By Rebecca Fraser
ONCE associated with the underprivileged, local opportunity shops have quickly become the ultimate fashion destination for many of the region’s young trendsetters.
Many stores have recently jumped on the retro bandwagon, providing a great range of individual and ‘out there’ ensembles for the more fashionconscious bargain hunter.
But some thrift shop workers say migrants and young families continue to be regular customers in need of basics such as clothing, shoes and furniture.
Val Davies of the Salvation Army Family Store in Narre Warren said while a lot of young shoppers came in for a browse, families and newcomers to the area were their main customers.
She also said the store was always on the look out for donations.
“A lot of young ones come in looking for things like jeans and costumes for fancy dress,” she said.
“But a lot of migrants come in as well looking for cheap furniture to set up their homes. Most of the people are coming in out of necessity and we are really trying to keep prices down, but unfortunately as our overheads go up this becomes more difficult.”
Annette Baloban of the Salvation Army Family Store in Hampton Park said people of all ages came into the store.
“People come in looking for things that are unique and others come in for the basics,” she said.
“Opportunity shops really help the community and offer people many different things at a low cost.
“It is a great job and I love it.”
But Ms Baloban said some of the store’s more ‘oldfashioned’ donations were sometimes a bit hard to decipher.
“Sometimes things come in and we cannot even work out what they are or what they do,” she said.
“It gets a bit funny and we even ask our customers sometimes what things are.
“But we would not survive without donations.”
Heather Webb, acting manager of the Salvation Army Family Store in Dandenong said many people came into the store hunting for hidden treasures.
“Lots of people come in to get things for parties and different themes,” Ms Webb said.
“Others come in and reminisce about what they used to wear or what their grandmother used to wear.
“Some people do shop out of necessity but we also get a lot of collectors.”
David Hess, manager of Savers in Dandenong, said the store attracted a crosssection of customers from across the south eastern suburbs.
“Not everyone who shops here shops out of necessity. Some come to find something that is very distinctive,” Mr Hess said.
“Op shopping represents the opportunity to find something unique and individual without paying the huge price tag.
“A lot of fringe people come in, particularly the more cutting edge uni students and fashion risk takers, as I would call them.
“These shoppers are into everything from retro to gothic (clothing).”
But he added that families were also regular customers and the store was always seeking donations.
“When you donate clothes to us we in turn make a donation to the Diabetes Association of Australia,” he said.
“So you are doing a good thing for your community and for a good cause.”
Mr Hess said opportunity shops also helped keep a lot of clothing out of landfill.
“A lot of the things donated would have been thrown out otherwise,” he said.
“We receive three threetonne trucks a day and send out only one bin of rubbish.”
TOP LOCAL OP SHOP FINDS
Ladies Grab cardigan, $6.50, Salvation Army Family Store, Hampton Park.
Women’s Sportscraft jacket, $5, Salvation Army Family store, Narre Warren.
Cabbage Patch Doll, $6.99, Salvation Army Opportunity Store, Narre Warren.
Men’s leather Nike runners, $9 Savers, Dandenong.
Country Road women’s sports jacket, $3, Savers, Dandenong.
Peter Alexander slippers, $4.95, Savers, Dandenong.
David Lawrence floral printed dress, $6.99, Savers, Dandenong.
Yves Saint Laurent men’s 100 per cent wool suit, $24.99, Savers, Dandenong.
Men’s Guess cords, $10, Salvation Army Family Store, Dandenong.
Pumpkin Patch child’s summer dress, $1.99, Savers, Dandenong.
