Anyone looking to score a bargain or donate some quality items will have their opportunity, after a Wollongong op-shop re-opened its doors this week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Save the Children re-opened its Wollongong store on Monday, having closed temporarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Safe operating processes are in place to protect shoppers and staff, including a maximum number of people per store, encouraging electronic payments, strict cleaning regimes and enforcing social distancing guidelines.
Hand sanitiser stations, gloves and protective screens will also be used in-store.
Save the Children's state retail manager Ferhat Altinay said the Wollongong store would be resuming normal trading hours.
He said the revamped Wollongong store was "pumping" with customers on Monday, but social distancing measures were still recognised.
Mr Altinay said they had donation bins out the back of the store for those wishing to drop off items.
"Any donations we're getting, they get quarantined for seven days," he said.
"Unless there's furniture, which will get instantly wiped down and disinfected, then it's stored.
"All we ask is people really consider that what they are donating is stuff that can be saleable.
"So no damaged or ripped products and things like that, because it's going to fill up the bin very quickly, and then it costs us to get rid of stuff that can't be re-sold.
"Also, anyone who tries on clothing (but doesn't buy it), that clothing doesn't go back out on the shelf; it gets quarantined also for seven days before it can be put back out on stock."
Save the Children head of retail Wayne Edis said he was excited to re-open the store.
"During isolation, we know that Australians have been looking around the house and making a lot of decisions about things they want to keep and things they want to donate," Mr Edis said.
"In the months ahead, we're expecting a lot of books, vintage treasures, home exercise and home office equipment and furniture to be donated as well as the usual gems as people de-clutter their living quarters."
Supporters can also donate cash to the organisation's COVID Crisis Appeal via savethechildren.org.au/covid19.
The store is located at 283-285 Keira Street, Wollongong.