Hat designers call for community help to replace smashed shop window – Scottish Daily Record

An independent shop in Perth has appealed for help in an attempt to meet the cost of fixing a window smashed by vandals.

Alison Mountain and Jeanette Sendler, joint owners of Bridgends Hat in the Cat, were horrified to find their display window had been broken last month.

The situation was made worse by the fact it was felt that as the insurance excess was so high it was not worth making a claim for the damage said to be 400.

They put up a notice asking for help from the public to restore the pane of glass and generous donations have helped prevent the hat designers being so out of pocket.

Bridgend has seen an apparent rise in the number of firms being hit by vandals, with Friends Barber and The Cafe on Main Street also seeing windows damaged in recent months.

Since we started asking for help to fix the window, 85 has been donated, explained Alison.

It has been amazing, people clearly see this is a hit to the community image, and residents and even visitors have come inside to give us money.

One lady on holiday very kindly just put 20 in our donation hat.

Its so important that Bridgend starts to pick itself up, and I think people are willing to make that a community effort.

Alison explained why the breakage was such a setback for the shop.

She added: While other businesses have been able to make claims on their insurance policies, our contract is tied into a sizable excess which makes it not worth filing a claim.

Despite the boarded up window panel, master hat designer Jeanette still entered the remaining display spaces into the Perth Festival of the Arts Shop Window Competition.

It was commended as a worthy runner up as part of a contest won by Fair City toy shop, Fun Junction.

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Hat designers call for community help to replace smashed shop window - Scottish Daily Record