The charity shop which boosted takings by moving outdoors
BBCTakings have "exploded" for a charity shop since volunteers began selling their items outdoors just one day a week.
Audlem Charity Shop, in Cheshire, used to open Monday to Saturday and would take a few hundred pounds in a week.
But after reducing trading to Saturdays, and displaying many of the donated goods on stalls outside, it can take between £1,200- £1,500 a day, rising to more than £2,000 when there are events on in the village, volunteers said.
"I think the attraction is we are like a cross between a giant boot fair and a market stall, and people love it," said vice chair Sheila Julian, one of about 35 volunteers who help to run it.
Proceeds go to local health-related charities, with the biggest beneficiary being St Luke's Hospice Cheshire.
Chair Helen Beardshall said the shop used to be lucky to take £400 per week.
The transformation began a few years ago, during Covid, when market stalls were allowed to start trading again.
Julian suggested to another volunteer about selling items outside.
As it grew, the change in takings had been "huge," she said, as people love to rummage, love a bargain and the stock catches their eye as they drive past.
Only very poor weather deters them from trading, with slightly shorter opening hours in the winter.
"On two occasions last year we took over £2,000 on one day, which is just incredible," said Beardshall, adding the the shop benefited the village too, as customers come from "far and wide".
Some items are sold online and members of the team take some of the stock to auction.
"We have some fabulous donations," said Julian, adding that because of the quality of them, "we can put good prices on things, and hence we make the money."
The team of volunteers are "immensely proud" of their efforts, added Julian, and hearing from the charities how the money is used to help people "spurs you on to make more."
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