Yesterday afternoon I did a shift in The Old Shop, Bayble. I had rather assumed that I had blogged about it before but, if I have, it's not coming up in any searches. The Old Shop, Bayble is a not-for-profit community association, staffed entirely by volunteers. Any profits go to support local community projects.
The aim is to contribute to community life by keeping a much-loved historic building in community use, helping to reduce waste and show-casing locally produced crafts and many other interesting and unusual items.
A mixture of new speciality goods, eco products, crafts and "nice things to buy" as well as quality used clothes and other items you might find in a charity shop/op shop/goodwill store are available to buy.
You can also enjoy a cup of freshly ground coffee and 'home made' cakes and treats. A range of fine teas and ever-popular ices and vegan sweets are also available.
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| A small sample of some of the beautiful woodturning and wood products of one of the volunteers |
It must be interesting to work in a shop with such varied commodities and presumably attracting a wide variety of customers (in terms of age).
ReplyDeleteJanice, in the winter most of our customers are local but lots of people bring their children in to see what's new or get vegan sweets (very popular) or a can and in the summer we get people going to the beach just down the road.
DeleteHow I would love to browse in there! I might even end up buying something - in any case, I would definitely go for coffee and cake. And I would not be able to resist "neatening" a bit - there are stacks of small boxes (soaps?) in the ECO SHOP shelf that I would automatically straighten (my OCD coming through).
ReplyDeleteMeike, one of the things about the stock is that some of it it changes very frequently and it is quite random although we do try and keep individual craftspeople's work separate from each other. I've not thought about the lack of tidiness of the soaps etc.
DeleteI would volunteer my time there in an instant. It sounds worthy from every aspect. If I were a visitor to the island and happened by, I would buy something on principle. In fact those wonderful fruits would look well in our kitchen. I know just the place for them. And how could I resist coffee and cake? Kudos to all involved.
ReplyDeleteDavid, it is quite a 'worthy' enterprise and I think the owners of the property are to be commended for their generosity of spirit. It costs them a lot of time and effort. Their house is the back part of the property and is quite large and, being old, the property as a whole needs a lot of looking after.
DeleteFull of colour and interest.
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed, Tasker.
DeleteThat is an excellent community resource. Full of interesting things, and with coffee and cake too. What more could you wish for?
ReplyDeleteJayCee, it is indeed a benefit to the community.
DeleteBeautiful shop, the floor is gorgeous. The wood fruit looks real.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteYour welcome. hehe
DeleteIt would be fun to work there and I would be tempted to buy some of the treasures myself! Do you come home with treats you couldn't resist?
ReplyDeleteEllen, I do occasionally find something that interests me - usually something I really do NOT need but just can't resist.
DeleteWhat a wonderful shop. The idea behind it is certainly worth your time and your support. I hope that you meet a bunch of like minded souls!
ReplyDeleteDebby, those who help in the shop are, oc course, like minded but it's amazing how many people support the shop in many ways.
DeleteThe shop looks wonderful but I have a crazy idea about how to boost business. Put a shop sign on the front! It could read...
ReplyDelete"THE OLD SHOP, BAYBLE... A treasure house with hot drinks and cakes too"
Or
"G.B.EDWARDS & CO - Miscellaneous"
Some street advertising in Stornoway might also bring in a few more visitors.
YP, there is a sign outside facing the oncoming traffic and there are now signs in the window (that's an old photo) and at the road end. It is quite well-advertised on the Island and on social media (which is where so many people now get their ideas for where to visit) so it does get a reasonable footfall given how remote it is.
DeleteOh I so want to go in for a rummage! Coffee and and cake as well… luxury :)
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing like a good rummage and coffee and cake is a bonus!
DeleteThese shops serve a good purpose. My brother spends a lot of time volunteering for one.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad, Red, that your brother gets the satisfaction too.
DeleteDare I say it, but it reminds me of the 'Local Shop' in Royston Vasey.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit, Cro, that I had to look up Royston Vasey and am now a great deal more knowledgable than I was beforehand. I have never seen The League of Gentlemen and I suspect that I never shall.
DeleteJust look at ONE clip on YouTube and you'll see what I mean.
DeleteNice to see photos from the shop (I think you may have mentioned it before but without name or photos?) Certainly looks like a place where you could browse around for a while. (Meike's comment made me smile because I think I'd feel the same kind of itch to sort or straighten a few items... ) I love those wooden fruits in the last photo!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Monica. I'm basically an organised person who likes order but I don't get involved in organising the shop.
DeleteGraham, having every volunteer involved in the "organising" would probably just cause chaos! ;-)
DeleteIt's got some fine wooden shelving. Looks like a good place to visit.
ReplyDeleteThank, Rachel.
DeleteSounds like my type of shop Graham, I would have fun exploring it.
ReplyDeleteYes, Amy, from following your Blog I think I can confirm that!
DeleteIt is what we call "Op Shop" here....we have two Op Shops here on this mountain upon which I live. They're great...full of wonderful items. Plus they do so much good to charities.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to guess that this is a comment from Oz. Yes. it's a sort of op shop combined with other interests.
DeleteIt looks like the sort of place one could spend an age browsing and always notice something different. X
ReplyDeleteJules, even working there when I come in for a weekly shift there are always new things hiding away in a corner. Sometimes I've found something I immediately bought and wondered how long it had been there.
DeleteWhat a fabulous shop! i want to visit it and have coffee :)
ReplyDeleteKylie, please give me warning and I'll be on duty.
DeleteLovely to have a look around The Old Shop at last. I think you would look perfectly at home there. I'm going on a Op Shopping bus trip on Thursday to Kerikeri. I doubt very much we will find one that matches yours but it will be fun anyway.
ReplyDeletePauline, I read that comment (with others) when I was still coming round from the anaesthetic in hospital. I imagined myself in Kerikeri and our visits there. I was also reminded that the doctor to whom I owe my life left the Isle of Lewis for a life in Kerikeri many years ago.
DeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeleteJust back from a trip abroad and catching up on blog reading, Graham, but this shop looked to be a very inviting space, wonderful to read that volunteers, like yourself, keep it going. I would definitely have to buy something on a visit!
ReplyDeleteBeatrice, it would be good to see you but NH is a tad far for a trip.
DeleteEvery community should have a place to gather, socialize, showcase, repair or buy new, contribute time, to be some of the glue in the community.
ReplyDeleteTigger's Mum, I agree wholeheartedly. It helps the community spirit survive.
DeleteIt looks absolutely wonderful! I would most certainly visit it often, and if I was a local I would volunteer. I think we need more community shops like this. They're always really interesting. It looks surprisingly spacious, or perhaps that is just your photos?
ReplyDelete