Help Blackbird Move To A New Shop

Five years ago I had a crazy idea. What if there was a place where I could take the clothes my child had grown out of and swap them for clothes that fit her? As soon as I had voiced this thought, Blackbird was born.

As far as new businesses go on paper, this was never going to work. I had no capital. I had no real experience at running a business by myself. I had never worked in fashion and many other reasons why I was going to fail to most people... but there was an itch. I knew I was right. I knew that if this was something that I wanted as a parent, then surely others wanted the same thing.

Four weeks later, after selling everything I could, even down to the kitchen appliances, I raised around $2000. With that, I trawled op shops and garage sales all over Brisbane and the Gold Coast for good quality childrenswear. I made so many trips to Bunnings for materials to build racks that I can't even look at a sausage sizzle the same, and I watched countless Youtube tutorials to learn as much as I could about business and building racks. Then in May 2017, I opened the garage door, and the adventure started - Blackbird Kids Clothing Exchange. A place where you can take your children's clothing you no longer need and for a small fee, exchange them for credits that you can then spend in-store.

How cool is that? And the best part? It worked.

I was right. There is a need for this. From there, I realised that there was a need for a lot more. So I have expanded. First into maternity wear, then women's wear and now we also have men's wear - we look after everyone with the exchange program. What I also learned, though, was how much I can do for free to help my community. How can I help people save even more money?

Well, school uniforms are a significant expense so I give them away for free.

School supplies are a major expense, so I do a fundraiser every year to purchase new school supplies that I give away. Nappies, formula and other bits and pieces... make them free. And my latest way to save people money, A free loan service for wedding gowns and formal wear.

I'm going to be honest. I am so proud of what this place has become because of my community. My community has come in and supported me from the start. Without them I know that I would not be here, five years on, doing this crazy job. My community helps me in so many ways that I would be here for hours if I named them all. The understanding of what I am doing and why I do it, they see it and want to be a part of it.

From offers of help in the shop and washing, oh the washing that we do. The donations. The exchanges. The understanding that the shop can get crazy cluttered and that I really picked a crappy site for prams and parking.

Blackbird would not be here without all of our amazing community.

Three years ago, this community came together to help me raise the money to move Blackbird out of my garage and into the shop we have been in for the last three years. This crazy TARDIS of a shop. We have helped hundreds of families save real money and given away thousands of things in that time. We have made it through the last two years of covid craziness. Just. And you have all seen me go through exhausting personal experiences. We all know the shop we are currently in is not suitable. And as much as I love the shop, there is a very real possibility that very soon there may not be a building here at all.

Which is where we are right now.

We need to move to a new site. To do this, we need to raise dollars. Ten thousand of them all up $10,000 to secure a new site, fit-out, new racking and coathangers, signage and incidentals. A new site will give this community a place that is not just a second-hand clothing store. It will be a place that helps for no other reason than just because it can.

I really believe in Blackbird. I know that this place is needed in our community. I know that if we do have to close, it will be felt by families not just here in Brisbane but all that travel here and even the ones overseas who get their family to shop for them.

I am asking for your help.

Help me raise $10,000 to secure a new site so that we as a community can grow Blackbird into a new nest.