Clare fashionistas getting thrifty

JANUARY has been a tough month. December’s Budget announcements cut into the first payslips of the new year but as The Clare Champion finds out, you don’t have to have very many euro to look a million dollars.
While second-hand shops were de rigueur in the 1980s and early 1990s, the phenomenon of shopping in thrift shops took a dip during the brief visit of the Celtic Tiger. However, as we start tackling the massive accommodation bills he left us, everyone is a little more thrifty and charity shops are all about picking up a conscience-boosting bargain.
Ennis markets itself as ‘the boutique capital of Ireland’ but often overlooked is the huge number of charity shops in the county town.
“Even in today’s recession, one can still look fashionable and hip, dressed head-to-toe in thrift shop clothes and accessories. Personally, I am a huge fan of thrift shops and constantly wear items from the ClareCare thrift shops. They are worth a visit for the frugal minded or those seeking something different, retro or on a budget. It is very evident that in today’s society, more and more people are attracted to thrift shops,” said Sinead Slattery, manager, ClareCare, Harmony Row, Ennis.
Indeed, so convinced was ClareCare about the quality of their merchandise that last year it held a fashion show to highlight the shop’s strengths in the fashion stakes.
“There are over 9,000 charity shops in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. These are predominantly staffed by unpaid volunteers, FÁS staff and usually a paid shop manger. ClareCare has two thrift shops (one in Killaloe and one in Ennis).
“Last October, we paid homage to ClareCare volunteers and the work they continue to do by hosting a fashion show. It was a huge success and highlighted the thrift shops and the fantastic range of items available to the fashionistas of Clare,” explained Sinead.
Clothes are not the only items that prove popular among customers.
“We stock a vast selection of accessories that may be key to the final touch to an outfit. A bright, warm scarf instantly lifts a dull, dark winter outfit. I am personally drawn towards the colour red as I feel it gives me a sense of energy.
“There is a constant supply of handcrafted jewellery and crafts available at a low price. From bold to subtle, floral to plain, there is something of interest there for most people in a ClareCare thrift shop,” she continued.
ClareCare, like other charity shops, relies on the generosity of the public for their stock but this is not their only source of merchandise.
“It is not just second-hand items that we sell. Fortunately, we occasionally get donations from local businesses of new stock. New items purchased on impulse or unwanted gifts are frequently available,” outlined Sinead.
ClareCare benefits financially from the sales in the thrift shops, which in turn helps support the provision of important services.
“The consumer benefits because of the many feel-good factors, such as getting a bargain and contributing to his or her community as well as the environment,” said Sinead.
With the straitened times more and more people are looking for ways to look good without emptying their pockets.
“I’ve noticed an increase in the variety of clientele shopping with us. Shoppers often include those who are environmentally conscious, who prefer to use thrift shops because the purchase of second-hand goods uses less natural recourses, thus creating less damage to our environment,” Sinead claimed.
According to the ClareCare manager, the arrival of goods is sporadic but that can be a good thing because it means “there is no correct time of day or year to visit in order to be able to grab a bargain. We constantly have some special offer available.”
For more information on the Clarecare thrift shops, see www.clarecare.ie. The shop accepts all items of clothing, shoes, furniture and household bric a brac.