The Carousel Thrift Shop

Nearly 20% of Americans shop at thrift, consignment, or antique stores each year, generating more than $17 billion in revenue, according to the National Association of Resale Professionals (NARTS). In 2014, the nation’s best-known thrift store, Goodwill Industries, reported in excess of $5 billion in retail sales at more than 2,000 stores and online. NARTS notes that “there is no typical resale shopper, just as there is no typical resale shop [because] no one is immune to the excitement of finding a treasure and saving money.”

While Fairfield County boasts several exceptional resale stores, one of our hidden gems is The Carousel, a thrift shop affiliated with the Southport Congregational Church. The Carousel, which opened on October 4, 1983, grossed $7,600 in sales during its first year. By 2017, that figure had grown to more than $115,000. (In fact, over the past 35 years, The Carousel has raised nearly $2 million to benefit the Church and its missions and outreach. In spite of these big numbers and the high quality of its merchandise, items at The Carousel are very reasonably priced, which is a big win for those looking to make a dollar stretch or hunting for the best bargains.

Sally Conti, a Southport resident who began her work at The Carousel as a volunteer in the early ‘90s, became the store’s manager in 1997. A member of the Southport Congregational Church for 61 years—nearly one-third of the church’s entire history—Sally’s drive, determination, and kindness have earned her a new title amongt church members: “The Amazing Sally Conti.” At 90, Conti is modest, believing that the success of The Carousel is due not to her, but to her customers. “There’s a lot of people who come in here who don’t really shop; they just need a person to talk to,” she explains. “I have a lot of ladies who do that, which makes them feel good.” Conti notes that, along with the monetary contributions it makes to the Church, creating a sense of companionship and belonging among its volunteers and customers are among The Carousel’s greatest gifts. Since 1983, The Carousel has been staffed entirely by volunteers, though Conti admits that finding enough employees to work each shift is one of the most challenging aspects of running the store. “A lot of my ladies are older,” she says, “but they do whatever they can.” Most of the volunteers are also members of the Church, and three women—Alice Cecsarini, Karen McDonald, and Joan Huntington—have worked at The Carousel for more than twenty years.

During a recent celebration of The Carousel at the Southport Congregational Church, Reverends Paul and Laura Whitmore reflected on the impact that the shop, Sally Conti, and her volunteers have had over the past thirty-five years. They note that The Carousel “have far surpassed all initial dreams of what the thrift shop could possibly do – and it is an amazing contributor in so many ways; it contributes to our church and all that we’re able to do, whether it’s ministry or mission.” Rev. Paul Whitmore also believes that part of what makes The Carousel so special is that it helps the Church to achieve its mission of assisting people in the greater community. “Any time someone is in need,” he says, “The Carousel and Sally and all the volunteers immediately say, ‘Yes, we have that!’…[The Carousel] is an arm of our ministry, and it’s a beautiful thing.”

The Carousel is located adjacent to the Southport Congregational Church at 524 Pequot Avenue in Southport. It is open Tuesday - Friday, 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. and Saturday, 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Accepted donations include women’s, men’s, and children’s clothing and shoes; housewares; books, furniture, and home accessories; and office supplies. To make a donation or to volunteer, call (203) 259-6629, or stop by during business hours. To find out more, visit the Southport Congregational Church’s website: www.southportucc.org.

Article written by Ben Gott