High End Fashion At Low Prices
Mary Portas, in her new three-part BBC series, 'Mary Queen of Charity Shops', is telling us that "a trip to a local charity outlet can be a fun and rewarding experience!"
The final episode - which will be shown on BBC2 at 9pm on 16th June - will see whether Mary has persuaded the Great British public to give better quality donations, and whether she has broadened the appeal of second-hand shopping.
IRHH certainly hopes she succeeds. With nine charity shops across the Chilterns area of Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, and an annual turnover of £665,000, the sale of donated goods is key to our success in nursing 900+ patients in their own homes each year.
Michelle Remice, IRHH's Tring shop manager, agrees. "With strong competition from low cost fashion outlets, and the reluctance some people have to buying second-hand items, Mary said in her programme that it can be tough to even tempt people through the door. But as Iain Rennie nurses are loved by the community, so are our shops."
Known as the place to bag a bargain - be it designer dresses, kitsch cake stands or essential holiday reading - IRHH is proud to be reaching out to a younger crowd. On Thursday 11th June, four students from Tring Park School for the Performing Arts - Angus Nielson, Jessie Milligan, Natalie Spence and Jess Hill - were only too pleased to be styled by Michelle and her team. Conveniently situated near the independent boarding and day school at 16 High Street , IRHH's Tring shop is often the students' first port of call for that special outfit. "The quality of clothes here is really good and I can buy things at a price I can afford. I can't believe this whole outfit only costs £23 - the Ted Baker top alone would have cost twice that!" said Jess.
And shopping in charity shops is a win-win situation. £23 is a steal for an outfit of high quality, and since every penny raised in the shop goes straight to Iain Rennie Hospice at Home, Natalie's donation of £23 will provide two hours of nursing care for a terminally ill patient.
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"I want to turn these hardworking and dedicated volunteers' jumble sale stock into must-have collections. At the same time, I intend to prove a trip to a local charity outlet can be a fun and rewarding experience" said Mary on the BBC. Well, as your local charity shop, IRHH looks forward to welcoming you to one of our nine shops soon - whether you bring good quality clothing, bric-a-brac or furniture, or whether you come with an eye for a bargain!
12th June 2009
