Be creative, have fun, and save the planet at ReCraft Creative Reuse Center.
For crafters, creative people, parents, and the art agnostic—welcome to wonderland. There is something fun for everyone at ReCraft Creative Reuse Center, South Carolina’s first and only nonprofit arts and crafts thrift store.
“We’re here to normalize reuse,” says Grant Cothran, executive director, as he weaves between fun displays inside the bright and airy space. “This is a thrift shop, but we want it to feel more or less like a retail store. ReCraft is very welcoming and approachable—there’s something here for people from all walks of life.”
The theory is simple, and it works: the community donates new and used art supplies, craft projects, vintage finds, odds and ends. The staff and a 400-strong team of volunteers then sorts everything, prices mind-bogglingly low, and stocks shelves to inspire new creative projects. Some of those items are, quite literally, trash—bottle caps and jewel cases. For the right buyer, however . . . they are treasure.
“People bring us stuff because they realize that here, it has the best chance of staying out of the landfill,” says Cothran. “We’re able to divert over 80 percent of what people donate from ending up at the dump. Our customers are often our donors, too; they love knowing that they can clean out their closet, and at the same time, fuel their next creative project. And in a way, donating allows them to connect with people that they may never meet, yet know that the materials are going to be loved again.”
Behind the ReCraft Counter
ReCraft boasts a remarkable inventory across dozens of well-stocked areas: fine art supplies, vintage books and photographs, sewing and party supplies, paper crafts, and the usual kid-friendly items like fuzzy pipe cleaners and googly eyes. There is a certain brilliance to the bulk-item section, which is displayed like a colorful candy counter: anyone can fill a bag with art-ready goodies for pocket change.
“What’s nice is that a family planning a birthday party, or a Sunday school teacher with a specific project in mind, can come in and get exactly what they need—without worrying about it costing an arm or a leg,” laughs Cothran, who points out that when his team receives new items, they immediately cut the retail price by 50% if not more. “We want to make the pricing really, really accessible. There is no question that if we have it, it is the cheapest in town. The cost of materials should never limit a person’s artistic expression.”
Beyond inspiring makers—and giving them a place to actively create in their makerspace—ReCraft has built a passionate community around the thrill of reusing and repurposing art supplies. “I’m a paper crafter, and I like organizing. It’s so fun seeing all the unique items [come in], and trying to help people find what they need by bringing it all together in a display,” says Mary Rawson, a 2-year volunteer. “I mean, I run a busy home with kids and everything else that entails . . . so, I already know chaos, and trying to create order,” the artist says, laughing.
“We can’t solve all of the recycling industry’s problems,” adds Cothran, returning to ReCraft’s core purpose. “We have a narrow mission, but I think we do it well. And when people donate to us, a comment we often get is, ‘Thank you for being here.’ When I started this journey, there were about one hundred creative reuse centers. Now, there are more in the Carolinas and Virginia per capita than there are in California. I really believe that every community deserves a resource like ReCraft.”
Easy Ways to Get Involved
ReCraft is always seeking quality donations for their shop—anything from art supplies to vintage CDs to odd bric-a-brac—as well as volunteers who love sorting chaos into craft inspiration.
ReCraft Creative Reuse Center, 2439 Laurens Rd., Greenville, recraftgvl.org
