Showing posts with label Charity Shops. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Charity Shops. Show all posts
Thursday, 3 May 2012
4th charity, terms provisionally agreed
We have received an update on our offer of terms for the Shrewsburys shop and I am pleased to report that the landlord has provisionally agreed to those terms. There are a few hurdles still to cross, not least the contract, and a sitting-tenant, but these should hopefully pass easily enough. We will keep you posted.
Tuesday, 1 May 2012
4th charity shop search
Going hand in hand with increasing the number of kennels we use is the need to increase funds and to cover their cost.
Therefore today Mark and I spent several hours in Shrewsbury looking at three properties. Thanks must go to Iain Mills at Towler Shaw Roberts. Iain proved a highly effective and efficient agent in our successful completion of the Bridgnorth shop.
Iain attended with us to look at our first shop, and with a little bit of gentle arm-twisting persuaded us to view a second property. We had been reluctant previously based on what we assumed about the location, and how wrong we were. Iain knew what we needed in terms of space, location and price and came up trumps.
Unfortunately the third property we viewed (not sourced through Towler Shaw Roberts) was not up to the requirements, and in fact was somewhat short of the selling points indicated in its advert.
After viewing the three properties we decided on the second and today we have made a provisional offer for a lease. Now begins a period of negotiations which we hope will move swiftly towards a positive conclusion. More updates will follow here.
Therefore today Mark and I spent several hours in Shrewsbury looking at three properties. Thanks must go to Iain Mills at Towler Shaw Roberts. Iain proved a highly effective and efficient agent in our successful completion of the Bridgnorth shop.
Iain attended with us to look at our first shop, and with a little bit of gentle arm-twisting persuaded us to view a second property. We had been reluctant previously based on what we assumed about the location, and how wrong we were. Iain knew what we needed in terms of space, location and price and came up trumps.
Unfortunately the third property we viewed (not sourced through Towler Shaw Roberts) was not up to the requirements, and in fact was somewhat short of the selling points indicated in its advert.
After viewing the three properties we decided on the second and today we have made a provisional offer for a lease. Now begins a period of negotiations which we hope will move swiftly towards a positive conclusion. More updates will follow here.
Friday, 6 April 2012
Planning for the 4th shop on hold
Our need to open additional charity shops is crucial for our ability to increase the number of dogs in our care, and also in the future enable us to afford the cost of maintaining our own rescue centre.
It has been our intention to open at least one charity shop a year but this year may be different.
Pressing demands to increase welfare spending have seen the charity now use up the funds it had set aside to open a fourth charity shop and it would appear that with our expanding of the number of kennel spaces we use (and the related cost) we will not be able to build up a fund to do this at this time.
This is very disappointing in one sense, because it means we cannot increase our fundraising - and therefore increase the number of dogs in our care. However it does mean that we are using all the funds we have had to care for as many dogs as we can.
It has been our intention to open at least one charity shop a year but this year may be different.
Pressing demands to increase welfare spending have seen the charity now use up the funds it had set aside to open a fourth charity shop and it would appear that with our expanding of the number of kennel spaces we use (and the related cost) we will not be able to build up a fund to do this at this time.
This is very disappointing in one sense, because it means we cannot increase our fundraising - and therefore increase the number of dogs in our care. However it does mean that we are using all the funds we have had to care for as many dogs as we can.
Saturday, 1 October 2011
New charity shop - Bridgnorth
Our third charity should will shortly be opening in Bridgnorth.
You can find us at Waterloo House, Castle Terrace, Bridgnorth.
Saturday, 8 January 2011
Worcester for the 3rd?
Tuesday Mark and I will travel to Worcester for a quick scout of vacant retail properties with a view to opening our third charity shop in the town.
Location is key - on the road, in an area with a number of other charity shops at an affordable rent.
Online thus far there seems to be a number of interesting properties but it will be better to go see what is where and then make contact with the agents for a viewing at another time.
With the pace of economical recovery likely to be slow in 2011 the retail property market will continue to offer a number of potentially lucrative opportunities for those looking to open a shop.
Location is key - on the road, in an area with a number of other charity shops at an affordable rent.
Online thus far there seems to be a number of interesting properties but it will be better to go see what is where and then make contact with the agents for a viewing at another time.
With the pace of economical recovery likely to be slow in 2011 the retail property market will continue to offer a number of potentially lucrative opportunities for those looking to open a shop.
Friday, 7 January 2011
Farewell to Mac
Though I only knew him briefly in the latter weeks of his work with us I have heard so much about his engaging personality, willingness to help and desire to go that extra mile.
While he will be sadly missed by Happy Staffie Rescue he has we hope a brilliant, challenging and rewarding career ahead of him.
While he will be sadly missed by Happy Staffie Rescue he has we hope a brilliant, challenging and rewarding career ahead of him.
Tuesday, 21 December 2010
2010, a year of learning
This has been an interesting, challenging, exciting, stressful, rewarding and sad year. All rolled into one. The theme for me personally is one of learning. The major event for me was without question the preparation of the day to day accounts and the submission of the accounts to the period ending 31 March 2010 to an accountant. This was an extremely nervous time, not because of the accountant - Tim Pearce was simply wonderful and very reassuring, but I had that sense of the unknown, a dread that I must have made a mistake somewhere. As it happened the only thing I think I missed was a trial balance but Tim told me what was required and I quickly added this and have used it ever since.
