Latest news with #Mulberry
Scottish Sun
6 hours ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
I'm a car boot sale pro and found a £600 gem for just a tenner – I even managed to haggle seller down more
And scroll down for the nine best items you should look for at car boot sales CAR BLIMEY I'm a car boot sale pro and found a £600 gem for just a tenner – I even managed to haggle seller down more Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CAR boot sales can be a treasure trove for bargain hunters, if you know what to look for. Among the mountains of used toys, mismatched mugs, and bric-a-brac, there are hidden gems that are worth serious cash. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Mary Hagan visits a car boot sale almost every week Credit: Mary Hagan 5 There are always hidden gems to be found at the outdoor sales Credit: Getty And nobody knows that better than thrifty Mary Hagan, from North Lanarkshire, Scotland. She picked up her love for car boot sales from her parents, visiting Paddy's Market in Glasgow every week as a family before it was closed down by the city council in 2009. She said: "I loved it and was very sad to see it close, as were loads of others. "It was a big talking point in Glasgow years ago and families and friends would meet to show their bargains off. "I even got my prom dress there for high school. It was a £5 bargain but I felt amazing in it. "Times were hard then and although my mum worked, my dad didn't due to his health but it didn't stop us ever looking good." Now, the 48-year-old loves nothing more than scouring car boot sales and charity shops in her local area. "I've had loads of bargains over the years", she told Fabulous. "I hardly ever buy anything new. But I love it as it saves things going to the landfill, and it's better for your pocket. "Also, with the way things are going, you need every penny you can get to survive." I made £271 in a day of selling at a car boot sale & my mate did £130 - I left with half a car's worth of new bits too If she's at her caravan holiday home, Mary ventures through to the Silloth boot sale in Cumbria - which she hails as a "money town where you're guaranteed the best". And it's here that she bagged a £600 designer gem for just £8. The tan Mulberry Alexa satchel was wrapped in a dust bag when Mary stumbled across it towards the end of the day. After sharing her find on TikTok (@mazzah77), she said: "I asked if I could have a look. The seller said 'of course' and I knew instantly I was onto a winner. "I could tell it was genuine right away. It's real leather, and the insides, the emblems, and condition are all spot on. 5 Mary found a £600 Mulberry handbag for just a tenner Credit: TikTok/@mazzah77 5 She managed to haggle it down to £8 Credit: TikTok/@mazzah77 5 Mary is convinced the bag is authentic after checking the logos and lining Credit: TikTok/@mazzah77 "I asked how much and the seller had said because it was the end of day £10. "Inside I was like 'wow I'm definitely taking it anyway' but the Glaswegian in me knew to haggle. I mean, who goes to a car boot and doesn't haggle? It's part of the excitement. "So we agreed on £8. I was delighted and walked away Googling it straight away to realise a pre-loved Mulberry bag the exact same was fetching £600. "I don't know if I will resell or keep it, it's not my usual style so who knows - if the price is right!" She adds: "It's always worthwhile going to car boots and charity shops as you just never know what you will find. "Just remember to rummage and haggle." The nine best items to find at car boot sales Self-professed 'Car Boot Queen' Ellie Macsymons, from NetVoucherCodes, has revealed the nine items you should hunt out at car boot sales that could sell for hundreds of pounds: Vintage Pyrex Dishes Retro Gaming Consoles & Games Branded Vintage Clothing Mid-Century Furniture & Decor LEGO Sets Vintage Cameras Rare or First Edition Books Designer Handbags or Accessories Royal Doulton, Wedgwood, or Denby Ceramics Ellie says: "Car boot sales are the perfect place to spot a deal. Often sellers don't know what kind of treasure they have right under their nose, and often sell luxury items for a fraction of their price. "If you know what you're looking for, you could resell some of these items for hundreds of pounds, giving you an extra boost coming into summer."
