We found in general, we both attract similar customers, these can range from people purely looking for a bargain, to people on a tight budget to others who reuse for environmental reasons. We found we have a similar situation with kid’s books, these are made available free of charge to nurseries and schools as they run on very tight budgets. Moray also do discounts for local groups, this is a scheme we also run. At Moray they have a mixture of volunteers and paid staff, when they have a surplus in their income they look to employ to areas they need to grow, again this replicates what we do. Overall we found many similarities between the two sites and we are both at the same point where we need bigger premises. Moray have faced a challenge to find
a suitable premises to move to but have finally hit the jackpot with an asset transfer to a disused call centre building that is more than large enough, it also has a functioning café inside and car parking for 450. They hope to be up and running by Spring 2026 in the new building and will retain the current building to use as a warehouse.
Learning Outcomes
Insight into Business Operations:
-Observe how inventory is sourced, sorted, and priced. – Understand customer behaviour and what types of reused items are in demand. – See how marketing, display, and storytelling are used to attract eco-conscious shoppers.
Learn about Community Engagement and Social Value:
– Discover how reuse shops often support charitable goals or local employment. – Observe how businesses engage with volunteers, schools, and other groups. – Explore how social enterprises blend surplus with purpose, making positive change.
Discuss the plans for expansion:
– At what point was it clear that expansion was necessary? – Was there any community consultation? If so what did you do? – What if any hurdles have you faced so far?