New life breathed into Anglesea op shop

RENOVATIONS are now complete at a local Op Shop in Anglesea, with staff members reaping the benefits heading into the busy summer months.

Renovations to Seaside Seconds Op Shop, located in Anglesea’s main shopping precinct, has given the shop more space and a brand new showcase room for shoppers.

Shop manager Bec Goodman says volunteers and shop-goers have had nothing but good things to say about the Op Shop’s new Vintage Room and rebuilt Sorting Room.

“We just needed extra room, which was probably the main reason for our upgrades here, and we really wanted a new Vintage Room to provide a crown jewel to the shop,” Ms Goodman said.

“It was a lot of people putting ideas in, but we work as a team here and we just went with it, and we’ve heard nothing but good feedback around it.”

Seaside Seconds Op Shop manager Bec Goodman says the store’s new Vintage Room is its new crown jewel. Photos: VINNIE VAN OORSCHOT

The new Vintage Room allows the Op Shop to display antique items and old artefacts, while its newly rebuilt sorting room will allow up to four volunteers to have improved access and extra space while sorting donations.

Seaside Seconds’ principal aim is to meet the local welfare of the Anglesea community, particularly at a time of increased cost of living.

The Op Shop, part of the Anglesea Baptist Church, has also built several community partnerships in recent years, namely the Anglesea Lions Club, Bendigo Community Bank, Surf Coast Shire, and local sporting organisations.

“We call it our church, because Anglesea Baptist Church doesn’t actually have its own church, but we like to think of the shop as one,” Ms Goodman said.

“It’s a place where everyone is welcome; people come into buy things, some come in to have a chat, some people just come here to hang out really.

“The Op Shop, or as I call it the Anglesea Department Store, helps so many people here in the community, it’s hard to put into words what kind of impact this place has.”