THEY'RE in retail heaven again – the Force Cancer Charity shop in Heavitree's Fore Street has just been named the most profitable in the country.
And the staff as excited as ever – despite the fact that it's the 11th time in a row they've won the accolade.
Winning the award at the Charity Retail Association's annual conference has become something of a habit – the Exeter shop has won in the category for those charities with between one and five shops for more than a decade.
And when the award's category was previously for the biggest turnover it won that too, making it 15 years in a row they've won an award.
The shop takes around £5,000 a week on average – and is open throughout the year.
In the financial year just ended it raised £241,000.
And the secret of its success seems to be its nooks and crannies.
Shop manager Anna Heard said: "Some charity shops have gone for the High Street look, but we haven't done that, concentrating instead on raising as much as possible.
"People describe it as an Aladdin's cave and I have always thought of it as a charity department store as it sells everything."
It sells furniture, cutlery, crockery, glassware, jewellery, videos, books, records and of course clothes, including dressing-up items and its Classy Clobber range.
And of course there are the bargains – at the moment there is a special offer on jeans with them selling for just £1 a pair.
And there is a permanent £1 bargain rail just inside the shop.
It has nearly 30 volunteers and six staff – in addition to Anna, there is assistant manager Toni Newton, two van drivers and two part-time sales assistants.
And if you anyone would like to play a part in what is arguably the most successful charity shop in the country, now is the chance – the shop is in need of more volunteers.
Anna said: "It may seem we have a lot of volunteers, but we need more."
If you can help, even just by offering an hour or two, pop into the shop.
