Op Shop Collective — February Meeting

We’re pleased to invite you to the next gathering of the Op Shop Collective, bringing together local op shops and community organisations across Grafton and South Grafton.

– Tuesday, 24 February
– 9:00 AM
– The Mend & Make Do Crew — 1/46 Through Street, South Grafton

This will be our third meeting as a collective. At our first two gatherings, we explored shared experiences and confirmed the value of continuing to come together as a network. Participants discussed common challenges and opportunities facing local op shops, including:

• Measuring and reporting community impact
• Processing and managing donated goods
• Security and loss prevention
• Managing waste and sustainability practices
• Marketing and community engagement
• Recruiting and supporting volunteers
• Operational improvements and shared learning

These conversations highlighted the important role op shops play in supporting community wellbeing, sustainability, and local connection,  and the potential to achieve greater impact by working collaboratively.

What we’ll focus on this meeting

At this next session, we will shift toward identifying practical collective outcomes for 2026. The discussion will explore how we can work together to strengthen local op shops and increase our shared impact across Grafton and South Grafton. This may include opportunities for collaboration, shared initiatives, joint advocacy, and coordinated approaches to common challenges.

Who should attend

This gathering is open to:

• Op shop managers and volunteers
• Community and charity organisations operating op shops
• Social enterprise representatives
• Anyone involved in or supporting op shop operations in the region

Whether you attended previous meetings or are joining for the first time, your experience and ideas are welcome.

Why attend

• Connect with other local op shop leaders and volunteers
• Share experiences and practical insights
• Help shape collective priorities for 2026
• Explore opportunities to collaborate and strengthen impact across the community

We look forward to continuing this conversation and building stronger connections across our local op shop network.