Is there anything better than finding a good, old fashioned bargain?
Merseyside is home to some of the best retailers in the country, from high street favourites like Zara and H&M to designer brands like Reiss and Tessuti. But if you're looking for a bargain, why not try a charity shop?
Not only are they often a treasure trove for great deals, but you're helping charities in the process.
READ MORE: 20 Liverpool independent shops to support during 2022
This week, we visited charity shops across Merseyside, from British Heart Foundation to Mind and Oxfam, to see what kind of deals we could find. And we were very impressed, to say the least.
Each of the stores offered a variety of different products, from clothing and shoes to books, vinyl records and homeware.
Take a look below to see just what we managed to find in Merseyside charity shops, including the many designer products we spotted too.
Mind
Hidden in plain sight is Mind, a charity shop dedicated to supporting people with mental health problems.
Tucked down a side street off Williamson Square in Liverpool city centre, Mind is a relatively recent opening - but that hasn’t stopped it raking in donations.
The rails were stocked to the brim with bargain clothing and shelves were piled high with shoes, books, bags and trinkets. But it was the clothing that stole the show at Mind, with tons of great deals hidden away in the tiny shop.
Among some of the best bargains I spotted were the likes of a grey Reiss dress for £10, a Karen Millen peplum, pinstriped dress for £10 and a black Mint Velvet blouse for £6.75.
Tucked away in a small corner was a burgundy French Connection coat with a faux fur collar, priced at £19.50.
Among the shoes there were great bargains on a pair of burgundy Adidas Gazelle trainers for £8 and a pair of pristine white and pink Fila trainers priced at £20.
Best bargain: Black Michael Kors fit and flare jacket - £25
Where to find the shop: 20 Richmond Street, L1 1EF
British Heart Foundation
Just a couple of doors down from Mind, you’ll come across British Heart Foundation where you can find everything from clothes and shoes to vinyl records, DVDs, books and bric-a-brac.
The large store has a bright window display, putting some of its best deals front and centre to catch shoppers’ eyes as they walk past.
When I visited, there was a pair of black patent leather Dr Martens boots in the window display, priced at £70, as well as a pair of pale pink Topshop stilettos for £6.99.
There’s a huge range of clothing on offer at the store too, with almost too much to search through. I managed to spot a long sleeve grey t-shirt by The White Company for £7.50, a FatFace denim dress for £10 and a long sleeve Coast dress priced at £6.
If you’re currently looking for more winter-friendly clothing, there was a faux leather River Island coat with a faux fur collar for £18 and a French Connection teddy coat for £15.
Best bargain: Brown and cream UGG boots - £25
Where to find the shop: 10-12 Richmond St, Liverpool L1 1EF
Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, West Kirby
West Kirby is well known for its selection of charity shops, which includes Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.
The store boasts a selection of clothing, homeware, toys and more. I visited on a Tuesday afternoon and was surprised by how busy it was with shoppers searching the clothing racks and shelves for a bargain.
Among the rails I found a Cath Kidston floral over-the-shoulder small bag for £3.50, a Miss Selfridge coat for £10, an ASOS black dress for £5, a Tommy Hilfiger blouse for £5.50 and an FCUK purse for £1.
There were plenty of footwear options too, including a pair of River Island snakeskin boots for £5 and Carvela heels for £7. As the brand's heels often cost over £100, they were a bargain.
Best bargain: Carvela heels
Where to find the shop: 102 Banks Rd, West Kirby, Wirral, CH48 0RE.
Oxfam, West Kirby
The Oxfam shop was quieter than the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation store and didn’t have as much choice for clothing and footwear, however I did find some bargains.
Hidden in the middle of the rack was a vintage brown leather New Look jacket for £5.99, a Hobbs polka dot skirt for £5.99 and a Hobbs blazer for £8.99.
There were a few going out outfit options too, including a Ted Baker dress for £4.99 and a stylish Mela London jumpsuit for £8.99. Considering the great condition of the jumpsuit and the fact that most of Mela London’s jumpsuits cost around £40, I thought it was a steal!
Best bargain: Mela London jumpsuit
Where to find the shop: 7a Grange Rd, West Kirby, Wirral, CH48 4DY
Barnardo's, Bebington
There are plenty of charity shops on the Wirral, and I'm lucky enough to have one very close to me with plenty of bargains.
I'll be honest, I don't usually visit charity shops because I've never really thought to, I often donate clothes, but never look for clothes myself.
When I visited Barnardo's in Bebington I was seriously impressed with the range of different items they had, from clothes to homeware and books.
When sifting through the clothes rail I discovered numerous hidden gems including a H&M coat for £6.50 and an M&S forest green cotton jumper for £4.50,
Tucked away amongst the clothes was a Joules polo shirt for just £4.25, a brand that many shoppers often pay a fair bit of money for.
Other amazing finds was a River Island clutch bag for £5 and some matching Jacques Vert occasion wear that would be perfect for a wedding - for just £15.
The matching dress and jacket would usually cost an arm and a leg I'm sure, but for just £15 it was an absolute steal. One item that stood out to me the most was a bold pink Michael Kors purse for just £4. Now, I don't know whether this purse was genuine or not, but it looked absolutely gorgeous regardless.
I spotted a stunning pair of red boots for £10 which I couldn't see the brand for, but I'll definitely be popping back there to purchase them because they've been on my mind ever since!
It's safe to say I'll definitely be visiting charity shops more often for a clothes shop, I want to get more into sustainable shopping and saving money in the process.
Best bargain: Michael Kors purse
Where to find the shop: 4 Church Rd, Bebington, Wirral CH63 7PH
Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, Liverpool
Another Roy Castle venue, but this one is located on the thriving Smithdown Road. I've wandered past it on many occasions but hadn't ventured inside before, so was keen to see what was on offer.
With my little dog in tow, we ventured inside where I was surprised at the extensive range of furniture for sale. There were complete dining furniture sets, wardrobes, retro writing bureaus, armchairs, a stunning solid wood chests of drawers, dressing tables, coffee tables and more.
There were bookcases packed with everything from bestselling fiction to cookbooks, as well as boxes and boxes of vinyls for the music enthusiasts. One of my favourite finds was the wall displaying videos - it instantly took me back to being a child in the 90s, when my dad would take me and my brother down to the local video shop to rent a film most Friday evenings. We'd test my dad's patience while perusing the shelves to choose that night's entertainment. You can buy six videos for £1 at Roy Castle - an absolute steal.
There were rails stuffed with clothing for all ages, with some adorable children's items, as well as plenty of shelving units with high heels, trainers and even a stylish pair of men's brogues.
Another section housed drinking glasses, while boxes overflowing with makeup bags and other storage solutions sat on top of a retro tv cabinet with stained glass doors.
This charity shop has something for everyone, whether you're looking for a new outfit, some furniture to spruce up your home or you fancy a nostalgic film night on the sofa.
Roy Castle boasts a number of high street stores, as well as an online shop, where it sells gifts and cards perfect for birthdays and other celebrations. Online, there's also a range of branded charity products like t-shirts and running tops.
Best bargain: Vintage chest of solid wood drawers, £100
Where to find the shop: 244 Smithdown Roadd, Liverpool L15 5AH
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