GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Thrift shop donation numbers are up across the country in 2019. However, many believe it’s not the work of any New Year resolutions, but in fact that of a popular television show. Netflix released its new series, “Tidying up with Marie Kondo” on Tuesday, Jan. 1, and it has become a sensation.
As an extension of Marie Kondo’s 2014 book, “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,” the Netflix show promotes minimalism by asking individuals to organize their messy spaces and throw out anything that doesn’t “spark joy.” The decluttering of households has been proving helpful for thrift shops.
Rick Sikkema, Manager of Mission India Super Thrift in Grand Rapids, said he didn’t know anything about the Netflix hit, but that donations numbers were high in 2019. Sikkema added that donation rates are usually high this time of year, but that he would welcome any new donations that may come as result of the show.
“[Donations] are our bread and butter. We rely on that, because we have zero money invested [in donations],” Sikkema said.
Posts of the show’s social media following have been prevalent. Accounts are touting images of garbage bags and boxes full of unwanted items with the trending hashtag “Konomarie,” Kondo’s method of tidiness.
Since the show debuted, Kondo’s 2014 book has also reached number two on Amazon’s best-sellers list.
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