It's been a whole year, but we are back!!!!
Swapsies: Mass Clothing Exchange is being held at the Quaama Hall on Saturday 2nd November from 10am-1pm. Entry still only $7 and that includes the exchange of up to 15 items of clothing and accessories. All the same rules apply, so if you are a newbie go to Swapsies, the details for all the info on how the exchange works.
We hope to see you there for another awesome event!

Swapsies for Cobargo Community Supermarket....a Fundraiser!

Swapsies is back, and holding their next event on the Saturday the17th of November 2012 at the Quaama Hall from 4pm.
This event will be a fundraiser for the Cobargo Community Supermarket and will therefore combine the Mass Clothing Exchange together with an evening of awesome music and scrumptioussupper. The swap begins at 4pm with music and supper from 6pm.
Performers for the evening include the talents of local soul, funk, reggae band The Pocket, supported by ex-local Tim McMahon and the lovely young Ella Davies!
Entry is $15 or $7 for swap only, and $10 for gig only. (kids under 12, with an adult are free!)
All the same rules for the swap apply as for previous events, so if you are not familiar with the process, please scroll down and read Another Swapsies- details and rules for Swapsies. (Underneath  the"Swapsies for Kids" post.)
Pre-event drop offs are available at Tribal Interiors, Bega (at their new location 222 Carp st) or at Carly's in Cobargo. Please call 64936822 if you wish to drop off goods to Carly.
Alternatively, you can drop off at Tribal Interiors in Bega at their new location next to priceline.
Pre-event drop offs are always recommended as they will save you having to wait for your clothes to be screened on the day and allow you to enter Swapsies without delay. And when its first in best dressed...time is of the essence!
Once again, we look forward to seeing our regulars and would love to see heaps of new faces too! Please, tell your friends, because this is not an event to be missed!

Details and Rules for "Swapsies for kids!"

Hello and welcome to our latest event...Swapsies- For kids under 12! This event is exclusive to children 12 years and under, and will work similarly to 'a mass clothing exchange', so if you are familiar with these events, then you will know what to expect! We have made a few changes to the proceedings to accommodate it being a kids event and one of the major differences will be no pre-event drop offs. Instead, we have organized the day so that all patrons arrive from 10am and have their items screened while enjoying morning tea and a Magic Show at 11am, finishing before 12pm for the swap!
You can also read our previous post titled " Another Swapsies" for extra details about how a mass clothing exchange works if you are not familiar with the procedure. This will give you an idea of what to expect and what is expected of you!
There will also be a poster at the event explaining rules for the day e.g. if two people want the same item and cannot come to an agreement, a Swapsies official will toss a coin to settle the dispute! etc...


 What to Swap:
* Items that are likely to be valued by someone else
* Items that are free from any damage
* Items that you have outgrown or no longer use. Kids- make sure you are ready to let it go!
* Items must be suitable for children under 12
* Items must be clean and in good working order

How to Swap:
* You may exchange up to 10 items of each books, toys and clothing
* We will screen items upon arrival to maintain quality, so be prepared to have some items rejected if we feel they do not fit the criteria outlined in "what to swap"
* Once your items have been screened, you will be issued with a ticket showing how many items of each category you may choose to take home with you!
* After you have checked in and you have your pass, you will be able to help yourself to some morning tea and find a place to sit for the Magic Show! And when the Magic Show is over and all items have been put out on display, you will be able to enter the Swapsies marketplace to "shop" for your goods!

We look forward to seeing you there!...

Swapsies for Kids!

After yet another successful Swapsies- Mass Clothing Exchange in December 2011, we have decided to add another event to the calender just for the little ones! Swapsies- For kids under 12!... Children will be able to swap toys, books and clothing and up to 10 items from each category. The event is to be held on Saturday the 24th of March, Starting at 10am with drop offs and screening. At 11am there will be a magic show with Rhys Davies, and then at 12pm the children will be able to hunt for items to take home in exchange for the ones they brought in. Swapsies for Kids is designed  to encourage children to recycle their unwanted or outgrown belongings in the form of an exchange. It will also connect the kids to the benefits of recycling, first hand, by seeing someone from their own local community enjoying a new toy, book or item of clothing, that they may have previously owned, without having to pay for it!
So now is the time to start finding some unwanted or outgrown books, toys and clothing to swap, and add this date to your calenders!

Another SWAPSIES!

The date is set for our next fantastic Swapsies event. Spread the word, tell you friends...Its Saturday the 10th of December! Once again at the Bega Scouts Hall, Gipps st Bega. Look out for fliers in and around Bega and be sure to read the revised details of how it all works, below.

We look forward to seeing our regulars again and hope to see lots of new faces too!

So what exactly is Swapsies?

Swapsies is an event that encourages the simple notion to swap instead of shop for a greener world and a greater wardrobe! Swapsies facilitates the exchange of clothing and accessories donated by participants in the form of a fashion swapping event.

What types of items can be exchanged?

