Our Salvos Stores lead the way on World Op Shop Day
- deansimpson7
- Oct 17
- 4 min read
BY LERISSE SMITH
A world-first celebration is lighting up the calendar this week for a beloved community icon – our op shops!
This Saturday, 18 October, everyone is invited to join the fun as Salvos Stores celebrate 100 years since the term ‘op shop’ was coined. In honour of the inaugural World Op Shop Day, customers can enjoy exclusive discounts and special in-store promotions at participating stores.
“As we mark the inaugural World Op Shop Day, we invite our valued customers and donors alike to learn about the incredible impact of our op shops,” said Sarah Knop, Salvos Stores’ General Manager of Customer and Strategy.
“We want to celebrate the power of second-hand. Whether people are donating, shopping, or volunteering, their involvement helps create positive change. By supporting op shops, they are not only helping to deliver the life-changing programs of The Salvation Army but also championing a more sustainable future.”
Who invented the ‘op shop’? Australia’s century-long love affair with op shops goes back to the 1920s.
It all began with Lady Millie Tallis in Melbourne, who envisioned a dignified space for second-hand goods that could support community causes. She invented the phrase ‘op shop’ (a shortened version of ‘opportunity shop’) – a term that remains uniquely Australian.
But the story began earlier for The Salvation Army.
The Salvos’ innovative approach to recycling had already taken root in 1880, sparking a nationwide movement of op shops that continues to thrive today.
The first Salvation Army recycling depots opened in 1883, in Melbourne and Sydney, providing both employment and housing support to those in need, while promoting local environmental awareness.
They also offered something deeper: hope.
These depots provided work, accommodation and food for men leaving prison. Items were repaired, sorted and sold to help with running costs. ‘Jumble Sales’ (essentially early versions of op shops) allowed families to access low-cost clothing when they needed it most.
Long before ‘circular economy’ became popular, The Salvation Army was already pioneering sustainable practices. Since the late 19th century, the Salvos have been collecting, sorting and recycling used goods, clothing and materials.
A leading example was The Anchorage Hostel in Abbotsford, Victoria, where items were repaired and repurposed into new garments or woven into mats for local businesses.
These early initiatives laid the foundation for what the Salvos now recognise as circular economy thinking – extending the life of goods through reuse, recycling, and repurposing.
Salvos Store in the 21st century
Today, Salvos Stores leads the way. With more than 400 store locations, they remain sustainability powerhouses.
Each year, more than 40 million items are diverted from landfill through the resale and recycling undertaken by Salvos Stores, and in the past 25 years, this has accumulated into 575 million kilograms of textiles, electronics, and home goods that would have otherwise become waste.
And it’s community connection that forms the backbone of its mission.
“What I think is really special about op shops is that they've really become part of the fabric of Australian society,” Sarah reflected.
“They are not just about being an income source for charities. They are a really vital community hub where Australians from all walks of life can belong and find purpose … op shops are also a great way to contribute to a meaningful cause by generously giving your time and your valuable donations.”
At the heart of every store is the desire to make sure that everyone who walks through the doors feels welcome, connected and part of something bigger.
“We really want to offer a welcoming environment where people know that every purchase they make, donation they give, or hour they spend volunteering helps people and the planet,” Sarah added.
As op shops have evolved over the decades, so, too, have the Salvos.
From rethinking store layouts to reimagining the shopping experience, the Salvos have modernised how goods are displayed, grouping items by category and size to improve accessibility and customer experience, and using data tracking to manage inventory more effectively.
Some stores now feature curated sections catering to those seeking a seamless, easy-to-shop retail experience called ‘O by Salvos’. This space features classic, timeless pieces that are styled to work well together.
“We are proud to provide ways for Australians to participate in the circular economy.”
The digital world is part of the journey, too. Customers can purchase a wide range of clothing, accessories, collectables and even convenient donation and textile recycling bags via the Salvos Stores e-commerce platform.
And there’s more innovation coming.
Supported by the Queensland government, Salvos Stores is installing Australia’s first automated textile sorting and decommissioning facility, set to open in February next year at its Queensland warehouse.
The cutting-edge facility will do more than sort. It will process donations for resale, and non-resellable items will be processed by colour and fibre type and then cut down into high-quality textile swatches for future recycling.
“It is a really exciting Australian first initiative,” Sarah remarked. “We are proud to provide ways for Australians to participate in the circular economy – and we are always working to deliver better sustainability solutions for those items that can't be resold in our stores.”
