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Vinnies brings savings to online shoppers

Vinnies Victoria has kicked off the new year with the launch of its online store, in a move that’s sure to please thrifty Aussies battling cost of living pressure.

The decision to go digital reflects both the overall trend of shoppers moving online, and the need for Australian consumers to find a deal at a time where budgets are tight.

Vinnies Victoria’s new online store seeks to bring affordable new and pre-loved clothes to more people than ever before, with the charity offering the state’s entire range of homewares, toys, electronics, clothes and more to shoppers around Australia. 

This news comes shortly after the ABC reported that Vinnies saw a considerable uptick in customers in 2024, serving 56% more people than the year prior. 

Canstar Blue research from 2024 found that as many as 37% of Australians expect to be unable to pay one or more of their regular bills or loan repayments. This is in part due to soaring grocery bills, housing costs and insurance premiums.

This percentage is even higher among the younger generation, with 53% of Gen Z believing they won’t be able to pay their upcoming bills and many relying on partial payments, borrowing or credit cards. 

Despite the financial strain many Aussies are facing, it appears that purchasing new clothes is one thing few are willing to go without. Canstar Blue research also found that new clothing is one of the top 10 expenses that Australian consumers are unwilling to compromise on. 

While this marks the Australian charity icon’s first big step into the online retail space, Vinnies did previously offer some products through marketplaces, such as, Ebay and Depop. Now the entire Vinnies Victoria online collection will be in one place.

In conversation with Power Retail, Vinnies Victoria’s Head of Merchandise & Retail Innovation, Liz Randle, said that by launching the online store, they’re “responding to the needs of our customers and staying relevant to the ever-evolving retail landscape.”

Randle also made note that the decision to go digital was, in part, due to the organisation’s experience with the Covid-19 pandemic, where stores were forced to shut their doors, limiting access to at-risk Australians.

At the moment, the online store only includes products from Vinnies Victoria stores, although they do appear to ship nationally to both metro and remote areas. For Victoria locals, they also offer a click-and-collect service.

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