Good Sammy Ellenbrook: the cool new kid on the op-shop block

In early 2022, Good Sammy officially opened Good Sammy Ellenbrook – much to the delight of thrifty locals. With a Salvos and Vinnies already in the area, Ellenbrook is now home to Perth’s “Big Three”, making it a brand-new hotspot for local op shoppers.

Located on The Promenade at 1/4 Fringed Way, Good Sammy Ellenbrook is worth the drive – whether that be a five-minute or 50-minute trip. It’s a wide-ranging store stocked with everything an op shopper desires, including ladies, men’s and kids fashion, footwear, homewares, linen and general sundries.

Accessory lovers will find it hard to control themselves in this store. There’s a wall of high-quality preloved shoes in every size and style, racks of handbags and belts for every occasion and colour-coordinated displays of scarves for every season. It’s hard to miss the well-organised jewellery display next to the counter; there are earrings, necklaces, bangles and vintage brooches aplenty (brooches are a personal favourite of mine).

The Gold Seal section is another big attraction. It’s generously stocked with vintage gems and brands such as Calvin Klein, Witchery, Seed, Wayne Cooper, Ralph Lauren and Karen Millen – all at very affordable prices.

During my visit I spotted a geometric-print silk shift dress by Country Road which I paired with a vintage bomber jacket and black patent ankle boots. I accessorised the look with a silk scarf, sunglasses, earrings, a brooch and a 90s-inspired baguette bag. The entire outfit came to a grand total of $90, which is well under the $199 the dress alone retails for when bought new.

Though, it’s possible to put an outfit together for even less than $90. In fact, you could easily make four complete outfits on that budget and still have cash to burn. Perth’s “thrift-fluencers” can vouch for that. In April, a number of these ladies were invited to the Ellenbrook store before the official launch to check out its high-quality stock and great prices. They were given one hour to put together stylish outfits for $20 or less and the results didn’t disappoint. Zoe from @myloveofpreloved found herself a Glomesh purse, some baggy jeans, a vintage gold-flecked sweater and a striped blazer straight from ‘80s power dressing era.

Sylvia from @style_meraki got a little carried away and made not one, but four different outfits which cost around $18 each. Her favourite look from the night was a black one-shoulder midi dress which she paired with pointed boots and a fringed handbag. You can see all four looks from the night in the $20 Outfits stories highlight on Sylvia’s @style_meraki Instagram profile.

The range of great stock at affordable prices is definitely appealing, but what I personally liked most about the Ellenbrook store was the ambience. It has a fresh feel and it’s a pleasure to walk through – not only because of its spaciousness and accessibility, but also because of its visual appeal. It’s one of the neatest and most well-organised op shop I’ve visited with its many tidy racks and shelves of carefully colour coordinated items. Yes, that’s right – most of the stock, including the homewares, is organised according to colour, so if you know which colours suit you best, you can easily find your section. The vibrant window displays and automatic doors also do a great job of luring customers in – as do the bright yellow doors of the fitting rooms.

Good Sammy Ellenbrook doesn’t feel like your average op shop. As Zoe from @myloveofpreloved says, “it feels fresher, brighter and trendier. The store is very well-organised and nicely spaced out, so it doesn’t feel cluttered at all.” This is just the response Store Manager, Bec hopes to hear. She says, “It’s a new concept store that will hopefully lead the way for other stores to become more easily accessible for everyone. We have a fantastic local team and a great-looking clean and funky store.”

Bec and her team of 11 loves the freedom that Good Sammy has given them to make the store their own. They’re able to express themselves freely and do what they think will work best for the store and its customers. Bec, an Ellenbrook local, prides herself on providing excellent customer service. Bec states, “Working here, I feel really connected to the community and happy that we’re able to help the locals”. She urges all op-shoppers to check out the store for themselves and have a chat: “Come and have a look! We have great specials each week and we’re always open to suggestions from our customers.”

They’re also on the lookout for trendy individuals with a passion for thrifty fashion. If that sounds like you, what are you waiting for? Enquire to volunteer today.

Make your next op-shop visit a trip to Good Sammy Ellenbrook. Trust me, you’ll want to see this store.

Best for:

• Gold Seal
• Homewares
• Footwear
• Accessories
• Jewellery