New 2 YouJoin us for our 20th Year Celebration (June 17-22)!
From June 17-22, we are celebrating 20 years! It’s crazy how much New 2 You has changed over the two decades. We hope that you can join us in the week-long festivities as we celebrate!
Here’s what to expect this week:
- All men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing is 20% off, including boutique!
- Receive a thank-you New 2 You gift certificate ranging from $2 to $20, with $100 going to one customer when you purchase or donate. One gift certificate per person per day.
- Macatawa Bank is providing a celebration treat from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm on Wednesday, June 19
Additionally, June is the last month that our current general manager, Karen Witte, is with us before retiring. This week is an excellent time to congratulate her on 11 successful years at New 2 You!
We encourage you to follow us on Facebook and Instagram to get regular updates about our celebration week.
Congratulations to our GRCHS Seniors!
Meet Cameron, Elyse, and Syann, our graduating seniors at Grand Rapids Christian High School! These ladies have been an integral part of New 2 You, and we can’t wait to see where the future takes them!
Cameron and Elyse have worked at New 2 You for two years and Syann for one. Cameron started off as a Winterim student, earning money for her trip to Vietnam. She loves working with women’s clothing, and it makes her day to hear a satisfied customer mention how clean and organized our products are.
Elyse was introduced to New 2 You by her sister, Eva, who used to work on Saturdays. She always enjoys cashiering and working with the women’s clothing. Her favorite part about working at New 2 You is interacting with her co-workers and volunteers that are of various ages. “I love getting to work with people that are wiser than me and can hear their stories,” Elyse shared.
Syann learned about New 2 You through Elyse, and the two now make an amazing cashier team! Syann enjoys cashiering, but she also likes organizing the housewares and clear glass. Additionally, interacting with the close-knit community always brightens her day.
Each of the girls have loved their high school experiences. Cameron especially enjoyed her Winterim trips to Vietnam and Europe, while Elyse and Syann were particularly invested in Theater and Forensics. Through their involvement, they found meaningful communities and had great experiences, but each of the ladies are ready and excited to move onto new adventures.
Cameron will be attending Grand Valley State University in the fall studying product design with hopes of building and designing furniture someday. Elyse and Syann will each be attending Calvin University, where Elyse will have an arts focus and join the Calvin Theatre Company. Syann plans to study Environmental Science and International Relations.
Cameron, Elyse, and Syann have greatly enjoyed Grand Rapids Christian and New 2 You and hope to stay connected in the communities. We are so thankful for each of them and can’t wait to see what God has in store! Thank you, ladies, for all that you’ve done, and congratulations on graduating!
Introducing Andrea, our New General Manager!
New 2 You family, we are so excited to announce that Andrea Robinson will be filling in the position of general manager following the retirement of our current general manager, Karen Witte. God has been great to us! Thank you for all your prayers.
You’ll start seeing Andrea at New 2 You this May, and her official start date will be June 3.
Andrea has written us a wonderful letter to help us get to know her better. Welcome to the family, Andrea!
Hello! I am Andrea Robinson, and I am so excited to be joining the New 2 You Family as the new General Manager, and to be working alongside all of you! I grew up in Grand Rapids, and attended Grand Rapids Christian Schools (Sylvan, and GRCHS ’94), Calvin College (’98), and later the University of Michigan, where I received a Master of Social Work degree focused on the management of social services and community development.
Being raised in a Christian home and attending Christian schools was incredibly formative for me, particularly the opportunities I had to learn and make music with which to glorify God – which I still value and enjoy today. I am married to Luke Robinson, also a GRCS (’92) and Calvin (’96) alumnus, and we have 3 children. Luke works at Calvin University. Dean, our oldest son, is currently a sophomore at Christian High. Grant and Zoe are our twins. They attend GR Christian Middle School and are wrapping up 7th grade.
So, what brings me to New 2 You? If you ask any of the search committee members (or me!) the answer is pretty straightforward – GOD! After I worked a parent volunteer shift at New 2 You this winter, where Karen mentioned that they were looking for a manager for the store, I felt increasingly called to apply for this position, and affirmed of the decision since then.
But as a little background into my journey here, I began my first job at the age of 14 working in an upscale kitchen store in Breton Village, Haymarket Square. I like to say I caught the “retail bug” as a teenager and never really let it go. I went on to work at kitchen and housewares store Williams Sonoma in downtown Chicago and then in Grand Rapids during and after college. And in 2003, my older sister Amy Ruis decided to open a retail store, Art of the Table (she had also caught the “retail bug” as a teen) in the revitalizing Wealthy Street corridor, and asked me to work alongside her to establish and open the store. I have stayed connected there as an employee and/ or regular customer/ cheerleader since then, often assisting with merchandising as a “hobby” when I worked elsewhere.
