Australia’s second-hand trade is booming

Australia's second-hand trade is booming as people clear out cupboards in lockdown Kirsta Hawkins runs two second-hand clothing stores in Melbourne. Source: SBS

Second-hand retailers in Australia are seeing more people donating unwanted items amid the coronavirus pandemic, as well as shopping for pre-loved clothes, accessories and equipment online.

By Sandra Fulloon   Alex Leung left his career in finance to start re-selling luxury handbags. It was a good move, the 35-year-old says. “Our bag sales have tripled during coronavirus,” he told SBS News. “Our inbox is constantly flooded out, and we are actually struggling to even process all the queries.” “A lot of people may have lost their jobs, so they're clearing out their cupboards and they're selling some of their items, and some are quite valuable.”   Alex Leung traded a career in fin…
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  • 2020-11-10
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Op shops have ‘best days ever’ as COVID-19 restrictions ease

Op shops have 'best days ever' as COVID-19 restrictions ease, warn of 'extremely difficult' period to come By Megan Kinninment Volunteers at the Katie Rose Cottage op on the Sunshine Coast.(ABC Sunshine Coast: Megan Kinninment)

While retail across Australia takes a battering from COVID-19, op-shopping is booming.

Key points: Queensland op shops reopened doors from May 18 after COVID-19 shutdowns Op shops have reported a boom in trading while other retail sectors have crashed Vinnies anticipates a new wave of clients when job grants end

Op shops reopened in Queensland on May 18 to a surge of eager customers, with some charities reporting their largest trading weeks on record.

Sunshine Coast charity Katie Rose Cottage operates four op shops and raise $400,000 net each year to help fund a 24/7 palliative care hospice in Doonan.

Chief execu…

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  • 2020-07-03
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