For Michelle De Villiers, second-hand shopping is not just a hobby; it’s a way of life.
The Melville resident has spent the past 16 years helping build Junkie Charity Store from a small passion project into a thriving charity store supporting multiple organisations across Johannesburg. Originally based in Melville, the store relocated to Linden two and a half years ago, a move De Villiers says simply made sense. “The less I pay for rent, the more I can give away.”

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What started with a few donated belongings from friends quickly snowballed into something much bigger. “We basically started with nothing. Friends emigrated, people moved house and donated items, and we just started selling and giving the money away.”

Today, the store is packed with everything from books and furniture to electronics, décor, and quirky treasures – and De Villiers still loves the thrill of the find. “I work around thrifted items all day and I still go thrift shopping in my spare time.” In fact, almost everything she owns has been thrifted, including one of her favourite finds – a pristine 50-year-old lounge suite she proudly snapped up second-hand.

Beyond the bargains, De Villiers said working at the store has taught her a great deal about people. From donors to shoppers, she interacts daily with people from all walks of life. “It’s made me very intuitive. You meet incredible people doing this work.”

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For De Villiers, the appeal of charity retail has always gone far beyond shopping. “I thought it was amazing to dedicate yourself to making a difference. It’s better than working for a corporate.”

After 16 years, she has no plans of slowing down.

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