As we all know, Wymondham is blessed with a variety of charity shops. Aside from the obvious benefits of charity shopping, there are some great gems to be found right in Wymondham if only you know where to search.
I, for one, love charity shops; love might even be an understatement. It's a great way to find unique, reasonably priced, often quality, pieces, while (most importantly) donating to a deserving cause. Not only are charity shops greatly invaluable to my ever-expanding wardrobe but also to many local residents who enjoy their proximity. Being a town which has so many charity shop options it can be daunting to know where to start. However, I am pleased to have the opportunity to impart my numerous years of Wymondham charity shop knowledge through this edition of Vic’s Picks.
First things first, it's all about the type of item you're looking for - clothes? ornaments? furniture? books? While every charity shop shines in its own right, some are inevitably more fruitful than others in being able to provide what you seek. The British Red Cross on Norwich Road has both a furniture barn and a stock of new - as well as second-hand - high street clothes. East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, however, excels more in its amount of second-hand books, as I touched on in my previous article. Star Throwers on Middleton Street are often heaving with clothing options and I even picked up what I think is a children’s violin in Star Throwers a few years ago as an ornament. If you were wondering, yes, the violin is as hard as they say it is. The RSPCA have a lovely section for ornaments and organises their clothes by type, they are very well-rounded when it comes to their selection of goods and I think everyone who grew up in Wymondham has fond memories of patting the fake dog/piggy bank which sits outside the shop front.
The Children’s Society Shop has a nice collection of vintage hardback books, which I quite enjoy, both to read and to use as decor. I also have often been intrigued by their paintings on offer and are often a good place to go to find a children’s Halloween costume. Break charity shop must be praised for its larger than most men’s section.
The Big C Craft and Furniture Emporium is certainly a standout. Based in the Allenbrooks Way Industrial Park, they offer a large selection of men's, women's, and children’s clothes alongside furniture (big and small), books, DVDs, and of course crafting materials. What I also like about the Big C is that their clothes are all priced the same unless labelled otherwise which makes budgeting easier and it is exhilarating when you find something you love. They also have a section of their site called “The Boutique” which is all of the hand-picked more desirable branded items. Many would appreciate the searching aspect of charity shopping to already have been done for you.
With luck, Vic’s Picks has evoked in you some of the love I have for charity shops and has offered you some simple guidance on how to enhance and optimise your shopping experiences.
