I HAVE been asked to write an article on 'shops' or 'hidden treasure shops' as we now call them and wonder just where and how to begin.

I think I'll go back to 1962 when we had our first shop. There were 10 of us at that time—we have no actual guild here in Motherwell, and we had tried all the usual methods of money raising—dances, coffee mornings, cheese and wine parties, etc. Very successful in their way, but we wanted to get a real money spinner.

I owned a shop selling children's clothes, and it was being acquired by the local council to make way for redevelopment. I had the usual closing down sale but had still odds and ends of things left over and not enough stock to really stay open for business. As I still had lots of time before needing to vacate the premises I called my committee together and suggested to them that they should search their cupboards and drawers for unwanted articles of any description and we would have a 'nearly new' shop for R.N.L.I. funds.

'AN AMAZING COLLECTION' We advertised our intentions in the local press, collected bunting, flags, etc., from the Glasgow office, put a large placard in the window and told the public that in two days' time there would be wonderful bargains for all. We collected from a number of friends also and found that we had quite an amazing collection of goods for sale—cutlery, crystal, jewellery, china, kitchen utensils, curtains,table linen, bed linen, toys, books and, of course, clothes, and my surplus stock.

We opened on a Monday morning and had a queue waiting for us, and I don't think any of us will forget that first day. The cash register rang out merrily and at the end of the day we had taken over £120. What a thrill that was! We were dog-tired but so enthusiastic that we all went home and started to clear out every unwanted or unused article we could find to replenish our very empty shelves.

We phoned our various friends and relations and begged them to look out anything—yes, just anything they could part with.

The second day found us again just as busy as ever—another £100, so we decided to close for two days to allow us to contact people in the surrounding area to help with our scheme. We had wonderful response due, I think, to per- sonal approach. This I think is essential in anything of this kind. In seven selling days we made £585—a most rewarding effort.

GIVEN OVER £10,000 Since October, 1962, we have had three more shops—15 to 18 months between each. We hadn't, of course, the good fortune of just having a shop on tap as we had the first time and had to wait until a shop became vacant and the landlord or property agent was willing to let us use it. I must say, though, that we always found everyone most helpful when we told them why we wanted the shop. Sometimes we had our shop for just three days then nothing for a week or JO days, but they were always successful, and in our area our hidden treasure shops are well known and our customers come from far and near for their bargains.

In 10 years we have given over £10,000—we still have our usual money- raising efforts, but this is the one which we have found most satisfying.

There are a few points I would just like to make clear for your shop. Have all your goods clearly priced before you open. Price tickets can be got from any stationer. Sticky labels for hard goods, i.e. china ornaments, etc., and pin tickets for clothes. Any large store will help out with coat rails or often give you extra counters—they usually have surplus shop-fittings in their store-room. We certainly have always found managers most helpful. Measure curtains and mark lengths tying them in pairs. This saves so much trouble. Refuse nothing. People may be hurt by your refusal to take something they offer. You can get rid of unwanted things to a jumble sale in your area, no doubt.

Take the plunge and have a shop, and you will soon be like us and look forward to meeting your regulars and have them say: 'I hope you're having another life-boat shop soon'. Bargains for the public, hard work and quite a lot of fun for us, and a fairly large amount for the R.N.L.I..