Stacey Solomon visits Hospice Charity Shop in Brentwood

Stacey Solomon recently paid a visit to our Brentwood store to find some pre-loved items she could give a new lease of life to as part of her one-off Christmas TV special 'Crafty Christmas', that aired at 8pm on Thursday 15th December on BBC One. Susan Kemp, Retail Assistant, tells us her experience of preparing for a visit from the BBC. 

Christmas came early to the Brentwood Superstore this year.

In early October, I was told our shop had been selected from all the charity shops in Brentwood to be filmed for a BBC show featuring Stacey Solomon. What a big compliment!

For the time being this was super confidential and on a need to know basis only. The shop was to be transformed into a festive grotto as the show was to be aired at Christmas. But they were planning on filming in mid-October! I looked up at the Halloween display I had spent the day before installing and inwardly groaned, but I knew this was an exciting opportunity we couldn’t turn down.

Getting Christmassy early

I spent many days hiding away in our storage room sorting, pricing and organising everything in order to show the shop at its seasonal best. The volunteers must have wondered why I was immersed in Christmas so early but they were so supportive and never asked. I felt guilty but I couldn't tell them.

For two weeks I ate, drank and slept window displays, present pricing and the names of volunteers to be included in the filming. The production company kept changing the date availability of the volunteers also changed. I had to keep finding new ones right up to the last minute! And all the time I was doing the day to day tasks involved in keeping the shop running to target.

Meeting Stacey Solomon and being on camera

The big day arrived. My terrific team had the shop looking fantastic. Both Rita, on the till, and I were “miked up” and transmitting. I was trying to give the impression I knew what I was doing! In came the customers followed soon after by a festively garbed Stacey Solomon.

Imagine that scene where Pooh first encounters Tigger. Well, Stacey was Tigger which makes me poor bemused Pooh. She bounced around from area to area enthusing about charity shop bargains and our shop in particular. Her vivacity was infectious so when the director prompted me into action I strove to look equally upbeat and confident.      

Stacey enjoyed rifling through our Christmas jumpers

I must say Stacey was marvellous. She made it easy for me to follow her lead so it all looked very spontaneous. Almost everything was shot on the first take and a lot of material was filmed for the show. This all in front of an interested crowd of shoppers that I barely registered.

After a few customer selfies her purchases were processed by Rita before I finally “helped” Stacey carry her 5 carrier bags towards her car- and they were gone.

From Christmas to Halloween in four hours

It was over. Now Christmas had to be put away for next month and Halloween re-installed. Our team once again came up trumps. We had Christmas dismantled and the shop looking rather forlornly bereft by 3pm. Normality had returned.

Do I look forward to the show airing? I am not sure. It could be too cringeworthy- especially should they show that bit where I was ineptly jigging about ringing crystal bells with Stacey. Hopefully the exposure will be good for the Hospice. That is what we are all about after all.

Inspiring Stacey

When Stacey visited our store, Susan gave her the great idea of making personal, photo baubles using curtain rings that had been donated in store. Stacey loved this idea so much, she made them herself and proudly showed them off to Susan at the party. 

Stacey said, "these are the best baubles I've ever had, with all of our favourite memories in them. I'm so grateful - they are such an amazing idea. I'll never not do this now!"

The photo bauble Stacey created based on Susan's idea

If you would like to make Susan's photo baubles, just like Stacey, see her instructions on how to make it, as well as everything else in the show, here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/stacey-solomon-crafty-christmas-step-by-step-instructions 

Catch up on Crafty Christmas

You can watch Crafty Christmas with Stacey Solomon on BBC iPlayer here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m001g5v2/stacey-solomons-crafty-christmas