By Corey Everitt
Vinnies has expanded to meet the needs of the bustling Pakenham community with a new large store on the Princes Highway providing essential products at low prices.
The hard-to-miss megastore clearly caught the eye of the community as a crowd already gathered at 9.30am in the heat of this past Friday 10 November to see the opening of the store.
This adds to the existing Vinnies on Main Street to total two in Pakenham.
“What we have noticed is the population growth in Pakenham has been phenomenal,” Vinnies executive general manager commercial services, Jeff Antcliff said.
“But it’s also the amount of people asking for assistance which really inspired us to drop in the second store.”
The new store isn’t just for thrift divers and bargain hunters. State president Michael Quinn said as the cost of living increases, today the vision is to expand Vinnies ability to provide for those in need.
“The cost of living crisis is incredible, you have young working couples seeking us for assistance now and we’re blessed with our Vinnies stores, they make a great profit and that profit goes to those in need,” he said.
Mr Antcliff added: “We are getting more need than what the stores could support in the Pakenham area.
“So having the second store here gives us more opportunity to support people experiencing disadvantage.”
The new store is large enough to house its own sections, such as an accessory zone, a first for Vinnies in Victoria, while you can find a whole wall for shoes, and an area for essential items like mattresses at cheap prices.
“Do you think we look as good as Myer? Because I do,” Mr Antcliff said.
With all these products, Vinnies has committed to keep their prices unchanged, as the average price in the store is under $5.
As much as these items are donated from individuals, there is as much now donated from corporations, providing a new selection of cheap items as well as keeping products recycled and away from landfill.
Pakenham’s second Vinnies is located at 88 – 90 Princes Highway, open from 9.30am to 5pm Monday to Sunday.
