Difference between revisions of "give-away shop"

Revision as of 17:40, 4 September 2010

Give-away shops, freeshops, or free stores are second-hand stores that have started to appear in Northern European towns and cities, especially in the Netherlands and Germany. They are similar to charity shops, only everything is available free at no cost. Whether it is a book, a piece of furniture, a garment or a household item, it is all freely given away. They reflect a switch over from scarcity to abundance brought about by increased material wealth due to technological advances. The idea of free goods may still carry some stigma, so many people who use these shops are those who are led to either by need (financially poor, such as students, single parents and the elderly) or by conviction (anti-capitalists).

The slogan of the stores is:

There is enough for everyone's need, but not for everyone's greed

Give-away shops are often housed in squats. Naturally the shops don't make any profit, and are run by volunteers only.

The first Give-Away Shop was opened in Leiden (Netherlands), by members of the anarchist Eurodusnie Collective.

In the UK Free Shops (sometimes called Swap Shops) are held sporadically around the country. An example of a more regular one is in Norwich where a Free Shop has happened on the 8th of the month in Norwich city centre from 10 AM till 4 PM since June 2004. It is organised by the Norwich Anarchists.

In the United States Really really free market groups organize periodic "market days" in city parks. Participants are encouraged to share unneeded items, food, skills and talents (entertainment, haircutting, etc.), to clean up after themselves and to take home any of their own items they were unable to give away during the event. In other cases, used goods are picked up from the donor's homes thus eliminating overhead costs. Donors are often not motivated by financial need or strictly anti-capitalist conviction, but by a desire to get rid of what would otherwise be garbage without adding it to landfills.

Give-away shops in the Netherlands and Belgium

• Amersfoort: Keerkring 18. Saturdays 1300-1700
• Amsterdam: Singel 267. Tuesdays and Thursdays 1700-1900 and Saturdays 1200-1700
• Antwerp: Ploegstraat 25. Mondays to Fridays 1400-1800
• Arnhem: Huize Werfzicht aan de Rijnkade 89 and 90
• Den Bosch: Vereniging Ontspoord Maijweg 64a Saturdays 1200-1500 & Tuesdays 19:00-21:00 website ontspoord (in Dutch)
• Deventer: locatie de Zijbeuk, Kleine Poot 8 in Deventer Thursdays 1800-2100
• Dordrecht: Kromhout 65. Temporarily not accepting goods, not enough space. Still open. Saturdays 1200-1700
• Groningen: Op Drift, 1ste Drift Spilsluizen 2, Groningen Tuesdays & Thursdays 1300-1700
• Hengelo: Deldenerstraat 3 Mondays 1100-1700, Tuesdays 0930-1130, Thursdays 0900-1130 Hengelo give-away shop's website (in Dutch)
• Leiden: Hooglandse Kerkgracht 4. Thursdays & Fridays 1400-1700, Saturdays 1100-1700
• Rotterdam: Poortgebouw, Stieltjesstraat 38. Wednesday & Sunday 18:00 - 21:00 (during the Vegetarian Eetcafé)
• Utrecht: somewhere in Hoog Catharijne. previous location has been cleared by police action. Tuesdays 1400-1800 and Saturdays 1400-1700
• Zwolle: Het Nieuwe Werk Saturdays 1300-1630

Scotland

• Edinburgh: the Forest, Bristo Place.

England

• Nottingham: asbo squat'd community space, burns street

Give-away shop in Norway

• Trondheim Svartlamon, keys handed out from Ramp Pub upon request

See also

• Charity shop
• Really really free market
• Free Store
• Regiving
• Gift economy

External links

• List of German give-away shops (in German), see also Umsonstladen
• List of give-away shops in Holland (in Dutch and English)
• The Global Free Economy Project
• A radio piece on free shops in Germany from Deutsche Welle (mp3)
• Gratisbutikken in Trondheim, Norway (in Norwegian)