Savers Has Opened Its Huge New Geelong Store, Filling the Historic 'Big Red Shed' with Thousands of Secondhand Finds
Savers is heading west of Melbourne for the first time in two decades, taking over one of Geelong's most recognisable landmarks.
Secondhand clothing superstore Savers has been on an expansive run recently, with Camperdown and Marsden Park in New South Wales as the lucky recipients of their own standout locations. Now, the brand is returning to the state with its greatest footprint — Victoria, of course — but this time it's trading another Melbourne store for its debut Geelong location.
Moving into a sprawling 2,300-square-metre site, this historic spot is known locally as 'The Big Red Shed' and has remained empty for the past decade. Surprisingly, the opening marks Savers' first Victorian store outside metropolitan Melbourne in more than 20 years. And as you might expect, it's stocked with thousands of unique secondhand items across clothing, accessories, homewares and more.
"Geelong is a vibrant and growing city with a strong appreciation for value, individuality and sustainability... It's incredibly exciting to see an iconic local site brought back to life after sitting vacant for so many years. The 'Big Red Shed' is such a recognisable part of the local area and we're proud to be giving the space a new purpose," says Michael Fisher, Managing Director at Savers Australia.
Importantly, the Geelong store will contribute to the 10 million kilograms of reusable items Savers' Australian network diverts from landfill each year. Yet not everyone has welcomed Savers – a for-profit business headquartered in North America – with open arms. Geelong is home to numerous volunteer-run, not-for-profit op shops, and the ABC reports that the addition of an industry giant has sparked concerns within the local community.
But with the region growing rapidly — it's one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the entire country — Glen Noonan, CEO of Diabetes Victoria, told the ABC he believes there is room for both business models to exist. Savers will continue its partnership with Diabetes Victoria, accepting clothing and other donations into special green bins on the organisation's behalf, with funds going towards local medical research, services and programs.
"Geelong is a strong and community-minded region, with so many local families affected by diabetes. We're excited to see locals embrace the opportunity to donate and shop secondhand in a way that helps support people living with diabetes in the region and across Victoria," says Noonan.
Savers Geelong is now open at 340/344 Melbourne Road, North Geelong. Head to the website for more information.
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Images: Supplied.