The Irish Sun
6 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
I'm a car boot sale pro and found a £600 gem for just a tenner – I even managed to haggle seller down more
CAR boot sales can be a treasure trove for bargain hunters, if you know what to look for. Among the mountains of used toys, mismatched mugs, and bric-a-brac, there are hidden gems that are worth serious cash. 5 Mary Hagan visits a car boot sale almost every week Credit: Mary Hagan 5 There are always hidden gems to be found at the outdoor sales Credit: Getty And nobody knows that better than thrifty Mary Hagan, from North Lanarkshire, Scotland. She picked up her love for car boot sales from her parents, visiting Paddy's Market in Glasgow every week as a family before it was closed down by the city council in 2009. She said: "I loved it and was very sad to see it close, as were loads of others. "It was a big talking point in Glasgow years ago and families and friends would meet to show their bargains off. "I even got my prom dress there for high school. It was a £5 bargain but I felt amazing in it. "Times were hard then and although my mum worked, my dad didn't due to his health but it didn't stop us ever looking good." Now, the 48-year-old loves nothing more than scouring car boot sales and charity shops in her local area. "I've had loads of bargains over the years", she told Fabulous. Most read in Fabulous "I hardly ever buy anything new. But I love it as it saves things going to the landfill, and it's better for your pocket. "Also, with the way things are going, you need every penny you can get to survive." I made £271 in a day of selling at a car boot sale & my mate did £130 - I left with half a car's worth of new bits too If she's at her caravan holiday home, Mary ventures through to the Silloth boot sale in Cumbria - which she hails as a "money town where you're guaranteed the best". And it's here that she bagged a £600 designer gem for just £8. The tan Mulberry Alexa satchel was wrapped in a dust bag when Mary stumbled across it towards the end of the day. After sharing her find on TikTok ( "I could tell it was genuine right away. It's real leather, and the insides, the emblems, and condition are all spot on. 5 Mary found a £600 Mulberry handbag for just a tenner Credit: TikTok/@mazzah77 5 She managed to haggle it down to £8 Credit: TikTok/@mazzah77 5 Mary is convinced the bag is authentic after checking the logos and lining Credit: TikTok/@mazzah77 "I asked how much and the seller had said because it was the end of day £10. "Inside I was like 'wow I'm definitely taking it anyway' but the Glaswegian in me knew to haggle. I mean, who goes to a car boot and doesn't haggle? It's part of the excitement. "So we agreed on £8. I was delighted and walked away Googling it straight away to realise a pre-loved Mulberry bag the exact same was fetching £600. "I don't know if I will resell or keep it, it's not my usual style so who knows - if the price is right!" She adds: "It's always worthwhile going to car boots and charity shops as you just never know what you will find. Read more on the Irish Sun "Just remember to rummage and haggle." The nine best items to find at car boot sales Self-professed 'Car Boot Queen' Ellie Macsymons, from NetVoucherCodes, has revealed the nine items you should hunt out at car boot sales that could sell for hundreds of pounds: Vintage Pyrex Dishes Retro Gaming Consoles & Games Branded Vintage Clothing Mid-Century Furniture & Decor LEGO Sets Vintage Cameras Rare or First Edition Books Designer Handbags or Accessories Royal Doulton, Wedgwood, or Denby Ceramics Ellie says: "Car boot sales are the perfect place to spot a deal. Often sellers don't know what kind of treasure they have right under their nose, and often sell luxury items for a fraction of their price. "If you know what you're looking for, you could resell some of these items for hundreds of pounds, giving you an extra boost coming into summer."
