With Second Hand September just around the corner, we give you the lowdown on great preloved items you can find and our tips for finding great pieces.
What is Second Hand September?
Second hand September was created by Oxfam 3 years ago as a way of promoting sustainability and reducing our fix on fast fashion. According to Clothes Aid over 350,000 tonnes of clothing end up in landfill every single year in the UK alone - that's over 30% of our clothing. Second hand September asks people to only buy second hand and preloved clothing for 30 days or more and has been a popular event since its inception. You can read more about it and sign your pledge on Oxfam's GB site.
Preloved Isn't Just About Clothes
When many people think 'second-hand' they think of clothes, but there is so much more to find than this. From cars to furniture to gadgets, kitchenware, toys, books, sports goods and so much more. You can find an entire array of amazing preloved items.
I love to read and decided to only purchase second-hand books about 5 years ago. Many of the books I buy don't even look like they have been read - they are in immaculate condition.
I also volunteer in a charity shop and see the variety of goods that come in. Volunteers sort through donations, clean, research and test goods which gives you peace of mind. We also get a huge amount of brand new, unopened or opened never used items donated. Here are some of the great things you can find:
Great clothes including brand new designer clothing with tags. Fantastic designer coats, suits, shoes and much more.
Bags: again you can find excellent condition designer bags, purses, wallets and laptop bags.
Musical Instruments: From brilliant keyboards to drum kits, amps and turntables.
Gadgets: Some charities and shops take in electrical items and electrically and function test goods before selling. Some great finds I've seen are speakers, smoothie makers, bread makers and digital streamers.
Cameras: A charity shop may not be top of mind when you think of buying second-hand camera equipment but some shops do sell them. The shop I volunteer in is lucky to have an expert camera volunteer and you can grab an absolute bargain on cameras, lenses, tripods, books and we even once had night-vision goggles!
Toys: Kids grow out of toys like they do clothes so pick up a bargain by buying preloved items. From bop-it to puzzles, star-wars figurines, computer and console games to lego and collectable items.
Vinyl: Love listening to vinyl? Check out your local charity shops as many sell vinyl as well as CDs.
Books: Buying preloved books is a much less expensive way of buying than buying brand new ones. You may even find rare and 1st editions as well as signed books. Great for picking up cooking books, fiction, non-fiction and so much more.
Collectables: You don't necessarily need to go to an antique store to find antiques and collectables. We've had items donated in mint condition complete with certifications and more. A recent highlight was a collectable model mini James Bond car worth several hundred pounds.
Where To Find Great Second hand and Preloved Items?
There are more and more places and ways to buy or even rent preloved items as it grows in popularity.
Charity Shops
Check out your local high street to see what charity shops are around. Charity shops are a great way of buying preloved items as it not only helps prevent items from ending up in landfill but you are supporting a good cause at the same time. You'll find some charity shops that are general and sell a wide range but you will also find charity shops specialising in:
Wedding and Bridesmaid Dresses
Furniture
Books
Clothes
Antiques
Electricals
Boutiques
If you are on the lookout for rare, designer, vintage, antique or retro items then take a look at specialist boutiques. Many now have online platforms and there are some that are online only. For example House of Vintage in London has several boutiques and an online shop whereas Open For Vintage is online and works with independent boutiques and ships worldwide. Beyond Retro has shops in London and Brighton as well as online where you'll a huge array of retro and vintage clothing.
Online
If you take a look online you will open yourself up to a huge range of preloved items. Charities also sell online either through their own online stores or via places such as eBay.
eBay: The home of second-hand items. Many charities and for-good causes sell via eBay as well as individuals.
Other pre-loved online marketplaces: From Shpock to Preloved, Etsy and Amazon - there are many alternatives to eBay.
Online specialist stores: Many specialist retro shops and boutiques have online stores. For designer clothes check out Hewi (Hardly Ever Worn It), Still White focuses on Wedding Dresses and Loopster is great for preloved kid's clothing.
Oxfam Online: Oxfam has its own online store that sells items in almost every category - from sports goods to antiques, collectables, gifts and so much more.
Free swap sites: There are also sites where you can swap items for free. From well-known sites such as Freecycle, Freegle and What's Mine Is Yours to online local community or online interest groups where you can swap items for free; check out local neighbourhood groups or Facebook interest groups.
Markets, Auctions and Car Boot Sales
With pop-up shops and markets becoming popular you can find specialist retro market stalls and while we may think everything is now online, car boot sales are still a thing! You can look up your local car boot locations on Car Boot Junction.
Auctions are one way to find antiques and vintage valuable jewellery, collectables, art, watches as well as items such as valuable wines and spirits. While reclamation yards are great for finding pieces for your garden from railway sleepers to furniture, materials for home renovations and garden decorations.
Tips for Buying Preloved
Make A List: Make a list of the items you are on the lookout for and what you need. Having a sort-out beforehand may be a helpful way of deciding whether you really do need that item or not.
Do Your Research: Where can you buy those items? What is the going selling price? On eBay for example you can look at similar listings but you can also filter by 'sold items' to see the prices that item has actually sold for.
Check out the seller: Do they get a good rating? What is their returns policy? Be careful giving out data on swap sites and if it feels too good to be true...it probably is.
Set yourself a budget: It is easy to get carried away bidding on an item or at an auction. Set yourself a budget beforehand, places like eBay allow you to set up automated bids and you can set yourself a ceiling.
Can you rent that item instead? If you are into fashion that may change or what an outfit for a particular event or season can you rent it instead? There are many rental services from wedding outfits to designer clothes, handbags, jewellery, cars, laptops and electricals and kids clothes and toys.
How to donate or sell preloved items
Over 60% of homes have unwanted clothing stored away in clutter at home according to Clothes Aid. It is super easy nowadays to recycle, reuse and donate unwanted items. Check out our guide to a stress-free and eco-friendly clear out with tips on how to reuse, recycle and donate.
Take a look at Terracycle and your local council's website for local recycling schemes; you'll be surprised at what items can now be recycled. Contact your local charity shops to check what items they can accept and some charities even have a home collection service. Never leave items outside charity bins or shops - they could be stolen or become wet and ruined and it cost charities money to dispose of items that are not saleable.
If selling, check out the ways of buying preloved above as they are also great options for selling your unwanted goods. Is a marketplace best or an auction or specialise boutique best? Do your research on prices (and postage costs) and always account for listing or commission fees.
If you loved this article you may like to check out: