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Satisfying A Thirst At The Spring

Tribune photo by José Patiño Girona

Kathleen “Kat” Alley, retail operations manager for The Spring, runs two thrift stores in Tampa and is in negotiations to open a third store and distribution center in Plant City.

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By JOSE PATINO GIRONA

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 12, 2008

TAMPA - Kathleen "Kat" Alley has worked all the positions at The Spring of Tampa Bay's thrift shop - in the warehouse, behind the cash register and driving the box truck.

She's now retail operations manager for the domestic violence shelter's Simply Spring, a thrift store and donation center at 209 N. Willow Ave., and The Vintage Boutique, an upscale clothing and collectibles thrift store at 3418 W. Swann Ave.

She is negotiating to lease space in Plant City to open a third thrift store and donation center to serve eastern Hillsborough County residents.

Alley, 56, joined The Spring four years ago after seven years tending bar at The Tiny Tap in South Tampa. The Citrus Park resident left the bartending business for a job that offered health insurance.

Q. What do you enjoy about your work?

A. Knowing the help that we give to the victims of domestic violence.

Q. Did you set out to become a manager?

A. It evolved. I was ready to do it. I learned everything that I could possibly learn about running this retail business.

Q. Can you describe your business?

A. We operate solely on donations. Our clients who come to the shelter get a voucher to come and purchase clothing and the things that they need right away. When they leave the shelter, we supply them with furniture, pots and pans, dishes, linens, everything they need to start up their home.

Q. Tell us about the retail aspect of the thrift store?

A. The items not chosen by the families are sold in the thrift store and the boutique. One hundred percent of the profits go to support the programs at the shelter.

Q. How busy are the stores?

A. I think it is pretty steady. It is getting better because of the economy. More people are thrift shopping.

Q. Why?

A. Because they can get a lot more for their money in a thrift store as opposed to a mall store. You never know what you're going to find in here. I have customers who come here every day. They know that different items come here every day and it might not be here tomorrow. I think what keeps people coming back to the thrift store is the thrill of the find.

Q. Tell us about the age of your customers?

A. They run the gamut - from young mothers to retirees. More women. But I think that is true anywhere. Women do more shopping in general and men tend to shop in specialty stores.

Q. Do you have hobbies?

A. I fish - fresh and saltwater. And I am a Buccaneers fan. I went to the Super Bowl in San Diego. It was awesome; one of the greatest days of my life.

Reporter Jose Patino Girona can be reached at (813) 259-7659 or jpatino@tampatrib.com.

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