One-of-a-kind gifts, rock-bottom prices
INSTEAD of heading for the nearest shopping mall to blow your bonus (if you’re lucky enough to have got one) on last-minute gifts, why not spend your cash where it will also spread a little cheer?
All you really need is a keen eye and a little patience, since you may need to spend time rummaging in order to find gifts that are absolutely spot on.
Some items can be a little bashed up, but often this adds to their charm; many of our local antique and vintage store owners pick up treasures by scouting out the humble charity shops!
One big no-no, however, is making an offer on an item that is probably already going for a song – the whole point is that it’s for charity, remember, so don’t be a cheapskate!
And, should you be the recipient of some unwanted presents this Christmas, why not consider donating them to a charity shop rather than dumping them in the back of a cupboard?
Port Elizabeth has several charity shops that are well worth a trawl for interesting “pre-loved” items:
• The Bargain Box at the Ninth Avenue Shopping Centre in Walmer is in aid of the Animal Anti-Cruelty League. You’ll find everything from second-hand and vintage clothing to household items, as well as books and magazines. I recently spotted a very nice crystal butter dish for R15 – the same dish was more than R100 at a local homeware store.
The Bargain Box is on (041) 581-2852.
• Another animal-related outlet is Wagtails, the Animal Welfare Society’s cutely named stores. They have two – one in the Westway Centre in Frank Street, Newton Park, and the other at the corner of Albert Road and Sixth Avenue, Walmer.
I like to scout around at the Walmer one and I’ve been lucky enough to find beautiful, hand-embroidered vintage linen serviettes and tray cloths there for as little as R5 each.
Wagtails Walmer is on (041) 581-2633 and the Newton Park store is on 073-241-5273.
• The Hospice Shoppe in Rink Street has good-as-new clothes going for next to nothing; they also have a big book selection. A vintage-loving friend snagged a stunning 1930s typewriter for under 100 bucks a while ago.
The Rink Street shop is on (041) 582-3304. The shop at 63 Fourth Avenue, Newton Park is on (041) 364-1970.
• Cleary Cheshire has a charity shop at the Bloomingdales centre in Walmer; Cheshire Homes also has one at its Summerstrand facility in Gomery Avenue. Hilary Bolton, who heads the Walmer shop, is on 082-789-4302. The Summerstrand shop is on (041) 583-2183.