Scope

The charity shop is one of the less well looked after shops and is in need of a refurbishment to bring it into line with the direction of the other shops along the street. This charity shop provides all the standard goods such as clothes, books, cd’s and bric a brak.
They are slightly different in their window display showing garments on mannequins, that being said it doesn’t detract from the shabbiness of this particular store and the clothing in general is for the older person.
This place reminds me of older shops that haven’t caught on to the new charity shop strategy, I hope they do because this place really could co with a more inviting décor, the staff are very pleasant which kind of makes you forget about the shops condition.

I’m a bit of a charity shop addict, of course I like Scope, it has many an allure with its promise of retro goods at amazing prices, what could be better?
Fair enough, most of it is granny wear, but if you look really hard, you can find an absolute gem, something you wouldn’t of been able to get hold of anywhere else. Remember that saying, one person’s trash is another one’s treasure and I have found this so often true.
Scope was very busy when I went, full of Saturday shoppers so not the most relaxing experience, hit this shop on a weekday and be a very happy charity shopper.
I didn’t manage to get anything in Scope but with 7or so other charity shops battling for my trade on Albany road, it was just unfortunate that I hit it after a hard shopping session with my pennies and energy lagging.

I remember when Scope used to be The Spastics Society. Yes that’s right. It wasn’t that long ago that we were all outrageously un-​PC! I remember the day that they announced the new name, and still recall thinking, ‘yeah, that’s all very well, but yesterday we used to know who we were helping when we purchased something from the shop, and today we haven’t got a clue!’
I used to buy al of my second-​hand clothes at the now named Scope in my home town of Nantwich, (I was an art student don’t you know!?!) It was an incredible little shop, full of 50’s and 60’s gear that I loved back in the late 70’s, early eighties. I particularly liked the 50’s formal dress… the smart blouses, fitted suits and heaps of beautiful embroidery or heavily stiched clothes that were dense on the detail (line after line of stitching and piping that gave a ribbed appearance to a jacket for example).
But I digress! It’s nigh on impossible to get these kinds of clothes from charity shops any more, and you’re lucky if you can find them in the retro stores. These days it’s all 70’s and 80’s fashions that are available… Yup, the stuff I refused to wear when it was in the first time round, and refuse to wear now too. It’s funny how the charity shops have somehow synced up with the High Street. It seems that fashion has done a bit of a full circle, and that charity shops are able to stock clothes that reflect the current fashions of the day.
This is a great charity shop, and especially important as there aren’t as many second hand shops as you’d imagine in this area.

I love charity shops, bar the knowledge of some of my money is going to a cause and not some fat cat soulless pocket, I really like the treasure hunt of maybe finding something special. Or atleast getting super cheap DVD’s that would cost you an arm and a leg in shops.
Staff are always smiling in here and it does rub off on you when you leave with that infectious upturning of the lips.
Charity shops are a lot more savvy these days and kno what they are selling, you do actually find some very expensive books and collectors items that people have kindly donated.

Does anyone here watch Dr Who? If you do, do you remember the episode a couple of series ago (goodness me, it may even have had Christopher Ecclestone in it) when the manequins came alive? That is something of which I am eternally terrified. Given that, the dummy in the window of this shop did make me not want to enter. But not wanting to admit my weird weakness to my shopping companion I bravely entered the breach. The shop itself is quite old fashioned; the clothes won’t really offer anything to you if you’re young. However, the stock changes quite regularly so it’s worth a periodic check. There is also lots of other stuff, knick-​knacks, whatsits, thingamabobs, to keep your interest. The helpers are all also lovely. They really are in every charity shop — which is unsurprising as they are normally volunteers giving up their time to help. Lovely people.