Sustainable Shopping Hidden Gems: The Joy of Charity and Second-Hand Stores

During 2025, I really struggled to find a decent supplier for stock to sell online across various platforms. I tried a couple of online retailers, and one experience in particular was absolutely atrocious. The quality of what I received was nowhere near what was promised, and in the end, I actually lost money. Needless to say, I won’t be using that company again. Lesson learned.

While watching a friend’s stream on Whatnot, someone suggested something I hadn’t seriously considered before: local charity shops. They mentioned that many shops are overwhelmed with donations and sometimes have excess stock they simply don’t have the space to deal with. That idea stuck with me.

So, I started visiting the two charity shops closest to my office every lunchtime. At first, it was just browsing and making small purchases, but over the weeks I began chatting regularly with the staff. Day after day, conversations turned into familiarity, and familiarity turned into genuine friendships.

Over the year, I’ve become “one of the clan,” as they like to put it. They even keep trying to recruit me to work with them! As much as I’d love to volunteer, I still have bills to pay, so it’s not something I can commit to right now.

Because we’ve built such a strong relationship, we eventually started talking about how I could help them as well as myself. They’re constantly inundated with donations and often struggle with storage space. Together, we came up with an agreement that works for everyone: I can buy black bags of clothes at a set price, without knowing exactly what’s inside.

This helps them clear space quickly and, more importantly, raises money for their charity. For me, it provides a reliable and affordable source of stock to sell online through eBay, Vinted, and Whatnot. I now buy multiple bags at a time, and this has become my main source of inventory.

None of this would have been possible without simply asking questions, showing up consistently, and building real relationships with the people in the shop. Instead of getting burned again by unreliable online suppliers, I now have a sustainable, local solution that benefits everyone involved.

I get stock to sell at a reduced price, they regain valuable space, and the charity receives much-needed funds. It’s a win-win-win, and I truly hope this continues into 2026 and beyond.

Sometimes the best business opportunities aren’t hidden online at all — they’re right on your doorstep.