Sue Ryder Care window before...

After last month’s successful Charity Shop Challenge, the Daisy team were talking about the appeal of the shops we had been into. Sounds, smells and great bargains were some of the hot topics.

But there was one thing we were all in agreement about; if shops have great displays in their windows, we are more inclined to go into them. Simple.

Often, high street shops have the luxury of employing people to specifically dress their windows. Not so in charity shops.

Could this be something Daisy Green could help with?

Enter Sue Ryder Care. It provides compassionate care and support for people living with serious illnesses and conditions including multiple sclerosis, stroke, brain injury and cancer, as well as their families and loved ones.

And these days, there aren’t many of us who have not been affected by someone living with a serious illness. Sue Ryder Care is the only charity that specialises in directly caring for people throughout their lives living with long term neurological conditions and for people who are dying. Their care is unique – it encompasses all that person’s needs whether it be medical, social, psychological or spiritual.

It is a national charity and 15 of their shops are based in the North East of England. It was one of these that we turned our attention to.

There is a little shop in Gateshead, on Coatsworth Road. The store managers are lovely women, who work tirelessly to sell the stock that people donate. They know what sells in their area; recognisable labels, sportswear, and short skirts in the summer!

Krista Puranen, our eco-designer, has much experience of window dressing, and offered to lend a hand.

Near to Christmas, Krista wanted to give the window some ‘Christmassy bling’. She dressed the mannequins in party outfits, a black velvet dress and jacket teamed with a bow belt and an electric blue silky top.

Krista adds some Christmas bling

Christmas items were grouped by colour schemes, and gold, red and silver provided a focal point. There was something for the men - ties in a silver basket with silver diaries for 2009, sexy party shoes for the ladies, Christmas mugs and toys for the children. And to finish it all off, browsers were tempted to raise a toast with some cool sherry glasses.

Charity shopping for me has become a way of life. I have found so many great bargains and unique outfits, that these days, I rarely shop anywhere else. It’s been great working with Sue Ryder Care, the team there are genuinely dedicated to raising money for those who need it the most.

We hope that our little contribution will attract more customers and help to raise even more precious funds. Bargains galore, recycled and re-used, and most importantly, helping people live out their lives in the best way possible.