The post spring clear outs seem to bring in lots of new items (Image: Getty)
As fashion-lovers continue their never-ending search for the perfect pair of shoes, bargain designer brands, and pre-loved handbags, there’s a lot more they could be doing to get the best of the best.
As the saying goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and nowhere solidifies that statement more than a charity shop. These high street saviors are bursting with treasures and unwanted goods, just waiting to be bought up by a new admirer, at cheap prices,a nd all for a good cause.
There are a large number of people in the UK who rely heavily on charity shops to fill their wardrobes and provide homeware, books, toys and more for their families. There are also the people who just love to champion sustainability and enjoy the search of finding hidden gems. Both should consider these top tips dished out by a charity shop manager for sourcing the goods.
Speaking to Sky News, charity shop worker Amy Lorenz, based at the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance store, shared her biggest advice for those looking to pick up some new discounted gear.
Her biggest piece of insider knowledge reveals the best day to find new stock and the highest quality of goods, as a manager dedicated to keeping the shop fresh for the eyes of customers.
There is a certain time of year that sees better stock (Image: Getty)
According to her expertise, the best time to visit their charity shop is on a Saturday, as this is the day they take off items and replace them. She said: “We take off items that have been on the shop floor for three weeks on a Friday evening and put new stock out Saturday morning, so coming after lunch will ensure you see new stock.”
However, her tip is that different shops will most likely have regular days that differ from theirs when they swap the stock. With this in mind, it’s advised that you ask at your local shop which day their rotation day is and plan ahead to visit on those days in the future.
As for the time of year, Lorenz explains that their own biggest influx of donations typically comes in “the post-Christmas and spring clear-out season”. When people tend to be decluttering at these periods, it means more items come through the doors of charity shops.
Her other biggest tips for bagging a charity shop bargain include checking every part of the shop, even those you may not associate with your size, taste or gender. Her reason being, as the stock constantly changes, so does its layout, and you never know what you can find or what may have been misplaced by customers.
Charity shops may have a set day where they replenish stock (Image: Getty)
The charity shop manager’s other advice was to be patient. She told Sky News: “If you are hunting for a particular item, you need to accept that thrifting is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep looking and one day the perfect item will be there waiting for you.”
The manager explained that there are plenty of outdated ideas about charity shops, one of them being that people assume the items sold are all old-fashioned, when in reality, they sell an eclectic mix. Donations come from all kinds of places, including young and fashionable dressers and business professionals, as well as older donors, allowing for a “huge range of items for all styles and sizes.”
While these kinds of shops accept variety, they draw a line at unclean items and things that have not been properly cared for. After receiving a pair of dirty underwear, the manager learnt this wasn’t always the case and encourages people to think “would I be happy giving this item to a friend?”.