Goodwill Bins grand opening in Calgary attracts hundreds of deal hunters

Dylan Kibblewhite was at the front of the line Saturday morning for the grand opening of Calgary's Goodwill Bins outlet store.

"If you're not first, you're last," he said, adding that he slept overnight in his car to be one of the first inside.

Before he stepped inside the southeast Calgary store, Kibblewhite said he was on the hunt for collectibles, particularly books, toys and "knick-knacks."

Unlike the usual Goodwill thrift stores, where clothes and other items are displayed on racks and shelves, the products inside the outlet come out in large blue bins hence the name.

Shoppers dig through the bins, searching for unique pieces of clothing, or other items likebooks thatthey can resell online for a quick profit.

Dale Monaghan, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries of Alberta, said each bin is on the floor for about 30 minutes.

"There's a constant refreshing of the product on the floor, so that's why people will be here all day," he said.

As the new bins were rolled out on Saturday, shoppers lined up.

"It's so competitive," said Jenni Zhao. "Because there's big quantities of random items but only limited good stuff."

All items that end up in the bins were passed over at regular Goodwill stores. If they're not purchased at the outlet, the items are then recycled, repaired or repurposed.

According to Monaghan, between items getting a second chance at the outlet and Goodwill's salvaging strategies, more than 80 per cent of what's donated in Calgary finds new life.

"We literally divert millions of kilograms a year from landfills," he said.

Prices at the outlet are determined by weight in pounds. Each pound costs $1.25.

Avery Scarlett spent his time inside the outlet assembling a set of golf clubs, thinking he could lend them to friends.

While waiting at the register, he said he wouldn't buy them if the cost was over $40. But when the clubs hit the scale, the price came out at $27.

"We'll take it," Scarlett said.

The Calgary outlet store is the largest in Alberta and the second one to open in the province. Another outlet in Edmonton opened in 2017.