The dream
More good in store. More places to do it.
Our ambition is bigger than a single shop, but it begins with making the local work dependable. We want to develop a model that gives suitable goods another life while helping communities build useful skills, affordable access and sustainable employment.
Over time, Good in Store could connect a small number of locally rooted Scottish recovery hubs. They would share a shopfront, useful systems and clear standards, while each place keeps the relationships and opportunities it helps create.
These milestones distinguish the immediate pilots from later growth. Auction stock and charity electricals start in tandem; each develops at the pace its own arrangements allow.
A practical route towards the dream.
Establish the Muirkirk foundation
Establish auction-stock recovery and a charity-shop electricals pilot in tandem. Agree suitable space, competent support and partner terms, then use LogStock item records and separate accounts to understand the work, costs and outcomes of each stream.
Build reliable recovery partnerships
Build on the two initial stock routes while developing retailer and authorised logistics partnerships. Trial regular collections where they fit; direct supply agreements are an additional route, not a prerequisite for the charity pilot.
Grow the pilot and the skills around it
Use evidence from the initial charity electricals pilot to improve preparation, transparent settlements and supported participation. Grow competent provision and paid roles as capacity allows, independently of progress on direct stock supply agreements.
Connect useful technology with useful support
Build capability in listings, photography, administration and technical support alongside madegood and charIT's digital assistance and learning aims. Explore computer refurbishment where it fits the skills, facilities and lithium-battery exclusion.
Make the model shareable
Bring together clear processes, fair-value commitments, reliable records and a shared shopfront. Demonstrate that the model can support the work and its community purpose, then find capable local partners who can use it in another area.
Support locally rooted Scottish hubs
Explore hubs in the south-west, south-east, north-west serving the Highlands and islands, and north-east. Choose locations around real supply, local need and capable partners, with each hub keeping its own community relationships and opportunities.
Strengthen the network without leaving places behind
Share systems, learning and useful services while keeping goods close to suitable buyers where practical. Help each local operation become more resilient, create paid work and retain the benefit of the community that built it.
A Scottish network, built around real places.
The regional idea is a south-west base, a south-east hub, a north-west hub serving the Highlands and islands, and a north-east hub. The right places would emerge through stock partnerships, suitable premises and people able to build worthwhile local operations.
Not every community needs a complete warehouse and repair workshop. Local partnerships could support collections, particular skills or sales around a regional hub, with existing community organisations playing an important part.
Growth that adds opportunity.
muirmend remains rooted in Muirkirk. A wider Good in Store project should create additional local opportunities elsewhere, not remove the work from the community that helped it begin.
We want every future hub to stand for useful goods, fair value, meaningful participation and responsibility for what remains. That is the point of sharing the model.
Help build the first steps