The event will attract all kinds of garments from designer wear to good quality basic garments. Placed together in the context of the exchange, a fab little black dress from a basic label is of equal ‘value’ to a designer frock because the exchange is not about branding but individual styling and recycling.

Items to be swapped will be screened for quality prior to or on the day of the event. Please, no daggy trakky daks or holes.

What about my un-swapped items?

The bands issued on the day with item numbers clearly marked are only valid for the day of the exchange. If you don’t walk away with the same number of items you came in with…

We suggest that you:

• Grab some garments to swap at the next event.
• Simply revel in the extra wardrobe space.
• Choose something for someone as a gift (Christmas is coming up soon!)
• Or just be happy in knowing that your old wears went to a good home.

We always love to hear your feedback on improving the swapping experience.

Where do the leftover clothes go?

Items that are not re-homed will be donated to local charities up and down the Sapphire Coast or they will be carried over to the next Swapsies event. However, we strongly recommend grabbing items to fill your quota as suggested above so you can swap them next time.

What does the $7 entry fee cover?

All monies taken will be put towards venue hire and minimal administration costs with surplus being donated to local charities and not for profit organizations. Such organizations may include Clean Energy for Eternity, WIRES, Women’s Resource Centre and Nardy House with the final decision being made post event.

Who can swap?
Guys, girls and children of all ages, shapes and sizes. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Can I still come even if I don't have anything to swap?
YES! We have arranged a time slot at the end of the event that enables patrons who don't have anything to swap to come along and take as much as they like for only the cost of entry!

What to swap

All well-kept wearable pieces and accessories that are ready for a new life are welcome. Keep in mind that quality is key to making Swapsies a success for everyone!

These guidelines will assist you to choose items from your wardrobe that will become a new treasure for someone else.

• Items likely to be valued by others
• Free of faults or with minor faults that are easy to repair (e.g. a missing button is ok, but not a dirty great tear)
• No longer your favourites, you must be emotionally detached! (If you value the item too much, sell it on ebay.)
• We cannot swap garments that are straying too far from perfect or are incomplete. Clothes can't be missing a sleeve or have big stains on them (concessions are made for vintage wear)
• Items for women, men and children
• Garments clean and folded or pressed
• Garments not pilled, stained or smelly
• Undergarments and swimwear will not be items included in the swapping process.

How the swap will work

• You can swap up to 15 items of clothing, including hats, scarves, belts and shoes in good condition.
• We screen garments prior to the event or at the door to maintain quality.
• Check-in process can take up to 30 minutes at the start of each exchange event and so pre-event drop offs are strongly encouraged.
• Patrons who take advantage of the pre-event drop off option are entitled to enter SWAPSIES via the VIP line and not wait in any long queues.
• After checking in, you will receive a pass that will show how many items you are able to 'buy' for what you have swapped.
• The exchange works on a one-for-one system. So if you bring 15 items, you may swap 15 items!
• Once you are checked in and have been issued your pass, you will then be able to enter and browse the Swapsies marketplace and start shopping!

Only 5 days to go!

Only 5 days to go until our second Swapsies! We are very excited and are expecting another great turn out for this awesome event. Pre event drop offs are slowly rolling in and those who are organised will have the advantage of skipping the queues on the day! This is highly recommended as you don't want to miss out on a great find! Also, please remember to bring quality items that you honestly feel someone else would be happy with or you might be disappointed with rejected items from the screening process.

And...don't forget that the Bega drop off point has changed from Bega Health Foods to Tribal Interiors.

We look forward to sharing another great clothing exchange event with all you environmentally conscious and fashionable people of the Bega Valley!

See you there!!!

Changes to Winter Swapsies

Our Winter Swapsies event has been locked in for Saturday the 23rd of July from 9.30am - 1.30pm at the Bega Scouts Hall, Gipps st Bega! Make sure you write this date in your diaries as it is only 3 and a half weeks away!

We have made some changes to fine tune things and make the event run as smoothly as possible. Please read through these so you are aware of the differences from last time.

The entry fee is now $7.
Drop off location in Bega has moved to Tribal Interiors, which is just down from sportspower at 239 Carp st. Also there is no longer a Tilba drop off point. Abraxas Merimbula will still be collecting, as will Carly in Cobargo-please call to arrange a time- 64936822.
The amount of items exchangeable has been reduced to 15.
Pre-event drop offs and on the day screenings will both start at 9.30am, the advantage of pre event drop offs is that you will be on our "VIP" list and will go straight through to the "shop" and not have to wait in any queues!
The exchange will be seperated into two sections and you will only be able to swap adults clothing for adults clothing and kids for kids.
And....this time we are introducing an after event special where if you don't have anything to swap, you can come along at 12.30pm and sort through our leftovers and take as much as you like, with entry fee still being applicable.

If you are new to Swapsies or to refresh your memory, scroll down and read all the details of how the event works and if you have any queries or suggestions, please feel free to contact Sara or Carly-
Sara- camandbear@virginbroadband.com.au
Carly- carly.mcmahon80@gmail.com

We look forward to sharing another awesome, ethical, green and fun event with you!