Global thrifting retailer Savers is preparing to open a new store at the “big red shed” in Geelong next month.
Located on Melbourne Road, the new 2,300-square-metre Thrift Superstore forms part of the revitalisation of the long-vacant site, which has remained empty for more than a decade. Another retailer, Petbarn, is also set to open in the neighbouring tenancy.
Opening on August 27, the opening also marks the first Savers store outside metropolitan Melbourne in more than 20 years and continues the retailer’s national expansion as demand for second-hand shopping continues to grow.
The Geelong store will stock thousands of second-hand items across clothing, accessories, homewares and general lifestyle. The majority of items on the shop floor will be priced under $10 (as averaged across all categories), with thousands of new items arriving daily.
Savers Australia managing director Michael Fisher said the move is a key milestone in the retailer’s growth across Australia, which covers over 18 stores. Globally, the retailer manages over 370 locations.
“Geelong is a vibrant and growing city with a strong appreciation for value, individuality and sustainability, making it the perfect location for our newest Thrift Superstore,” Fisher said.
“It’s incredibly exciting to see an iconic local site brought back to life after sitting vacant for so many years. The ‘big red shed’ is such a recognisable part of the local area, and we're proud to be giving the space a new purpose – and give a new generation of Geelong shoppers a reason to walk back through the precincts’ doors.”
The Geelong store will contribute to the 10 million kilograms of reusable items diverted from landfill each year by the retailer’s Australian network, which Savers reported for FY25. The retailer added that shopping secondhand also conserves water, reduces pollution and minimises energy consumption.
Ahead of the store opening, Savers will launch its ‘Community Donation Centre’ on Monday, July 27, allowing locals to donate quality pre-loved items to Diabetes Victoria, before the store officially opens.
Savers pays Diabetes Victoria for these donations, helping them fund vital diabetes research, programs and services for people living with and affected by diabetes across the state.
Diabetes Victoria CEO Glen Noonan said the organisation was excited to be part of Savers’ expansion into the Geelong community.
“We’re proud to continue our long-standing partnership of over 28 years with Savers as they open their newest Victorian store,” Noonan said.
“Geelong is a strong and community-minded region, with so many local families affected by diabetes. We’re excited to see locals embrace the opportunity to donate and shop secondhand in a way that helps support people living with diabetes in the region and across Victoria.”
As a for-profit retailer, Savers purchases donated goods from its charity partners, helping fund critical community programs and services across Australia. Over the past five years (FY21–FY25), the retailer has paid more than $20 million to its Australian not-for-profit partners.