I have a confession to make: I’m a gold digger. Rather, I’m a gold-digging op shopper who gets a thrill from rummaging through pre-loved clothes to strike gold. If this sounds like you, Good Sammy Gosnells is the place you need to be.
In an ordinary Good Sammy op shop, you’ll find clothing is arranged by colour and, in the case of some stores, size. The clothes are hung on racks in clearly labelled sections of the store, so when you walk in, you can easily find what you want and be on your way.
Good Sammy’s Clearance Store in Gosnells turns this layout on its head. Instead of racks, there are large, overflowing crates of second-hand gems in a mishmash of styles and sizes. It’s the mecca for thrifty gold-diggers and a prime spot for prospecting.
Located at 2282 Albany Highway, the store has two distinct areas: one dedicated to furniture and the other to clothing. You can also find a smattering of books, toys and sundries throughout the store, but it’s the quality furniture and clearance-priced clothing that keeps a variety of customers coming through the doors – from bargain hunters, to families, to hipsters looking for that one-off piece.
Karen has been the Gosnells Store Manager since 2016 and she looks after a team of ten – six of whom are workers with disabilities. She and her team love how the “craziness” of the store brings something new every day. She says, “Being a clearance store, we have piles and piles of clothes which can look quite chaotic at times - but don’t let that put you off. With a little bit of digging, there are some amazing things to be found at bargain prices. It can be a really rewarding shopping experience.”
I certainly didn’t need convincing to start digging. As soon as I saw those piles of clothes, it was on and yes, I did strike gold…many times. In the space of forty minutes, I managed to dig up three pieces by boutique Australian brands; Auguste the Label (RRP $130 -$170 each), a Tigerlily maxi dress (RRP $160), Abrand jeans (RRP $130), an Arnhem mini dress(RRP $170), and a white shirt dress by The Fated (RRP $130). Had I bought these items retail, this haul would’ve cost me a little over $1000, but instead I paid $14.
With the cash I had left over, I even had enough to buy a pristine Oroton leather handbag for $15. That was definitely a moment to cry EUREKA!
The furniture is definitely worth a look, too. Among the near-new dining and lounge settings, I spotted a vintage nest of tables, some retro café chairs, a buffet sideboard straight from the fifties, a decorative plate set and a pair of cane bar stools that are very in right now. If I had a bigger house, I could’ve easily added these to my haul too. Note that furniture and sundries are not part of the clearance range, but still very affordable.
If you’re one to turn up your nose at clothing crates, let 2023 be the year you change that mindset. The clothes might not be on hangers, but the things you uncover are just as good as the quality items you see in a standard op shop. Do yourself a favour and head to Good Sammy Gosnells to get your rummage on. I promise you’ll be rewarded with your own EUREKA moment. It’s also a great place to start your gold digging journey before you take on the mammoth cages at the Good Sammy Factory Outlet in Canning Vale. Although, we’ll save that for another day.
Happy digging!
