Thrift: Op Shopping Tips & Tricks {National Op Shop Week}

Hello and welcome to the National Op Shop week festivities! National Op Shop Week is 27 August to 2 September 2017. The aim of the third ‘National Op Shop Week’ is boosting donations to charity op shops. An initiative of the Do Something charity in partnership with the National Association of Charitable Recycling Organisations (NACRO). Living clothes is a great way to help the community,” said Jon Dee, the Managing Director of Do Something and founder of ‘National Op Shop Week’. We need the Australian public to dig deep into their wardrobes and donate good quality clothing directly to their nearest charity op shops.”

I love a good jazz around the op shop. It’s always an adventure and you never know what you might find. Finding a unique garment or piece of fabric is so exciting. Plus I feel good about saving something from landfill and supporting charity by shopping. When I clear out my wardrobe, I always donate it, usually to my friend Pixi who runs Junktion. They’ve recently moved to Happy Valley and are just ready to re open.

I have planned three posts in celebration of National Op Shop Week – Yay! This has everything you need to know about shopping and donating to Op Shops.  Next up, a post on planning your own Op Shop Tour (including a map of my fave shopping spots) and finishing up with a Lookbook of Op Shopped Outfits.

Op Shopping Tips & Tricks

1. Take a Bag – It’s rare to get a bag with your op shop purchases, so throw a couple of reusable totes in the car.
2. Make a List – I try to keep my eye out for certain things such as vintage tea towels for making totes, cute bangles and anything I might need for upcoming projects. I check for these things but….
3. Keep an Open Mind – Flicking through all the racks will get you the best results. Sizing can be international, vintage or just wrong! And things can look much better on you, than they do on the hanger. Try things and see.
4. Know the Sales & Discounts: Red Cross give 15% off on Mondays for pension card holders plus they have a loyalty card system when you shop or donate items to Red Cross Shops you receive a stamp, when you have 10 stamps you get a 25% discount. Salvos Stores have 50% off a certain coloured ticket each week, 20% off on Tuesdays for healthcare or pension card holders and student card holders get 20% off on Wednesdays.
5. Be Creative: Things aren’t always what they seem! Plant succulents in old boots, pour candles into old teacups, use a sheet to make a dress or turn a leather skirt into a leather bag. Think outside the box but…
6. Have a Use in Mind: It can be easy to get carried away with the combo of low prices and one of a kind items. That said, if it doesn’t end up working out for you, you can always donate it back and maybe even get a loyalty card stamp in return.
7. Be Nice: Most op shops are staffed by volunteers and they really deserve respect. So just all the usual things, like not leaving a mess or leaving things in change rooms and being polite and patient. And don’t complain about prices! Why? Read this because its very informative! 

Believe it or not there’s an art to donating too. Just shoving your donations in front of the Oppy door is a huge no no. It’s illegal rubbish dumping and it costs Op Shops loads of money to clear and send to landfill. Salvos say it costs them more than $6 million a year and the Blackwood branch of Goodwill spends $8000 for their store alone. Proper donating is important! Charities shouldn’t have to pay for this junk to be dumped and if you op shop it really only hurts you through raised prices. If you have garbage you need to get rid of, call your local council to find your local dump or book in a hard rubbish collection. If you are going to donate, make sure it helps! These simple tips will ensure you are helping and not hindering.

Donation Tips & Tricks

• Would I give that to a friend? As long as it’s clean, not torn, damaged or stained and you would be happy for someone that you know to wear it or to treasure it.
• Nice and Neat: Fold clothing and put in a box or bag. Don’t shove clothes into a bag on a hanger as it can damage the other clothes.
• Keep it Together: Attach any things that come in pairs to each other. For example, tie shoes together with the laces; stuff socks or gloves into one another. At the very least, make sure they go into the same bag. Pockets should be emptied (because other people’s tissues are gross). Any belts or other accessories should be securely fastened around or to the clothing item they go with.
• Glad Rags: If you have clothing that is soiled or ripped but is made from cotton, then put them all in one bag marked ‘cotton for rag’. The op shop can send this off for recycling into stuffing or rag stock.
• Put it in the Right Place: Put your donations in the proper donation bin or bring them into store. Leaving things out in the elements or at the door almost guarantees your donation will become landfill.
• Donation Pick Up: Some charities will pick up furniture and will assess their condition on the spot. If you are not sure about whether your furniture or other item is donatable condition, call your local charity op shop and ask them to clarify. Each charity has different requirements, so don’t be afraid to call around.
• Make Sure it Works: Not everywhere accepts electrical items but those that do tag and test electrical items before sale so don’t bother donating something you know doesn’t work.

Stay tuned for more Op Shop fun to come! Next up, a post on planning your own Op Shop Tour (including a map of my fave shopping spots) and finishing up with a Lookbook of Op Shopped Outfits. If you have any awesome shopping or donating tips, please leave them in the comments xxx