2025 Retrospective
Happy New Year everyone!!! Here's to 2026 and all the love and luck for the next 12 months.
But before we head straight into new years resolutions… (drink less coffee, spend more time in nature…)...Ii wanted to look back over 2025 to appreciate the journey.
There’s been some ups and downs and even a bump 🙂 , but overall it has been another busy year at ApparelXchange.
Starting with the bump! 🙂Sonja’s went off on maternity leave in September. A week later later her lovely daughter arrived into the world. Sonja and her partner are overjoyed.
Fiona joined us in April, as our new Volunteer Coordinator. Picking up the reins from Claire who had done a great job setting up the Volunteering Programme and putting our systems in place.
Jordan joined the team in April, as our Retail Assistant at the shop, which increased to drive our fashion and digital sales. And finally, Emma joined in August leading the clothing services. Both covering while Sonja is off. Last but not least Lotti, joined us early on in 2025 giving us much needed marketing support and helping with our website improvements.
Sam continues to hold the fort at the warehouse, fulfilling orders, processing stock and generally making sure we have great quality garments and footwear ready for sale and packages.
Which is a great segway onto the other major developments during 2025.
Later in 2025, we reviewed our online store and did a huge bulk editing job. With the help of some fabulous friends, we re-listed over 8000 online stock items. This means searching is easier and you can do so by brand across all our product, the information about each item is consistent, the product template has been updated so you can use the drop downs to find out more info about materials, condition etc…
It has been some job and my love for excel spreadsheets continues! Overall this should make it easier to shop, with the SEO for googling us online has been vastly been improved.
We will share more on this process in February. Thanks to Lotti for managing the whole process.
We initiated the development of our stock and data system, which will help us track all our stock and the environmental and social impacts that our work has. This is vital for us to tell our story to all our customers and stakeholders. There have been some significant delays, outwith our control but we are now progressing again. More on this soon.
While the data system has been under development, we have been getting ready. We are half way through a massive stock take of all our stock. From October, we have been focusing on our uniform stock. We have logged all items of uniform and where possible put into our online shop. We have loads of top quality generic and branded items across the sizes and so will be doing some promotions soon for summer uniform like shorts, summer dresses and tank tops.
We have reorganised our uniform shop up at the warehouse too. So you can browse our online sample rail or shop from the rails. Easy to navigate and clear signage. If you haven’t already been the warehouse is an emporium of preloved kids fashion.
We ran loads of events which were supported by Glasgow Climate Action Hub, continuing working with other local sustainable fashion businesses. This included creative textiles workshops, face care for teenagers, life drawing classes, art for kids, swaps, sustainable fashion socials and much more. Some were a great success and others less so. Its a learning journey every time!
Our clothing services continued with the support of some smaller funds and the larger Glasgow city Council service. Our social mission and tackling child poverty remains at the heart of what we are doing. And your donations make that happen! We had a celebratory event in June, which relfected on the achievements the year before. This service is unique and one which
And finally our War Child fundraiser in October. Through sales we generated over £380 for this amazing charity which supports young people affected by conflict.
2026 is now centre of our attention. We are looking forwards to the year ahead and have plans to share soon.
Thanks for all your support and custom.
Izzie and the team.