Aaron and Lin Schneider have decided to change their lives and follow their passion for bargain hunting.
The Aldergrove couple have left their jobs to start Thrift for Kids, 20295 56th Ave., at the site of the former Oasis food bank.
“We’ve been wanting to open this for a couple of years now,” Aaron said.
He grew up in the Langley Meadows area, and now the couple have a daughter in the local school system (and an 18-month-old).
“Seeing how many unfortunate kids there area, we wanted to do something,” he said.
Now they’ve turned their love of thrifting into a career change. Aaron said he and Lin were looking for a change. He owned a construction company and was working 18 hour days. She was working in retail and has owned businesses.
The 1,900 square foot store opened Feb. 3 and will run seven days a week 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
“I’m hoping that we can do [for the foundation] what Penny Pincher does for the hospital,” Aaron said.
The shop will accept donation of just about anything (except nothing dangerous, no electronics and TVs, and no toys) during regular business hours.
He noted that the plan down the road is to install security cameras to prevent after hours dumping. Items left for thrift shops after hours are often rifled through, damaged, dirtied and unsellable.
“About half of the clothing will be going directly to the school clothing program,” he said.
And because of insurance restrictions, the shop can’t sell toys so any good quality ones will be donated to schools for their Christmas shops and other initiatives.
He explained that the proceeds from the shop go to the foundation minus overhead and some funds for the family to live on.
The plan down the road and once the shop is thriving is to fund a scholarship program through the foundation.
He is not concerned about opening another thrift store in Langley City. There are nine now within the City.
“People love to thrift,” Aaron said.
Downtown thrift stores:
- Battered Women and Children’s Thrift, 20555 56th Ave.
- Bibles for Missions, 20500 Logan Ave.
- Fibroymyalia Well Spring Foundation, #109 20631 Fraser Hwy.
- Langley Meals on Wheels Boutique, 204th Street and 56th Avenue.
- International Christian Relief 5786 203rd St.
- International Christian Relief, 5785 200th St.
- Thrift for Kids (contributing to the Langley School District Foundation), 20295 56th Ave.
- New Hope for Children Thrift Store, 20211 56th Ave.
- Penny Pincher (benefiting Langley Memorial Hospital), 20560 Fraser Hwy.