Hospice charity shops axed before Christmas
The only Ayr town centre shop raising revenue for the Ayrshire Hospice is shutting down next Friday.
It has left staff and volunteers angry at the direction of the cost cutting campaign run by senior management.
Another outlet in Saltcoats is also falling victim to the axe.
The shop in Kyle Street is opposite the entrance to the busy Ayr Central mall.
A closing down notice confirms the last day is Friday December 20.
It reads: “We should like to thank all of our customers for their loyalty and support.
“Best wishes for 2020. You can continue to support us at any of our Ayrshire Hospice shops in Ayr ( Crown Street), Prestwick, Troon, Irvine, Largs, Kilmarnock, Cumnock, Kilwinning and Girvan.”
Two jobs are also going as the in- house Fundraising and Lottery team is being outsourced.
One staffer said: “It has made us very unhappy and concerned.
“The Retail Business Manager has never been replaced and it seems everything is a financial merry- go- round.
“Both the Saltcoats and Ayr shops were doing really well and we worry people will not bother going to the warehouse in Crown Street and simply take their donations to other High Street charities.
“I don’t think the Hospice should be removing its only retail presence in the middle of Ayr town centre as it provides a prime promotion.”
The source said shop volunteers “felt upset and betrayed.”
One who is leaving at Christmas and approached the Ayrshire Post said: “I am told the Hospice wanted a minimum 30% net profit out of their shops and I think we were pretty close. It is a great store with lots of brand new donations.”
Hospice finance director Colin Loy defended the re- structure and said it was not linked to the ongoing sustainability plan to get the hospice economics right.
He confirmed two staff are losing their jobs as “back office” roles of running the lottery were out- sourced to a specialist.
Colin said: “The wider lottery scheme will continue to be owned, managed and promoted by and for the hospice and this will be done from our fundraising office in Miller Road, Ayr.”
On the shop closures Colin added: “These are planned and have been known about for some time. The timing is linked to the ending of our lease agreements for both of these shops. We have elected not to renew the lease due, regrettably, to poor trading results for both shops. We obviously, as an organisation, monitor the performance of each of our individual shops on an on- going basis. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, neither of these shops have been able to achieve positive trading results. We have taken the decision therefore that operating these stores on the basis of poor trading results is not a good use of the charity’s funding .
“Our hospice shop in Crown Street, Ayr - the biggest turnover - will continue to be available for customers looking to shop with and support the hospice.
“The Retail Business Manager role is currently vacant and not being discontinued. We will be moving to recruitment to this post in the new year.”