Shop seconds first with Goodbyes!

Goodbyes has cemented itself as one of the leading resell service stores and shopping experiences in Australia, and we love what they’re doing. 

Unfortunately, Australians buy an average of 56 new clothing items each year, which is severely detrimental to the environment. The rising number of fast fashion brands that mass produce cheap, low-quality garments, often worn a few times, only exacerbates the problem. 

Fortunately, Monique Thomas and Olivia Mangan, the Co-founders of Goodbyes, are helping people rethink their approach to fashion and embrace pre-loved clothing. We chatted with them about their impressive business. 

Great Wrap: Can you tell us about Goodbyes and what inspired you to start the business?

Goodbyes: Goodbyes is your local spot to shop and sell pre-loved clothing. In store you’ll find a curated selection of pieces from a broad range of styles and brands, with a focus on quality and uniqueness.

We’re the Co-Founders, Monique Thomas and Olivia Mangan, and we first crossed paths in Wellington, New Zealand / Aotearoa, while working at a local consignment store. With a shared work ethic and a mutual love for secondhand shopping, we were inspired to start our own business. Our vision was to bring a bricks and mortar resale chain to the Australian market, driven by a desire to innovate and explore new ideas.

What sets Goodbyes apart is our physical retail spaces, where a high volume of pieces is always on offer. With over 1,000 new garments added to each store every week, there is always something new to find. High foot traffic and a fast-paced turnover ensure a swift sell-through rate, providing a seamless and convenient experience for our sellers. Each of our locations houses up to 4,000 quality pieces at any given time, offering the variety you’d expect from a mall—but with prices that make quality accessible.

Today Goodbyes is based across 4 states. We are proud to be the largest resale bricks-and-mortar service in Australia, with a vision to bring Goodbyes to every major city.

Great Wrap: We were recently in your store and can absolutely attest to the high foot traffic, it was so great to see! How does the consignment model work for people wanting to sell you pieces from their wardrobe?

Goodbyes: We sell quality second-hand garments, shoes and accessories on behalf of local sellers. Sellers receive 50% of the sale (minus GST and a 50c handling fee per item). Sellers can bring in their freshly washed pieces and we’ll make a selection while you wait. You can visit us any day, we operate on a walk-in-basis (no appointments necessary). When selecting we look for quality, condition, the current season and the styles that are in demand. Rather than curating based on particular designers or labels we’re committed to offering high-quality pieces that last.

Great Wrap: We love your commitment to selling high-quality pieces that last. Can you tell us about the impact that Goodbyes has had so far? 

Goodbyes: Since opening in 2015, we’ve consigned over 1 million pieces, but the true impact of these figures are difficult to measure. At Goodbyes, it’s about making purchases that feel good—whether you’re discovering pieces that express your individuality or you’re paying less for high-quality, unique items.

Second-hand shopping is gaining popularity, in part we see this is a counter response to relentless online trends and the pervasive influence of social media. Shoppers are responding with an increased desire for uniqueness and ownership of personal style. It’s a rewarding way to shop, it feels good, but it is still consumerism—just with the added benefit of a much lighter environmental footprint.

Great Wrap: We’re pleased to hear second-hand shopping is on the rise! What are your thoughts on fast fashion and why are stores like Goodbyes so important?

Goodbyes: Before we started the business, we didn't have a sense of the volumes of clothing that people were consuming and we had little understanding of the harmful impacts of the fashion industry.

When we first opened the doors were inundated with people wanting to offload mass produced, generic and poor-quality fashion. We quickly realised that communicating about quality and longevity was crucial. Almost 10 years later we are still seeing considerably high volumes of cheap, poor quality clothing - a recent report revealed that Australia buys more clothes per person than any other country.

To see a significant reduction in negative impact, the primary fashion industry must dramatically slow down production. As consumers, our most powerful tool is choosing second-hand first. If the majority of fashion shoppers make this choice, we could witness a real shift in the industry.

Great Wrap: Thank you for providing a space for conscious shoppers to go. What’s next for Goodbyes? 

Goodbyes: We’re continuing our national expansion. We often get asked why we’re not yet in Sydney—it’s not for lack of trying! The competitive commercial property market there has been a relentless obstacle for us. While we wait for property opportunities to arise, we have tech developments in the pipeline. These include features to improve operational efficiency and the seller experience.

It might sound boring, but we love operations. There’s so much opportunity in resale, and we feel very lucky to be one of the leaders in this space.

Amazing, well hopefully the right space opens up in Sydney soon!