Score! Nifty Thrifty Thanks Orcas

— by Margie Doyle —

Susan Malins, center, in Score! Nifty Thrifty refereeing Colleen Billings, left, and Anita Orne, right, at the start of the “Thank You Orcas” sale

Score Nifty Thrifty Turns Three!

Score! Nifty Thrifty is a unique shop tucked into the Eastsound Post Office building. It was started three years ago this week as an Orcas “Community Sharing” venture, where donated goods of all kinds are available at great savings to customers.

Owner Susan Malins says, “Score! Nifty Thrifty is a Service Business…Specifically, Community Service on Orcas. Any profit we make is returned to the community, in the form of low prices for all and donations to numerous low-income individuals and non-profit organizations.”

In gratitude for the support from donors to customers, Score! Nifty Thrifty is having a “Thank You, Orcas” Sale on Monday, June 20 and Tuesday, June 21. Everything in the store will be 50% off.

With the fire ending the old Exchange “store” at the Orcas Recycling Station in 2013,  Malins saw a need for a similar enterprise on the island. Score! is a for-profit entity owned and operated by low-income community members. “Our service is to provide quality, working and very cool items to islanders at thrift store prices,” she said.

While many thrift stores are non-profit entities, managed by volunteers, Malins employs “an incredible team,” including Colleen Billings, Jennifer Aslett, Katelyn Nichols, Joanie Rorabaugh, — “our goddess crew”  — and Jonah Armour.

Colleen Billings has worked at Score for two years off and on off and on, now as a fill-in person, somebody who can come in when another employee is sick. She says, “What I like the most about working here is the people that come in; it gets me out with all the people that I miss when I’m just taking care of one person at night. I like coming in and catching up with people and meeting the tourists that come in.

“Susan is a very, very caring person. She cares about her friends, her customers, the people who come in here, but most of all, for the people who work for her, and when they’re having troubles she’s always there to try to help out. She’s a real sweet person; we all like working for her.”

Score! benefits the island as a social hub where islanders can touch base and check in with each other.  Newcomers will find the store is a stationary “welcome wagon” to Orcas Island, as frequently, a customer question leads to a group discussion and multiple references to other local resources.

People who are housecleaning or downsizing bring household items in, and new households, summer visitors, and those in search of that certain something will find SCORE! Nifty Thrifty answers their needs, from fine China dishes to can openers, space heaters to costumes, from books to learning courses, from jewelry to hair dryers and everything in between. There are corners and departments for toys, books, kitchenware, jewelry, crafts, DVDs, computer parts, art, fine china and furniture. Score! often responds to community needs such as when there is a house fire, and the store is known to provide the props and decorations for many theatrical productions and non-profit galas.

Score! gratefully accepts donations that are clean and in good working condition. Malins says “We want to encourage people to donate their items and share household goods with the community.” She asks that donations NOT be left in the hallway or at the entrance to the shop when it is closed, but are dropped off during store hours or by arrangement with her at 376-8375.

A visit to the store on any given day will show Malins and her staff arranging the inventory and everyday, you’ll hear, “What’s IS this?” as they bring out mysterious items such as the needlepoint-covered brick doorstop or the shin-high snow boot liners.Score! also maintains a FaceBook page at Score Nifty Thrifty.

Community Sharing on Orcas brings real satisfaction to Malins, who says, “I’ve been a thrifty shopper for three decades and always enjoyed the process; and we don’t want stuff going into the waste stream or being carted to the mainland when islanders can use it.”

“It’s lots of fun to find something you need or enjoy at a very low price. Financially, times are tough for many of us, so it matters that we’ve created a place where necessary and nifty stuff — whether brand new, vintage or lightly used — is available.

“It’s fun and varied and a service; I feel very content doing this. Every day is an adventure with new discoveries to be made.”

Her interest and expertise in re-cycling brought her to the board of the ORS/Exchange, where she has served since 2012, in several executive positions. She says, “I’ve seen a lot of changes.  One big change is that now this non-profit organization has matured and done the work to help to ensure that the new Exchange will be a sustainable resource for our island community, feasible for generations to come.  That’s important to me.”

When asked what will happen to Score! when the new Exchange opens, Malins says simply, “I don’t know. I hope something good.”

SCORE! is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is parking behind the Post Office building.