The Best Charity Shops Aren’t Always In The Posh Part Of Townfeatured

I’ve said it myself many times in the past, the way to grab the best second hand finds involves shopping in posh areas. With so many wealthy residents nearby, many of whom probably don’t have the time to faff about on eBay for very little profit, an overwhelming number of quality - and often designer - items are handed into these charity shops.

However, during a recent trip to Salford Shopping City, I’ve realised that, thanks to great charity shop managers and devoted volunteers, fantastic charity bargains can be found anywhere.

The city of Salford

Every city in the world has its good parts and bad parts and far too often the negative overshadows the positive. The city of Salford is no different. As a whole, Salford has been gaining an increasing amount of good press in recent years due to the BBC’s move to Media City, but there’s no denying that there are still some areas that unfortunately still have a bit of a reputation.

The 2011 riots which saw the shopping centre being looted, smashed up and set on fire probably didn’t help….nor did this interview with a local resident. However, having spent 5 years living in Salford myself with no trouble, I can honestly say the place is alright.

Bye Fallowfield, hello Salford!

Having recently finished his degree, Jake has now said goodbye to his student house in Fallowfield and has moved into a rented room in Salford. Although he’s not in the poshest part of town, the house is great, the landlord is a top bloke, and most importantly, it’s far more affordable than it would be to rent a room in the centre of Manchester which is just a short 10 minute bus ride away.

After moving his stuff in, the two of us wandered over to the shopping centre to buy some bits and pieces for the house. We soon spotted a British Heart Foundation and decided to pop in. I thought we’d only be there for a few minutes but I found myself spending ages looking through all the gorgeous clothes. It was clearly well managed and is easily the best charity shop I’ve ever been in.

Kissing a lot of frogs before you find your prince

Since I started helping out at a charity shop myself I’ve learned just how many donations they get each day. Many of which are unfortunately not fit for sale but sometimes I do find charity shops bursting at the seams with items which really don’t deserve a place on the hanger.

Of course, if a charity is only receiving poor quality donations, I guess they have little choice, but I think it’s really important to be as ruthless as possible when deciding what to sell. Perhaps it’s better to have a tidy and minimalist shop than one cluttered with absolute rubbish? Besides, the clothes that don’t go on sale don’t actually goes to waste. Clothes that aren’t fit for sale in the shop can still make money for the charity if bagged up and sold to the rag collectors .

In this British Heart Foundation, however, every single item had earned its place in the shop but I suspect the volunteers have to recycle the vast majority of the donations they are given.

I guess it’s like kissing a lot of frogs before you find your prince. Charity shop volunteers have to sift through a lot of rubbish before they find their hidden gems.

By ensuring that the right items are on sale, the team at the British Heart Foundation have created a really great shop that I’m sure keeps customers returning to time and time again.

Generally, charity shops tend to rotate stock on a regular basis, recycling items that have been on display for a set period of time but haven’t sold. However, if those items are good quality, I think it’s far more effective to keep them out there and reduce them in price than it is to replace them with something that is perhaps not as appealing. So what if that gorgeous dress hasn’t sold after 4 months? It might just be the case that the right person hasn’t been in yet.

Don’t overlook the humble charity shop

While posher areas may still be the best for those looking to bag designer goods, I think the British Heart Foundation in Salford proves that with great management and ruthless volunteers who aren’t afraid to recycle some donations, charities in any area can create a great store and put an end to the misconception that their shops are too often filled with rubbish.

So what’s the moral of the story? If you’re looking to pick up some great bargains or revamp your wardrobe with thrifted finds, keep an open mind and don’t rule any charity shops out purely because they aren’t in a posh part of town. You might end up missing out on some hidden gems!

If you’ve spotted a crackin’ charity shop in a not-posh place, I’d love to hear from you. Let us know your favourite ‘chazzers’ in the comments below.

Photo credits:

All photos taken inside the charity shop are by me. You may use them if you wish, but please link back to me. Thanks

British Heart Foundation exterior. Mikey

Salford Shopping City tower. Mikey