Goodwill!

    Please feel free to stop by the Talented Tuesday at My Frugal Family link party, and add your weekly craft links!

    It's found at theherberfamily.blogspot.com

  18. Well, that is a good point, Beth! I'm probably one of the few that didn't know that about Target. But it would explain the storage ottoman my son found and the chandelier curtain panel I got there.

    I'm still working on a small silver tray I got at Goodwill, that I painted the inset with chalkboard paint. Did not realize that the little design would still show through, so I'm going to have to cut something to fit over that and paint that with the chalkboard.

  19. ok my goodwill does not get Target's stuff….boo! Unless they are getting clothes considering the non-clothes section is about as big as a shoebox….
    anyway I love the shade, just not with your lamp choices lol and I love the milk glass just not with the shade choices haha Sorry I don't have any wise or witty suggestions for you…:( you'll figure it out though!

  20. Hmm, I really like that milkglass lampshade, but I am with you that the combo with the new shade is a bit of. But I have no doubt you will find a way to work your wonders again and soon we will be seeing a post on the perfect base for the shade and the perfect shade for the base.
    Keep up the Good Will Hunting.

  21. Oh Beth…you make me laugh! I love your lamp options…my favorite is #2. I like the owl bookends. They're so cute!
    We don't have a Target, but our Goodwill has a "corner store" dept. where they sell new {but damaged or opened} items from Walmart.
    Have a good week!

    Lisa

  22. I had no idea about target and goodwill! Thanks for the tip and I hope you find the right look for your bedside lamp!

  24. That's the great thing about Goodwill or other thrifts. If your transformation doesn't go as planned, just donate it back again!

    Love the little milkglass lamp – good luck finding a shade for it. I know one will turn up!

  25. I'd do a little burlap belt on your lamp and tie it in a knot w/ lose end (not a bow but just the knot part) it will looks very earthy and hippy..but modern and cool!

  26. I'd do a little burlap belt on your lamp and tie it in a knot w/ lose end (not a bow but just the knot part) it will looks very earthy and hippy..but modern and cool!

  27. I love that about the GW. I have found many a brand new Target item there. Good post to share the knowledge.

  28. Oh, waaaaaah…we don't have a Goodwill near us!! But that is very interesting news. Kudos to Target for not just tossing it all in a bin! I understand your lampshade problem, it's a real balancing act!

    xoxo
    Jan

  30. That's news to me too! I know that Ross has Kohl's stuff all the time.

    I also think that some of Goodwill's furniture is pricey! They have a set price for stuff, whether it is quality or not.

    Thanks for sharing that info!

    Talk to you soon 😉
    Bunny Jean

  31. There have been a few pieces of furniture that I didn't thoroughly check out before purchasing them, only to get home and realize something was missing, cracked, or broken. I HATE when that happens!

    I didn't know about the Target/Goodwill connection, and that's crazy because I like to think my real last name might be "Goodwill". Thanks for the info. Btw, I really like the milk glass lamp–maybe try a shorter shade that you can embellish if you want. It's so great it doesn't need much.

  32. Good point, Beth!! I've brought home some things before that I thought would be real winners, and they turned out to be duds. I had no idea Target's stuff goes to GW!!! Ours can be pricey, but I might need to swing by tomorrow. 🙂

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