Wales Online
7 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Dunelm's pretty summer bedding set that's ‘pure cottagecore' and ‘good quality' now has 20% off
Dunelm's pretty summer bedding set that's 'pure cottagecore' and 'good quality' now has 20% off Fresh and fabulously chic, this reduced price bedding set comes in nine colours Here comes summer and here comes a bargain bedding buy (Image: Dunelm ) With the spring now sliding into summer it's a great time to think about an update of some of the key spaces in your home and the bedroom is one area that is easy and relatively simple to refresh - just change the bedding. Gingham is a timeless pattern - like stripes and spots it effortlessly glides through the changing interior design trends and brings a taste of timeless country cottage, even if you don't live in one. It's a tempting time to welcome this visually engaging pattern into your home as t he Portloe Woven Gingham Duvet Cover & Pillowcase Set from Dunelm currently has 20% off, taking the price down from £30-£50 to £24 - £40 depending on the size of the set you buy - single, double, kingsize and super kingsize. For more home and garden content sent to your inbox twice a week sign up to the property newsletter here. READ MORE: 'Excellent value for money' fire pit less than £60 on Amazon YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 'Perfect' extra large outdoor summer blanket reduced by 15% for a limited time The set comes in a total of nine colours including Mulberry (Image: Dunelm ) Of the 183 five-star customer reviews on the Dunelm website, one buyer loves the style of the bedding set, saying, 'So happy with the Portloe gingham collection. Such a cute, cosy cottagecore vibe. I liked mine so much I bought them for the kids too'. Another customer was tempted by a multiple purchases, commenting, 'I absolutely love this gorgeous mauve gingham duvet cover. It's soft, comfortable and looks great in our room, which is painted in a duck-egg blue. It's brilliant value for a cotton super-king with pillow cases and if they offered a turquoise, I'd be very tempted to get an another one'. Ashley Blue (Image: Dunelm ) According to the product description, the Portloe Woven Gingham Duvet Cover & Pillowcase Set is made from 100% washed cotton and features a reversible design. It also boasts a button closure made from recycled plastic and can be machine washed and tumble dried on a low heat setting. The set is available in nine colours, namely ashley blue, folkstone blue, green, blush pink, lilac, mulberry, natural, ochre, and black. It comes in single, double, kingsize and super kingsize sizes, each with the appropriate number of pillowcases. However, one customer was unhappy that the colour of the bedding set was not what she expected, saying, 'Great value, good quality but colour looked nothing like the web pic'. Portloe Woven Gingham Duvet Cover & Pillowcase Set in Green (Image: Dunelm ) Several buyers also commented on the feel of the bedding set, with one saying, 'such a beautiful duvet cover set, washed really well, it's so soft, would love to buy it in a few different colours, really happy with this purchase' and another adding, 'Excellent bedding, high quality and feels very nice to sleep and relax in!'. There was a surprise for one customer with the pattern of the bedding, and it was a nice surprise - they comment, 'I bought the green one and I'm made up, the quality of the cotton is fantastic. Also the gingham pattern is woven and not just printed on like most of the gingham bedding I've looked at before buying this one'. Folkstone blue (Image: Dunelm ) Article continues below However a handful of buyers were unimpressed by the bedding set maintenance with one explaining, ' Don't buy this set unless you are a fan of either a crumpled bed or of serious ironing. I fully expected to have to run an iron over it, after washing it, but this was hard work'. If you're looking for alternatives to the Portloe Woven Gingham Duvet Cover & Pillowcase Set, consider the Blue Gingham Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set from Next priced between £14- £30, available in four sizes and also in a natural tone, or the Habitat Seersucker Gingham Woven Green Bedding Set from Argos, suitable for single, double and kingsize beds and priced between £22 - £28.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Lavish spending at water watchdog was unacceptable, says report
The Scottish government failed to properly scrutinise lavish spending at a body charged with regulating Scottish Water, according to a new report. Holyrood's public audit committee said a lack of expenditure oversight at the Water Industry Commission for Scotland (Wics) was "simply unacceptable". A report by the auditor general detailed how public money was spent sending a senior manager on a course at Harvard Business School in the US, Mulberry sunglasses and business-class flights to New Zealand. A Scottish government spokesperson said steps had been taken to improve management at the commission, but acknowledged previous expenditure "was completely and utterly unacceptable". Committee convener Richard Leonard told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme that there had been a "flagrant misuse" of public money. He said: "This is a body to promote value for the customers of Scottish Water, and yet by any measure it fell well below the standards of what any public