Mary Queen of Charity Shops

[Sherbert37]

Anyone watched it? I love Mary and her no nonsense approach to retailing. Some of the volunteers were amazing. Yuk at what they found in the bags.

Loving it!

poor ole graham, no surprise he's dropped out.

mary just does not understand this world at all does she.

not a single mention of ebay...

The area manager is such a David Brent

Lol at a lady from Conran designing the shop .

Concept boards for the old ladies!! More Lol.

I love mary portas.

Didnt see last weeks but am loving this one! I think its nice that Mary obvioulsy really cares for the shop and the people - even if she gets a bit carried away!

lol, she should get rid of Brenda lol

Where did all that designer stuff come from?

Surely even British Gas workers didn't donate £400 dresses?

but she has made the charity pay for a member of staff to run a hopeless shop. they aren't going to be able to keep this up at all.

most people sell their unwanted stuff, not give it to orpington charity shop. (how many of you know which charity it is?)

I think it was save the children.

I don't sell my old stuff, it's too much hassle. I Freecycle or donate everything, and I buy most of my clothes, clothes for ds, books and craft supplies in charity shops too.

A lot of it was Mary's own stuff.

Can't wait for next week and the "toy twins".

The pink bag of Mary's was hideous.

I can't see the new manager lasting with the old biddies. The area manager is a pratt but I think he can see it is not going to work. The remodelled shop reminded me of another one that MP did over in Brighton (not a charity shop).

cant believe the men at british gas bin all there old stuff

we were talking about this at work (i work for a charity) today. she has just so completely misjudged the whole thing - it is a sort of occupational therapy for the volunteers and they probably give the charity money themselves.

there is just no market for her shop in orpington and it is criminal of her to expect save the children to pay for refits and staff.

well done meglet. it isn't the wondrous publicity opportunity they must have hoped for though.

auntyitaly, exactly.

just watched it on 'on demand' with dh who volenteers for the BHF.

he says all her plans they basically implement already in the BHF shops. they get updates regularly on whats fashionable, whats not, to look for retro items, designer etc, price things well, not OTT not too cheap.

they have theior jewellery valeud FOC locally, and do quite well.

i'm always in there for a good rummage around, and have found some gorgeous kids items, all priced well and good 'labels'.

they have a lot of younger people who volenteer there, not just dh, and i will be volenteering there myself in a few months once dd4 is more settled.

gasp. mary has washed her hands of brenda.

she is really fucking this up. "i need some younger models"

i know, poor the Brenda.

I just keep thinking all of this is fine for one shop but can it work across the xx,0000 charity shops in the country??

it is botty-clenching.

she is so patronising.