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Manchester Evening News

Primark gives Manchester shoppers chance to grab items for free as 'Swap Shop' event returns this weekend

Shoppers can get their hands on a selection of pre-loved items at no financial cost by doing one thing this weekend

Primark sign, Manchester Market Square
Shoppers will need to head down to Market Street Primark to (Image: Pete Stonier / Stoke Sentinel)

Primark is offering Manchester shoppers the chance to give their wardrobe a refresh this weekend by getting their hands on a selection of clothing and accessories for free as part of the store’s returning ‘Swap Shop’ event.

Shoppers will be able to get their hands on a selection of pre-loved clothing and accessories just by simply bringing some of their own items down to the store’s Market Street pop-up shop to swap.


Items brought to the event will be then transferred into digital tokens, which shoppers can use to purchase any pre-loved item from the Verte collection in store.


Hosted in partnership with Verte, the event returns to Manchester for the first time since last year. Similar events were also held last year in London and Birmingham, with 800 items swapped by shoppers across the three cities in return for an item new to them.

Items brought to the ‘Swap Shop’ will be graded based on a range of criteria including type of clothing, condition and brand, and special golden tokens will also be awarded to shoppers with any luxury clothing items that are presented in almost-new condition.

Primark's Manchester Market Street
Shoppers can swap items at Primark's Manchester Market Street pop-up shop(Image: MEN)
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Rich Davis, General Manager at Primark’s Manchester Market Street, said: “We know from our previous Swap Shops how much Mancunians care about giving their clothing a new lease of life.

“That’s why we’re so pleased to see the popular pop-up back in our store to encourage more people to ‘swap’ their clothes for fresh Spring wardrobes. With Verte’s support, we’ll continue to build a vibrant community of pre-loved fashion enthusiasts who want to find stylish looks that can be worn again and again.”

While the event encourages shoppers to bring along their own items to swap, shoppers can also take part through purchasing Verte tokens which can be then used to purchase a pre-loved item. Shoppers can purchase adult tokens for £10 and £5 for kids tokens.


The Primark event returns to Manchester this weekend for the first time since its pilot last year with the London-based clothes swapping company Verte.

Primark Market Street
Manchester shoppers will be able to get their hands on pre-loved clothing at Primark Market Street(Image: MEN)

Jessica Brunt, Founder of Verte, said: “We’re delighted to be back in the Manchester store following the success of our pilot last year.


"Being able to partner with a progressive and global brand like Primark means we’re able to expose thousands of people to the concept of swapping and help educate everyone on circularity in a way which is fun and inclusive.”

The ‘Swap Shop’ event will take place this weekend, Saturday 17 and Sunday 18, exclusively in Primark’s Manchester Market Street store and shoppers should sign up to Verte before swapping their items.

Further ‘Swap Shops’ will also be held on a range of weekends throughout May and June.

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'Swap Shop' dates through May and June at Primark Manchester Market Street:

  • Saturday 17th & Sunday 18th May
  • Saturday 31st May & Sunday 1st June
  • Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th June
  • Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th June

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