body should meet in the way it conducts its own affairs." He added there was constant excessive expenditure on hospitality, including meals and alcohol. He said: "In 2023 a decision was taken that there should be no limit whatsoever on the organisation's expenditure on things like alcohol. It really has been an extraordinary catalogue of misuse of public money." Water body boss departure cost public purse £105k Water watchdog boss put £170 wallet on expenses Wics chief executive Alan Sutherland, and its chairman Donald MacRae stood down in the wake of reports by auditor general Stephen Boyle in 2023 and consultant Ernst & Young the following year. They found a total of £77,350 was spent on Wics chief operating officer Michelle Ashford attending the Harvard course, which included return flights to Boston. Richard Leonard told BBC Scotland the Harvard course was not a one-off, as other staff completed MBA courses worth about £70,000. The auditor general's report found that approval for the expenses was only sought afterwards, despite a Scottish government policy stating approval was required in advance for any expenses above £20,000. Mr Sutherland also signed off on a business class flight from New Zealand - worth more than £18,159 - for the director of corporate and international affairs and her spouse. Mr Sutherland was also found to have submitted expenses claims for a £170 Mulberry wallet and £290 glasses which "had no clear business purpose". A further £2,600 went on providing every staff member with a £100 gift card for Christmas, while it was noted the commission had an "unusual" policy allowing staff to claim alcohol on expenses. Nine meals cost a total of £2,699 - £996 of which was spent on alcohol. Mr Sutherland was given a £14,000 payment for annual leave he did not use and in December 2024 it emerged Wics spent a total of £105,000 on his departure from the organisation a year earlier. Mr MacRae quit in October last year, months after a letter from net zero and energy secretary Mairi McAllan criticised the way in which Mr Sutherland's resignation was handled. But Richard Leonard said the Scottish government had been responsible for a lack of critical oversight of the commission's spending, which had allowed it to continue. He said: "The committee is clear that there also appears to have been a serious lack of oversight from the Scottish government. "This failure from those who are meant to be safeguarding the public purse is simply unacceptable." He told BBC Scotland there needed to be a much more objective relationship between the Scottish government civil service and public bodies like Wics. The commission's role is to promote the interests of water and sewerage customers and ensure Scottish Water provides cost-effective services to ministerial objectives. The committee's report acknowledged there had been widespread changes to the board and management since the auditor general's findings were published. However, it urged the current board to undergo refresher training on their roles and responsibilities to ensure that the failure of responsibilities does not happen again. Leonard said: "We have heard about significant changes within Wics and the organisation's commitment to improve the governance arrangements. These are clearly welcome. "But we want to see concrete evidence of these changes to ensure that the unacceptable culture that was in place has truly gone." Scottish Conservative MSP Graham Simpson, who sits on the committee, said the behaviour of Wics had been "deplorable". He said: "This organisation had a wild west approach to spending. "The Scottish government, who were meant to be watching what was going on, was sleeping at the wheel and must also take the rap. "This whole scandal raises the question of whether Wics should be allowed to continue at all, or in its current form." A Scottish government spokesperson said it had taken steps to improve the management of the commission. They said a full response would be provided in due course. "Ministers have been clear that the approach to expenditure at Wics up until December 2023 was completely and utterly unacceptable," they added. "We have taken steps to improve our sponsorship function, completing all the management actions set out in the internal review of Wics sponsorship published last November." Wics interim chairman Ronnie Hinds said: "With direction from our board and through the commitment of our leadership team and staff, we have taken decisive action to strengthen governance, improve financial controls and embed a culture that is firmly focused on best value. "Everyone at Wics continues to be fully focused on regaining trust and reaffirming our role as an economic regulator that upholds the highest standards, both in our regulatory approach and in our stewardship of public resources." Water regulator chairman quits after Harvard spending row Public water body claimed £77k for Harvard course Water body chief resigns over Harvard expenses row
Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Taking the ‘silk route' in Punjab as Sericulture boosts farm income
