Meet Rose Adamson, our Charity Shop Manager
“Sorting donations is an exciting endeavour – you never know what you’re going to find!”
The Gilgal Charity Shop is a new adventure that we’ve undertaken to diversify our income and connect more with the Birmingham community. We knew that we’d need someone special to bring our vision to life, which is when we met Rose, a Manager at Waterstones who was looking for a new challenge.
The journey began at age 16, when Rose began work experience at Waterstones in her hometown of Bolton. What started as a Saturday job during GCSEs quickly turned into a passion, leading to a transfer to Waterstones York whilst undertaking her psychology degree at university and, eventually, into full-time management.
Within a year of graduating, Rose had climbed the ranks to become a Bookshop Manager, taking the helm at stores in York, Harrogate, and Manchester Arndale. She later moved to the Midlands and transferred to the Birmingham Waterstones – one of the largest in the country. Over 14 years, Rose gained invaluable experience in customer service, merchandising, and operations, even taking on the role of cluster administrator, overseeing payroll and rotas for the Yorkshire region.
After more than a decade in the book trade, it was time for a new challenge! Rose was looking for something that could combine her wealth of retail expertise with a meaningful cause, which is when she came across our Shop Manager role. Having supported several store launches for Waterstones, Rose was confident that she could lead the Charity Shop to success, and help us build something wonderful.
The work that Gilgal does supporting women and children affected by domestic abuse is close to Rose’s heart, and she finds it incredibly rewarding to know that every sale, every donation, and every interaction in the shop contributes to such an important cause.
“We’ve built more than just a retail space – we’ve created a team that feels more like family.”
From health and safety compliance to creating quirky, eye-catching displays, the role is wonderfully varied. But the best part? Working with incredible volunteers. Getting to know them, fostering a warm and welcoming atmosphere, and making the shop a vibrant part of the community has been a joy.
“The shop changes every day, and the role is always varied. No two shifts are ever the same!”
The goal is to make the shop a go-to spot for bargain hunters, a treasure trove of hidden gems, and a place where people can connect, support a great cause, and have a little fun along the way. So, we encourage you to step inside, have a chat, and perhaps discover your next favourite outfit or a unique treasure!
