The Gift Shop has experienced a difficult year with a 15 % reduction in turnover. However the Co-ordinators and Volunteers in the Gift Shop continue to work hard to maximise the shop’s potential. Further processes have been put in place to get the best prices possible on stock by combining purchases with the Market Stall for bulk discounts.

Market Stall

The Market Stall has seen many changes in the 2018/19 financial year. The core of the Market Stall sales is still the many handmade goods made by a vast range of people and groups from the local community. The Association cannot thank these people and groups enough for all the knitting, crocheting and sewing they do to make the items. The range has been extended and enhanced with new products sourced from various suppliers in conjunction with the Gift Shop.

TV/Newspapers

The Volunteers of the TV Trolley continue their hard work distributing TV Vouchers and Newspapers to patients with in the Lyell McEwin Hospital to both private and public patients.

Vending

Vending machine income for the 2018/19 Financial Year continues to be strong and grow. A large reason for the growth is that the CEO has renegotiated new contracts with the vending machine suppliers for a larger commission on vending sales.

Thrifty V

The 2018-2019 financial year has seen Thrifty V return a profit of $24,555 that contributes to the work the Association does across the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network supporting patients, their families and loved ones.

Warehouse Distribution /Shops Strategy

The relocation of the Operations Centre from the Salisbury South warehouse to Phillip Highway, Elizabeth South has worked well for Thrifty V as it created a much larger work space and has closer proximity to the Thrifty V stores located on Phillip Highway, Elizabeth Vale and Elizabeth North. There has been an added benefit, as the Warehouse has solar panels that generate electricity which exceeds the needs of the day to day operations at the warehouse and allows us to sell back to the grid.

Wendy Kent continues to manage the Operation Centre and the three Op Shops supported by over 72 dedicated volunteers.

Thrifty V is committed to reducing landfill and is keen to repurpose or recycle all goods that are received as donations. Wendy and the team should be congratulated for the minimisation of landfill through the recycling of all goods, including ewaste that has also resulted in lower dumping and waste costs. Wendy is always looking at innovative ways to recycle donated goods into items that can be upcycled and sold through the shops.

Volunteer hours are significantly lower due to the closure of the Martins Plaza shop in 2018. However between the three remaining Op Shops and Operation Centre, over 30,000 hours have been given by volunteers throughout the year.

Hospital Donations & Vouchers

The Association continues to supply clothing and other items for the various areas of the hospital and in particular supplying of vouchers to the LMH Social Work Department to provide free clothing and other items to those in need.

In closing, I would like to say a huge thankyou to each and every one of you as without your support, Thrifty V would not have obtained the positive outcome it has this year.

Wendy Kent

Thrifty V Manager