Did you know that in Inverness, we have the Carr Gomm Charity Shop, where we sell preloved items to raise funds for community projects across the Highlands? We sat down with Ania, our Charity Shop Manager, to find out more.
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Tell us about yourself! What is your name, and what is your job at Carr Gomm?
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Hi, I am Ania, and I am the Carr Gomm Shop’s manager, based in Inverness in the Victorian Market. I have been doing my job for almost 18 years now. I am creative and have an eye for detail, which I use on a regular basis in my job. I am an outgoing person, ambitious and challenge driven. I love my job.
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As a charity shop manager, my job is to run the shop efficiently, including managing volunteer staff, organising the stock of new (found and bought in at the Trade Fairs) and second hand donated goods, administrative paperwork. Any problems that may arise, I try to solve. I run the shop together with one staff member Amy, and with a bunch of very nice, fun and committed volunteers. The volunteers are all different, and posses unique skills, which they share with me, and that makes my work even more interesting and enjoyable and worth while. Without them we wouldn’t be as successful as we are.
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In my personal life I play Netball, and badminton. I am a very competitive person and love the game challenges. I also enjoy, painting, I am a language enthusiast, (fluent in 3 ) currently taking Spanish lessons.
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Can you tell us a little bit about the Carr Gomm Shop?
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Our shop looks more like a boutique charity shop – no mess, as we always aim to have nicely laid out goods, grouped neatly together in specific sections, easy to find what anyone may be looking for.
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We are based in the Victorian Market, which is one of the main tourists attraction in Inverness. This brings us good footfall over the spring and summer months. But we are also lucky to have our regulars in on a daily and weekly basis. They form a good customer base and support us as much as they can. We are very grateful to all. And are delighted if we see a smile on their face because they found something they were looking for or a total bargain.
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The shop staff offer a very welcoming atmosphere, you never know who walks in the door, but Scottish banter happens on a daily basis and we love to chat to everyone who is in for it.
We also do try hard to deliver best of customer service and be the face of Carr Gomm.
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What does a typical day at the Carr Gomm Shop look like?
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It varies, on the day, week, month and the season. In the summer we get people from all over the world, cruise ship passengers, back packers and just general tourists. The winter is much quieter, the weather is challenging, people are deterred from coming into town.
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I make strategic decisions on how, what, and where we sell and what special sales offers will be on.
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We get donations in, we sort, price, sell. We merchandise, change the shop around. It all depends on how busy we are. A wee secret to let in you on – there are days when it’s absolutely quiet, and all the jobs are done, seriously that is possible…..then we do a jigsaw at the counter. The customers get engaged, which makes it sometimes more fun.
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What is your favourite part of your job?
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Seeing my volunteers, I would say. As every day I have someone different in to help, and that comes with different tasks for each day, so my week is never boring. We have lots of fun, banter and laughter together.
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Sense of achievement, we are the happiest when we have lots of sales and make a lot of money on the day. Which in return is being used on the people we support in the Highlands, to add the wee extra happiness to their day.
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Another one of the nicest parts of the job is feedback. Compliments from the public on how lovely and nice the shop looks, a smile on an elderly persons face, a satisfied customer.
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If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
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Teleportation – If only I could teleport anywhere, anytime any day I wished, like a whirlwind collecting (extra) happiness from it. I am a keen traveller, I have family and friends in various countries abroad. Variety is the spice of life! I love Scotland but I want to learn more about the world.
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Find out more about the Carr Gomm Charity Shop here and make sure you pay Ania and her volunteers a visit next time you’re in Inverness!