For shoppers McKenzie and Ian, DI has not exactly been a frequent stop. However, the buzz about thrifting finally got the better of them, and they knew it was time to drop by to see what they were missing.

“One of our friends said they found really good stuff here, so we were like, ‘We should go check it out,’” McKenzie says.

The trip was actually one of Ian’s only times visiting DI. He had never been inside one of the stores before recently moving to Utah for school. Nevertheless, he was familiar with the brand thanks to DI donation pods.

“We always had one of the donation trailers show up like twice a year in our church parking lot, so I knew DI was the place where our donations would go,” Ian says. 

McKenzie grew up in southern Utah and had a different experience with the thrift store and donation center.

“As a kid, my family would occasionally go to DI for school shopping,” she says. “We got clothes there sometimes.”

Although McKenzie and Ian wouldn’t consider themselves frequent DI shoppers, they still enjoy exploring the ever-changing sales floor when they can.

“It’s just fun because it’s different every time,” McKenzie says. “You never know what’s going to be there.”

Variety is only one element that McKenzie and Ian appreciate about DI. They also like the reasonable costs, quality of items, and opportunity to land great finds. On top of this, they feel that donating and shopping at DI is a great way to help save the planet. McKenzie says this is one of her major incentives for dropping off donations.

“If it’s nice enough and it’s just something I don’t want anymore, then why not donate?” she poses. “It seems wasteful to throw it away.”

Ian notes that reasons like these make DI a great place for all types of shoppers, not just those who are part of the thrifting scene.

“DI is trying to get people things they need for the price they can afford,” Ian says. “This is a way to help people improve their quality of life.”