The thrill of the op shop chase. Snaffling a bargain, uncovering a retro fashion gem, or scoring a barely thumbed new release book at a fraction of the new price.
Thrifting is on the rise. While it has its roots in supplying low-cost quality items to people in need, it’s fulfilling a range of roles.
More than ever, with cost-of-living and housing affordability pressures, people are turning to op shops for goods or tapping into services funded by items sold through these shops. They also are helping to close the loop on consumption, saving perfectly good things from landfill and encouraging sustainability. And there’s kudos in stepping out in op shop–sourced vintage clobber.
Op shops are part of the toolkit for several Catholic organisations, including Sacred Heart Mission, St Vincent de Paul and VMCH.
The bricks-and-mortar shopfronts make outreach services accessible for those in need and let people in the wider community know what the organisations are doing, encouraging people to join in. They are great connectors with volunteers, and for some, working in an op shop is part of their faith journey.
Vinnies sold more than 14 million items in the 2023–24 financial year at an average cost of $5.
Sacred Heart Mission’s 14 shops raise roughly 25 per cent of its revenue, helping fund services for the homeless, the deeply disadvantaged and excluded. The shops are known for their flair, tapping into social media for reach and hosting events. Sacred Heart also has an online op shop.
According to its 2023–24 annual report, Sacred Heart op shops sold 556,441 pieces of clothing, 11,892 pieces of furniture, 131,322 accessories, 272,396 books, 18,070 homewares and 312,268 pieces of bric-a-brac.
The organisation had 1014 volunteers providing 72,450 volunteer hours, with 74 per cent of the volunteer workforce offering their help to op shops.
In Victoria, the St Vincent de Paul Society opened its first opportunity shop in 1926 in King Street, in Melbourne’s CBD. Its annual report acknowledges the knock-on effects of cost-of-living pressures. Over the past year, St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria (Vinnies Victoria) expanded, with 12 new stores openings across the state, including in Melton East, Prahran, Fitzroy, Belmont, Wallan, St Albans East, Ballarat and Mount Waverley. It had four ‘Pop-up By Vinnies’ stores, in Docklands, Ascot Vale, Boronia and Richmond.
Vinnies sold more than 14 million items in the 2023–24 financial year at an average cost of $5.
‘With a dedicated workforce of 96 per cent volunteers, Vinnies Victoria served more than four million people in its shops; provided $3.8 million worth of material assistance to people in immediate need and funds generated through the circular ecosystem of Vinnies Shops and its loyal donors helped to alleviate more than $20.7 million in cost-of-living pressures,’ it reports.
Volunteers take on a variety of tasks, ranging from customer service and sales, sorting donations and creating instore displays to working in the warehouse mending, sorting and preparing items for sale.
Aged care, retirement, disability and education charity VMCH runs four op shops in Balwyn, Ferntree Gully, Heathmont and Wantirna. Funds raised at the op shops are invested directly into VMCH services to support job skills programs for people with disability across Victoria.
Volunteers take on a variety of tasks, ranging from customer service and sales, sorting donations and creating instore displays to working in the warehouse mending, sorting and preparing items for sale.
‘Recently, we shifted our donation focus to vital job skills programs for people with disability. We are proud to support more than 80 people across Melbourne and regional Victoria with a variety of job skills programs, equipping people with the skills and confidence they need to enter the paid workforce or pursue whatever goal they choose,’ VMCH Chief Executive Officer Sonya Smart says.
There are 2.1 million Australians of working age with a disability, but less than half have a job. VMCH says the rate of unemployment for people with a disability has barely shifted in 30 years, according to government data.
‘We are currently raising funds, including through our op shops, to fund a unique, new retail space in Melbourne’s east, all geared towards readying people to work,’ Ms Smart says.
‘This will be more than a traditional op shop; it will be an exciting learning hub where up to 15 clients each year will build on skills such as money handling, customer service and product displays, guided by disability support workers and volunteer mentors.’
Carolyn Grima has volunteered at the VMCH op shop warehouse for nine years. She joined her husband, Andy, after they retired. Andy has recently taken a break from volunteering, but Carolyn is still thrilled to be involved.
‘I’m a great op shop purchaser … I love a bargain and have a keen eye for fashion. I’ve even bought myself some lovely pieces from the warehouse,’ she says.
She’s delighted her donation of time translates into more job skills opportunities for people with disability.
While the op shops are part of the broader Catholic social service mission to enhance human dignity and advocate for those on the margins, volunteers don’t have to be practising Catholics.
‘Volunteering at a Vinnies fosters community and connection, as well as a space for individuals to witness Catholic values in action. Through charitable work, volunteers live out Catholic values of compassion, justice and dignity,’ Vinnies says.
‘This hands-on approach resonates with people drawn to social justice but disconnected from traditional religious practices, offering a different way to explore religion.’
Vinnies works with parishes for community outreach, fundraising and volunteer recruitment. Many local volunteer groups, known as Vinnies Conferences, operate within parish boundaries, working closely with parish communities to identify and assist people in need.
Despite Vinnies’ close relationship with and origins in the Church, it operates independently and serves people of all religions and backgrounds.
From loyalty cards and pop-up shops to fashion parades and interior design know-how, op shops are raising the bar.
Established in 1980, the Toorak Op Shop, in Toorak Village, is an ecumenical effort operated by three local churches: St Peter’s Catholic Church, Toorak Uniting Church and St John’s Anglican. Its focus is to support grassroots causes, and among its recent beneficiaries are the Richmond Churches Food Centre, CatholicCare and McAuley Community Services for Women.
In the heart of up-market Toorak, it boasts some luxury brands, which makes it one of the must-visits on popular op shop trails.
Innovation is at the heart of the operations for the enterprises. From loyalty cards and pop-up shops to fashion parades and interior design know-how, op shops are raising the bar.
Appealing to a younger demographic, Vinnies ran a ‘dupe the room’ campaign, where designer items for a house refit were sourced from its shops and posted on social media.
Like many charities, they grapple with donations and face labour and costs to get rid of items that cannot be sold.
Sacred Heart does not have bins and requests that donations be delivered during opening hours.
‘Would I gift this to a friend or family member? If not, please dispose of items responsibly and recycle where you can,’ it asks. ‘If it is something you would purchase from an op shop, it’s good to donate.’ It also cautions against dumping furniture and goods outside op shops.
Vinnies Victoria reports a slight reduction in illegal dumping. It says in some small regional towns and centres, limited shop hours make it challenging for donors to drop off donations. In Victoria, a targeted awareness campaign, including extended Vinnies Shops hours, cut dumped item rates by 90 per cent.
‘Thanks to generous donors, Vinnies Victoria sold nearly 7 million more garments in 2024 than the previous year, reflecting the thrifting boom. Consumers are embracing second-hand fashion for its affordability, uniqueness and sustainability,’ it says.
Banner image: Carolyn Grima has volunteered at the VMCH op shop warehouse for nine years. (Photo courtesy of VMCH.)
