Buy, Buy, Buy
Our NNS is unique. As all items are grouped and categorised by type (clothes by age, books, toys, maternity etc) it’s really quick and easy to find the things you might want (we’re not responsible for the huge amount of choice though!). The below is an extract from a previous edition's article about shopping nearly new style, written by one local member who then became a volunteer at the sale.
Shopping Nearly New Style
I’ve been to 2 nearly new sales (NNS) now, but when I first went it was a big surprise – definitely a good one! I had assumed that it would be like a jumble sale or car boot, I’d expected to walk in to the sports hall at Egham leisure centre to find each seller having an individual table and paying in cash at each one just like you do at other parent selling to parent events.
I was completely wrong. It was like walking in to a department store with different sections for the different types of item. Clothes were hung on rails clearly labelled with age and gender, toys were in another area, books and games elsewhere, large items like play gyms in one corner and there were prams/pushchairs/bouncers etc somewhere else too.
Then to top off the experience, with our arms full of clothes, books, a Lamaze hippo and Lotty play gym I got to pay with a card at a row of tills – just like a shop. I could have paid in cash if I’d wanted to but it was great to have the option of either.
You may be wondering how a seller gets the money if everything is all put together – every item has a label with a seller ID and price on it. Everything is traceable which can also give you more confidence in what you’re buying.
For me yet another bonus is that I can see and touch the items before buying them and if they’ve survived one child or maybe three it’s clearly good quality.
It’s rare that I’ll buy brand new clothes, toys and books for my daughter. She’s growing so fast that clothes and even toys get outgrown too quickly for the high prices charged for brand new items but events like this and a few fabulous local charity shops mean I can get a lot of what we need at affordable prices. Some have been loved and loved but others have hardly been used.
Become a nearly new sale volunteer
We know there are lots of demands on your time but here’s why we think you should volunteer with us!
The success of our Nearly New Sales depends entirely on our fantastic team of volunteers. We need approximately 40 volunteers to run the sale on the day.
If you’re selling, volunteering can help maximise the value you get from your items as more volunteers usually means more promotion, more people attending and happier customers at the end of the day. Anyone can volunteer though, you don’t need to be selling items - we welcome Mums and Dads, friends and any other family members!
There are lots of different roles you could choose to do. It’s sometimes surprising how little acts can add a lot to your CV whether you’re looking to change jobs, return to work or learn a new skill for your own satisfaction. Here are a few examples to show the range of opportunities. Before the sale we need help with promotion including asking places to display posters, spreading information from your own Facebook feed and writing blogs to promote the sales. You could help set up the hall the night before and on the day there are lots of little and big tasks. You could welcome people to the sale, tidy up the displays of items, man or woman a till, provide security, help us pack away and tidy up or deal with lost property. There are so many roles, just tell us what you’d like to do or we could just give you some tasks and see! Organising, working in a team, ability to understand and follow instructions and putting in your own ideas are all transferrable skills valued by employers.
This is one volunteering role you can do with your baby. At our last sale babies in slings helped run the tills with their Mums. Many of the roles allow you to bring a baby along, just let us know in advance so we can save suitable jobs for you.
We have a great team and we’d love you to be part of it. To thank all our volunteers (those who spend 4 hours helping with the sale) are invited to join in the presale shopping before the doors are open to the public. Lasting friendships have been made over the years between volunteers, if you’ve not yet found your local Mum and Dad friends maybe they’re in our team waiting to meet you!
To find out more about what volunteering involves, get in touch with us via Facebook or sign up when you register as a seller.
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