CLOTHING, OP-TIONAL Whether it’s my childhood experiences of rummaging through clothes and toys at the community market that has influenced my regular op-shopping ventures, I don’t know. What I do know is that this trend is gaining momentum, especially with the popularity of vintage and retro fashions among young people. Second hand shopping is also much easier on the wallet and it’s an ethical way to shop. Charity and opportunity shops receive donations of mainly clothing, furniture, kitchenware and books from the community. Because volunteers staff most op shops and merchandise is donated, prices of items are generally very low and it’s easy to pick up a bargain. In recent years many young people are choosing to shop second hand and it has become a way of life rather than a way of shopping. There are well known organisations that manage op shops like The Salvation Army (Salvos), St Vincent De Paul (Vinnies) and Lifeline that are commonly found around the Gold Coast. Be sure not to neglect your smaller, hidden gems though that are often managed by churches and smaller organisations like the Animal Welfare League. It’s in these little known op shops I have nabbed some of my greatest bargains. All of these global and community organisations have helped less fortunate people in times of need and the continued support and loyalty of many opportunity shoppers has contributed greatly. Second hand clothes have made up the majority of my wardrobe for as long as I can remember, but over the last 18 months it has become more that just the fashion and prices that appeal to me. I started asking questions about where my clothes were coming from and after hearing a few horror stories about garment factories, wages and treatment of garment workers in Cambodia and Bangladesh I shifted my shopping habits solely to second hand or Australian made.
HANG 5: GOLD COAST OP SHOPS
When it comes to op shopping for clothes I have a few pointers: 1. Have an open plan – have a general idea of what you’re looking for, this way you won’t come home with things you don’t need. Maybe you are attending a wedding in a couple of months so look for an appropriate dress. It’s great to be prepared but always keep an open mind with op shopping because you never know what else you might find. 2. Just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean you need it – I am so guilty of this! I see a pair of shoes that are not that great but are only $2 so I buy them. Then they sit in my wardrobe for months until I decide to donate them. REMEMBER, we are trying to keep things from ending up in landfill but that doesn’t mean your wardrobe should become a dump. 3. What’s the point of buying something if it doesn’t fit you? You wouldn’t buy something new if it didn’t fit, so don’t buy it second hand either. Sometimes a skirt might just need to be taken up but if you have no intention of doing this than don’t bother buying it. 4. Take a bag – Always take an environmentally friendly bag! Australians drop over 36,000 tonnes of plastic into landfill every year and the numbers keep increasing. Every plastic bag you don’t use is helping to reduce that number. 5. Where to go - Currumbin. Not as busy as Burleigh Heads and Palm Beach so prices are lower and there is heaps of good stuff! Three op shops within 100m of one another along Currumbin Creek Road.
Don’t forget the inland suburbs for op shopping joy. Rents are cheap, space is vast, you’ll get lost for days.
Furniture is another big op shop attraction, especially for young people just moving out of home. My entire house is furnished with second hand buys and that’s just the way I like it. Character and originality are huge factors in today’s furniture market and everyone is looking for that special one-off piece that completes a room. It may take years to whittle out the bad bits from the good but the satisfaction of having a uniquely complete room just doesn’t compare. Another great thing about old furniture is that is usually isn’t very hard to restore. You can recycle it and add your own little touches. Timber furniture just gets more beautiful with age and sometimes all it takes for a table to come back to life is a sand back and a new coat of polish. Many people are going for the shabby chic look now and this is also easy to achieve with second hand wooden furniture. When op shopping for furniture I have a few pointers: 1. Again, have a plan – A little less open than with clothes have something you need in mind like a bedside table or couch. From there you can see what’s available and decide whether or not it will work in the space. For big items especially, have measurements! Take it from me; there is nothing worse than having to lift a dining room table up over a balcony because it won’t fit through the front door! 2. Check condition and stability – If you’re buying a bed base, make sure all the pieces are there and it’s not too wobbly. If you’re buying a table, chairs or couch make
3.
4.
1
RSPCA West Burleigh, Township Drive – everything from knick knacks to lounge suites.
2
Lifeline Ashmore, Industrial Ave – you’ll lose yourself for hours. Books, baby goods, furniture, kitchen appliances and clothes for miles.
3
Change Gear Pre-Loved Fashion, GC Highway Mermaid Beach – for lovers of second hand designer clothes (you can also sell your clothes on consignment)
4
Buttons ‘n’ Beans Op Shop & Coffee House, Railway Street Southport – a social enterprise supporting freedom, social justice and growth. Shopping and coffee. Yes please!
5
Canungra Op Shop, Lawnton Lane. OMG, a treasure trove of goodies. Clothes, books, shoes. You can even find them on Facebook.
sure the legs are secure and are not going to come apart at the first sitting. If the condition of the fabrics or the cushions on a couch won’t withstand much more, maybe consider something else. Have an end goal – Furnishing a house with second hand buys is a long process. Be patient. Have a picture in your mind and build your living spaces up to that because when you get there you truly enjoy spending time in those spaces. Where to go – West Burleigh RSPCA Bargain Barn. Huge warehouse, heaps of great couches, tables and dressers.
Choosing to op shop is fun, inexpensive and creative and it helps to minimise on waste. Next time you feel like a bit of retail therapy instead of going to the multi-million dollar shopping centres, head to your local charity store and see what you can find.
www.blankgc.com.au
35