Sydney West
Katia Beales-Salovitch
cassidy ortwig
St. Francis Xavier University
Brad Long
Keep this story going! Share below!
The Opportunity Shop is a clothing store that provides low-priced affordable, pre-loved clothing for the Antigonish and surrounding communities. The Catholic Women’s League, the organization that runs this store, promotes sustainability through SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 12 (Responsible consumption and production).
The Opportunity Shop focuses on collecting clothing donations and then repairing and selling them at affordable prices. By examining the shop’s methods of operation and primary innovation, it can be deduced that they contribute to SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).
Regarding SDG 10, the shop is committed to ensuring that no one goes without the basic necessity of clothing. The provision of low cost items guarantees accessibility for individuals from various socioeconomic backgrounds, thereby promoting inclusivity and reducing the inequality of outcomes—a key target with the SDG 10 framework. Additionally, the ethical sourcing of clothing is transparent as it does not utilize harmful practices often employed within the clothing industry, rather it receives items from the local community. As for contributions towards SDG 12, the shop, as mentioned, does not produce any new items, rather they reuse items from the local community. Furthermore, the zero-waste approach employed by the shop is a significant contribution to environmental sustainability. Rather than discarding unsold items, the shop collaborates with other thrift shops and groups within the community, like the Mennonites, further extending the lifetime of products. By reusing and recycling, the shop plays a crucial role in reducing waste and minimizing its environmental footprint.
Overall, the innovation of the Opportunity Shop stands as a great example to follow inside and outside the community. It proves that a small-scale organization can create a significant impact by combining community engagement, economic inclusivity, and environmental stewardship. Such initiatives are crucial in advancing the UN SDG’s and contributing to a more equitable, sustainable, and compassionate world.
The Opportunity Shop was founded around 1935 by the Catholic Women’s League (CWL). They founded the store with the need for lower priced and more affordable clothing in the community in mind. CWL’s inspiration was centered around their desire to help. All profits from sales go back into the stores operations, with excess being donated to community initiatives with the similar values.
The Opportunity Shop's inspiration to help the community is shown through their long practice of giving out vouchers to those in need of proper clothing. The vouchers provide an opportunity to visit the store, hand in the voucher, and “shop” for sixteen clothing items without paying a cent. Sisca says, “Anyone can walk into the store and leave fully dressed, from underwear to a winter coat.” This practice is still in place today and run with the conscious effort to reduce inequalities among community members.
As we discussed in the interview, during COVID, many thrift stores closed. The Opportunity Shop stayed open as they recognized the need for affordable clothing was not slowing down, if anything, it was increasing. As per the idea behind the name of the store, CWL believes there is an opportunity every day. The store creates many opportunities and some that can change the lives of those in need.
The Opportunity Shop is an impactful organization in the short and long term and across the triple bottom line for many reasons. Perhaps most of all, it directly addresses immediate needs within the community, and provides essential items like clothing and household goods to those facing economic challenges. By alleviating financial burdens with the provision of affordable items, that can be purchased in through a normal shopping experience, the Opportunity Shop enhances personal dignity and helps individuals and families improve their quality of life. This is signified by the customer and donor loyalty, 88-year operation, and positive and popular reputation. This underscores their social impact.
This organization also has had a lasting impact by prioritizing sustainability and encouraging it within the community, highlighting their environmental impact. It is rare that the organization finds the need to throw items away, oftentimes they are taken in for repairs if deemed fixable, effectively reducing their long-term impact. By recycling, reusing, and repairing donated items, they significantly reduce textile waste which is a massive environmental concern and reduces the long-term environmental impact of not only the shop but members of the community as well. Rather than tossing away outgrown items, the Antigonish community knows to donate it to the shop, as proven by their steady acclimation of items and other organizations within the community, creating donation events for them—such as Residence Life at St. Francis Xavier University that held a clothing drive for the shop. This not only conserves resources and contributes to a cleaner and more sustainable planet, but actively gets the community involved in greener practices. What is not sold at the opportunity shop is given to bigger second-hand shops, such as Value Village, or to smaller communities throughout Nova Scotia that either recycle or resell the items. This shows that Opportunities Shop’s impact extends far beyond their community and throughout the entire province.
Regarding the economic impact, the Opportunity Shop provides job and volunteer opportunities. The local sourcing of items is very cost-efficient and allows the shop to use the revenue for other charitable causes. By passing on their unsold items to other thrift stores, they uplift other businesses that hold their same values. In essence, the Opportunity Shop is multifaceted. The improved lives of those in need, reduced environmental footprint, cultivation of the culture of giving and engagement, and economic success are all clearly evidence of its impact. The Opportunity Shop exemplifies the positive outcomes that can result from innovative, compassionate, and dedicated members of society.
The Opportunity Shop, the sole thrift store in town, raises funds by selling donated used items from the community. Their distinct product offering focuses on affordable clothing for those in need. Donations are accepted 24/7 through a convenient drop-off box at the store's front, with daily checks by sifters and managers before items hit the shelves. Their inventory spans various clothing types, accessories, handbags, shoes, books, and kitchenware, excluding toys, furniture, and large appliances. The Opportunity Shop even repairs some broken donations for resale. Unwanted items are stored in a send-off repository behind the store and later collected by another organization with a similar mission.
With five dedicated staff members, three cashiers and two sifters, alongside over 20 volunteers, the store remains well-staffed. Cashiers handle customer transactions, maintain store cleanliness, and enjoy the benefit of choosing one item per shift in addition to their wages. Recognizing the taxing nature of retail, each cashier receives a week off after three consecutive workdays, prioritizing their well-being and job satisfaction. This dynamic approach ensures both employee retention and the store's ability to serve the community effectively.
This initiative offers widespread benefits that ripple through the community. At St. Francis Xavier University, students, faculty, and staff are not only fulfilling their goodwill mission by becoming a donor but they also can receive. The university is a major part of the community with many students from all around the world. It is important to recognize that refugee students have the opportunity to select whatever they need at the beginning of the winter season. They also extend a helping hand to the neighboring community, including travelers passing through town. The diversity of donors ensures a treasure trove of opportunities, making the scope of discoveries virtually endless.
In an era of escalating living costs, The Opportunity Shop plays a crucial role in addressing the challenges of affordable living, alleviating the financial strain of rent, electricity, and water bills. By offering budget-friendly clothing, it eases the burden on individuals struggling to make ends meet. Moreover, it breathes new life into clothing and other items, championing sustainability by reducing material waste. While some items may ultimately be incinerated, the majority find new homes.
The benefits extend beyond Antigonish, as items not retained for sale in the Antigonish Opportunity Shop are generously donated to an organization in Truro, amplifying the positive impact of the initiative across neighboring towns. The advantages of this initiative are immediate and twofold, with donors decluttering their homes and extending a helping hand to those in need. Indeed, this practice beautifully exemplifies the timelessness of one person's unwanted items becoming another person's cherished treasure.
Get stories of positive business innovations from around the world delivered right to your inbox.
