New Weyauwega thrift store standardizes prices, donates sales

Matthew Day

Staff

October 13, 2025

WEYAUWEGA – With few retail options nearby, and the closest big-box and thrift stores at least “22 minutes away,” Janis Barnett said she wanted a closer clothing outlet for the Weyauwega community. 

Renovating her garage into a fully functional clothing store, Barnett said the recently opened Shirley’s Thrift Store offers just that.

Located at E5917 Evanswood Road in Weyauwega, she said the store offers affordable clothing options amid otherwise rising retail prices. 

“Times are hard, anywhere you go – it doesn’t matter what your dynamic is,” she said. 

Barnett said she’s witnessed the financial hardship as traditionally inexpensive options like big-box retailers, thrift store chains and even rummage sales have raised their prices. 

For her community’s sake, she said Shirley’s Thrift Store will sell garments at standardized prices, regardless of brand, including: 

• Shirts – $1.75 
• Pants – $2.00 
• All shoes – $2.50 
• Jackets – $5.00 
• Dresses – $5.00 
• Baby clothes – $.50 

“Nothing is more than five bucks for clothing,” she said. “I just know there’s a need for affordable clothing out there.” 

After receiving wave upon wave of clothing donations, then hosting an enthusiastic grand opening earlier this month, Barnett said the store is already meeting needs while fostering a cycle of generosity. 

“It’s kind of like the community is giving back to the community, even though they might not realize how [much] they have been helping me, too,” she said. “Now I’ll get to help them back in return.”

A two-car clothing store 

Barnett said Weyauwega not only lacks clothing stores – it lacks storefronts and commercial properties in general. 

Because of this, she said when she decided to open her own store, deciding on its location was a quick process. 

“From the beginning, we kind of knew we were going to do it at our house,” she said. “And then, once it grows bigger and we can afford it, we want to end up in a different location.” 

Though her commute to the store couldn’t be more convenient, Barnett said the work leading up to its opening was strenuous.  

The final stretch of renovation, she said, saw her – a stay-at-home mom who’s also handling all inventory, bookkeeping and marketing/promotion and working alongside her husband, who is also a business owner – routinely putting in eight to 10 hours of work a day. 

The remodeling effort has been worth it, Barnett said, since it means foregoing the additional cost of renting a space, which, in turn, would have meant higher prices for customers. 

In all, she said she feels “pretty blessed” that she’s able to run the operation from her renovated garage. 

“[Now], I want to bless other people,” she said. 

Built on generosity, conservation 

For now, Barnett said donations to Shirley’s Thrift Store are simply dropped off on her driveway. 

More than anything, she said her process is based on ensuring the clothing is clean and in good condition. 

It’s a process Barnett said she relishes, as she was pleasantly surprised by the degree of generosity. 

“We’ve gotten so many donations that it is a little bit overwhelming right now,” she said. “I’m still in the process of stocking things.” 

Barnett said if only due to spatial limitations, she won’t be stocking home goods, restricting her inventory to “clothing, backpacks, purses, belts” and other wearable items and accessories. 

She said she’s grateful to all who have dropped off donations, as the initial excitement for the store had her wondering whether she’d be able to carry enough stock. 

By not having to personally collect items from donors initially, Barnett said she was able to use that extra time to focus on getting the store ready. 

“Eventually… I will be able to go pick up donations,” she said. 

Barnett said she’s also been impressed by the quality of clothing she’s received. 

“Some of the clothes donated still have tags on them, or they’re barely worn,” she said. 

Even if wearable clothing is donated to a thrift store instead of thrown away, Barnett said since larger chains have limited space, it results in much of it being thrown away anyway. 

She said thrift stores like hers are not only able to save consumers’ money, but they’re also good for the environment. 

According to earth.org, “of the 100 billion garments produced each year, 92 million tonnes end up in landfills,” representing energy usage and ecological damage. 

“There are tons and tons of clothes in the landfill right now that don’t get reused again,” Barnett said. “So, if it can get reused another time, that’s another piece of clothing that’s not harming the earth.” 

The thrift that keeps on giving 

Barnett said she learned to appreciate thrift stores from a young age. 

“My whole life, I grew up very poor, so that’s kind of how we got everything,” she said. 

Barnett said it was her late grandmother, Shirley, who taught her the value and enjoyment of thrifting. 

“She and I used to go [to thrift stores] shopping all the time,” she said. “It’s one of my core memories… so I wanted to name [my store] after her.” 

Barnett said thrift stores took on a whole new value for her when she was a single mother. 

Living in Fond du Lac at the time, and experiencing the sting of the price of children’s clothes, she said she founded an earlier business called Swap Moms to help parents like her who sought affordable, gently used clothing. 

After getting married and moving to Weyauwega, she said Shirley’s Thrift Store gives her a chance to expand on her earlier venture. 

“There’s such a need in our community, it’s just crazy,” she said. “I felt the same way about Swap Moms… Everybody else is having the same problems around me. They can’t afford basic back-to-school clothes, etc.” 

With the store operating as a nonprofit, Barnett said she’s been able to give back in several additional ways. 

Per the store’s mission statement, in addition to affordable shopping, Shirley’s Thrift Store’s community contributions include: 

• 10% of all sales are donated back to local nonprofit organizations each month 
• Free clothing to individuals and families in need, through direct assistance and community partnerships 
• Through its partnership with Waupaca Head Start, the store provides vouchers for students who need clothing 
• Immediate access to clothing for families affected by crises such as house fires or job loss 
• Seasonal support programs such as back-to-school events, winter coat drives and holiday gift initiatives 

“Every time I take home money at the end of the day, that’s not my main goal,” Barnett said. “My main goal is to make sure everybody has clothing.” 

In this sense, she said Shirley’s Thrift Store is “not just like a thrift store – [it’s] more of a helping hand in the community.” 

Barnett said due to help from the community itself – which has not only donated clothing, but helpful items like hangers and bins – she is empowered to use her store as an agent for change.  

“It’s really eye-opening,” she said of the experience so far. “I feel like it’s like a calling I’ve had for a while.” 

Find Shirley’s Thrift Store on Facebook for more information.