Every holiday season I restart the same pattern of procrastination. In November I tell myself that I’m not going to bother with Christmas decorations but when December rolls around and my Instagram feed is bombarded with pictures of friends back home and their beautifully decorated trees, I start wishing that I had put a bit more effort into the holiday season and that my living room didn’t look so bare.
Then I dig that one plastic Christmas tree I bought years ago out of storage and go into a Taobao frenzy and start searching for decorations, hoping that they’d arrive the next day (which most of them don’t). And then I desperately search through the bins at Jenny Lou only to leave disappointed because most of the Santa hats are just plain tacky. Do I really want to buy more cheap plastic goods that won’t last a month and add to the never-ending cycle of waste? I don’t think so.
This year, if I’m buying ornaments, they’re going to be meaningful and they’re going to do some good.
Enter Roundabout – the giant warehouse store that gives previously owned items a second chance all while raising money for a good cause. Lovingly known as Beijing’s own Salvation Army.
We know them as the place where we drop off our donations and buy second-hand goods but they’ve also got a wide selection of brand new items as well.
Beautiful handcrafted ornaments
Turn left as soon as you enter the store and you’ll find yourself surrounded by handmade holiday crafts and original Beijing inspired designs that’ll make beautiful holiday gifts for your friends and family.
Handcrafted wreath
Meaningful ornaments
Roundabout is a volunteer-run organization and the money from all purchases made at Roundabout goes to support children in need. So if you haven’t done your holiday shopping yet, go ahead and do some zero-guilt spending at Roundabout.
Address: Cathy View Plaza, No.2 Xiangjiang Bei Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Phone: 6436 8506
KEEP READING: What Else is Roundabout Good For?
Images: Courtesy of Roundabout, Pexels
