Central has one less place for people to bargain-hunt following the closure of Alexandra's SPCA Op Shop.

The store, located at 1 Limerick St, traded for the last time yesterday, after the decision was made to permanently close due to its lease ending.

Everything was priced to clear at $3 or less on the shop’s final day.

Store manager Pam Ross said she had worked in the SPCA Op Shop for the past three years.

She had two local volunteers help her run the store, and they had a final team get together last week.

Pam said the people had been the best thing about working in the shop.

“I’m sad for the community to see it go.”

Pam plans to donate any unsold children's clothing to families in need. 

The SPCA website said: “We’re so grateful to the local community for the years of support and a big thank you to Pam Ross and our entire Alexandra team for their tireless dedication to the animals.”

The closure follows the demise of several other secondhand shops in Alexandra in recent years. 

Oasis opportunity shop closed in 2022, which used to operate where clothing store Postie is now, followed by the not-for-profit community enterprise Wastebusters Alexandra recycling shop on Boundary Rd, which shut down at the end of June in 2023, after operating in the town for 23 years.

Alexandra has two remaining secondhand stores both connected to local charities still operating, which are The Salvation Army store on Tarbert St and The Hospice Shop in Centrepoint Mall. 

With continued pressure on household budgets from rising rents, high petrol and food prices and winter power bills, the closure of another secondhand shop may compound difficulties for people who are struggling. 

Statistics New Zealand’s (Stats NZ) latest food price index (FPI) showed a 0.2 per cent increase in the 12 months to May 2024. 

While this is the smallest increase since September 2018, grocery food prices increased by 1.3 per cent, and restaurant and ready meals increased by 4.8 per cent.

Stats NZ said petrol prices are over 50 per cent more expensive than four years ago, while diesel prices are over 80 per cent more expensive.

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