Second Hand Rose provides new life for old items

TUESDAY, AUGUST 23: A shop has opened in the town of St George selling “gently-used” items to raise money for charity.

The Second Hand Rose opened earlier this year and sells a variety of goods including china, household items, books, DVD’s, jewellery and more.

Debbie Loader and Barbara Maguire run the shop and the money goes to the St George’s Foundation.

Ms Maguire said the Second Hand Rose opened in March after a family fun day put on by the St George’s Foundation.

“We had put out a couple tables of items and we sold almost all of it.

“We knew from that that people like it.”

Everything that the items are displayed on in the shop were donated.

Asked about the concept of the store, Ms Maguire said: “The original concept came from the original Second Hand Rose and it was located on Hunter’s Wharf.

“Debbie and I ran it from 2000 to 2003.

“We would go to garage sales and we would buy items and rent the Red Cross property and have a sale once a month.

“We would store it all at my house in boxes.

‘That was the first idea and the second was Second Hand Rose.”

She continued: “The St George’s Foundation are always trying to figure out new ways for fundraising and this idea just came to us.

“We had the space so it was empty and it was always meant to be retail.

“We said let’s try it and it’s grown from there.”

Ms Maguire said the response has been “great” so far.

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“Once we get people in here, they love it.

“The challenge is getting the word out because as you know advertising is expensive.

“We’re a charity so we can’t afford to lots of advertising.”

In addition to selling second-hand items, the Second Hand Rose also will pick any items people want to donate.

Ms Maguire said: “We offer a service where we collect things.

“If anyone has anything to get rid of, we can come and collect.

 “People also drop off stuff as well.

“We have flyers all around the island.”

The Second Hand Rose sells pretty much everything except for clothing.

In addition to houseware, they also sell small pieces of furniture and small appliances.

Ms Loader said: “We had a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes that went quickly.

Treasure

“We have had some nice designer bags as well.”

Asked to describe some of the more unique items they have had, Mrs Loader said: “We have had a fax machine, a microwave that went right away.

“We didn’t think that would go so quickly.

“Then we got a whole basket of scarves.

 “I sold an African mask for $75.

“The other day we had a coat rack that was made out of plastic horns.

“A tourist, a pilot from a private plane came in and said ‘ you’re probably going to think I’m weird but I want that’.”

“I said ‘you had to have the right house for it, like a log cabin’ and he said he had a log cabin.”

Mrs Loader said the pilot put the coat rack in a trash bag and took it straight back to the plane.

“I never thought that would sell but you never know. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”