OP-shopping is growing hugely in popularity, says Lindsay Rae, director of commercial operations at the St Vincent de Paul Society. 

While working for Vinnies over the past 10 years, Lindsay says he is noticing significant changes in shopping trends,

“Traditionally, gift-giving has been very consumeristic and more geared towards the amount spent rather than the thought put into the present,” he says.

“Buying the latest gadget or trend has been glamourised in many a Christmas movie, but in the past decade and especially post covid, and during this cost-of-living crisis, gift giving has taken on new meaning as people are struggling to pay their bills and mortgages. 

“There is much less stigma now surrounding thoughtful homemade and second-hand gifts.

“Sustainability has become a big thing, and it’s not just the young people, all generations are interested in sustainability.” 

Although growing in popularity, Lindsay acknowledges that there are still challenges in shifting society’s perceptions on second-hand gifts.

“There is still a stigma surrounding second-hand gift giving, there’s no doubt about that, but, five years ago there was a stigma around buying second-hand clothing, too,” he says.

“That stigma has really started to evaporate.

“With all the thousands of people pouring into op-shops across the world, the stigma around receiving a second-hand gift is certainly shrinking back.

“The other thing about second-hand shops is that a lot of the goods still have their labels on them. 

“They were purchased and not used for whatever reason. There’s a lot of items, whether it’s bric-a-brac or clothing, that are brand new.”

Lindsay says that the benefits of second hand gift giving this Christmas extend beyond being budget friendly. 

“The first thing about second-hand gift giving is that it will help reduce the amount of goods going to landfill, and that’s good for the planet,” he says. 

“Each year Vinnies Canberra and Goulburn processes 3000 tonnes of donated items which we keep out of landfill. 

“Sales from these items are then in turn used to fund programs for those experiencing hardship in our region.

“When you buy second-hand from a charity op-shop, you’re not just giving a gift to the person who you’re purchasing for, that same value that you’re spending is going to pay for food and basic essentials for someone else.

“You’re doubling-up on your giving when you buy from a charity op-shop.”

Lindsay believes second-hand gift giving will eventually become as popular as general op-shopping. 

“There’s still a big percentage of people who don’t go into an op-shop, or, they might have gone when they were at university or something to get an outfit for a fancy dress,” he says. 

“The whole op-shopping world has changed since those days but there are still people who remember the mothball smell and worn-out clothes. 

“That’s not what you see any more.

“When I first joined Vinnies, there were people who didn’t even want to be seen here bringing donations into an op-shop, because they were embarrassed. Now you see thousands of people pouring into op-shops on the weekends.”

Lindsay says homewares, knick-knacks and home decor are the most popular items that people buy for others. 

“Shopping at Vinnies is like shopping in a treasure trove of preloved clothing, accessories and homewares,” he says. 

“Every time you pop into one of our shops, you will discover something new and unique.

“My tip is to make a list of who you are shopping for and what type of items you want to find and then come in and keep an open mind.

“Our pre-loved clothes are very popular, we have everything from collectible vintage pieces to fun, bright kids wear, some items still have tags on them.

“Now is definitely the time for more thoughtful gift giving. 

“We see the joy every day of people shopping and discovering unique items in Vinnies for themselves and their loved ones.”