Salvation Army expands its reach with new thrift shop outlets in Ang Mo Kio and Orchard

SINGAPORE - More retail outlets by The Salvation Army are set to open to the public in the coming months, expanding its reach to shoppers.

Re:Nue @ Scotts, scheduled to open on July 2 at Far East Plaza, will feature higher-value items such as watches and jewellery.

The charity currently has four retail outlets, including the latest outlet, Re:Nue @ Ang Mo Kio, which opened in April 2025.

The other three are located in Bukit Timah, Bukit Merah and Changi, offering a range of apparel, toys, electric appliances and furniture.

The Salvation Army’s 40-year-old social enterprise thrift shop – one of Singapore’s oldest thrift operators – has been rebranded as Re:Nue. This is in the hope of appealing to a younger audience that is growing in environmentally conscious consumption, said Re:Nue managing director Chris McPherson.

The group has also invested in a new processing facility at JTC Corporation’s Defu Industrial City, which has improved sorting efficiency by over 20 per cent.

The space was launched on May 15.

Speaking to The Straits Times after the launch, Mr McPherson said the expansion reflects the growing interest in conscious consumption, especially among those aged 18 to 35.

“‘Thrifting’ is a huge thing globally. All the trends show that thrifting is taking off. We want to give Singaporeans more ways to shop sustainably while supporting meaningful causes,” he said.

Mr McPherson said the four retail outlets currently have different offerings, depending on the interests of the areas’ demographics.

For instance, the outlet in Ang Mo Kio caters to younger shoppers, with a large selection of clothes, shoes and bags.

The upcoming Re:Nue @ Scotts will also appeal to a younger crowd, he said.

The Salvation Army is also adding more donation points to the current 14, with new donation booths at Defu Industrial City, in Upper Changi Road North, at Quayside Isle and at the Singapore Expo. Ten more drop-off points will be added in the coming months.

Civil servant Ang Rui Xuan, 28, is keen to drop by Re:Nue @ Ang Mo Kio. “There aren’t too many thrift stores near the Bishan-Toa Payoh area where I live,” she said.

“I thrift mainly to get pieces that are unique or might not be as widely available in the high street shops,” she added.

“I’ve been on the hunt for a new work bag, so that could be my next stop.”

Through the collection and resale of used items, Re:Nue generates funding that supports The Salvation Army’s social service programmes for those in need. These include young people, the elderly and migrant workers, as well as inmates and their families.

Some donated items are given directly to beneficiaries, such as migrant workers who receive clothing, bags and other daily necessities.

Re:Nue’s new processing facility features a bin tipper, conveyor belt system and compactor which help workers in the sorting and packing of donations, which used to be done manually.

Each sorter works at a designated station, reducing physical strain and improving the overall workflow.

The smooth flow of items allows for high-value items to be identified more quickly and matched with the most suitable retail outlet.

While the average percentage of disposal at most thrift stores is around 50 per cent, Re:Nue said it ensures up to 90 per cent of donated goods are recycled, repurposed or resold.

The Salvation Army receives about five million kg of donated goods a year, between 50 per cent and 60 per cent of which are clothes.