Borough's hospice enjoys online retail boom during Covid-19 pandemic

The charity was averaging around £700 a week in online sales over the internet prior to the order to stay at home.

However, since then that total has leapt up to around £2,000 per week.

The Hindley-based hospice has a network of 13 stores across the borough but these were all shut back in March when the Government curtailed all non-essential retail as part of efforts to tackle the outbreak of the coronavirus.

The hospice has had to use technology and think outside the box to keep the retail funding coming in.

And Wiganers have certainly been keen to make purchases to keep themselves occupied while they have only been able to go outside for essential trips.

Jenny McAvoy, WLH retail co-ordinator, said: “Online sales have rocketed across all of the platforms we use and we’ve been capitalising on those changes.

“As people stay at home more we have noticed a huge upsurge in demand for jigsaws and games and games consoles, as well as knitting and sewing patterns.

“However, our usual collectables such as vintage china, ornaments and glassware are selling just as well as they always have.

“Our customers’ demand for clothing has been met by eBay and Facebook Marketplace and designer items are selling on our Depop site.

“Facebook Marketplace in particular has enabled us to widen our reach in our local community at a time when our traditional charity shops are unable to open. We have lots of repeat customers and are building up a lasting relationship with lots of people.”

Kitted out in their masks and gloves to prevent spreading the virus, the team in charge of sales are currently posting around 130 orders a week.

Customers have logged on to sites including Bay, Amazon, Facebook marketplace, Discogs and Depop to make their purchases and support the hospice at the same time.

Some of the biggest sales include a vintage Kenwood food processor at £145, two barley twist vintage wine glasses for £200 and a retro Manchester United shirt for £59.

Customers can also buy items from the hospice’s shop window on Market Street in Hindley.

When shoppers see an item in the window that they want, they ring the phone number on the shop door and the sale takes place on the doorstep adhering to social distancing.

The charity hopes to start reopening shops one at a time by the end of June as soon as adequate measures are in place to keep volunteers and customers safe.

For the moment donations cannot be accepted, the hospice said.

Kate Gaynor, head of income generation for WLH, said: “With our shops closed at the moment online sales are a great way we can keep bringing in funds to ensure we carry on delivering compassionate care for local people.”