Some of the most desirable designer wear and accessories on the Sunshine Coast aren’t on hangers in our suburban shopping centres or chic seaside boutiques.
Smart fashionistas are keeping a sophisticated eye on op shops to snap up high-end new, vintage and secondhand items for their wardrobes at a tiny fraction of their original cost.
Jacqui Kimber – Vinnies’ multi-centre co-ordinator for Noosaville and Eumundi – said she had regular customers who perused the racks and shelves at least once a week.
But in addition, busloads of bargain hunters from “out of town” made a day of op shopping at those stores “because they are so unique”.
“We have a boutique section in our Noosaville store,” Ms Kimber said. “There’s such a range and variety that we have, they (customers) never know what they’re going to find.
“That’s the exciting part of shopping in op shops. We do get some fantastic items in. We had a $2000 Armani dress with the tag still on it.
“We get designer scarfs and handbags given to us that are still in their boxes.”
Vinnies’ retail operations manager Linda De Blasio said she was constantly amazed by what people donated.
“I recently visited one of our Sunshine Coast stores to find a mint-condition, large rocking horse donated – worth about $5000,” she said.
“I’ve also seen Stella McCartney platform shoes donated – brand new and worth about $1300.”
But there’s always room for more stock in the stores.
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Vinnies Queensland wants Sunshine Coast residents to forget the new year’s diet and slim down the wardrobe instead.
The charity is asking us to keep local op shops in mind during any post-Christmas clean-out.
Ms De Blasio said donating quality clothes, homewares, books, toys and other goods was the best way to start the year with some community-minded minimising.
“Helping others in need can be as easy as decluttering your wardrobe and cupboards to make room for your new Christmas presents,” she said.
“By donating to Vinnies, your unwanted clothes and goods can get a second life while also raising vital funds to help others.
“A summer clean-out has never felt so rewarding.”
Ms Kimber said her stores were always looking for great-quality items and menswear because males “seem to wear their items to death” rather than donating them.
While donations seemed to “go through waves”, bric-a-brac and clothing were most common.
The post-Christmas period typically saw unwanted boxed gifts such as toiletry sets, if there were no thoughts of regifting next festive season, she said.
Ms De Blasio said stores also understandably received an influx of Christmas decorations and trees at this time of year.
After a year of rising costs of living and an ongoing affordable housing shortage, all useable donations were very appreciated and would be used for a great cause.
“2022 was a very busy year for us as we worked with people facing homelessness, struggling to find affordable housing, or families who barely have enough to put food on the table after paying rent and utility bills,” she said.
“To everyone who has donated, shopped or volunteered at our Vinnies Shops – thank you for helping us to help those most in need in our community.
“All homewares are gratefully accepted, excluding drinking glasses. We also would love more menswear donations, as well as ladies clothing relevant to the season – so for now, summer clothes.
“Good second-hand furniture is always in demand, either for selling or to provide to people in need, such as people escaping homelessness and moving into their own home.”
In the 2021-22 financial year, sales from Vinnies Shops helped the organisation provide nearly $2m in support directly to vulnerable Sunshine Coast residents.
But the dumping of dirty, unusable and damaged, stained, ripped or torn items outside op shops is an ongoing problem that’s usually exacerbated when the stores are closed over extended periods such as Christmas-New Year, Easter and long weekends.
Ms De Blasio said there were two simple rules to follow with donations.
“We do ask to be considerate in what you donate – nothing damaged, torn, stained or threadbare,” she said.
“If you wouldn’t give it to a friend, you wouldn’t give it to Vinnies.
“Donations are also best given inside our Vinnies Shops during opening hours. Please do not leave donations outside our shops or donation bins as it creates even more work for our hardworking volunteers.”
Ms Kimber said that as well as the possibility of being vandalised or stolen, 90 per cent of goods left outside were susceptible to weather damage at this time of year and unable to be resold.
“We recycle what we can into bags of rags,” she said.
“We try to minimise our waste as much as possible but there are always certain items we can’t do that with.
“There’s always that percentage that’s taken by people as well.
“We’re really lucky in the Noosa/Eumundi area because we get high-quality donations, which is fantastic, because all the money we get from these donations just goes to helping those in need.”
To find your local Vinnies Shop, visit the website.
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