From donations of old clothes to golden oldies
A COMBINATION of sales and songs have been at the heart of Kate Davies’ life at both work and play.
Her day job is managing the East Cheshire Hospice charity shop in Chestergate, Macclesfield, while her hobby is presenting a classic music show for an online radio station.
Kate, from Bollington, is applying her vast retail experience of old clothing favourites to benefit the hospice which attracts around 900 shoppers a week to its two shops and eBay site.
Retail revenue accounts for 10 per cent of the hospice income needed to care for patients, illustrating its huge value to the charity.
Around 70 weekly donations include clothes, small electrical items, books, toys, shoes, jewellery and handbags. Furniture is also collected and on display at the Thornton Square shop.
Kate said: “Not everyone gets excited about delving into a black bin liner full of stuff not knowing what’s in there but I do. We get some amazing donations and lots of designer clothes.
“In charity retail you never know what’s going to come through the door and you make a nice warm welcoming shop from whatever is donated at that particular time.
“It’s a completely different dynamic and that to me is what makes it exciting.
“People’s generosity never ceases to amaze me and often they don’t want pre-loved goods just to end up on the tip. We can make something from it and get money from the rag man for the clothes we can’t sell.
“Our shops should be different. We’re a caring charity and that care should continue into the shops as well so visitors have a really lovely welcome when they walk through the door.”
Volunteers are always welcome and sales are eligible for Gift Aid support which means for every £1 received the hospice can claim a further 25p from the government. Pictures of items for sale are shown online at www. echospiceshop.org.uk.
Kate has been a radio presenter for more than 30 years, beginning in pirate radio in London.
She pre-records her daily show on Decades Radio featuring golden oldies from the 50s to 80s from her back bedroom.
“That’s my studio and it’s one of the joys of the computer age that you can now do such a thing.
“I love the buzz of radio and retail and am passionate about the hospice.”