Always provide as much information as you can...

While I make my rounds calling every single charity thrift store in the entire country, I notice that sometimes when a store is closed they have an anwering machine and sometimes not. When they do have a machine, more often than not the answering machine doesn't have any info about the store. But some savvy managers put the four most frequently asked questions answered on the answering machine.

1. What is your stores address?

2. What are your shopping hours?

3. What charity does your store benefit

4. What are your donation hours?

I know that every thrift store gets anwering machines donted to them.
There's only a benefit to hooking one up.

Here's an example of a great answering maching message:

"Hello and thank you for calling the Auxiliary White Elephant Thrift Shop, benefiting the Winter Park Memorial Hospital. We are located at, 2411 Aloma Avenue in Winter Park. Our shopping hours are, 10-am to 4-pm Monday through Friday and 10-am to 2-pm on Saturdays. Our donation hours are the same as our store hours. If you have any further questions, please leave a message."

In the above example the manager has answered the top 4 questions which most people are calling about. Now someone calling whenever the store is closed will know the charity represented and where and when to shop, as well as where and when to donate.

Go Team!