A charity shop raised a record sum of over £30,000 in just one week in its annual seven day January sale of designer brands and rare collectibles.
The Shelter shop in Stockbridge featured top labels including Armani, Gucci and Ralph Lauren, all donated by the public and stashed away by staff.
Savvy shoppers queued from 7am on the opening day to snap up bargains, which also included rare books, toys, cult games and vinyl records.
The homelessness charity’s Stockbridge shop has become famous for its annual sale of rare and designer items, which runs for one week in January each year.
This year the shop took £3,500 in the first hour alone and £11,000 in the first day as early birds picked up rarities including a signed first edition copy of JK Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, which made £400, and a set of vintage bagpipes for £200.
Bargain hunters also snapped up rare vinyl including original 1960s recordings by The Beatles and Rolling Stones, Japanese art prints, designer and vintage coffee and tea sets and Portmeirion China.
The charity said it raised a total of £30,817 across the seven days – creating a new record for the event, which has run since 2003.
Alison Watson, Director of Shelter Scotland, said: “It’s incredible that after 21 years of running the January event at our Stockbridge shop, it continues to be as popular as ever and that we are able to beat previous fundraising records.
“We couldn’t do it without the incredible generosity of our customers and donors, so a huge thank you goes out to everyone for helping to keep Shelter Scotland in the fight against the housing emergency.
The shop has been a fixture in Edinburgh’s Raeburn Place since 1981. The annual New Year sale of donated designer items started in 2003.
The sale raises vital funds for Shelter Scotland’s work to help homeless and badly housed households across Scotland.
Watson added: “Too many people, including thousands of children, are denied their right to safe, secure and affordable housing. It’s Shelter Scotland’s mission to change that and your support keeps us in that fight.”
