Many clothes were brand new and there are even surprise bags
The home and furniture section of the Birkenhead Barnado’s (Image: Ray Bonsall/Liverpool ECHO )
I am a huge fan of second hand shopping. In fact, there’s little else I’d rather do on a day off than spend a few hours browsing the racks of high street charity shops or rummaging through piles of clothing at a a car boot sale.
The benefits of shopping second hand are not just lower prices – it is also more sustainable and avoids more new clothing ending up in landfill. Though I’ve admittedly made some questionable choices in the past, it’s a great way to explore your style without the waste that comes with discarding new clothes.
I also love the treasure hunting that comes with it. You might have to spend more time searching but when you find that pair of designer jeans for £5, it will all be worth it.
Always on the look out for new spots to exercise this hobby, I headed to Birkenhead to try out their huge Barnado’s superstore.
Barnados Superstore in Birkenhead (Image: Ray Bonsall/Liverpool ECHO )
I’d had some good luck in the past at a Barnado’s superstore in a retail park in Manchester so I was excited by the prospect of an equally fruitful shopping experience.
My first impression was of the store’s generous size. While some might be intimidated by the sheer number of clothes on each rack, my eyes widened and I made a beeline for the first row of dresses.
A Coast dress was on sale for £15 (Image: Ray Bonsall/Liverpool ECHO )
For me, the only way to successfully shop at a charity shop is to flick through each and every item (you never know where that dream piece could be lurking) and make ruthless decisions about what is worth buying. I’ve had to learn the hard way not to buy things just because they are cheap.
As I browsed I noticed that many items were still brand new with tags including pieces from Monki, Zara and Vero Moda.
Zara jeans with the tags still on (Image: Ray Bonsall/Liverpool ECHO )
There were also lots of pieces from expensive high street shops like Coast and Hobbs.
More luxury brands included LK Bennett – I spotted a gorgeous pair of black heels that were sadly one size too small – as well as two pairs of Karen Millen heels.
Karen Millen heels (Image: Ray Bonsall/Liverpool ECHO)
There was also a selection of homeware, furniture and accessories, including sunglasses with tags on, plus ‘Amazon mystery jewellery bags’ (which I didn’t feel like taking a gamble on). There were also new items from pet toys, to socks and calendars.
However, while I found one item that convinced me to make a purchase – a stylish black handbag for £3.50 – nothing else inspired me to buy.
While stocking some higher end names, for me the joys of a charity shop come more from diving to the bottom of an overflowing pile to find a pair of jeans for 50p. However with some high end brands, and lots of choice, I would say that this charity shop is a great option for anyone looking to put together an expensive outfit on a budget.
Though I wouldn’t hurry to spend £4.40 on a return ticket from Liverpool again, if I was in the area I’d certainly have a browse – you never know what you might find.