GEAR CHANGE

Gear Change was a second hand toy shop in Harrow & Wealdstone, ran by Gill Reid for over 30 years.

The shop was a fixture in the community, everyone living and working in the neighbourhood seemed to know Gill and the shop - it was a point of reference. I lived down the road from Gear Change and would see people buying toys and bric-a-brac there, but it was mostly locals just calling in for a chat.  

“Parents are happy with the prices, and the kids aren’t bothered the toys are second hand.”

Gill Reid

This kind of relationship the shop and Gill had with the community reminded me of my own childhood. I grew very fond of Gill and like many others, found myself regularly calling in for a chat.  

”It’s organised chaos - but I know where everything goes”

Gill Reid

Gear Change provided a solution for the local community that couldn't afford to buy new. Despite selling items for pence (only going up into the pounds for larger items like bikes), the business had survived all these years. Largely due to a quick turnaround of stock at very low prices, low overheads and stock was provided from donations. Gill would arrive most mornings to find a few carrier bags on the doorstep.

“A lot more people come here after Woolworths closed down.”

The shop itself, a pre fab built just after the second world war, has a colourful history. Initially it was travel agents, then went on to be a green grocers, vacuum cleaner repair shop and second hand furniture shop (from which the signage is still visible on the roof).

In 2013 the landlord informed Gill that the back half of the building would be re-appropriated and work began to annex the building. 

She would later find out it would be used to house wheelie bins for the landlord's neighbouring flats and the space then became infested with rats. 

Gear Change closed it doors on the 8th January 2014. Sadly Gill passed away 3 weeks after it's closing.