Hi there everyone, I hope that you are all well after a safe and merry xmas with your family and friends.
There are so many markets around the world that I can't wait to see and hopefully one day I will.
I hardly ever get to a market these days as we were in lockdown for so long, that many haven't quite opened up here, except for the main food markets (which are also very touristy and expensive) so I haven't posted on here in a while.
However I realised today that I was in a market- just not the traditional market we think of when we hear the word market.
This market doesn't sell food, but it does sell everything else- almost.
It is called an op-shop here in Australia- short for opportunity shop, as everything they sell is second hand goods donated by the general public, as well as actual shops, particularly clothes and shoe shops, which gives the more economically challenged, the financially disadvantaged, the opportunity to buy things that they would not normally be able to afford if they bought it brand new in a 'proper' shop.
In the #USA, #Canada and I'm sure other countries, it would be known as a #thrift store.
Most, if not all Op or thrift shops are usually charity based, meaning that they are a non-profit organisation (NPO) and the proceeds that they make usually go straight to the #charity that created them, so for instance the Salvation Army (or Salvo's as we call them) is an opshop and the profits go straight into the Salvation Army charity which supports a number of initiatives all to support a range of different causes, and St Vinnies opshop, sends it's profits from the shop straight to the St Vincent's Church.
And that where this one is slightly different. https://www.instagram.com/savers_au/
Although Savers is a for profit business, #Savers is Partnered with a non profit charity and here in #Australia that #Charity organisation is #DiabetesVictoria.
So Savers accepts donations (thank you) on behalf of a local nonprofit, in our case, Diabetes Victoria.
Savers pay our nonprofit partners for your stuff, helping them fund programs in the community.
The one-of-a-kind finds are given a second chance to be loved again by opshoppers and thrifters like you.
Together, we champion reuse and keep millions of reusable items out of landfills every year.
Back in 1954, our first thrift shop called an old movie theater in #SanFrancisco’s Mission District home. From day one, we gave shoppers what they were looking for: stylish finds at unbelievable savings.
Since then, we’ve opened stores across the U.S., Canada, and #Australia and have consistently partnered with local nonprofit organisations. We accept #donations of clothing and household items on their behalf, paying them for that stuff, and helping fund programs in our communities.
We’ve chosen to keep our business model this way—to buy our supply from local nonprofits. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve also created a leading #recycling and #reuse program, where we keep, on average, 317.5 million kilograms of reusable items out of area #landfills every year. https://www.savers.com.au/about-us
By choosing to purchase the goods that supply our stores from local nonprofit organisations, we provide steady revenue that helps support each of their missions. Our supply partners do vital work in our #communities, including supporting and empowering those affected by diabetes, campaigning for child safety, and providing bereavement counselling for those affected by the death of a child.
Finding a second or third use for pre-loved items is what we do, and we recognise the #global demand for #secondhand goods. So, we partner with buyers both near and far to extend the life of items that don’t sell on our sales floors.
What's passed over in our stores is sold to small business owners—allowing them to supply their local communities with gently used, affordable items like clothing, housewares, toys, and shoes.
In fact, these goods are sold within reuse markets across six continents and 34 countries. https://www.savers.com.au/thrift-proud/impact
The fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters in the world. Twelve billion kilograms of clothing and textiles pile up in landfills each year—95% of which could have been re-worn or repurposed. As a global leader in reuse, we know that when we all make small changes, together we can make a big impact on our planet. Because the most sustainable clothing...is the clothing that already exists. https://www.savers.com.au/thrift-proud/rethink-reuse
Since 1953 Diabetes Victoria has been the peak consumer body and leading charity representing, supporting, educating and empowering all Victorians who have been affected in some way by Diabetes. https://www.diabetesvic.org.au/AboutUsDetails?tags=Aboutus&content_id=a1R0o00000MLp8NEAT&bdc=1
So you can see just how aweseme this Op/thrift shop is, as not only does it sell practically anything and everything at fantastically great, low prices for everyone to be able to afford it, but the merchandise if completely unique and best of all, Savers promotes the Reuse, recycling and upcycling of so many products that would go into landfill. https://www.instagram.com/savers_au/
So this market really is a WIN WIN WIN WIN.
A WIN for us- the consumers, A WIN for those de-cluttering their lives, a WIN for Diabetes Victoria and a WIN for the future of this extraordinary earth.
What more could you want in a market, so if you anywhere in the USA, Canada or even Melbourne and Adelaide in Australia, then make sure you make the effort to go and check out these brilliant stores! https://www.instagram.com/savers_au/
Savers- https://www.savers.com
Value Village US- https://www.valuevillage.com
Value Village CA- https://www.valuevillage.ca
Village des Valeurs- https://www.villagedesvaleurs.ca
Savers AU- https://www.savers.com.au/
#MarketFriday was created by the wonderful @dswigle and if you too would like to show us your favourite markets, be they large or small, indoor or outdoor- whatever, then please click on this link here to find out how. https://peakd.com/c/hive-196308/created
And I send my warmest regards and biggest wishes that you, your family and friends have a wonderful, warm, safe and amazing new year filled with an abundance of love, peace, harmony, good health, much happiness and success!