As the year draws to an end it is useful to reflect on what has gone well and what has not. You hope the former comfortably outweighs the latter but you have to be honest with yourself if you are ever going to learn, progress and excel.
Our Kidderminster charity shop continued to be a little powerhouse of funding for our charitable activities, and its success led us to Stourbridge. Unfortunately it has not been the success I envisaged, though it remains marginally profitable its income is too low to be able to plan for its income.
Our Neutering scheme in the community was launched in the spring and was quickly successful, and a little too popular. We quickly had to scale it back to the point that at one point it was suspended. It is a useful scheme to remain in place and we appreciate that Charnock Shepherd have helped us administrate this scheme.
There is much more to pour through over the coming days as we make formal plans for 2011.
As the year draws to an end it is useful to reflect on what has gone well and what has not. You hope the former comfortably outweighs the latter but you have to be honest with yourself if you are ever going to learn, progress and excel.
Our Kidderminster charity shop continued to be a little powerhouse of funding for our charitable activities, and its success led us to Stourbridge. Unfortunately it has not been the success I envisaged, though it remains marginally profitable its income is too low to be able to plan for its income.
Our Neutering scheme in the community was launched in the spring and was quickly successful, and a little too popular. We quickly had to scale it back to the point that at one point it was suspended. It is a useful scheme to remain in place and we appreciate that Charnock Shepherd have helped us administrate this scheme.
There is much more to pour through over the coming days as we make formal plans for 2011.
Friday, 10 December 2010
Third charity shop
Our plans for a third charity shop will move forward in January.
It is our intention to a find suitable location in Worcestershire or the West Midlands for opening by the beginning of April. We have to ensure it ticks all the right boxes and can be a fundraising success like Kidderminster.
It is our aim to open two successful shops during 2011 to further support the expanding charitable activities of Happy Staffie Rescue.
It is our intention to a find suitable location in Worcestershire or the West Midlands for opening by the beginning of April. We have to ensure it ticks all the right boxes and can be a fundraising success like Kidderminster.
It is our aim to open two successful shops during 2011 to further support the expanding charitable activities of Happy Staffie Rescue.
Thursday, 4 November 2010
Charity Shops update
Our charity shops remain our main source of income. The first, opened in Kidderminster in the summer of 2009 has been a complete success. It has paid for all its start up costs, and delivered sufficient income each month after all operating costs are deducted to support the charitable activities.
The second charity shop, opened in Stourbridge in July has unfortunately not yet delivered what we wanted or expected. While it has remained profitable, in that its sales exceed its operating costs it has yet to repay the cost of acquiring and building it up for opening. The level of income it generates each month is also low, to the point that it is not effective yet in allowing to increase the number of dogs in our care.
This present a conundrum that we must pass in the next six months. Our medium term strategy is to continue to roll out charity shops as these should, in theory deliver income. However the Stourbridge situation has alarmed us. Its operating costs are very low - much lower than Kidderminster but the sales are also a third less than the Kidderminster branch.
With finances tight, the only way we can only a third charity shop is if the second shop repays the costs it took to open. And that seems some way off.
Our retail managers are working at many avenues to try and increase not only customers, but donations without which the shop could not function.
So the risk is there. Charity shops are not a given, and when after we opened Kidderminster we were smarting at how our larger charity chains delivered such low margins, we now realise that the success here was not easily repeatable. But this is short term observations. The Stourbridge branch is not losing the charity money, it just isn't delivering the sort of income we would have liked. Therefore we can persevere with Stourbridge, hoping that the medium term will lead to better awareness of the site.
The second charity shop, opened in Stourbridge in July has unfortunately not yet delivered what we wanted or expected. While it has remained profitable, in that its sales exceed its operating costs it has yet to repay the cost of acquiring and building it up for opening. The level of income it generates each month is also low, to the point that it is not effective yet in allowing to increase the number of dogs in our care.
This present a conundrum that we must pass in the next six months. Our medium term strategy is to continue to roll out charity shops as these should, in theory deliver income. However the Stourbridge situation has alarmed us. Its operating costs are very low - much lower than Kidderminster but the sales are also a third less than the Kidderminster branch.
With finances tight, the only way we can only a third charity shop is if the second shop repays the costs it took to open. And that seems some way off.
Our retail managers are working at many avenues to try and increase not only customers, but donations without which the shop could not function.
So the risk is there. Charity shops are not a given, and when after we opened Kidderminster we were smarting at how our larger charity chains delivered such low margins, we now realise that the success here was not easily repeatable. But this is short term observations. The Stourbridge branch is not losing the charity money, it just isn't delivering the sort of income we would have liked. Therefore we can persevere with Stourbridge, hoping that the medium term will lead to better awareness of the site.
Saturday, 3 July 2010
Stourbridge opens its doors
Our second charity has opened its door after Mark led a team of volunteers at breakneck pace to fit the shop out to our standards.
