Happy Friday! Did you catch the Fred & Betty’s truck at SLOCA this week? I (Wei) have seen so many memes in January lamenting the inability of people to get their donations out of their trunk and dropped off at the thrift store! As Murphy’s Law would have it, it was the one week I didn’t have boxes of things to donate floating around in my trunk. Next time!
Today for Friday Faces, we are featuring our very own fabulous thrift store, Fred & Betty’s.
First, a little background… Fred and Betty’s thrift store opened its doors in the fall of 2013. The store is named after the landlords of the lot, Fred & Betty Campbell. This sweet couple comes in from time to time with donations and it is always fun to introduce them to customers. We are 100% donation based and our proceeds benefit SLOCA. We take anywhere from 10-20 carloads of donations each day we are open. All those items are sorted, priced, and displayed by the staff. Most days we have 3-4 employees working but this is a full-scale operation so we can always use more help. We are open Monday through Saturday 10:00am-5:00pm, if you would like to volunteer please drop us a line before you come in. We would appreciate your help!
Why is Fred & Betty’s the best thrift store in SLO? We pride ourselves in providing excellent customer service and a fun shopping experience for all. Fred and Betty’s is known for having the friendliest staff, an eclectic Instagram account, color coordinated displays, and a great book selection. We are constantly changing up displays and the store layout to keep things fresh and exciting for our customers. New this year we have our STAFF PICKS and 2022 TRENDS rack. Drop by with your donations and come browse around!
Last year Fred & Betty’s was the Winner of the 2021 New Times Best in SLO!!! Hotly contested with Goodwill, they have won the title twice before. Today we have a short Q&A with Store Manager Sydney Tomlin:
What prompted you to work for Fred & Betty’s?
I grew up thrifting and my passion is for styling clothing and items so I wanted to work in an environment where I could use my creativity but also in a sustainable way as well as be able to support my community.
What is your favorite thing about working at Fred & Betty’s?
Being able to be creative! I love that we give used items a second chance and for our customers to also get a chance to find that one of a kind treasure.
What are some of your favorite (maybe secret) finds in the store?
I love being able to go through the new books. I love to read, so finding that good book I normally wouldn’t have sought out is cool. We get in some pretty cool clothing as well so if I come across a unique piece of clothing it’s always a win.
What is your favorite thing to do around SLO county when you are not at Fred & Betty’s?
Thrifting is one of my favorite things . I Love going to local coffee shops and getting lost in a good book. Hiking with my two dogs and my fiance and being outdoors is something I also love.
Pets – yes or no?
Yes! I have had animals all my life, right now I have a dog and new puppy Gidget and June. I would have all the animals if I could!
Thank you Sydney for sharing a little bit about yourself with us! Fantastic job, Fred & Betty’s team!!! Thank you for providing our community with exceptional customer service and for being an excellent resource.
