It’s Green Friday – and Salvos Stores is your place for eco-friendly shopping
Green Friday, an eco-friendly alternative to the Black Friday sales leading up to Christmas, starts today. Participating in this year’s Green Friday is simple: purchase mindfully and sustainably from your local brands. Salvos Online journalist LERISSE SMITH takes us on a journey through her favourite second-hand shop – Salvos Stores
It’s a grand shopping adventure that costs just $2 and is a perfect fit for my soul.
For a few minutes during my lunch break on most Mondays, I love to pop down to my local Salvos Store to check out their special $2 clothing racks for that day, looking to discover a quality gem at an amazing price.
It’s always a fun-filled adventure – and for as long as I can remember, visiting Salvos Stores has regularly been a favourite place to shop.
I love exploring their aisles (and online store, too!) to support the Salvos’ missional work and enjoy the thrill of a treasure hunt. Whether I’m looking for the perfect outfit, something I need, or just a unique find, I always hope to discover something special, whether discounted or not.
As my family will attest, my wonderful and exciting escapades have unearthed a vast array of special and treasured finds over the years. I am simultaneously curious about the history and story behind each of them. Who owned the item before me? What is the story of its origin?
Take a peek inside my home, and you’ll find beloved treasures ranging from a sparkly vintage watch, a beautiful blue pashmina and an elegant tea cup set to a retro milkshake maker, music amplifier and new reading glasses – many of them!
Then there is the beloved pink winter jacket. Oh, how I loved it. It was a faithful companion through many seasons of life until the day came to pass it on to a close friend who just had to have it. I still recall the day a mum and her kids quietly followed me through a supermarket until they finally caught up to compliment my jacket (of all things, while I was buying celery!) and ask where I had bought it.
And whilst I have indeed loved my many grand expeditions to support the Salvos’ work, where someone in need is helped every 17 seconds through an item purchased at Salvos Stores, the issue of recycling, sustainability, and doing my bit to help keep clothes and other items out of landfills has been my main motivating force behind buying pre-loved goods at the retail store.
With Green Friday upon us, a movement towards a conscious, eco-friendly future that brings together leading ethical and sustainable brands to showcase their products and stories to a growing community of eco-conscious shoppers, I was keen to discover The Salvation Army’s role in recycling and sustainability.
The statistics are staggering.
In the past financial year, more than 44.9 million second-hand items were sold through approximately 400 Salvos Stores, 16.6 million of which were clothing and 8.9 million bric-a-brac. More than 4,300 tonnes of textiles were recycled, followed by more than 2.13 tonnes of paper, cardboard and paper products and 692 tonnes of metals.
“Our target is net-zero landfill disposal,” said Martin Nordstrom, Environment and Sustainability Manager.
“We create change for tomorrow by inspiring others to embrace circularity for people and the planet. It is estimated we already have enough clothing in the world to clothe the next six generations.”
The public may also not realise that Australia imports 1.4 billion new clothing items annually, with 200,000 tonnes going to landfills. Australians buy an average of 56 new items of clothing per year, and 40 per cent of them throw away their clothes after one to two years.
Sarah Keogh, the Outgoing Salvos Stores Customer Campaign Partner, said the Salvos Stores team prioritised being a socially responsible retailer focused on providing quality items at affordable prices.
Additionally, of paramount importance from a sustainability perspective was giving goods a second life and a second opportunity by keeping them in circulation rather than allowing them to go to landfill.
Many Salvos Stores have changed over the years to make the shopping experience more consistent with traditional retail.
The store’s biggest demographic customers are those who choose to shop at the Salvos Stores and fall into two categories: the bargain seekers – people who are looking for good quality items at a good price; and the treasure hunters – people who really like to go in, dig through the rails, and find those unique pieces that are personal and specific to their likeness.
“We know value for money is a key driver for our customers,” Sarah remarked, so encouraging quality donations from the public and continually raising awareness about the social impact of their generosity through supporting the Salvos’ work to help those in need is also of great importance.
“With the rise of fast fashion, we are seeing people kind of pushing back against that and making more sustainable choices,” she said.
“They know that an easy way to do that is by shopping at their local Salvos or anyone that is in that kind of second-hand retailing space. We want to have a positive impact on the communities that we are in – and to educate the general public on making more sustainable choices.”
Salvos Stores Fun Facts
• The oldest reported volunteer is aged 99
• More than 8000 volunteers form part of the Salvos Stores team across Australia
• A verified Hermes bag, Hans Hansen candelabra, and the tour wardrobe of recording artist Tones and I have been among some amazing items donated to the Salvos
