To find information about Lifeline Rags sales, please click here.

Lifeline Shops in Queensland have had a long and prosperous history. The first Queensland shop opened in Brisbane over forty years ago and since then, over 155 shops have popped up all over the state.

Retail sales boomed and as success grew, our talented staff expanded the business to first include rag sales, then, down the track, export.

Although still growing in UnitingCare Community’s Business enterprise, rag sales and export sales are providing significant funds toward UnitingCare Community programs.

As the public love their traditional second-hand shops, clothing remains Lifeline’s biggest seller.

UnitingCare Community Chief Operations Manager, Ken Richardson said we are combining traditional second-hand shops now with more modern and larger retail stores.

“Some of our Lifeline stores are located in shopping centres, alongside other mainstream retail outlets,” Mr Richardson said.

“Our Supa Shops are also a relatively new concept combing the traditional larger furniture shops with clothing and other general merchandise, providing a 'one stop' shopping experience for our customers,” he said.

Spanning from Mt Isa to Mossman to Tweed Heads, UnitingCare Community’s second-hand shops have experienced continuous growth.

“Over the past five years, UnitingCare Community Business Division has increased its turnover by over $14 million,” Ken said.

Over 1,500 volunteers state-wide work in Lifeline shops and warehouses to ensure the smooth management of Lifeline stores.

“The fact of the matter is we wouldn’t be able to run our shops without the help of volunteers,” Ken said.

When you include volunteers who work at Business events like Bookfest, the number increases to 3,000.

“Bookfest is a major growth area for us,” Ken said.

“The Lifeline Brisbane Bookfest turned over $1 million from a single event this year, while at the other end of the scale regional divisions are gradually developing their book events for the future.

“For example, the recent bookfest in Rockhampton surpassed the $30,000 mark for the first time,” Ken said.

UnitingCare Community now runs over 10 Bookfest events every year across the state.