Better take Shelter . . here come the crowds

Published on Tuesday 6 January 2009 08:58

NOBODY wanted to be the person standing in the way as crowds of bargain-hungry customers stormed through the door.

Staff took refuge behind the counter as dozens flooded in, with 2000 going into the till in the first two hours alone.

But this was not the latest high street shop to slash its prices on designer labels – it was the scene at a charity shop in Stockbridge.

The annual "January Launch" at the Shelter store on Raeburn Place kicked off yesterday, with a huge crowd of credit crunch consumers queuing up before the doors were flung open.

For two months, staff have been holding back exclusive stock from general sale to ensure only the most impressive bargains were available at the launch – the fourth at the shop.

Manager Pete Jew said: "The event is always very hectic and it never gets any easier. Our aim is always to beat what we made the year before and we appear to have done that.

"We're obviously doing something right and I think it's because we have competitive prices and great quality."

At 9.58am, Mr Jew ripped down black-out paper which covered the shop's windows, revealing a treasure trove of jewellery, clothes, artwork and furnishings.

Then, at 10am, customers shoved through the door, eager to secure must-have purchases.

Among them was lighting designer Claire Hope, 24, from Stockbridge, who bought a 20 picture frame for her new flat.

She said: "I'm very happy with it. The only problem is that I came here on my bike and now have to get it home."

Other bargains up for grabs included quality designer vintage clothing as well as homeware collectibles made by Crown Devon, Crown Derby, Coldport, Wedgwood and Buchan.

A floral, cotton Vivienne Westwood dress was on sale for an astonishing 40 and a long, gents' Paul Smith coat – with an original price tag of about 300 – was also available for a mere 40.

More quirky items included a vintage safe for 40, a collection of Victorian paintings marked at 50 each and a Reeves and Sons wooden painting kit for 30.

While the credit crunch is likely to see more shoppers hitting charity shops, there are also fears that donations may fall as people hang on to their possessions for longer.

Mr Jew said: "I suspect that we will get more customers, but perhaps less stock to work with. You can only sell what you are donated after all."

TOP TEN BARGAINS

The items up for grabs in Shelter included:

&#149 Vivienne Westwood dress, 40

&#149 Rosita pearl necklace, 40

&#149 Crystal-effect chandelier, 40

&#149 Jean Paul Gaultier top, 10

&#149 Valentino jumper, 20

&#149 Cavendish broach, 15

&#149 Paul Smith coat, 40

&#149 Kate Moss perfume, 10

&#149 Velvet curtains, 60

&#149 Hackett sports jacket, 15

The facts

Shelter Scotland was formed 40 years ago as an emergency response to Scotland's housing crisis in the 1960s.

Its immediate focus was to tackle the appalling legacy of slum housing across the country, which it believed was affecting people's health.

Shelter Scotland compliments the work of the charity in England, which was set up in 1966 by the Reverend Bruce Kenrick – horrified by the condition of properties in his Notting Hill parish.

The charity as a whole – both in Scotland and England – had a combined income of 46.4 million last year, with 4.5m sitting in general reserves by the end of the year.

Charitable expenditure reached 34.2m throughout the year – spent on helping secure accommodation for people across the country.

Every year, Shelter Scotland receives about 3m through donations left in people's wills, but due to a fall in house and share prices, this figure is expected to drop to around 2.5m this year.