PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Donations are piling up at places like Goodwill and True Treasures in South Florida as people purge items.
Some of these organizations believe this unexpected increase is due to a Netflix show inspiring people to clear the clutter and replace it with joy.
"Thousands and hundreds of thousands of donations," said Brian Edwards, Vice President of Marketing and Development at Gulfstream Goodwill in West Palm Beach. "It’s huge, we can hardly keep up with it."
This January, a typically calm month for thrift stores, is turning out to be one of the busiest on record.
"Gulfstream Goodwill strategizes how we keep up with that from warehousing to transportation," said Edwards.
Goodwills throughout South Florida have seen a 2 percent increase in donations compared to January 2018.
The reason? Executives are confident the Nextflix show "Tidying Up With Marie Kondo" is playing a significant role.
True Treasures in North Palm Beach is optimistic about the recent boom.
"I definitely believe that consignment is growing in momentum," said Paul Shine, owner of True Treasures.
Shine said more people have been showing up and looking for a good deal, but also trying to resell items like rugs and side tables.
"Our biggest challenge is condition," said Shine. "We get phenomenal furniture but if it’s not in great condition it doesn’t have value."
Experts agreed it's hard to say how long this trend will last.
"South Florida is seasonal, so the more donations we can stack up on for when the season slows down and people start going back up north, we rely on those donations to get us through the off season," said Edwards.
On the flip side, if you're on the hunt for household items or clothes, this recent spike in donations could mean your chance of finding what you want is even better compared to previous years.
