Students love their win/win op shop
A new in-house opportunity shop at Palmerston North’s Awatapu College offers students bargains and puts money back into a fund for them too.
The shop was the brainchild of PE teacher Jeanette Daysh, who pitched it to the students and they ‘‘took it and ran with it’’.
Last semester, students gave an unused room a tidy up, painted bright coloured murals on the walls, and had a tradesman install clothing racks.
When new items are donated they are put on to coat hangers and hung up by students. Then, once a week a group of student volunteers run the store.
‘‘We do sorting, hanging, making sure everything looks tidy, give fashion advice, money handling and sales,’’ year 12 student Jess Burgiss-Smith said.
‘‘You get people coming in looking for something, and you get talking and learn more about them.’’
Winter jackets and scarfs were popular, and many girls liked to come in to look at the ball dresses.
‘‘I bought this really cool pair of shoes . . . with gold spots along the sides,’’ Burgiss-Smith said.
‘‘My friend bought something that looks like a pilot’s jacket, and she wears that all the time.’’ Everything in the shop is $2. Treasures waiting among the colourful racks bursting full of tops, dresses, shirts and trousers include a new Italian wool jacket and gold Adidas sneakers.
‘‘Op shopping’s so popular, and the kids love it . . . it’s a constant stream of people,’’ Daysh said.
‘‘On opening day [in June] we raised about $400, then after that it’s been around about $50 each time it’s open.’’
Profits go to the school’s Seeking Success fund, also managed by students.
Students make applications anonymously for grants to help with things that could enrich their lives. It has funded rugby boots, sports fees, music lessons and school camps.
‘‘The only obligation is that at some time in their life, they will do the same for someone else, buy someone rugby boots or something,’’ Daysh said.
She doesn’t know of any other schools with student op shops like this, but highly recommended the concept.
The project was win-win for everyone, Burgiss-Smith said.
‘‘You buy clothes, it helps fatten up the wardrobe, that money goes back towards other students, and the money goes around.’’