Charities report that their virtuous cycle of recycling and reuse is attracting a new generation of op buyers who are aware of the impact of fast-paced fashion on the environment, but want to create affordable and individual looks. .
19-year-old Nicky Gots loves browsing Wayside donations.
“The things happening here are absolutely incredibly exciting,†said the fashion student. She is employed at the Wayside Operations Store as part of her Wingspan program to help disadvantaged youth learn out-of-the-box skills including retail and online marketing.
Ms. Gots was delighted to find Prada size six shoes. Sale in line for $ 300, they generated income for Wayside’s services for the homeless.
For a photo shoot with the Herald, Oya Kanu – also in the Wingspan program – was pretty pink with a Michael Kors bag, sold online for $ 30, Italian shoes ($ 25), and a Lucid jumpsuit ($ 20). Rita (last name withheld) paired a tutu with punk boots, an outfit she bought at an operations store.
Oya Kanu with Rita, members of the Wayside Op Shop employment program at Wayside Chapel Op Shop, Potts Point. Pink Michael Kors bag, $ 30. Italian shoes Vero Cuoio $ 25 – Pink jumpsuit with lucid design $ 20. Credit:Louise Kennerley
Without its mega book sales to support its suicide prevention hotline, Lifeline this month launched an online bookstore from its Lindfield Pop-Up Shop. To find a book, buyers should look at photos online of the shelves and hope that the book was not purchased by someone else at the time of ordering.
It’s harder work for about half of the earnings, said Michael Cleary, the bookstore’s volunteer manager. But the decision to sell a smaller line of books, including children’s and adult fiction, has also provided community service to families stuck at home.
Mr Ferrier said most Salvos purchases are sent with a handwritten thank you note, a personal touch that generates the bulk of his positive feedback.
A longtime buyer wrote from the hospital thanking Salvos for his website.
After cancer treatment, she lost weight. “None of my clothes are fitted which makes you feel worse,†she wrote. “But I was able to buy myself a whole new wardrobe with quality products at very reasonable prices.
“So now I feel like a new woman and look forward to all of my packages and all of my orders being placed in the hospital, and that has connected me to the outside world as well.”
The Vinnies Vic online team at work. Kylie Byrne & Chris Pattas with merchandise displaysCredit:Kellie webster
When Mr Ferrier contacted the family for a follow-up, the woman’s daughter said her mother had died.
“We unfortunately lost my mother-in-law to cancer this week,†she wrote.
“But I would like to thank you for helping her get through some tough times, she crawled your site all night when she couldn’t sleep, and that helped deflect her worries for a while.”
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