Tonight two runners from Hammersmith and Fulham became experts in packing clothes for the sustainable clothing charity TRAID. Having already completed a similar mission in the Hammersmith store, packing pros Analiese and Beth ran to the Shepherd’s Bush branch armed with tips and tricks to assist with boxing up their stock.

Upon arriving at the store, we were met by a locked door as business hours had just finished. The security guard initially ignored us, thinking that we were two late customers, but after a quick explanation through the glass we were allowed in to begin the task.

As the final few customers were trickling out, we set to work – first moving rails to make space for the wooden crates and packing boxes in the middle of the store, before collecting empty hangers together whilst the large clothes boxes were being assembled by the TRAID team. It was then all hangers on deck to pack up the remaining stock. Analiese came across some interesting items: a pair of glittery golden shorts and a low-cut set of dungarees provided particular amusement, although there was nothing to rival the short-short game played in Hammersmith earlier in the evening.

The first three boxes were easy to fill as they were at floor level, however upon filling and taping these up the game was raised – quite literally. The next set of boxes were stacked on top, and so a step ladder was required for loading in clothes (well, a step ladder was required if you were Beth height… Analiese could just about manage!)

After an hour of intense packing, the shop floor had been exposed! And with that, we said our thanks and headed off home. Did someone say there was a football game we should be watching tonight? ⚽