LOUISE WILSON
What kind of products does the shop offer? Our members are an extremely talented bunch. They produce a huge variety of goods. Knitwear is certainly one of the most prominent, but we also have jewellery, loads of home-baking, jams, chutneys and preserves, plus paintings, ceramics and glass – it’s a real mix. The stuff we have at Christmas is really, really beautiful: items such as home-made advent calendars, knitted Santas and nativity scenes.
Who are your customers? We defi nitely have our regulars – it’s almost like being in a pub sometimes. But we’ve started to get a number of different people, from grannies to young mums. Knitwear is coming back into fashion so we’ve had a lot of younger people in the shop as well. On the whole, we are bucking the retail trend and are getting busier. Christmas is just amazing, but there is plenty of stock, so we could always do with more customers.
The charity has been running since 1882. How much has it changed in that time? The shop hasn’t really changed much in all that time; we don’t want to lose that original feeling because it’s such a lovely place to come.
How successful is the charity? There is no doubt that the charity benefi ts its members greatly. Some are quite happy just to make a few things and others are regularly making things, but I think they’re just so grateful for any money they can get because they really do need it. We’ve got a wee lady that phones every week without fail and she always asks if she’s sold anything, and if she has she’s so happy. She still puts money in a jar so that she can get her hair done. Often our members will phone just for a wee blether because they’re on their own.
The Royal Edinburgh Repository and Self Aid Society, Treasure Trove, 23a Castle Street, Edinburgh. Tel: 0131 220 1187
www.selfaidsociety.com
WWW.SCOTTISHFIELD.CO.UK 89
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