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'Charity shops are about the thrill of the thrift'

Alex Pope
BBC News, Norfolk
Caroline Butler Caroline in her spare room, full of charity shop items. She is holing her arms out, wearing a pink and brown wig, with a black top with stars on, with clothing all around her. Caroline Butler
Caroline Butler believes she got her love of thrifting from her parents

A self-confessed bargain hunter said the "thrill of the thrift" led to her giving up her regular job and becoming a full-time social media creator.

Caroline Butler, from south Norfolk, documents her love of charity shops online under the social media handle Caroline.Shops.

She said "incredible bargains" found in the diverse world of thrifting could range from pink heels to a didgeridoo.

Ms Butler, a former social media manager and copywriter, said combining the use of social media with her passion was helping her to "reach out to so many different people".

Caroline Butler Caroline, wearing a long dark wig while holding a rose gold mobile phone in her right hand. She has a necklace on and a red sparkly top that she bought from a charity shop. Caroline Butler
Ms Butler, who has alopecia, said she loves to wear wigs as they were a great way to change her look

She quit her job last week having acquired 20 years' worth of experience using social media professionally.

It followed Ms Butler beginning to "explore other avenues" after being furloughed from a previous job during the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020.

This led to her dabbling in TikTok and "channelling something I was passionate about".

Ms Butler said from a young age she had always been a "savvy shopper", explaining: "It was my foundation, I was brought up to be careful with the pennies."

Caroline Butler A pink Dr Martens bag with a flower pattern with an eye on it. It is next to a black and gold teapot, in front of a yellow sofa with two cushions on it.Caroline Butler
Caroline's thrifting has seen her purchase a Dr Martens satchel worth £150 for £7 and a Sadler teapot worth more than £100 for just £1

Inspired by people showing off their purchases in "shopping haul" videos, she once decided to put on "a bit of a show" with her latest B&M purchases.

It attracted "quite a few likes", leading her to focus on acquiring high quality goods at "mega cheap" prices from charity shops.

However, it was not just bargains that Ms Butler wanted to promote.

"My focus was about thrifting, but [also] incorporating female empowerment, giving women a voice and connecting with the people who follow me," she said.

"I've spoken about smear tests, going to hospital for potential skin cancer, breast cancer and saving money.

"I know a lot of people who follow me don't have stacks of money, so I want to help them."

Caroline Butler Annie, a dog, looking at the camera while sitting on a white towel on a chair. She is brown and cream in colour. Caroline Butler
Caroline said her best "charity find" was Annie, her pet dog who she rehomed from the Dogs Trust in Snetterton in 2022

Although she did resell some of her purchases, it was not her main goal. By her own admission, Ms Butler was a "selective hoarder".

"If I buy a coat, I'll wear that and then the next year I might re-donate it and buy something else," she explained.

"The difference [from online sellers] is I enjoy going to charity shops, I never know what I'm going to get.

"You can find the most weird and random things, it's part of the thrill of the thrift.

"You can find a didgeridoo and a pink pair of patent heeled shoes in the same shop.

"I'll have a rumble and find things I never knew I needed or wanted, and that's why I love it."

Caroline Butler Four items of clothing hanging up in a room on hangers. A green pattern dress, a grey jumper, with a red bag over it, a red coat, a leopard print bag, a cream bag, a tartan scarf, a black dress and a grey handbag, are all in front of a wall. Caroline Butler
Caroline believes over the past few years there has been a "resurgence" in charity shops as the younger generations are into sustainability.

She has since amassed 165,000 followers on TikTok and almost 10,000 on Instagram.

Ms Butler said she wanted to use her platform to support the domestic violence support group Dawn's New Horizon.

She added: "I get so many women, saying how I have actively helped them as I talk about difficult issues."

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