Savers thrift store opens in Geelong, concerns raised by local charities

US thrift retailer Savers opened a large secondhand store in Geelong on August 27, 2026. The store is inside the Big Red Shed, a well-known local building. It is Savers' first store outside central Melbourne in over 20 years and is part of a wider plan to grow across Australia.

Savers is a for-profit company, which has worried some local charity op shops. They are concerned that a big commercial competitor will hurt their business.

The new store will raise money for diabetes causes in Victoria. Savers says its Australian stores keep 10 million kilograms of reusable goods out of landfill every year. Demand for secondhand shopping has grown in recent years, and Geelong's market now includes a much larger player.