The remodeling of Berry Good Buys has boosted sales and renewed interest in the thrift shop.
The renovations, paid for by a $100,000 grant from the Amon G. Carter Foundation, saw an almost immediate improvement in sales. The store made $25,203 within the first five days after its reopening.

“It needed to be renovated,” said Sally Dalton, a volunteer who has worked at the story for 20 years. “It was dreary and it had been left alone.”

The thrift store serves as the donation center and a source of revenue for SafeHaven, a non-profit that assists and offers protection to women who want to escape domestic violence.  October is National Domestic Violence Awareness month. A sale on purple clothing at the store is among the special events planned throughout the month to raise awareness.
The store renovations included fresh paint, updated signage, AC units, new floors and an open floor plan. The store also accepts donations six days a week since its re-opening. It previously only accepted them five days a week.
Berry Good Buys store manager, Danna Wall, said since the renovations were completed the quality of donations has also risen.
“It seems donation quality has improved,” Wall said. “Customers feel like this is their store, they know this is done for them.”
The store accounted for nine percent of SafeHaven’s total revenue for the 2015 fiscal year.

The proceeds and donations benefit the women staying in the SafeHaven shelters. Women staying in SafeHaven shelters receive vouchers to shop at Berry Good Buys.

SafeHaven Director of Marketing and Communications, Keeli McNair, said the store helps women rebuild their lives since many women arrive at the shelters with nothing. McNair said many times through their escape women aren’t able to take anything that reminds them of home.
Women are able to buy several outfits, books, and toys for their children at the store.
“Even though it might be the perfect cabinet for your room or your house it is providing so much more than just one nice little piece,” McNair said. “The shopping that you do makes a substantial difference in the lives of so many women and children in our community.”
For more information on the store and the organization’s specials and events for the month, you can visit their website here.