By Community Correspondant Helena Kim firstlook Image Consultancy www.firstlookimage.co.uk

Mary Portas has been very active on TV using her expertise to try to help shops and charity shops.

And it was a shock to learn that many things given to charity shops are of no value, or even worse than that.

Charity shops are important for recycling and helping others.

I went to the charity shop in the Shepherds Bush Westfield Shopping Centre which was set up in connection with the TV series. I saw how high quality gifts helped both the charity and the customer.

At present, before charity shops in general have revamped themselves to get towards the higher end of the market, it’s difficult to persuade my personal shopping clients to go there.

But just as Mary Portas’s skills as a shopping industry expert can be used to give them a lift, then so can the skills of image consultants also be used to lever them up.

We know too how a change of image can sharpen up people and organisations.

So don’t just give Mary a chance, give us a chance and challenge too.