A good reason to shop

Dubai Charity Shop for Special Needs offers designer labels at bargain prices

We have just finished browsing around the shop downstairs. We've looked at a velvet, olive green Monsoon dress paired with a short jacket and a red Next chiffon blouse. We are now sitting upstairs as the fan whirrs slowly.

On one side of us is the men's collection with such must-haves as a white Gap shirt. On the other side is the baby section, full of woollies and rompers. Behind us are some home items, including a computer.

But immediately behind us is a shelf overflowing with giant plastic bags. The bags line the shelf and the floor below it. They are stuffed with clothes that the ladies in the shop will soon sort and hang out, getting them ready for the discerning customer.

We are at a shop that sells clothes, books, accessories (bags, shoes, scarves, etc) and household goods. But it is not an everyday shop that sells items for profit.

We are at the Dubai Charity Shop for Special Needs, a store whose entire proceeds (after paying utility bills) go towards the Dubai Center for Special Needs. The shop also undertakes special projects to raise funds. A charity ball at the Emirates Towers hotel, for instance, has raised Dh33,000.

"We sponsor 16 children in the school. Any extra money we make goes into buying special equipment for the school," says Gillian de Hoedt, manager of the shop.

The shop is located behind Choithrams supermarket and department store in Karama, Dubai. Spread over two floors and around 3,000 sq ft, it primarily displays good, second-hand clothes at bargain prices.

I've spotted a patterned Nike Golf polo shirt (Dh8) and a grey Debenhams suit (Dh100). The Monsoon dress is for Dh45 and the Next blouse is Dh12. A white long-sleeved Ralph Lauren cotton blouse is for Dh8.

"I've bought some amazing stuff here, especially shoes. When you can't afford to buy designer wear at designer prices, this is a great shop to visit," says Tracy, a teacher who has been a regular customer for 10 years.

"I've been coming here from the very beginning. You can pick up brand new clothes for next to nothing. I've got some very good shoes and my son picked up an Armani dinner jacket for Dh100. The clothes here are great. Many of them are designer clothes, brand new with labels and price tags still on them.

"Many people think a charity shop sells old stuff. This one doesn't. They should come here and have a look around for themselves," she stresses.

Gillian agrees totally. "You name it, we have it. But we don't want dirty, stained, torn clothes. We have a reputation to uphold. We sell only good quality, nearly-new clothes."

The shop prominently displays its conditions of sale. All goods must be clean and in good order, states the notice. For example, the shop does not accept dirty clothing/household goods; clothing with buttons removed or with broken zips; broken toys and games; home recorded videos and cassettes and torn books or religious texts.

Typically, when a customer wants the shop to sell her/his items, she/he must enter into an agreement with the shop. "You open an account with us. Clothes and items go into a queue and are priced and displayed by us in turn," explains Gillian.

"You will receive 50 per cent of the sale price, we will retain the other 50 per cent. Goods that remain in the shop unsold for two months are considered to be donations and are either sold at a reduced price or we send them on to Human Appeal International after another month."

The shop has a general guideline for pricing its goods. Men's suits are around Dh100; women's suits between Dh18 and Dh40; dresses Dh10 to Dh25; blouses and shirts from Dh6 to Dh20; shalwar kameezes (a few) between Dh15 and Dh20 and baby clothes between Dh2 and Dh4.

"I have bought many things from here. I've told all my friends about the shop and they too buy here," says Maria, a hairdresser who has been a regular customer for the last five years.

"I have bought a lot of nice shoes from here because good shoes are very expensive outside. I have also bought party dresses. I buy everything from here."

"We have everything," adds Christina Boux, a volunteer at the shop. "People from all walks of life are our customers. We have maids and houseboys to company owners. We have regular customers who are in our books and people who walk in to buy."

Christina is one of the 20 volunteers who help Gillian run the shop. "Without volunteers we couldn't survive," Gillian underlines.

On Monday, the shop is open from 9.00am to 11.30am and again from 6.00pm to 9.00pm. On Tuesday, it is open from 1.00pm to 4.00pm. On Wednesday, Thursday and first and second Friday of the month it is open from 9.00am to 11.30am. It is closed on Saturday, Sunday and the other Fridays.