It feels right to reuse something, instead of buying new. – Customer at Brockito
In this article we talk about the second-hand store “Brockito” in Zürich Oerlikon in Switzerland. We conducted an Interview with an employee as well as a customer. We show, how the second-hand store works, how it sells the products, and how it makes money. The goal was to compare it to a second-hand shop in Indonesia. However, this collaboration did not happen, even though I did try hard, sadly I did not manage to find team members from Indonesia.
Second-hand store in Switzerland
We asked a long-term customer, “How do items end up in the store?” She said, most come from clearances, moves, or donations. We also asked which items are most popular; she mentioned books, dishes, clothing, and small furniture, while lamps and well-kept furniture sell fastest. In the second part of the interview we talked with a customer. She told us why she shops there. We asked, “Why do you like shopping here?” She said, “I find good, affordable, and unique items. It feels right to reuse something instead of buying new.” We also asked, “Have you ever found something special?” She answered, “Yes, I once found a beautiful wooden shelf and some high-quality jackets for my children.” Sustainability is important to her: “Second-hand is a simple way to throw away less and use things longer.” She recommends the store, because you can find good things at fair prices, while helping the environment. Overall, the interview shows how second-hand stores work in Switzerland, and their positive impact on society and the environment.
Check out the notes I took during the Interview: Interview Secondhandstore in Switzerland.pdf
In Switzerland, second-hand stores do more than just sell used stuff. They help people get jobs and learn skills for daily life and work, so they can get experience for the future. They also try to reduce waste and pollution by reusing clothes, furniture, and other things. Many stores support the local community and give affordable things to people who need them. So, these stores are not just about shopping, they help people and the environment at the same time.
Reflection
Overall, it was a great change from normal lessons. However, it was very hard to communicate with my team members. They didn’t respond to messages and didn’t put much effort into this project. On the other hand, it was really interesting to get a better insight into how a second-hand store works.
Authors
Nicolas Flückiger
(reviewed by Jael Locher)
Sources
Spelling check with Chatgpt
Second-hand store “Brockito“, (aoz-brockito.ch)
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The journey of shoes
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