Hold a clothes swap shop event

Follow these steps:

It might seem scary to put a date in the diary, but it really helps potential volunteers, attendees and supporters to plan ahead.

There needs to be enough floor space for several clothes rails, tables for shoes and accessories and space for people to walk around.

Try to choose a high footfall area which is easy for people to get to.

Make sure you have enough volunteers to run the swap shop and help publicise it.

Some ways to do this include:

• creating an event on Facebook and inviting friends
• display posters in newsagents, libraries and supermarkets

We have a clothes swap kit available to borrow which consists of 3 metal clothes rails and 100 clothes hangers.

Some other things you might need include:

• homemade signs to put up inside and outside your venue
• a board to display how many swaps have taken place (this can be a great way to record your impact)
• scissors
• tape
• cable ties
• a small box of toys, books and colouring pens to help entertain any kids who come with a parent

Our swap shop kit is kept at High Wycombe Household Recycling Centre.

The clothes rails are in a large bag that would need 2 people to lift. It would fit in a normal (hatchback size) car with the rear seats put down.

Email us to request the kit (no later than 2 weeks before your swap shop) waste_strategy@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

You could donate these to charity or take them to a textile bank (these can be found at our household recycling centres or if you plan on hosting regular clothes swaps it's a good idea to have somewhere to store any leftover clothes ready for the next swap.

Remember to focus on 'swapping' in any communication or promotion ahead of time, to encourage people to swap rather than just donate, which promotes a circular economy. 

If you need help with your upcoming swap shop, email us no later than 2 weeks before.

Email us at waste_strategy@buckinghamshire.gov.uk