How to run your own Swap Shop

Why not try running a Swap Shop event with your friends, community group or school. Swap Shops are the perfect opportunity for people to get rid of things they don’t want and pick up something useful.

This information sheet offers tips on how to run your own Swap Shop, it is by no means a definitive list and you may like to try out your own ideas.

Finding a venue

Location is very important. Decide who you want to attract – is the Swap Shop open to a whole community or is it just for a small group of people? Maybe try community centres, school halls or religious meeting places as these are ideal.

Staffing

If you are inviting members of the public to your Swap Shop then you will need people to help you run it. You will need well informed volunteers to do publicity, set up the venue, greet and direct swappers, make and put up signage, sort products, count attendees, weigh goods, collect and transport unwanted materials, help clear up, take signs down, take photographs and last but not least, make tea and coffee.

Publicity

In order to get people to attend your event you will need to publicise it widely. You can produce photos and leaflets and distribute them locally, but remember this can be costly. Advertise in your parish magazine or newsletter. Speak to your local newspaper and try to get them to cover the event, invite them along to take photos. Also try your local radio station.

Let Worcestershire County Council know about your swap shop, we maybe able to assist with signage, posters and other promotional items (for groups within Herefordshire and Worcestershire).

Offer refreshments, this will attract more people. Groups like the Women’s Institute, Scouts or Guides may be able to help you. Make sure that volunteers are given a break and a drink. Background music will create a good atmosphere.

Monitoring

If you want to know how much waste your Swap Shop has diverted from landfill you will need to weigh the swapped items as people leave. This requires kitchen scales or / and larger hanging scales.

Make sure you know what you will do with the leftovers. Can they be stored somewhere for a future Swap Shop? Can they be taken to local charity shops? Offered on Freecycle? Make sure that you have transport to move leftover items.

It is important to specify what type of items can and can’t be brought to the event. This will help avoid having to deal with unsuitable items.

 Larger items

Encourage people to bring photos of larger items for display on a notice board. This way you will not have to find them a home if they are leftover at the end of the event.

Holding a small Swap Shop

A small Swap Shop can be a fun event to hold with your friends. Maybe you could choose a theme for your Swap Shop, for example attendees could swap baby toys and clothes, ladies clothes or books. Maybe you could set up a uniform swap at school.

If there are only a few of you, you could hold a Swap Shop in your lounge, or alternatively, over lunch in a local café. You could even have a night out “down the pub.” Encourage each of your friends to bring along one of their friends, that way you will have lots more items to swap.

Disclaimer

Persons taking part in the swap shop do so at their own risk. Worcestershire County Council accepts no responsibility for items swapped and gives no warranty as to the condition, suitability or provenance of any item swapped. Please take all reasonable measures to check the condition, suitability and provenance of any item swapped for your own protection. Worcestershire County Council accepts no liability for any claim or loss resulting from any transaction taking place at the Swap Shop."

It is recommended that a sign displaying similar information replacing Worcestershire County Council’s details with that of your own organization.