On any given day in Nashville, you might find thrifting influencer Hannah Henderson elbow-deep in a rack of sweaters, fingers moving with the focus of a seasoned treasure hunter and her cart already brimming with possibility. Thrifting has long been a part of her routine—she’s been shopping secondhand for the past decade and, aside from four pairs of jeans, two jackets, and her wedding dress, everything in her closet is thrifted.
Over the last year, however, that hobby turned into something far more ambitious: a quest to visit all 31 Goodwill stores in Middle Tennessee. What began as casual haul videos on Instagram quickly drew a devoted following of fellow thrifters eager to see what she’d uncovered each day. Before long, her series “Goodwill Hunting with Hannah” was born.
“The idea to visit all 31 Goodwill locations started to materialize in late 2024 when I was consistently creating Instagram Reels and TikToks where I'd share my thrifted finds via try-on hauls at home,” Henderson tells Country Living. “The response from followers was enthusiastic, and I began to receive questions about my favorite Goodwills and what my strategy was.”
Followers wanted to know her secrets: her go-to stores, the best times to shop, and how she managed to uncover vintage jackets, standout home goods, and barely worn sweaters with such regularity. As the project gained momentum, Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee invited her to serve as an ambassador and document a year-long journey through all 31 locations. “I hoped to encourage existing thrifting enthusiasts to shop outside their usual spots and empower anti-thrifters to give their local Goodwills a try,” she adds.
The experience ultimately became about more than filling a closet. Henderson began to see each store as a reflection of its town—from small locations that double as informal gathering spots to the ways donated goods help fund community programs. Along the way, she picked up a few shopping strategies, too—and she’s sharing them below.
Go In With an Open Mind
While Henderson primarily shops for clothing, she keeps her options open in every department. “Typically, I look to procure unique pieces in styles, colors, or patterns I may not have considered previously,” she says. That might mean taking a chance on something she wouldn’t splurge on at full price or upgrading a staple in her closet with a higher-quality version.
She recommends keeping a running list of what you’re looking for—“It makes the whole store feel less overwhelming,” she says—but also staying flexible enough to embrace an unexpected find.
Give Yourself Time to Truly Browse
Thrifting is not to be rushed, and the best finds often come on the days when you have time to dedicate to the task. “Every trip to Goodwill is between a two- to four-hour time investment for me,” Henderson says. “This gives me enough time to go through every rack in every department. Some of my greatest thrift finds from Goodwill have been found in departments or on racks they didn't originally belong in, or within racks that aren't traditionally ‘for me.’”
Case in point: She’s scored a cute peplum tank on a rack of men’s sweaters, and leveled up her outerwear game by shopping both men’s and women’s racks with equal enthusiasm. “The time investment really shows once the trip is all said and done, and I head to check out with a cart full of unique items,” she adds.
Head Out of Town—Like, Way Out
It’s easy to assume bigger cities mean better thrifting, but Henderson found that widening her radius paid off. “I'm a creature of habit, and I like shopping at the Goodwill retail locations within a 25-mile radius of Nashville,” she says. “But when I started driving at least an hour outside the city to thrift, I realized I've been missing out on so much!” Not only were there plenty of amazing vintage finds on offer outside of Nashville, but Henderson became privy to a whole different version of thrifting culture—one that reinvigorated her love of the game.
“Thrifting in the city can feel a little like Black Friday at times,” she explains. “The culture often rewards those who find the best deals—the most expensive item with the original tags attached marked down to the lowest price—but when I started thrifting in towns like Fayetteville and Lawrenceburg, it felt like a breath of fresh air. Fellow shoppers would stop me to share enthusiasm about something in my cart or share something they found that excited them, and the overall experience was slower paced, more casual, and filled with so many friendly interactions centered around something we all enjoy so much. Not the original price tag, not the name brands, just the art and the magic of shopping secondhand.”
Cater Your Shopping Location to Your Needs
If, like Henderson, you have your pick of Goodwills in your surrounding area, make sure your store choice aligns with your wishlist. “I shop at Goodwill locations in cities like Franklin or Brentwood when I know I’m hunting for higher-end brands, which are more common in those areas due to the household income,” she explains. “Likewise, I discovered that the two Goodwill locations in Clarksville often had an influx of housewares donated from nearby military families from Fort Campbell who have relocated. It’s fascinating what you can learn about a city through a Goodwill retail location.”
Give as Much as You Take
Henderson doesn’t just walk the walk—she donates, too. Her quest to hit up Middle Tennessee’s 31 stores found her making plenty of donations of her own, and one of the most rewarding parts of the experience was learning just how integral Goodwill can be to a community. “I didn’t realize the impact a simple action like donating could have,” she adds. “Goodwill Career Services provides locals with valuable career coaching and job training in a surprisingly wide range of fields, from construction and welding to project management and data analytics. These services are offered at no cost because we thrift and we donate. Knowing that a neighbor in my community can receive valuable help pursuing a career they enjoy because I donated a bag of clothing I was no longer wearing or bought a few items to freshen up my wardrobe is more rewarding than any thrift find.”
