FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 2, 2016
Goodwill® Steps Up with a Solution for Absent Tax Free Weekend
Weeklong “Spend $20, Get 20% Off” sale delivers value to families preparing for new school year
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (August 2, 2016) — Parents are shopping early for bargains this year as back to school spending projections have increased compared to last year. The National Retail Federation (NRF) projects that in 2016, families will spend an average of $674 on back to school shopping, up from $630 in 2015. For the upcoming 2016 school year, the NRF estimates 65 percent of the back to school shopping budget will be spent on apparel and electronics, as these items can change trends regularly, and are also a means for students to express their personalities.
Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont is ready to help families maximize spending dollars with clothing, furniture and electronics at sharply reduced prices compared to average costs at the mall or other retailers. In addition to already affordable prices, Goodwill will offer a “Spend $20, Get 20% Off” promotion (no coupon necessary) just in time for back to school and back to college shopping from Saturday, August 6 – Saturday, August 13 valid at all of Goodwill’s 24 retail stores in the region, including the new specialty store GW and The GRID: Powered by Goodwill. Shoppers may purchase several outfits for the average price of one, or furniture for campus housing at prices college students can afford.
Looking for electronics? The GRID: Powered by Goodwill, located across from UNCC at 9605 N Tryon Street in the University area, has technology needs at discounts up to 65% off retail markups. For high school and college-bound students especially, the shopping spree often requires a long list of expensive tech gadgets. The GRID carries a diverse variety of new, refurbished and donated products including: desktop and laptop computers, tablets, printers, flat screen televisions, audio components, portable chargers, retro games, gaming consoles and controllers, and drones to impress friends this school year.
“Goodwill offers huge bargains as parents begin to empty their wallets for back to school and back to college shopping this year,” said Barbara Maida-Stolle, executive vice president of business enterprises at Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont. “Our prices are always low and in addition to clothing and shoes for back to school, we also offer electronics and furniture at significant discounts to check off the shopping lists for older students.”
Examples of unbeatable deals to score at Goodwill may include:
- Laptop computer, refurbished with new operating system at The GRID: starting at $120
- Couch and lamp at Goodwill retail stores: as low as $20 and $5 respectively
- Children’s clothes: $2.79
- Men’s and women’s denim: $4.99
In addition to checking off the shopping list while saving big, every purchase made at Goodwill retail stores supports job training and employment services for unemployed and underemployed individuals as they upgrade their skills to enter the competitive workforce. The new Goodwill Opportunity Campus, located at 5301 Wilkinson Boulevard in west Charlotte, recently opened its doors on Thursday, June 30 to provide convenient access to supports and services such as healthcare, banking and financial literacy under one roof for clients to achieve family sustaining employment and to ultimately influence the trajectory of poverty.
Each week, 230 people access Goodwill’s employment and basic needs resources. In 2015, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont provided employment services to 12,000 individuals and placed 1,500 job seekers in local jobs throughout the region. For more information about Goodwill and its programs, visit www.goodwillsp.org.
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About Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont
Goodwill has been serving individuals and families in the Southern Piedmont region of North and South Carolina for more than 50 years. Goodwill operates 24 retail stores and has more than 45 donation sites in the region. Proceeds from the sale of donated goods fund job training and employment services for individuals facing barriers to employment such as lack of skills, experience or education and criminal backgrounds. In 2015, Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont provided employment services to 12,000 individuals and placed 1,500 job seekers in local jobs throughout the region thanks to donations and purchases from the community. For more information, visit www.goodwillsp.org.
Media Contacts
Molly Thompson | PR & Social Media Manager | Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont | Phone: (704) 332-0262 | Email: molly.thompson@goodwillsp.org
Melinda Wilshire | Director, Marketing & Communications | Goodwill Industries of the Southern Piedmont | Phone: (704) 916-1616 | Email: melinda.wilshire@goodwillsp.org
Facebook.com/GoodwillSP | Twitter: @GoodwillSP | Instagram: @GoodwillSP
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