Merkinch charity has it all wrapped up thanks to deal with Gael Force store
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Two Merkinch enterprises have joined forces to come up with a solution for a charity’s online shop that is boxing clever.
Social enterprise Àban Outdoor hosts the annual Kessock Swim and works with young people to broaden their horizons through the outdoors including through holiday camps and Duke of Edinburgh Award activities.
Earlier this year it launched Scotland’s first outdoor gear charity shop through eBay. The aim of the online shop is to help get as many people outdoors as possible by reducing the sometimes-high cost of equipment, as well as reducing the environmental impact of kitting up for the outdoors.
The eBay shop stocks gear that has been donated directly to Àban, as well as goods which have been recycled through the Continuum scheme at the newly-opened outdoor retailer Alpkit at the Ledge climbing wall.
All of the profits from the shops go directly into running Àban’s charitable work in Inverness.
To help operate its online store, the charity has now teamed up with Gael Force Marine, which has a megastore in Merkinch, on a cardboard packaging re-use initiative.
To manage the packaging required for shipping items from the popular eBay store, Àban’s business manager Calum Smith turned to Gael Force for their assistance in donating used cardboard boxes and packaging.
Gael Force’s Inverness marine megastore and online shop sees thousands of products coming and going through its doors each week and has its own cardboard recycling process in place.
Both based in Merkinch, Àban and Gael Force first developed their partnership through the annual Kessock Swim event with Gael Force supporting the event by providing the swim buoy mooring chains and weights.
Mr Smith: “The growth and popularity of our eBay charity shop has been extraordinary, and it is all thanks to the generosity of the equipment donations we receive and through the welcome support of local businesses like Gael Force who are on our doorstep.
“It’s a perfect example of positive collaboration, working together for a better environmental outcome, and helping get people outdoors for less.”
Gael Force Group’s marketing manager Marc Wilson said they were delighted to be helping Àban with the scheme.
He added: “All the cardboard boxes we receive through supplier deliveries are either recycled or re-used, so to be able to go a step further and know that regular donations of used cardboard boxes will support a social enterprise in the local community is hugely rewarding.”
People wishing to donate outdoor gear that they no longer use can donate it to Àban in the Merkinch Welfare Hall, Grant Street, Merkinch.