Sericulture, once a minor allied activity in Punjab's agricultural sector, has been rapidly gaining traction and offering significant support to poor farmers and below poverty line (BPL) families, particularly empowering women. This year, silk cocoon production has seen an increase in procurement, and more farmers, especially in the state's sub-mountain regions, are getting involved. Punjab's sericulture activities — primarily practiced in one and more blocks in each of the four districts Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, and Rupnagar — have expanded significantly. For the first time, Amritsar has joined the sericulture map under the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative, with silk chosen as its flagship product. This year, Punjab has procured around 35,000 kg (35 metric tonnes) of green cocoons, surpassing last year's procurement of approximately 33,790 kg. The procurement has just concluded. In Pathankot, a major hub, 29,819 kg of cocoons have been procured, with Dharkalan and Sujanpur blocks being the primary areas for silkworm rearing. Last year, 21,976 kg was procured from this region. Hoshiarpur and Rupnagar have seen a procurement spike with 4,500 kg of cocoons being purchased, compared to 3,900 kg last year. Amritsar, where the sericulture initiative is in the early stage, has procured 256 kg of cocoons. There are now around half a dozen blocks across these five districts where silkworm rearing conditions are optimal. Nearly 1,000 farmers, of whom about 60% are women, are actively involved in sericulture in these blocks. With 13 dedicated sericulture farms and technical support from the state Horticulture Department, Punjab produces both Mulberry and Eri silk, with Tasar silk also being introduced recently. The cocoon production has seen a remarkable increase from 22.71 MT in 2017-18 to over 35 MT so far — a growth of nearly 54%. The second crop of the year is expected to arrive in September. Meanwhile, the average annual income per farmer has more than doubled — from Rs 20,000-25,000 to Rs 50,000-60,000. Vandana Sharma, a woman farmer from Dharkalan, shared that she began rearing silkworms last year, and finds it highly beneficial. In less than a month, she can earn Rs 10,000-15,000, depending on the amount of silkworms used to produce cocoons. 'I'm a poor woman, and this occupation helps me greatly. I rear silkworms in the March-April and September seasons, as it takes less than a month to rear these worms,' she said. Santosh Rani, another silkworm rearer from Dhar block, echoed similar sentiments, having 'sold around 35 kg of cocoons this season'. Emphasising the home-based nature of the work, Shami Kumar, Divisional Sericulture Officer in Sujanpur (Pathankot), said it has 'enabled women from socially disadvantaged groups to contribute significantly to family incomes and achieve financial independence.' Avtar Singh, Sericulture Farm Manager in Sujanpur, said cocoon prices have improved this year, with farmers receiving Rs 360-390 per kg, compared to Rs 290-330 per kg last year. For dry cocoons, the rate has risen to Rs 1,200 per kg. Singh said as demand for high-grade cocoons surged in 2023-24, market rates skyrocketed from Rs 550 to Rs 1,250 per kg, directly benefiting farmers. 'Sericulture is thriving under the Horticulture Department, Punjab, which subsidises silk seeds provided to BPL familieso through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives,' Singh said. 'We procure seeds from Dehradun, keep them for some time, and supply them to farmers.' Kartar Pathania, Sericulture Officer in Dharkalan, said: 'Through initiatives like Silk Samagra and Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana, the state is providing financial and technical support for nurseries, plantations, rearing equipment, disinfectants, training, and the construction of rearing centres. Exposure visits, awareness camps, and resource development programmes are regularly conducted to upskill farmers.' Dr Balwinder Singh and Ramandeep Kaur, sericulture officers in Hoshiarpur, said 'the government provides a 50% subsidy for shed construction for the general category and 60% for reserved categories, and special attention is given to SC/ ST families, with sericulture emerging as a reliable source of livelihood and dignity.' It is expected that a reeling unit approved for Pathankot will double the income of rearers and reduce dependence on external markets. With the introduction of Eri culture, the working season has expanded from three to up to eight months a year, resulting in a 25% increase in farmers' income and enhanced social status. Shailender Kaur, director of the Horticulture Department, said that 'the state government aims to create a full value chain by transforming raw cocoons into silk threads and finished products within the state. Streamlined marketing facilities at the government level are ensuring that farmers receive remunerative prices without exploitation. Punjab's sericulture success was recently recognised at the national level, with the state receiving a Silver SKOCH Award in 2024 for its project on 'Women Empowerment and Socio-Economic Development', she said, adding: 'The state hosted its first-ever National Silk Expo at Kisan Bhawan in Chandigarh — a milestone event that showcased local silk products and provided networking opportunities for rearers, buyers, and innovators.' The Department also unveiled a dedicated sericulture logo, reinforcing its identity and ambition to establish 'Punjab Silk' as a premium brand over the next five years. Kaur said: 'Plans are in place to boost cocoon production to 50 MT, expand plantation areas, and invest in silk thread and cloth production, as well as value-added products.'
