When you think of things to do in Geraldton, or “Gero” as the locals call it, a few activities might spring to mind. Cray fishing and windsurfing are the obvious ones, and if you’re in the know, it’s shopping at the local Good Sammy too.
Good Sammy Geraldton is known for having the largest range of second-hand wares in town, and it’s a firm favourite among local thrifters, holidaymakers and those passing through.
The store, located at 171 North West Coastal Highway, has all the markings of a great regional op shop: quality clothing for all members of the family, quirky treasures, friendly and cheerful staff, and a welcoming community vibe. It’s always a hive of activity, with a constant stream of customers coming through the store on any given day of the week. Many of these customers have left glowing reviews about the store on Google, where it has a 4.3 star rating. They praise everything from its excellent customer service and lovely workers to its diverse range of stock and bargain prices. One reviewer writes, “I absolutely love this shop. There’s so much to choose from.” Another adds, “Good Sammy Geraldton is a wonderful place to shop. The items I’ve bought are of a high standard and very clean and well-priced. It’s definitely a store I keep going back to.”
Store Manager Linda believes it’s the store’s sameness and familiarity that makes it so popular. “The store’s iconic,” she says. “It’s been here forever, with some of the same workers and customers and it’s uniquely the same, if that makes sense. It’s more-or-less the same as it’s always been and our values haven’t changed. I think that makes our customers feel at home.”
The only thing that seems to change at Good Sammy Geraldton is its rotating selection of preloved clothing; half of which comes from local donations and the other half from the Perth sorting facility. The store sells homewares, bric-a-brac, toys, books and general sundries, but it’s the diverse range of clothing that attracts most of its customers. All clothing is arranged by size, making browsing a breeze, and as racks are cleared and replenished daily, no two shopping days are the same. If you see something you fancy, you have to buy it there and then before it’s gone forever. During my visit to the store, I wasn’t going to let a Petal and Pup striped dress pass me buy – especially at the bargain price of $9. I bought it and put it on for an afternoon of sightseeing around town. Funnily enough, the dress matched the Point Moore lighthouse. That was a photo opportunity I simply couldn’t miss.
I also plucked a metallic pleated skirt from the Gold Seal section. It’s a Princess Highway number and retails for $80, but I scored it for $12. I spotted a number of other Gold Seal gems by Witchery, Kookai, Forever New, Portmans, Indikah, Thanne and Shona Joy, but I resisted temptation and left them behind for another shopper to find. Whoever that customer was is surely the best dressed person in town.
If you give yourself time, there’s plenty of gold to be found at Good Sammy Geraldton. It’s also worth trying things on before buying, as sizing differs between labels and clothes look different on hangers to how they look on bodies. The Geralton locals seem to understand this. My visit to the local Good Sammy was the first time I’d seen a queue for the fitting rooms.
Eight people work at Good Sammy Geraldton, including four people with disabilities, who work at the store to learn retail and social skills. Linda and the other support staff love mentoring the participants and seeing them come out of their shell. “We’ve seen some real positive changes”, Linda says. “We always have lots of laughs together”.
Robyn, one employee, has worked at the store for twenty years and she’s truly found her voice because of it; figuratively and literally. You can read more about Robyn’s Good Sammy journey here.
They’re also on the lookout for volunteers to help with daily tasks like sorting donations, organising racks, making displays and even washing windows. If you’d like to offer a helping hand, enquire to volunteer today. They’d love to hear from you.
Before making the trip to Geraldton to write this article, I must admit that I didn’t really know much about the regional city – apart from it being a popular pitstop on the way to the northwest. Having spent a long weekend there with my family, I can tell you it’s so much more than a place to just pass through. We had a wonderful time riding along the foreshore on our Beam scooters, eating and drinking at the trendy bars and cafes, browsing the stylish boutiques, looking through the museums and galleries, tasting the fresh local seafood and going four-wheel driving on the beach. Geraldton really has a lot to offer, including an iconic Good Sammy op shop. Go and find out for yourself and plan your trip to Gero today.
Best for:
- Womenswear
- Menswear
- Childrenswear
- Gold Seal
- Bridal and Formalwear
- Bric-a-brac
- Toys
- Books
- Sundries