Well done to Mark and his many friends and family, the valued volunteers of Happy Staffie Rescue.
The success of Stourbridge will allow more funds to be put towards the welfare of dogs, part of our long term strategy to have sufficient income to have our own rehoming centre in the future.
Well done to Mark and his many friends and family, the valued volunteers of Happy Staffie Rescue.
The success of Stourbridge will allow more funds to be put towards the welfare of dogs, part of our long term strategy to have sufficient income to have our own rehoming centre in the future.
Tuesday, 15 June 2010
We're moving forward - our next charity shop is required
Even before the ink is dry on the completion of the lease for our second charity shop we are searching for the next location for a successful Happy Staffie Rescue charity shop.
Our first charity shop has provided invaluable income for the charity during the course of the last ten months. It is a model we hope to replicate in Stourbridge.
If successful Stourbridge will lead us directly into our third charity shop. Time, funds and the availability of our people to offer their services in their own time and entirely voluntarily will determine whether our third charity shop occurs in the calendar year.
Our aim, if all goes to plan is to open the third shop before the end of September. This is an incredibly tight schedule considering that no site has yet been found. Negotiations can drag on for weeks on end but if we find the right property we will pursue it as swiftly as is reasonable.
Ideally we would like to move into Bromsgrove next. We have good support from within the town and it is an appropriate geographical location from our base in Kidderminster.
Our first charity shop has provided invaluable income for the charity during the course of the last ten months. It is a model we hope to replicate in Stourbridge.
If successful Stourbridge will lead us directly into our third charity shop. Time, funds and the availability of our people to offer their services in their own time and entirely voluntarily will determine whether our third charity shop occurs in the calendar year.
Our aim, if all goes to plan is to open the third shop before the end of September. This is an incredibly tight schedule considering that no site has yet been found. Negotiations can drag on for weeks on end but if we find the right property we will pursue it as swiftly as is reasonable.
Ideally we would like to move into Bromsgrove next. We have good support from within the town and it is an appropriate geographical location from our base in Kidderminster.
2nd charity shop
We have completed our lease for our second charity shop.
The new charity shop will be located at No.7 Market Street, Stourbridge.
We are due to obtain the keys tomorrow and Mark will begin the intense process of fitting the shop out over the next couple of weeks.
Mark is an asset to the charity not least for his enormous retail experience up to various management positions and of course is years of voluntary charity work. His knowledge is essential in this process as he sources the fixtures and fittings required and builds the interior according to his own design and specifications.
Together we are working to ensure that this process is completed for the least amount of money possible and have already sourced products from four separate specialist suppliers to obtain the best value for the charity.
At this early stage we have a target date of 3 July 2010 as our opening. Whether we go for a soft opening before this will depend on the work required to build the shop.
The new charity shop will be located at No.7 Market Street, Stourbridge.
We are due to obtain the keys tomorrow and Mark will begin the intense process of fitting the shop out over the next couple of weeks.
Mark is an asset to the charity not least for his enormous retail experience up to various management positions and of course is years of voluntary charity work. His knowledge is essential in this process as he sources the fixtures and fittings required and builds the interior according to his own design and specifications.
Together we are working to ensure that this process is completed for the least amount of money possible and have already sourced products from four separate specialist suppliers to obtain the best value for the charity.
At this early stage we have a target date of 3 July 2010 as our opening. Whether we go for a soft opening before this will depend on the work required to build the shop.
Friday, 4 June 2010
Second shop approaching...
After a protracted period of negotiations, a period when all bets were off, the negotiations for our second shop are finally nearing conclusion.
What has compounded our attempt to open this shop is mainly the fact that volunteers can only do their thing (me included) when we're not at work, and when we're not at work is usually when those people who need to speak are also not at work. Needless to say this means an e-mail can take 24 hours to reply to, or phone messages a similar time to respond.
This manner of negotiation while having some advantages also can cause confusion. Every lease we negotiate gives us more experience for the next, and there will be more. Our medium term plan is to open several charity shops as these provide a degree of stable income. The retail side of the charity is also linked to our long-term aim of our own kennels which will take a considerable length of time to become a reality.
As of today final terms seem to have been agreed, a schedule of ingoing condition has been prepared and we not await the final go-ahead from the landlord. Obviously all this is still subject to final lease as it has yet to be presented with the last amendments in place. That said, we hope to be signing the lease during the first half of June.
What has compounded our attempt to open this shop is mainly the fact that volunteers can only do their thing (me included) when we're not at work, and when we're not at work is usually when those people who need to speak are also not at work. Needless to say this means an e-mail can take 24 hours to reply to, or phone messages a similar time to respond.
This manner of negotiation while having some advantages also can cause confusion. Every lease we negotiate gives us more experience for the next, and there will be more. Our medium term plan is to open several charity shops as these provide a degree of stable income. The retail side of the charity is also linked to our long-term aim of our own kennels which will take a considerable length of time to become a reality.
As of today final terms seem to have been agreed, a schedule of ingoing condition has been prepared and we not await the final go-ahead from the landlord. Obviously all this is still subject to final lease as it has yet to be presented with the last amendments in place. That said, we hope to be signing the lease during the first half of June.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)