The city center of Den Helder now has a second-hand shop. But if you didn’t know it was a thrift store, you’d think it was a ‘regular’ store. Sisters Sanne (30) and Jasmijn (27) Boon from Den Helder gave up their jobs for a new adventure on Keizerstraat in Den Helder and today is the official opening of their stylish thrift store Mooier.
Sanne and Jasmijn have been busy renovating their thrift store in the center of Den Helder for months. They gave up their jobs for this adventure, which is a bold move. “We really felt the need to be more socially engaged in our work and we really missed that in the work we did,” says Jasmijn.
But it doesn’t stop at the cycle alone. They link a large part of the proceeds to a charity that a friend of the girls has started in Thailand. “They get children out of prostitution there,” says Sanne. The sisters are now starting with three children that they will sponsor, but hope to have enough turnover to help even more children so that they can build a safe life.
Jasmijn and Sanne are eager to open their shop today. All garments have a card, each product is stickered with a price and the cash register works. They try to keep prices as low as possible. “You can get a cup or saucer for 20 cents and very nice furniture can be sold for a maximum of 100 euros, but we think it is important that it remains affordable for people.”
In the video below, the sisters give a tour of their newly opened thrift store (text continues below the video).
throwing things away
Sanne and Jasmijn’s thrift shop shows that certain products can easily be given a second – or even third – life. “We have created a kind of throw-away society, while that is a great shame and bad for the environment,” explains Jasmijn. “Please don’t throw it away and hand it in so that it can find a new place with someone else.”