Second-hand uniform and sports gear sale
Collect outgrown uniforms, boots and kit and resell them to families at low prices.
Typically raises
$500
$100–1,500 per eventest.
About $167 per organiser hour
Based on one school or club gear sale
Is it right for us?
- Money
- $500–2,000
- Work
- An afternoon
- Helpers
- 3–6 people
- Lead time
- 2–3 weeks
- Red tape
- None
Common: most schools run a uniform shop or swap
- People
- 2-4
- Organiser time
- 2-4 hours per sale plus sorting (estimate)
- Lead time
- 2 weeks
- Up-front cost
- Nothing up front. None if items are donated; buy-back schemes need cash
- Risk
- Low; medium if you buy items back.
How it works
The money, as an example sum
Nothing to pay up front, and the typical result for one school or club gear sale is about $500 per event.
From the typical figure on this page. Your result will differ.
Where the money figure comes from
Estimate. Carmel College offers a $50 buy-back for blazers in good condition, showing resale value of uniform items.
Last checked October 2026. Ran this? Tell us what you raised and we’ll use real results to improve the figures.
Step by step
- Agree with the school or club on pricing.
- Collect, wash and size items.
- Hold a sale at start of term or season.
- Take card and cash.
- Keep a rack for ongoing sales.
Getting the word out
Even a well-run plan fails if nobody hears about it. There are two asks, and the first one goes out first.
- Ask for help
- Families to give goods to sell, and helpers to sort and price them.
- Ask people to buy
- People to come and buy on the day.
- When to start
- Ask for helpers first, as soon as the date is set. Start the public ask about 1–2 weeks out, and book newsletter and paper notices before that: small newsletters close early.
Where to put it
- School, club and church newslettersYour own newsletter is free and read by the families most likely to say yes. Check when it closes.
- PostersPosters at the school gate, the clubrooms and shop windows, with the date, place, price and how to pay.
- Local Facebook pages and community groupsPost in your town’s community page and local groups (check their rules), and share from your group’s own page.
- Email lists and group chatsYour members’ email list and the class, team or church group chats. Short, with one date or one link.
The full guide to getting the word out: every channel from flyers to the evening news, with lead times and costs.
What you’ll need
- Place
- NeededYour own grounds or hall
- Landowner’s permission
- Not needed
- Council permit
- Not needed
- Food rules
- Not neededNo food sold
- Alcohol
- Not neededNo alcohol sold
- Gambling rules
- Not neededNot gambling
No permits on your own grounds. Agree terms with the school's official uniform shop first.
What you can get donated
Outgrown uniforms and gear from families.
Tips
- Time sales for the start of the school year and sports season.
Watch out for
- Competing with the school's official uniform shop; agree terms first.
Second-hand uniform and sports gear sale: checklist
0 of 11 done
Before
On the day
After
No permits on your own grounds. Agree terms with the school's official uniform shop first.
Sources
* General fundraising information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Money figures are examples and estimates, not promises. Check current official requirements before you commit. About this guide