In the meantime, God also called me to explore the world of human services through both education and work in residential treatment, summer camp, mental health, school and community development as well as nonprofit organizational and program management. In 2022, I felt a need for a bit of a break from the intensity of the social service field, and God’s timing was impeccable – my sister Amy was going through some staffing transitions at her stores and she needed my assistance. What I thought would be a brief “social work sabbatical” turned into two years of meaningful work at Art of the Table, where I sensed God calling me to remain in retail work – but I also felt a call to utilize my gifts in the nonprofit world again, particularly working toward a meaningful mission… which leads me to that winter day, fulfilling our family’s annual New 2 You volunteer shift.
Needless to say, this role at New 2 You is just a beautiful fit for my passions and interests. I am very excited to work alongside and get to know each of you (and very glad you all wear nametags, so I can learn your names!) I recognize I have very big shoes to fill as Karen looks toward retirement, and I hope you’ll help me learn and grow as I take on this position!
You’ll see me slowly get started at the store a few days in later May, and I look forward to joining you officially on June 3!
Andrea Robinson
Check out our Red, White, and Blue Collection!
Memorial Day and Independence Day aren’t far away. Come get your Red, White, and Blue Decor as they’re still available—these items sell quickly!
Welcome to West Michigan’s Upscale Resale Shop!
New 2 You is West Michigan’s upscale resale shop in Grand Rapids, MI. We sell quality clothing and merchandise at affordable prices and always strive to provide an excellent shopping experience.
Whether you’re a bargain-hunter, a parent of growing kids, a student on a budget, or just someone who likes to shop second hand, you’ll find a constantly changing lineup of great finds.
Why We’re Here
New 2 You proudly supports Grand Rapids Christian Schools. Since our founding, we have raised millions of dollars to reduce tuition costs and help keep high-quality Christian education affordable for all.
Thank you, JAG Motorcoach, for visiting!
Last Thursday, we were so excited to welcome in 50+ shoppers from Central Michigan through JAG Motorcoach‘s “Big City Mystery Thrift Shop Hop“! This tour gave shopper enthusiasts an opportunity to visit seven different thrift stores in Michigan in a day full of deal-scouting and adventure! We were so honored to have been chosen as one of JAG Motorcoach’s destinations!
Each of the shopping destinations were a mystery to the shoppers, and they only had positive things to say when coming into New 2 You! Many shoppers commented on our clean and organized appearance and would love to come back next time they’re in town.
We were so glad to welcome this tour group in and loved to see their great finds!
Store Hours and Donation Hours
We’re so glad to welcome you to New 2 You!
For store hours, we’re open from 10:00 am – 7:00 pm Monday through Saturday.
Our donation center is open from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Monday through Saturday.
Thank you so much for your support.
Community Spotlight on Lisa’s Rags
Introducing Lisa’s Rags! This business is one of the many community partners that New 2 You collaborates with daily to help make the community a better and more sustainable place.
Lisa’s Rags was founded in 2008 and reduces landfill waste by cutting unsellable fabrics and distributing them to customers and fabric recycling businesses. Each week, the team of ladies from Lisa’s Rags recycles over 500 pounds of material collected from seven local thrift stores.
Lisa began her career at Goodwill around 18 and was trained in clothing sorting and cutting rags. When Goodwill decided to close down the rag operation, she and her parents, Phyllis and Teunis, bought the cutting machines and started their own business. In addition to reducing landfill waste, this business is a source of pride for Lisa and others with special needs. Lisa is able to find purpose in her work and contribute to society, both of which are great blessings for her.
“God has been so good to us,” Phyllis emphasized in an interview. Lisa’s Rags is a faith-based organization that depends on donations to fulfill orders to customers, which requires faith that God will provide, but He certainly has!
New 2 You collects t-shirts, towels, flannel sheets for Lisa’s Rags. Right now, the business is in need of towels and white t-shirts. If you have any, we will gladly take them to redistribute to Lisa’s Rags. We are so proud to call them a community partner!
Meet Marcia and Linda, Volunteers in “the Salt Mines”
Meet Marcia and Linda, two women that work together seamlessly in the clothing department and whom we love and appreciate! Linda was one of the first volunteers at New 2 You and started before the doors even opened. Linda and Marcia had known each other for many years, and soon after Marcia retired, Linda convinced Marcia to join her at New 2 You. They’ve been a “twofer” ever since. “She’s my sister from another mother,” Linda shared. “We work well together, make each other laugh, and could cry together if we need to.”
Each Thursday in a three-hour shift, Linda and Marcia together sort around 750-1,000 articles of clothing. They shared that some days can be overwhelming, which is why it’s very important that they can work together well, check each other’s work, and have fun in the process. Many volunteers have called the women’s clothing department “the salt mines” because of how quickly clothing donations can pile up, and Linda and Marcia don’t disagree, yet they love the work that they do.
When asked what inspires the team to continue volunteering, they instantly responded with how much they enjoy the camaraderie. Additionally, they’re so glad to be able to give people in the community an opportunity to afford quality goods that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford, especially during Christmas time.
Linda and Marcia bring so much joy to the New 2 You community every Thursday afternoon. Thank you, Linda and Marcia, for your great work and contagious, joyful spirits!
New 2 You 
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