With Love from Australia
XXX
Thank you so much for reading my post , I really hope that you enjoyed it and look forward to your comments and thoughts.
🐠🐃🐌🕷🐍🐓🦆🐸🐁🐿🦋🐢🐞🦍🐈🦆🐥🐜🦑🐛🐄🦇🐪🦏🐳🐊🦀🦌🐖🐢🐏🐋🐝
And unless otherwise stated- ALL photographs, all media, material and writings, are all my originals taken by me sometime in the past few decades or so somewhere in my travels and as such, ofcourse they are subject to all international IP and copyright laws and I may have already used them for my own commercial purposes here https://www.redbubble.com/people/CHOCOLATESCORPI/shop And here https://fineartamerica.com/art/chocolatescorpi, So please ask first if you want to use any of them as we wouldn't want you getting into trouble. Thank you 😊
🐠🐃🐌🕷🐍🐓🦆🐸🐁🐿🦋🐢🐞🦍🐈🦆🐥🐜🦑🐛🐄🦇🐪🦏🐳🐊🦀🦌🐖🐢🐏🐋🐝
The Ladies of Hive- your own crypto world girl gang full of fun and suprises, so click on the link to find out more about this brilliant community of caring, companionship and creative contests, such as this one...https://peakd.com/hive-124452/@ladiesofhive/ladies-of-hive-community-contest-64
@hiveaustralia, formerly @teamaustralia check us out now!
(cause we're all such damn cool cats...😁
Please feel free to checkout my other work on
https://chocolatescorpionc.wixsite.com/chocolatescorpi
https://www.redbubble.com/people/CHOCOLATESCORPI/shop
https://fineartamerica.com/art/chocolatescorpi
https://deepdreamgenerator.com/u/chocolatescorpi
https://www.instagram.com/rawscorpi/
https://www.instagram.com/chocolates.scorpion.creations/
https://www.behance.net/chocolates0386/projects
I love the Thrift Shops, the idea of them and all they do to help people and the environment! St. Vincent's (in the US anyway) is St. Vincent de Paul Church, I am not sure if that is different than there. I used to volunteer at a Christian affiliated Thrift shop, not because it was Christian, but, I like what they did with their proceeds. They supported many homeless people and families looking for a second chance. They got my vote!
I admire anyone that uses these for things that don't really matter if they are new or to save money! Great post and yes!! Hello, my friend! So glad to see you! 💙 Thank you for being a part of #MarketFriday! I cannot tell you how pleased I am to see so many participating every week. I have learned so much about the different cultures of the world, especially the small things that go unnoticed except by those looking for it. Life is interesting, wherever you are, whatever you are doing. I hope the New Year finds you healthy and happy, as we all look to prosper in our way of life.
#MarketFriday began as a way to reach out across the globe and learn about different cultures through their markets, especially local markets and farmers markets and eventually branching out and evolving over time from straight shopping to a cultural affair as it highlights how we differ and then again, how much we are alike. We have become a melting pot of culture, but, it is still the Rituals, Festivals, food, architecture, even your language/languages that separate us... Along with the fact of what is these things are normal for us. There are unwritten rules that rule our social behaviors. I see this as allowing for increased tolerance between cultures and nations, and opportunities to come together on an even playing ground. A strong culture can be beneficial to a country as it promotes unity, especially during a crisis, peaceful debate, and open dialogue. I have learned so much about all of you and it has been an amazing experience. I can only hope that learning about each other can help us work together for a peaceful world.
Fridays are all about the #MarketFriday Challenge! Looking to take part in it? Here is how:
Take pictures! Be creative!
5. Drop the link into the MarketFriday comment section so I can find it
7. You must put #MarketFriday by @dswigle somewhere on your post. If you don't and someone reads it, there is nothing to tie #MarketFriday to that post.
As always, please remember! #MarketFriday loves you!
Yes, I absolutely love the fact that their profits actually go back into all demographics in the communities AND the decrease in landfill too.
Yes, that what St Vinnies is here too- St Vincent De Paul, but we're Aussies and we shorten every name and word...🤣
So glad that I was finally able to get that post in there as it is such a worthwhile topic to read about and I really hope that this one inspires others in the community to tell us about their opshopping experiences where they are as that is a great way to promote them and promote the impact that they can have for so many people!
Hi There!
Wishing You (late 😲🙁😳) "A Very Happy (and better) 2022"!
Looked for You, and in the search You didn't come up, so I decided to wait and see when You show up.
So I am wishing, You a Fantastic Day and upcoming Weekend!
🙋👍🏼🌄👍🏼🙋
Hey Honey, thank you so much and I'm also thinking of you and wishing that you are well, safe, healthy and happy too!
