Retail team hits the jackpot!
RETAIL DETAIL
Our shop in Largs truly is a hub for the local community. Frequented daily by regulars and often visited by day-trippers to the town, it is always a hive of activity. Local artist donates paintings for raffle
What initially appeared to be a standard donation of coins to our shop in Ayr recently turned out to be worth considerably more than expected - over £7,000 in fact!
One familiar and ‘weel-kent’ local face is Archie Corral, a local artist, who recently donated one of his paintings to the shop to be raffled in support of the Ayrshire Hospice. Archie was keen to support a local charity shop and generously offered one of his works for customers to enjoy - and hopefully win.His painting, The Three Boats, caught the eye of
many shoppers, and it was a delighted Colin Frost from Ardrossan who turned out to be the lucky winner. He was also the first to buy a ticket - and his wife, Charlotte, already knew exactly where it would hang at home. The raffle raised £200 for the Ayrshire Hospice shop, and we are very grateful to Mr Corral and everyone who purchased a ticket.
The team at Crown Street were extremely grateful to receive the donation and, during their usual checks, one keen-eyed volunteer, Elaine, spotted 12 coins that “stood out a little more”. After some further investigation and a few second opinions, it was discovered that the coins were 22-carat gold - including four full sovereigns and eight half sovereigns. Our eBay team, led by Online Trading Manager Stephen Harper, work tirelessly each week to identify donations that may achieve a higher value online. It was fantastic to see their knowledge and dedication rewarded, with the coins going on to fetch an incredible £7,189 - marking the best sales week the team has ever had. It just goes to show - that box in the cupboard might hold a hidden treasure that could help support hospice care.
Pic above: Colin collecting his prize with the artist Archie Corral. Largs shop volunteer, David, who sold most of the raffle tickets.
A little bit of time earns big money
There’s an old saying that patience is a virtue, and this certainly rang true for the Retail team recently, when they raised over £1,000 from a single jewellery donation.
Last summer, a kind supporter donated a shoebox of jewellery to our Crown Street shop in Ayr. While eager volunteers were ready to prepare the items for sale, shop manager Derek Lennox asked for a little patience so he could take a closer look at what the donation contained. After a few busy months, there was finally time to examine the pieces properly. Years of experience
sorting jewellery donations has given Derek a keen eye for spotting items that may be more valuable. That patience proved worthwhile. Among the contents were nine bangles - eight made from 9ct gold and one gold-filled - which were later listed on eBay. The bangles went on to fetch £1,200, a fantastic result and a brilliant example of how a little time and expertise can make a big difference.
March 2026 | EDITION 41
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