I’m a keen advocate of charity shops, and largely donate any unwanted clothes to the outlets in town. Regularly taking in piles of unwanted items can be good for the soul, and also benefit the donation charity in question, and so I’ve been watching the BBC’s Mary Queen of Charity Shops with great interest.
[Warning: the following post contains spoilers for Mary Queen of Charity Shops.]
The three-part series has been compulsive viewing. Retail fashion guru Mary Portas, presenter of the successful series Mary Queen of Shops, has been tasked to turnaround one of Save the Children’s shops. Based in Orpington, Kent, the volunteer-staffed shop earns £900 per week through selling unwanted items of stock brought in from members of the public.
And unwanted items from members of the public are the biggest problem facing charity shops. From well-worn bras to dirty nappies, they get it all, most of the time wrapped up in flimsy, grimy bin bags. Portas embarks on obtaining more sellable, and more fashionable stock, using every trick in the book.
Targeting hip and trendy workplaces for hip and trendy twenty- and thirty-somethings and impromptu secondhand fashion styling clinics are just two of the avenues which bring in more much more presentable donations, boosting both the image and profits of the shop Portas is tasked with.
A refit, fashion student stalls and a new manager also help, but as usual with these types of documentaries, it’s the run-ins with the grey-haired volunteers that are the highlight of the shows. Not all happy with Portas’ no-nonsense demeanour, there are cross words, resignations and tears.
But, it all works out in the end; Portas’ shop increasing its profits more than 200%, younger visitors to the shop, and the backing of Save the Children to rollout the new concept to all of their 125 High Street shops.
While I can’t promise such a revolution, I hope that my latest wardrobe turnout will help the charity to which it’s destined to go. Cancer Research UK is usually the beneficiary, but as Viv’s visiting, my black bag will go to the hospice where she gives her time, hopefully helping to raise some much needed funds.
This time, some of my unwanteds were previously Ean’s unwanteds, buying as he does, several new items of clothing every few weeks. I’ve given them up as they either don’t fit, or aren’t my style, but they could well be someone else’s and that’s why they’re going.
With charity shop donations at an all-time low, now is the time to go rooting through your chests of drawers, cupboards and wardrobes, searching out those unworn or unwanted clothes and items that are no longer part of your life story; who knows, they could well be just the thing to play a part in someone else’s. The ultimate form of recycling, you might just find something that takes your fancy when you go down to the shop. So don’t delay – Donate, Don’t Dump!
Tags: Journal