The Great BT Charity Shops Challenge… the results are in!!
Monday, October 28, 2013
Lynne and Mairead Jordan present the Kevin Jordan Memorial Trophy to Marion Owens and David Hampton, from the Lisburn Road Marie Curie Shop in Belfast, whose team raised the most money in the Great BT Charity Shops Challenge. The Challenge, which took place on the 3rd October, saw BT employees volunteer across 7 Marie Curie shops in Northern Ireland and 10 Irish Cancer Society Shops in the South. The teams helped to raise much needed funds for the charities, while competing against each other to see which shop could raise the most for this worthy cause. The BT teams rose over £85,000 of much-needed funds for both charities.
Well all us girls love a bargain, and it's even better when you know that fabulous handbag, dress or coat you've bought will be helping a very worthwhile cause! You might remember last month I wrote a blog post featuring "The Great BT Charity Shops Challange" (you can read about it HERE).
Well BT volunteers from across the Island of Ireland joined representatives from Marie Curie Care and the Irish Cancer Society at Bewleys hotel in Ballsbridge, Dublin, to announce the results of the Great BT Charity Shops Challenge. Not only was the Challange a runaway success in raising awareness for Marie Curie Care and the Irish Cancer Society, but BT Volunteers raised over £85,000!!!
The Challenge, which took place on the 3rd October, saw 170 BT employees step out of their day jobs to volunteer in the first ever all-island ‘Great BT Charity Shops Challenge’. On the day, the BT teams took over one of 17 charity shops (10 Irish Cancer Society shops in the Republic of Ireland and seven Marie Curie shops in Northern Ireland) to help raise much-needed funds for both charities.
If you were out and about across Northern Ireland on the 3rd October you may have noticed some of the very special events in selected Marie Curie shops as the BT volunteers really went to town when it came to coming up with fun and innovative ways to encourage shoppers in store!
There was 70’s retro in Botanic Avenue with a ‘live’ window, Santa and his little helpers arrived early in Holywood and Banana Man and Stig joined the teams in Newry. Even celebrities leant their support as Hollyoaks actress Karen Hassen (who plays Lynsey Nolan) turned up to support the Stranmillis team by offering nail treatments.
The BT teams competed fiercely against each other using all of their planning, marketing and selling skills to generate extra stock, raise the profile of the shops locally, attract more volunteers and customers, and ultimately generate the biggest increase in shop takings on the day.
Customers were delighted on the day with free draws and spot prizes which included Ulster Rugby merchandise, Dior beauty products, Lancôme treatments, tickets to the Comedy Club and Jake O Kane and even the latest Samsung Galaxy S4 phone.
And the results are in…
The overall winners reporting a 1,357 per cent increase in sales on the day, were the team from the Marie Curie Shop on the Lisburn Road in Belfast!!! The Lisburn Road is such a great place for fab restaurant's, bars and coffee shops, i'm a regular down there, so next time you're on the Lisburn Road make sure to nip in to Marie Curie, who knows what vintage finds you may pick up!!
Two additional judges’ choice special awards were also presented to the teams from the Marie Curie Shop in Newry and the Irish Cancer Society Shop in Camden Street Dublin.
Clayre Sloan, Marie Curie’s Shops Area Manager for Northern Ireland said: “We were delighted not only by the amazing amount of money raised by BT staff during the Great BT Shops Challenge, but by the fantastic legacy it has provided our shops, in terms of quality stock donations, great sales and increased awareness of the fantastic bargains we have available.
“A total of 1,449 bags were generated for the Challenge. In Northern Ireland alone, over £40,000 has been raised, between sales on the day and stock donated for our shops. In total this means that the Great BT Charity Shops Challenge will generate 1,967 hours of Marie Curie’s nursing care in Northern Ireland for those in their final days”.
Peter Morris, Corporate Services Director, BT said: “ BT has always worked hard to improve the lives of the communities in which we operate and, as part of our ‘Better Future’ corporate responsibility programme, our volunteers have been involved with some brilliant community initiatives. We were particularly excited to get involved with the Irish Cancer Society and Marie Curie Cancer Care to offer our support for the first ever all-island charity shops challenge, and our teams have done us proud.
The energy, enthusiasm and creativity displayed by all the teams to raise significant funds for two very important charities have been amazing. We all have a role to play in making sure that great causes continue to benefit from our support, particularly in the current economic climate and many congratulations and thanks go to all involved.”
The BT Charity Shops Challange was a great success, enjoyed by both BT staff and customers alike, but don't forget to visit your local Marie Curie Shop, regularly as you never know what you may find! Especially coming up to Christmas as you might find that perfect Christmas party dress, or glitzy clutch to finish your ensemble!
Remember our charity shops ~ Volunteer ~ Shop ~ Donate.
Massive thanks to Danielle Scullion at Smarts Communicate for the press release and all relevant imagery!
