"I was keen to start volunteering because I wanted to give something back to the Hospice. Some of my loved ones received care from the Hospice, and the support they received was amazing."
Every Monday morning, volunteers Brian, Mary and Greg arrive at the Maidenhead Homestore ready to tackle the latest donations for the store's popular book department. Their role is to carefully sort through donated books, deciding which titles will be displayed on the shop floor and which are suitable for sale online.
Thanks to the team's experience and knowledge, thousands of books each year find a new home through the Homestore.
Brian was the first of the trio to join the volunteer team in 2020 and has helped develop the department into one of the store's most successful areas. Over the years, the volunteers have built up a strong understanding of customer preferences, and which books are best suited for in-store sales or online listings.
Greg explained: "The most popular books in the store are cookery, travel, gardening, lifestyle, biographies, revision guides, and both paperback and hardback fiction. We always maintain a good balance of books on the shop floor and work hard to ensure there is plenty of spare stock available so that balance is maintained."
The team also plans ahead by keeping a selection of seasonal titles in reserve, including children's festive books and preschool books, helping the store maximise sales opportunities throughout the year.
Their efforts are clearly appreciated by customers. Many regular shoppers browse the shelves, purchase books, enjoy reading them and then return them to the store as donations so others can enjoy them too.
Together, Brian, Mary and Greg process and sell around 1,500 books every month, making a significant contribution to the Homestore's fundraising efforts. Despite this impressive figure, Brian remains focused on quality.
Brian said: "Not every donation can be resold. Books that are heavily damaged, torn, dirty or affected by mould unfortunately have to be responsibly disposed of. In an ideal world, we are always looking for quality over quantity and finding books that customers really want to buy helps us make the most of every donation."
Mary joined the volunteer team in 2021, motivated by a desire to give something back to the Hospice after seeing first-hand the difference its care makes to families.
Mary said: "I was keen to start volunteering because I wanted to give something back to the Hospice. Some of my loved ones received care from the Hospice, and the support they received was amazing."
The dedication, expertise and enthusiasm of Brian, Mary and Greg have made them an invaluable part of the Maidenhead Homestore team. Through their hard work, donated books continue to raise vital funds while bringing enjoyment to countless readers in the local community.
