Our partnership with the Giftware Association

Our partnership with the Giftware Association

 17th Mar 2022 |  Shop |  Margaret Ring


Our partnership with the Giftware Association.
We were delighted when we were approached by the Giftware Association (GA) todiscuss how we could work together. They had come to know about us through some wonderful networking by our talented CEO, Fritha and were keen to explore ideas with us.
A little more about the Giftware Association
The Ga is the national trade association serving the home and gift industry, providing it's members (giftware retailers and wholesalers) with an array of help and support garnered over 70 years since the association was founded. They help businesses within the sector thrive.

How do we work together?

Many of the members of the GA were impressed with our values of not wanting anything to go to waste and how we carry this out in our production. It's not uncommon for these businesses to be left with end of line stock or items they have over ordered. It can be expensive to house this type of stock in their warehouses and sometimes they are faced with the possibility of having to send things to landfill, which is the absolute last thing they want.

That is where our partnership comes in. A number of GA members have handed this type of stock to us to sell to our Customers via our eBay for Change store, only wanting to recover the cost price of each item as they are sold, allowing us to keep any profit. The profit we make from the sales is used to support our mission to economically empower women in India. The members are thrilled to be making a contribution towards our work.
The benefits of this partnership
There are so many benefits. Those already mentioned about not sending items to landfill and companies making a contribution to our mission. For us, it means that we can add stock to our eBay store, giving our Customers a different shopping experience as our range of goods expands. Also, there is a technical point about algorithms and eBay listings that means the more goods a company has on their store, the more potential customers visit to shop. We won't delve into this, as it's a bit dull... but nontheless a very good thing for us!

We are so please to have formed this partnership with the GA. Please visit our eBay for Change store to shop for gifts, or even a treat for yourself.

More

Our first destash!

Our first destash!

What to do on a rainy Sunday? Hold our very first destash! You may be asking what a destash is?  In short, it's a call out to people to go through old . . . sewing supplies and fabric etc. and donate it to a good cause. With that good cause being Secret Projects! We set up in the Pulborough Village Hall (which is close to where our Business Unit is), and, through various advertising methods, the word had spread and we were delighted to welcome scores of people who came along with their very gratefully received donations. Donations weren't just brought in on the day, we had parcels sent to us and others dropped supplies round to our CEO's house in Pulborough ahead of the official destash day. In total we collected 325 kilos of delici0us pre-loved sewing supplies. Much of the fabric donated has been sorted and will be made up into our ever popular and best selling scrap packs available through our eBay and Etsy Stores. In fact, we now have over 30 different scrap packs to purchase and more will be added, so do keep visiting our stores. We are still taking donations and if you do have any fabric or pre-loved sewing supplies, please do get in touch via fritha@secretprojects.org And of course the most enormous thank you everyone who donated to, and also helped us run our very first destash! More to come! Let's hear it for destashing!   Image: offering a cup of tea to all who came along to the destash was one way of us saying a big thank you.
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We would LOVE you to donate any unwanted sewing supplies to us!

We would LOVE you to donate any unwanted sewing supplies to us!

We can make such good use of your pre-loved sewing supplies We have added various items of pre-loved sewing supplies to our online stores, including . . . scrap fabrics and buttons for the past few years and it has developed into a small but very good source of income for our Community Benefit Society. The pre-loved sewing supplies market is only getting stronger and is something we are keen to develop and grow and are therefore putting out an 'ask' to our customers and supporters (and of course, anyone else who reads this!) for your old sewing items. We would LOVE them! Ideas for sewing supplies donations! From scrap fabric, to buttons, to pins, to needles, to embroidery equipment, we would adore to talk to you about what you have. Sewing items can often have sentimental value - in fact, our Comms Manager, Margaret was just telling us about a pin cushion she has of her mother's that she could only give away to someone who would really appreciate, and make good use of. Maybe this has resonated with you. So, if you do have sewing supplies you would like to donate, please email Fritha Vincent Mason at: fritha@secretprojects.org. We would just LOVE your pre-loved sewing supplies!  
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The 2024 AGM of SPCBS will take place on 24th January 1-2pm UK time

The 2024 AGM of SPCBS will take place on 24th January 1-2pm UK time

The 2024 Annual General Meeting of Secret Projects Community Benefit Society We are delighted to announce that 2024 The Annual General Meeting of . . . Secret Projects Community Benefit Society will take place on January 24th at 1-2pm UK time. All Shareholders are warmly invited and notification and the agenda plus financial information have been sent out. Please do check inboxes and junk folders and if not received, please email: invest@secreprojects.org. We very much look forward to seeing our Shareholders and providing an update on our progress over the last year.    
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