When you start to shop second-hand, charity shops may be daunting. It can be out of your hands if the trip is a success or failure due to the random nature of charity shops. However, there are a few things you can do to make the trips more enjoyable and help you find those perfect items!
As someone who has spent a lot of time rooting around in charity shops, I like to think I know enough about them to share a few tips. Therefore, to help you out I thought I’d share my 5 top tips for a successful charity shop trip...
Tip #1 - Locate your shops
For the best chances of finding something you love, you want to visit a few shops in one trip. Do a little research and find a location that has a few shops you can pop in to! Also, be aware that some shops specialise in certain items such as clothing or furniture. If you're only looking for clothes be sure to skip the furniture only charity shops as you won't find what you're looking for there!
You could even google 'best charity shops near me for homeware' for example which should give you some ideas on where to go in your local area!
Tip #2 - Be prepared to rummage
Finding the perfect Charity shop items can take time and patience, be prepared to rummage through rails, baskets and shelves! Particularly if you're looking for clothes, it may be difficult to find your size and style so keep searching. This is why it's a good idea to look in multiple shops for the best chances of finding something great.
Tip #3 - Check the items
The worst feeling is getting home and realising you picked up the wrong size or your vase has a huge chip in the side. To stop this from happening, make sure you check the items before you leave. Most preloved items are in great condition and the shops do a fantastic job of sorting the donations but sometimes things can slip through or we pick up the wrong items.
Take your time and secure those perfect finds!
Tip #4 - Look everywhere!
Charity shops are full of exciting items on all the shelves and rails, so be sure to check everywhere! Sometimes items are dotted around, shoes on shelves, bags hanging on the walls and items in the windows. Even if you're there for a specific reason, be sure to look around as something else may catch your eye. Make sure you look for other people too, you never know what you're going to find, there might be a great item for a family member. Sometimes, especially after Christmas, you can get great brand-new items that make fantastic presents.
Tip #5 - Keep going back
The best thing about charity shops is how unpredictable they are, every trip is different even to the same shop. Make sure you keep going back to the shops as new stock comes in daily and there's always a chance you'll find something great. You don't want to miss the perfect piece you've been looking for so be sure to take multiple trips.
I hope you've found these tips helpful, check back for more second-hand shopping tips in the future and feel free to comment your own!
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