Cheap clothes store welcomes low-income shoppers

The “Co hoi thu hai” (Second chance) shop in Ho Chi Minh City, which has opened one Sunday a month since Oct 2012, offers poor people the chance to buy nice clothes for only VND5,000 (US$0.24) apiece.

The shop, launched by the LIN Center for Community Development which sells donated clothes for extremely low prices, has become a much-needed resource for low-income families in HCMC.

“This is the first time I’ve come to the shop. I bought some ten sets of nice clothes for only VND100,000 ($5),” Doan Thi Nguyen Phuc said happily, stepping out of the LIN office at 180/47 Nguyen Huu Canh in Binh Thanh district, where the clothes were for sale. The venue for the shop changes periodically.

“We can only afford school uniforms for our three kids. Without the shop, we wouldn’t be able to buy them such nice clothes,” she shared.

Meanwhile, 60-year-old Nga, from central Quang Ngai province, who ekes out a living in HCMC by peddling “tau hu” (tofu in sweetened soup), a popular street snack, said that each clothing item is as cheap as her bowl of “tau hu.”

The clothing items sold at the store are 80% new and of good quality, and their prices fluctuate between VND5,000-20,000 apiece. The most expensive items are brand-new, but are still only priced at VND50,000 each.

As most of the volunteers and coordinators of the program are students, they had a lot of difficulty collecting garments from potential donors, assessing their quality, fixing prices, and making sure the buyers are actually low-income.

However, Kim Tuyen, a volunteer, shared that the tasks she faces sharpen her skills and bolster her confidence.

Volunteer Nguyen Thanh Trung, 23, a student of HCMC Foreign Trade University, always comes to the sales early to make sure everything goes smoothly. He even keeps clients’ belongings and peddlers’ wares so they can freely shop.

“What haunts me most is the radiant looks and beaming smiles on the faces of the low-income people when they’re able to buy nice clothes for themselves and their families,” he shared.

One of the greatest concerns for the program coordinators and volunteers is that those of higher income may try to shop at their store.

“Thankfully, most of our higher-earning clients introduce our store to the needy or become our sponsors later. This really helps our job and augments richer people’s love and care for the poor,” said Hong Vy, another member.