Telford's Found & Styled shares tips for sustainable, secondhand holiday shopping

(The following press release was provided verbatim by Found & Styled)

As holiday shopping ramps up nationwide and budgets are growing tighter, local vintage and secondhand seller, Found & Styled, is helping consumers by offering expert guidance on how to choose sustainable gifts, style secondhand finds, and shop with confidence.

“Secondhand shopping is a win-win for everyone,” said Mandy Dollar, owner of Found & Styled. “It saves money, helps to reduce waste, increases intentional shopping and gift giving, and provides opportunities for people to give and receive beautiful, truly unique, one-of-a-kind items.”

With over 20 years of vintage and thrift experience, Found & Styled offers curated vintage and secondhand year-round and is helping shoppers reimagine secondhand this holiday season not as a compromise, but as a source of creativity and inspiration.

“Secondhand shopping can feel overwhelming,” says Dollar. “Our goal is to empower people with the confidence, tools, and inspiration they need to make it approachable, fun, and easy.”

    

    

Found & Styled’s Top Secondhand Holiday Shopping Tips

Just in time for the holidays, Found & Styled is providing some practical tips and creative ideas designed to make sustainable and intentional gift-giving both accessible and enjoyable.

• Prioritize Quality Over Trends: Go for quality (think wools, leather goods, statement jewelry, or handmade décor) over trends. Keep an eye out for natural fibers (don’t forget to read your labels!) and solid construction to ensure that your gifts are not only unique, but will last over time.
  Pro Tip: Be sure to shop with your hands! Touch is a powerful tool and sometimes, feeling for quality materials can be faster than sight and before checking labels. 
  
  
• Shop With a Plan (and Your Memories): Make a list of recipients and their style or interests. Let shared memories spark gift ideas to keep your search focused and meaningful without feeling lost or overwhelmed.
  Pro Tip: Help yourself out by keeping a running list in your phone, journal, planner, etc. year round so that you are capturing these ideas as they happen.
  
  
• Have Easy Last-Minute Options Ready: Pressed for time? There are plenty of easy thrift-friendly ideas. Vintage glassware, pre-loved books, quality knitwear, candleholders, and brooches make quick, thoughtful gifts—great for curated bundles, too.
  Pro Tip: Be mindful particularly of vintage dishes. Many older ceramics (particularly those made before the 1980s) may contain lead in their glazes or decorations. When in doubt - use any questionable pieces for decorative use only. 
  
  
• Get Creative With Presentation: Use thrifted baskets, scarves, tins, or low-waste materials like newspaper, maps, or brown paper for sustainable, stylish wrapping.
  Pro Tip: Use stamps (which are a-plenty at thrift stores) for handmade, one-of-a-kind, wrapping paper that is both special and sustainable!
   
•  Keep an Open Mind: One of the joys of secondhand shopping is discovering the perfect item you weren’t looking for. Allow room for surprise, pack your patience, and you may find a gift that feels even more personal. 

    

Found & Styled will be offering curated collections of vintage and secondhand clothing, accessories and gifts at various holiday markets and events across the region throughout December, including pop-ups in Skippack, Harleysville, Roxborough, and Franconia in order to help people ready for the holiday season, sustainably.

For more information on Found & Styled including where they will be next, visit their website at www.foundandstyled.com and on Instagram and Facebook @foundandstyled.