Few fashionistas know that brand new designer goods have been sitting right under our noses in charity shops for fraction of the price. St. Vincent de Paul gets stock straight from Brown Thomas, and slashes the prices in half.
The charity organisation isn’t just for second-hand goods. They also sell a large amount of tag-on designer garments, gifted to them from stores.
Brown Thomas often gift the George’s Street store a big drop of luxury goods to sell to customers. Shop manager Ileana Pop told EVOKE the department store is ‘very good to us and we are grateful for that donation they bring.’
St Vincent’s Store. Pic: Supplied
‘Every few months, all the left behind stock come to us, but we also get what they have left from a collection when they stop stocking the designer,’ Ileana explained.
‘All the LK Bennett items came to us from Brown Thomas when they finished in Ireland and they are on the shop floor now. Everything they had in the stock is here.’
The shop’s policy is that they sell new goods for half the price. It’s not just Brown Thomas who donate brand new stock to SVP.
St Vincent’s Store. Pic: Supplied
‘We get amazing donations from members from the public, but we also get great donations from the hotels and businesses around because all the ‘left behinds’ come to us,’ Ileana said.
Parents can rejoice, as she revealed places like Mamas and Papas often give them products. They also get donations from Stephens Green Shopping centre.
‘We do have like working relationship with all the businesses around,’ she added. While many shoppers hoping to get their hands on designer goods would love to know when the donations drop, Ileana explained that they come at random.
St Vincent’s Store. Pic: Supplied
‘Unfortunately, we don’t have the option to hold things because of the shop size, so everything comes whenever they land in. First come, first served.’
‘We have our loyalty customers who come in on a daily basis just to have a browse. We have customers from all different social levels, from low income to a higher income.’
St Vincent’s Store. Pic: Supplied
‘People find little treasures. Of course, we also have a little selection of high quality vintage pieces, as well as products Also, our designer range is very high quality, from Karen Millan to Armani. They go very, very quickly.’
And it’s not just designer pieces people are after. ‘The great thing about charity shops is that you find unique items, so if you are attending an event, you don’t end up to wear the same clothes as everyone else.’