Sunday 9 September 2007

profile - Vini at Sacred Heart Mission

Name – Vini

Position – Assistant Manager

Shop - Sacred Heart Mission op shop, East St Kilda


Vini has been Assistant Manager at the Sacred Heart Mission op shop in East St Kilda since it opened on 10 November 2006. The shop is open seven days a week (yes folk, Sunday shopping!) and is staffed by around 15 volunteers.


Vini likes the variety of working at the shop – you never know what stock is coming in, there are things that are very old, things that are modern, and heaps of stuff in between, a real cross-section of wares. It's important to Vini to make these things available to people who are setting up a home in the area but don't have a lot of money to spend.


In the last financial year the three Sacred Heart Mission op shops raised $1.4 million that goes towards the Mission's work feeding up to 600 homeless people every day. Vini also works a day each week at the Mission's headquarters in St Kilda and gets great satisfaction from knowing that his work has helped to bring comfort to those who are in need.


Vini puts a lot of effort into maintaining the Inkerman Street location's boutique feel – the shop is neat and tidy, the stock is carefully chosen (not everything donated finds its way onto the shop floor but it does get passed on to other charities) and well presented, and there will be a selection of hats available shortly for the Spring Carnival. Indeed, the stock is great which is why this is one of my absolute favourite op shops. I have bought Camper shoes, Puma sneakers, a Ben Sherman shirt, Scanlan & Theodore trousers and Levis jeans amongst many other things. Aside from clothing there is also kitchen ware, accessories, bric-a-brac and a great range of books in stock. Add to all of this the fantastic window displays which are a favourite part of the job for Vini and this is possibly the best op shop in the area.


The Sacred Heart Mission op shops are at:


Inkerman Street (corner of Hotham Street), East St Kilda;

86-88 Chapel Street, Windsor; 9529 2455

87A Grey Street, St Kilda;


And they're looking for a fourth location – spare shopfront anyone?

6 comments:

Kirsten said...

I got some great books here - Kaffe Fassett knitting book, two Charmaine Solomon cookbooks and a very, very old Mrs Beeton's Housewifery book! Total $12 or something silly. Love ya Vini - great windows by the way.

ladybeetle said...

I went to the one on Inkerman St and thought it was brilliant! (that's where I found the ad for this blog!) Good atmosphere, nice layout, great eclectic stock. Hope to visit the others soon. Keep up the excellent work!

Anonymous said...

I have been driving past this op shop for months, today I finished work early and on driving home saw it was open, did a U turn and spent the next hour in bliss.

I came away from my treasure hunt with four new skirts, a top, a coffee plunger and a torch.

What a wonderful looking place, the staff are lovely.

and thanks to the poster on the door I have found this blog.

lazy cow said...

I like this store too. There is always an interesting book selection and it is so light and airy and welcoming. The staff are so sweet.

Mecino said...

I havent been to this store yet, but it's on my list! I can't wait to go!

Anonymous said...

I lost all faith in the Sacred Heart Mission Op Shop in East St Kilda in August 2010 when I was in desperate need of a heater. They had one on display for $10. I had my last $5 to my name. I asked if they could plug it in so that I could make sure it was working. The guy said they don't do that, I'd have to buy it my own risk. I asked if I could return it if it didn't work, and the guy looked at the other worker in the store, and rolled his eyes up and said no. Being deperate to get warm, I offered the $5 I had and the guy said we don't discount! I walked out the door feeling like the lowest of the low, and shivered back home. The experience left me shattered and humiliated when I was at my worst. Reading the comments here I'm comforted by the fact that my experience seems to be isolated.