There’s a quiet revolution happening and charity shops have the power to be at the heart of it. Sure, streaming services offer us everything at once, but they often lack the whimsical feeling of finding a hidden gem.
Going analogue is a term that’s sweeping the socials but the trend isn’t neccessarily anti-tech but more pro-intention. On TikTok alone, the term has amassed over 12.4 million views. (P.S. Is there anything more modern than making digital content about the joy of going analogue?)
When you buy a secondhand film or record, you aren’t just acquiring data. You are becoming the guardian of a physical object with a history. By choosing the charity shop shelf over the digital algorithm, you are opting to spend an evening focused on one story, rather than scrolling through a thousand options.
Algorithms are designed to give you more of what you already know. Charity shops, however, are designed for discovery. We spoke to two shoppers who often ditch the “doom-scroll” for the “shelf-stroll”:
“Me and my older brother used to have a massive dvd collection but as I got older and dvds became replaced by digital downloads and such it became more convenient to bypass the need to acquire physical copies of stuff. But, I love thrifting things like clothing.. so when my local charity shop started doing 10 for a pound DVDs, mystery bundles etc it brought back that love for physical media and I now go out my way to search for movies I can own that I love and even some I would have probably not seen otherwise and now have an even bigger collection. It’s really fun finding “hidden gems” and really sparked that love of owning DVDs again for me.” – Lindsey, 27, Leicestershire
“I definitely think the thrill of looking for physical media in charity shops is nothing like it, and finding a hidden gem or something you haven’t seen is much more prevalent—whereas when you are just doom scrolling to find something to watch on streaming, it is not really fun and a bit lifeless.“ — Carly, 42, County Armagh
Ready to uplug? Here’s your Analogue Starter Kit:
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The DVD & CD Revival: With many digital platforms removing content without warning, owning the disc means you own the film for life, bonus features and all! Plus, with many shops running offers such as “10 for a pound”, it’s the ultimate budget-friendly hobby. We love this charity shop DVD haul by @emniamhh on TikTok where she bagged 70 DVDs for £7!
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Photography: Vintage “point-and-shoot” cameras are a sustainable way to capture memories without the distraction of instant notifications. Whether you want to go down the film route or 00s style digi cam, the charity shops are bound to have what you’re looking for! Oxfam’s online shop has a great collection of preloved cameras.
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Board Game Nights: Replace the evening scroll with a preloved classic like Scrabble or a 1,000-piece puzzle. We’ve been loving the instagram account, Board of Charity Shops who does reviews of board games discovered in charity shops around the UK.
Going analogue doesn’t have to be all or nothing. It can be as simple as picking up a £1 DVD, popping a film camera in your bag on a day out, or choosing a board game over your phone for the evening. Charity shops remind us that slowing down can still be exciting and that connection can be found in the most ordinary places. So next time you feel stuck in the scroll, try the shelf instead.
Got a Charity Shop Gift Card burning a hole in your wallet and fancy a splurge on all things analogue? Find your nearest charity shops that take the gift card here.