Oamaru is the largest town in North Otago, in the South Island of New Zealand, and is the main town in the Waitaki District.
The town has a population of about 13,000 and offers many activities for residents and tourists alike including skiing, hiking, penguin sighting, festivals, and wine tasting
One activity that may not come to mind, however, is thrifting, But nestled between idyllic rolling hills and The Waitaki River are hidden treasures only found in Op shops or thrift stores.
Anna Easton, a sustainability and thrift store enthusiast is the owner of She Hunts Op Shops, where she has the opportunity to shine a light on country town op shops, city thrift stores & treasure troves.
She and her husband Sean are dedicated to making the world a better place by focusing on sustainability, recycling, low waste, worm farming & being good humans.
Along with her husband Sean, Anna runs a waste management business in their hometown.
Anna is a businesswoman, a mom, a wife, and a photographer so when she had time to answer some of our questions about thrifting and sustainability, we were delighted.
Has sustainability always been a part of your life?
When I was about 7, I had a secret treehouse with a couple of friends, we would visit daily, we conveniently placed it with a prime view over the Ōamaru dump so we could pillage the rubbish and furnish it like kings and queens
Also, my grandfather was an auctioneer and lived in Kurow where his back shed was stuffed with all kinds of delightful treasure, I’m talking old cigarette tins,
retro baking gear, and vintage furniture all collecting dust. I loved his shed and I think a lot of my treasure hunting is thanks to him.
Being thrifty and sustainable was also something my beautiful mother passed on to me.
Where are your favorite places to shop online?
Honestly, I’m not a huge online shopper, I have very recently however made an unusual change in my routine and started taking advantage of click-and-collect from my local supermarket.
My husband tried to persuade me to do it for years but I’ve always said
‘Nah I like to browse for what I want when it comes to food ‘
But something changed in our way of life recently and I needed to grocery shop online, I tell you – it’s amazing but my husband’s a little smug about it I believe I’ve become way more efficient at preparing meals for every day, weeks in advance and it’s saving me money and time!
I also order photographs online and will check Facebook marketplace for treasure.
What are your secrets for finding great prices and not overspending?
I can whip around to 5 op shops in one session and only come home with one $3 pottery bowl. I’ve learned not to overbuy and only buy what I know I’d love to have in my home. However, I wasn’t always this way I got better at choosing over time.
You can reach Anna & learn more about her journey on her website: She Hunts Op Shops
This interview was published in Oh She’s Thrifty Magazine, to continue reading and get more interviews, and thrift tips get the monthly mini-mag here.
