Trading Company
Who and what are we?
Compton Hospice Trading Ltd is a limited company much like any other you would find in the normal business world, so it is governed by the same rules of income and expenditure, turnover and profit. From the point of view of Compton Hospice, it is the branch of the Hospice, which raises funds through its chain of shops. Each year these funds or profits are covenanted to the Hospice and are usually in the region of 1/2 million pounds each year (£500,000).
How many shops have we got and where are they?
Currently the Trading Company has 15 shops 13 of these are nearly new shops, where the main emphasis is on selling nearly new donated clothes, bric-a-brac, books, accessories, more recently, small electrical items. These are:
- Compton Hospice Shop - 4 Compton Road West, Wolverhampton.
Tel: 01902 774537 - Wolverhampton Shop - 39/41 School Street, Wolverhampton.
Tel: 01902 713426 - Sedgley Shop - 37 Dudley Street, Sedgley.
Tel: 01902 673333 - Birches Bridge Shop - 78 Wolverhampton Road, Codsall.
Tel: 01902 840011 - Dudley Shop - 10 New Street, Dudley.
Tel: 01384 459989 - Brierley Hill Shop - 126 High Street, Brierley Hill.
Tel: 01384 485040 - West Bromwich Shop - 263 High Street, Duches Parade, West Bromwich.
Tel: 0121 553 2061 - Coseley Shop - 3 Roseville Court, Castle Street, Coseley, Bilston.
Tel: 01902 885440 - Wombourne Shop - 5 Maypole Street, Wombourne.
Tel: 01902 897905 - Wollaston Shop - 113 Bridgnorth Road, Stourbridge.
Tel: 01384 396090 - Kinver Shop - 117 High Street, Kinver.
Tel: 01384 878653 - Merry Hill Shop - Five Ways, Merry Hill, Wolverhampton.
Tel: 01902 765634 - Wordsley Green Shop - 9, Wordsley Green Shopping Centre, Wordsley, Dudley, DY8 5PD. Tel: 01384 295030
The Trading Company also operates 2 'specialist' shops. These are:
- Coffee Shop - Specialising in hot and cold snacks and the sale of books - 4 Compton Road West, Wolverhampton. Tel: 01902 774500 ext 235
- Furniture Shop - Specialising exclusively in the sale of nearly new furniture - 22 Skinner Street, Wolverhampton. Tel: 01902 423266
When are the shops open?
All of the shops are open from Monday to Saturday between the hours of 9.00 am and 4.00 pm. The only exceptions to this are the Coffee Shop, which is only open until 3.30 pm each day and Compton Shop which also opens each Sunday between 10.00 am and 4.00pm.
How is the Trading Company managed?
The Trading Company is managed by Sue Chance; the General Manager (Tel: 01902 774545) who's is responsible only to Ron Middleton (Business Director) and Compton Hospice Trading Ltd Board of Directors. All enquiries concerning any of the shops should be directed to the General Manager. The Trading Company also has an Assistant Manager, Mary Davies, who is contactable on the same number and should be consulted in the absence of Sue Chance. Also Admin Support Assistant Sue Gardiner. Each of the shops is managed by two part-time supervisors who work 3 days each per week. All of the remaining staff in every shop are volunteers, and without their help, the shops simply could not open.
Are there any other staff in the Trading Company, if so why?
The Trading Company operates 3 vans and employs 6 full-time drivers. Two drivers and one van are dedicated to the collection of donated furniture and the delivery of furniture items, which have been sold. The other drivers and vans service all of our remaining shops collecting donated goods and distributing them to our various outlets, and moving stock between shops.
How can volunteers help?
We rely very heavily on volunteers throughout the whole of the trading Company operation. In our nearly new clothes shops, volunteers are always required. They might man the till and serve customers, they might also help to sort through the donated goods, help with hanging, steaming and pricing of clothes and so on. Volunteers with particular interests might give specific help - for instance, they may have a good knowledge of books and antiques and their value, or they might have a flair for window-dressing, which we can use! We also require volunteers in the Coffee Shop to perform as waitresses and to help generally with food preparation. In the Furniture Shop we are always looking for strong, fit individuals who are willing to help move furniture around, serve customers and 'sell' the goods. There are many and varied openings for volunteers within the Trading Company.
What else is the Trading Company responsible for?
The Trading Company sells an extensive range of brand new giftware throughout its chain of shops. These goods are also on sale in the Reception area of the Hospice. The Company also sells Christmas Cards, both through its shops and via an annual mailout to supporters. Corporate Christmas Card Order Forms are also provided for local businesses and individuals wanting personalised cards. The profits from these operations amount to some £50,000 per annum.
Giftware items and Christmas Cards are also available from our online shop.
To sum up
Please remember that Compton Hospice Trading Ltd must operate, as any other business would do - the only difference being that it gives its profits to a charity rather than to shareholders! All income and Expenditure must be controlled and accounted for - from salaries, down to buying a stamp in one of the shops. For this reason it may not be possible for the Trading Company to fulfil all of the requests made upon it. Whenever possible, however, the Trading Company and its staff try to support other activities within the various departments of the Hospice, and work with the Promotions Company and the Fundraising Department to maximise the income received by the Hospice itself.