Lets sync clocks and work out a time to chat on zoom or something some time eh!!!
I am currently midnight Australian Eastern Standard Daylight Savings time (AEDST) on Saturday 8th Jan. Sooooo let me see, you are now 6am Saturday 8th, so you're just thinking about getting up as I'm dragging myself to bed...🤣- so you're 18hours behind.
I'm coming to you from the futureeeeee....🤣😂😅
Talk sooooonnnnnnn.....🤣😂😅 and good night!
XXX
Hi There Happy to Hear from "You"!
🙋🤗😊🤗🙋
I will install Zoom later today or tomorrow a.m.,
and we can have a chat!
Wishing You well and Blessed on this Sunday (your time),
Yep!
I'm always behind...
Anyways Very, Very Happy to hear from You!
I will send a message when Zoom is up,
In the meantime,
Stay Blessed, Safe, and Healthy!
Till Then!
🤗😉😁😉🤗
Oh,
Be Good Too!
😉
Sorry I missed you message here!
So yeah, send me an email- a zoom invite via [email protected] with the best time for you and we'll Zoom an hour or so away together! 🤣
I look forward to it!
Stay safe and speak soon!
XXX
I sent message to you on discord I doubt if you did see it . Happy new year to you
Hey there @femcy-willcy, I'm so sorry that I did miss it (Very rarely have the time for peakd, let alone discord too...)
Anyway, thanks so much and I really hope that you, you're family and friends are having a amazing and promising new year so far too!
Yes we are I just it’s quite sometime that have heard from you . Stay safe awesome and alive
I'm here- on and off, but I'm still around.
Thanks so much for caring and thinking of me and please make no mistake, even when I'm not on here, I'm still thinking of you and your family and wishing you well!
XXX
Thanks so much
These opportunity stores are great. I have never seen one so complete. In my country, Venezuela, some time ago there were second hand stores (almost all for profit), very specialized. So, you could find antique stores, clothing stores, vinyl record stores, appliance stores, furniture stores; but never (as far as I know), there was one so large and diverse. I think it's great that the funds raised are used for charity, that's very good. Here the NGO's and similar institutions used to make what is called verbena or vendimias, which are days of sales of items, which usually last between 1 and 3 days.
Thanks for sharing this interesting alternative. Greetings and happy new year 2022.
Yes, these ones are so great to have for so many people!
Most of the church based charity opshops here are tiny little things, so when people walk into Savers, they are astounded at the size and you can spend literally all day in there and still not see everything that they have!
It's really an amazing place in so many ways!
I love going there! as it's such an adventure and a great insight into history too cause I know that there are many antiques that go through them too, so you never know, that thing that you just bought for $2 could be worth thousands...
So glad that you enjoyed this post and I hope that you and your family and friends are too having a great start to a prosperous and happy new year!
XXX
I have shop thrift myself a number of times and I think its a good thing to cycle these items instead of creating pollution.
Happy new year friend
Yes absolutely!
I totally agree with you- why create more pollution when we already have more than enough- created all the way through the production, manufacturing and transportation processes from start to finish...😡
Especially when there's absolutely nothing wrong with second hand stuff either!👌
I'd love to hear about your thrift shopping opportunities! 😃
Where do you go?
How big are they?
Are they actual shops like here or outdoor markets that you go to?
So many questions! 🤣😂😅
Why don't you do a post on your thrift shops!!! 😃 and don't forget to tag me in it please!!!
And I hope that the beginning of 2022 so far has been great and is full of promise for a fresh, exciting, happy, healthy and prosperous year for you and all of your family and friends too! ❤️🌈💛💐💚🎊💙🎁💜🎉
Love the concept behind these thrift and op-shps. Giving people the opportunity to buy things they need at far more reasonable prices and at the same time saving items that can be repurposed from ending up as more landfill.
Vinnies has always been a great source for me for buying items such as large glass jars for my ferments and fabrics/books for my collage/bookmaking.
I'm in Sydney and haven't seen or heard of Savers before. Just looked at their Oz website and you have quite a few in Melbourne. Can't believe the size of these stores ~ Like department stores ~ Only heaps better knowing that everything has a pre-loved and eco 'value.' ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
Yes me too and the positive imapcts on the earth that they have from giving the things- and the people a second chance too.
Yes Vinnies is great, infact I have been an avid opshopper now for about 30 years and ONLY shop in opshops- EVER (except for undies...🤣..) and I know that you guys have got some great opshops in Sydney, but still they're not Savers...🤣..SO, when you come to Melbs next, please let me know as I'd love to take you there..😁😁😁😁🤣
Sounds great @chocolatescorpi. I used to go to Melbourne quite regularly as I still have family there: just not over the last few years. ♥︎♥︎⚖️♥︎♥︎
Sweet!
Let's do it when this Covid thing settles down then! 😃