Retailers nationwide are feeling the pinch as customers are choosing alternatives to walking into traditional brick and mortar retail stores. Goodwill is no different. Throughout 2016 Goodwill's retail sales have struggled to meet targets. But for the non-profit the missed targets don't represent unrealized profits; instead it means those dollars are not available to support job training and employment programs.

In 2015 nearly 68% of the organization's revenues came from the sale of goods generously donated to the organization. This resulted in service to more than 45,000 people in central and southwest Virginia who walked through the doors of Goodwill in need of assistance. These revenues also enabled 4,261 individuals to find work as the result of Goodwill programs.  

"Like many retailers locally and across the country we are seeing a decline in the number of customers visiting our stores," states Mindy Boyd, Goodwill's Vice President of Donated Goods. "Those who are shopping are buying, but with fewer customers in the stores we are looking at ways to attract more people to come back to the traditional retail stores, but also meeting them where they have chosen to shop . . . online."

Already this year Goodwill has held two sales, a first for the non-profit, in an effort to attract more shoppers. The latest sale took place on September 3rd & 4th and allowed customers to take advantage of buy one get one free on summer clothing.   Jim Forer, Manager of Hollins store in Roanoke stated, "Customers were not just shopping sale but the entire store. And they appreciated that Goodwill was offering lower price options and the ability to save even more." Another sale is planned for the Holiday Season.