'BORN AGAIN' SECOND HAND SHOP

 Good afternoon readers.

I like to bring politeness back into the retail sector now that I'm considering rejoining.

I used to work in retail once upon a time. It was in the 1970s in Wellington. The store was initially named Murray Robert's and Company but I don't know who Murray Roberts was nor who he kept company with. There you go.

Im my last post HERE I wrote that retail is stuffed. I stand by that especially for the larger format retail but do admit that there is room for the smaller and specialist operations. Some forms of retail don't, by nature of their products or due to their financial models, lend themselves to on-line shopping so are destined to remain as stand alone stores albeit in a shrinking and desolate environment.

At my age in life I find myself frequenting second-hand and 'Op' shops a lot more. Well, to be honest, I should say - again. When I was at university, I and my mates used to buy a lot of our clothes from Salvation Army and St Vincent De Paul stores in Wellington. It was where we bought our white sports coats for wearing to the WSCPCS functions. I think that the smell emanating from them  scared away any likely females. We also bought the tweed-type jackets that we wore over jeans and corduroy trousers. I think that Tony still wears his.

Nowadays, before I visit or buy online from  Briscoes, Placemakers, The Warehouse, Rebel Sports etc I first check out the 'Op' shops to see if they have similar items. The savings can be quite remarkable. I recently bought a bread-making machine for $20 which was only just one model older than the Briscoe's offering at $240. I've bought tennis rackets, heaters, electric fans, books, glassware, golf clubs, pots and pans and a lot of other things from my favourite - the Hospice shop.

I feel that I have experience in these stores that I could put to use in a local church shop.

"GET YOUR COMMUNION HOSTS HERE. FRESH FROM THE SACRISTY"
. 

Added to my retail experience on both sides of the counter I have experience as a Sacristan and am 'licensed' to deal with Communion hosts both consecrated and unconsecrated, In my school days I had a nifty little business running selling these (until Father Bliss found out).

"FIVE BUCKS EACH OR THREE FOR A TENNER"

I have experience with scapulas, holy medals, bibles, catechisms, religious pictures and various bits of catholic junk paraphernalia. These were in my home when I was a child or things that I was made by my mother  to carry or wear to school and church. I collected a lot of class prizes at school usually in the form of prayer books or framed pictures of Jesus or The Virgin Mary.

My wine marketing experience would also be useful as I could devise various retail promotions like BOGOFs (Buy one get one free deals), customer loyalty programmes and sweepstakes. This could help in the altar wine sales as well as I could conduct altar wine tastings, competitions and events.

I think that when we get to Level Two in the Lockdown I'll go and visit one of those jokers in a black dress. I'm sure that Robert will give me a good reference.