Donate surplus stock
Since 2019, Common has redistributed more than 68,000 garments through our work in Aotearoa New Zealand. We are now establishing our network in Melbourne to meet demonstrated demand for quality clothing.
Common provides fashion brands and retailers with a structured pathway for surplus, past-season, sample and returned clothing that represents storage or administrative costs. We receive, sort and allocate clothing across our community and social service network, prioritising redistribution while using resale and repair where appropriate to keep garments in circulation.
Why work with us?
Surplus clothing can carry ongoing costs in storage, administration and inventory management, even when it no longer has a clear commercial pathway.
Common provides a local alternative pathway that helps brands:
— Move suitable stock out of storage and back into use
— Support community organisations with access to quality clothing
— Keep wearable garments in circulation
— Maintain oversight of how donated inventory is managed
— Receive reporting on clothing received and its redistribution
— Demonstrate practical product stewardship and social impact
What we can accept
Stock doesn't need to fit a particular season or collection, but it does need to be suitable for one of our circulation pathways. If you're unsure, send us an inventory or brief description and we can review it with you.
— Past-season and archive stock
— Samples
— Customer returns in good wearable condition
— Garments with minor repair requirements
How it works
1. Tell us what you have. Send us an inventory or overview of the stock, including approximate quantities and its location
2. We determine the most appropriate pathway. We'll review the stock against current community demand and our redistribution, resale and repair pathways
3. Arrange delivery to Common. Once accepted, we'll confirm receiving requirements and arrange a suitable delivery or drop-off window
4. We sort and allocate the clothing. Clothing is processed and allocated to the most appropriate pathway, with redistribution prioritised
5. We report back. Partner brands receive reporting on clothing received and its redistribution through Common
Handling and logistics
Receiving brand inventory requires sorting, quality assessment, allocation and storage. Depending on the volume and processing requirements of the stock, a handling fee may apply.
We’ll discuss any applicable costs with you before accepting the inventory.
Partner with us
Send us an inventory or brief overview including garment types, approximate quantities, condition and stock location.
We'll review the stock and get in touch to discuss whether Common can provide a suitable pathway.
FAQs
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Common Equal Limited is an Australian public company limited by guarantee.
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Common is currently progressing its Australian charity registration and DGR endorsement. Until that process is complete, we cannot represent contributions as tax-deductible donations or issue DGR receipts.
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Garments are assessed and sorted when they arrive at Common, with the pathway determined by what has been donated and where there is demand. Clothing is redistributed through the community and frontline social services we work with and we also resell some of the garments, with resale income contributing directly to the cost of operating Common.
Brand stock enters the same system as clothing donated by individuals, with the aim of keeping quality garments in circulation.
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We redistribute clothing through frontline community and social services. In Melbourne, our network includes organisations working across housing insecurity, migrant and refugee services, rehabilitation and reintegration, and wider wrap-around social services.
We work through organisations rather than distributing directly to individuals because they understand the needs of the people they support. This allows clothing to be matched to genuine demand rather than simply moving available stock from one place to another.
This approach also provides greater accountability around where clothing goes.
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We don't purchase stock or provide brands with a financial return for clothing contributed to Common. There may be operational benefits in moving excess inventory that would otherwise continue to require storage, administration and stock management.
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We provide reporting on the clothing received and the pathways it takes through Common, including redistribution and resale.
Our impact reporting includes garments kept in circulation, organisations supported and estimated carbon emissions avoided, calculated using WRAP coefficients. As we develop our Australian programme, we will also provide weight-based data and greater visibility over the end pathway of stock.
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There is no standard fee simply to offer stock to Common. We review inventory before accepting it to determine whether we can provide an appropriate pathway. For ongoing or higher-volume partnerships, a stewardship fee may apply to recognise the operational work involved in receiving, sorting, allocating, redistributing and reporting on stock.
Any fees are discussed and agreed with the brand before clothing is accepted.
-
Brands are responsible for arranging and covering the cost of delivering accepted stock to Common. This can be via your own vehicle or your preferred courier or freight provider.
Before delivery, we'll confirm the inventory, receiving requirements and an appropriate delivery window. All deliveries are by appointment.
-
No. We require an inventory before accepting brand stock so we can assess whether Common can provide a beneficial pathway for it.
Please include garment types, quantities, condition and stock location. This also creates a record of what has been transferred to Common and supports subsequent reporting.
-
Redistribution is prioritised, but it isn't the only pathway.
Where there isn't an appropriate community need for a garment, resale can keep it in use while generating income to support Common's operations. We don't accept garments that are no longer suitable to remain in use as clothing. Our inventory review helps identify unsuitable stock before it is transferred to Common.
-
Common Equal Limited is an Australian public company limited by guarantee.
-
Garments are assessed and sorted when they arrive at Common, with the pathway determined by what has been donated and where there is demand. Clothing is redistributed through the community and frontline social services we work with and we also resell some of the garments, with resale income contributing directly to the cost of operating Common.
Brand stock enters the same system as clothing donated by individuals, with the aim of keeping quality garments in circulation.
-
We don't purchase stock or provide brands with a financial return for clothing contributed to Common. There may be operational benefits in moving excess inventory that would otherwise continue to require storage, administration and stock management.
-
There is no standard fee simply to offer stock to Common. We review inventory before accepting it to determine whether we can provide an appropriate pathway. For ongoing or higher-volume partnerships, a stewardship fee may apply to recognise the operational work involved in receiving, sorting, allocating, redistributing and reporting on stock.
Any fees are discussed and agreed with the brand before clothing is accepted.
-
No. We require an inventory before accepting brand stock so we can assess whether Common can provide a beneficial pathway for it.
Please include garment types, quantities, condition and stock location. This also creates a record of what has been transferred to Common and supports subsequent reporting.
-
Common is currently progressing its Australian charity registration and DGR endorsement. Until that process is complete, we cannot represent contributions as tax-deductible donations or issue DGR receipts.
-
We redistribute clothing through frontline community and social services. In Melbourne, our network includes organisations working across housing insecurity, migrant and refugee services, rehabilitation and reintegration, and wider wrap-around social services.
We work through organisations rather than distributing directly to individuals because they understand the needs of the people they support. This allows clothing to be matched to genuine demand rather than simply moving available stock from one place to another.
This approach also provides greater accountability around where clothing goes.
-
We provide reporting on the clothing received and the pathways it takes through Common, including redistribution and resale.
Our impact reporting includes garments kept in circulation, organisations supported and estimated carbon emissions avoided, calculated using WRAP coefficients. As we develop our Australian programme, we will also provide weight-based data and greater visibility over the end pathway of stock.
-
Brands are responsible for arranging and covering the cost of delivering accepted stock to Common. This can be via your own vehicle or your preferred courier or freight provider.
Before delivery, we'll confirm the inventory, receiving requirements and an appropriate delivery window. All deliveries are by appointment.
-
Redistribution is prioritised, but it isn't the only pathway.
Where there isn't an appropriate community need for a garment, resale can keep it in use while generating income to support Common's operations. We don't accept garments that are no longer suitable to remain in use as clothing. Our inventory review helps identify unsuitable stock before it is transferred to Common.
