Op shops have ‘best days ever’ as COVID-19 restrictions ease, warn of ‘extremely difficult’ period to come
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 executive, John Gabrielson, said more than $100,000 of much-needed revenue was lost during COVID-19 store closures.
In a region hit hard by tourism shutdowns and job losses, the response to Katie Rose op shops reopening in Cooroy, Tewantin, Noosaville and Maroochydore was “amazing”, he said.
“We had some sales to start off with a bang, but I also think people were just keen to get outside after being locked down because of COVID.”
He said op shops provided for the many people who had lost employment as a result of the government restrictions.
“Op shops provide some really great-priced products and a lot of people are doing it hard,” Mr Gabrielson said.
“Some of the stuff last week cost just a dollar, and that just walked out the door.”
Providing social connection
Mr Gabrielson said op shops also provided vital social connection for both customers and the hundreds of volunteers that have been keeping the palliative care hospice operating.
“We had our teams just dying to get back into the shops,” he said.
Op shop giant Vinnies also began a staged reopening of its 53 shops across Queensland on May 18 and Queensland northern diocese president, John Hamilton, said trading had been going “incredibly well”.
This article is from the ABC News, you can read the full article here: