Some people expect the Mrs Quin’s charity shops to be booming in the recession, while another group wonders how we will keep donations coming in and generally pay the bills. There is some truth in both points of view. Donations are down… but so are expenses. People are in less of a hurry to give away surplus clothing, But having taken it to Mrs Quin’s, they will realise just how good our stock is and probably go away with more carrier bags than they arrived with!
As always, we need volunteers, donations – and customers. The emphasis is on donations at present, but we have lost many regular customers from Eastern Europe. Those who worked in the construction industry have been leaving Ireland in search of work elsewhere and they were great buyers. However, spring-cleaning goes on and clothes are outgrown, household linen needs to be replaced. Don’t forget that clothes are not our only stock. Far from it. Those ornaments you have tired of, presents you have never used, books you will never read, pictures you never hung and objects that make you wonder why you bought them.
We have tried with success to make up the shortfall in shop takings by holding fundraising events. Mary Shanahan in Limerick made almost €2000 bag-packing at Dunne’s Stores. In Clonmel, area supervisor Ann Hillis and manager Sinead O’Keeffe ran a most successful auction, realising €2200. A lot of work went into this event, our first auction, no doubt it will be repeated in the future. Rob Astick from NCBI attended the event and was very helpful. I’d also like to give a special mention to Geraldine and Gerry Shanahan proprietors of the venue, the Coachman Bar. Mary Delahunty too, deserves a mention for her help.
In Carlow, manager Amanda Smyth raised €2000 from the Kildare Irish Dancing Council. Hundreds of dancers made money for Mrs Quin’s through Irish Dancing, raffles and the entrance fee. And as I write, many managers and volunteers are getting ready to take part in the Marathon.
We have opened two new shops so far this year. One is in Tralee, in Rock Street and is off to a good start. The other has the feature of being the only charity shop in its town. This is Ballagherdereen in Co Mayo. This shop was up and running in record time and had a superb first week. Well done Area Manager, Graínne Whiteside and her helpers.
I’ll have more to say about these openings in the next issue.
So, it’s stopped raining, it’s stopped freezing and things are looking good for the Mrs Quin’s shops in the remainder of 2010!
Marjorie Quarton.