Like to shop for treasure? Head down to the Franklin Senior Center. Thanks to Colette Ferguson, who took the reins of Ben’s Bounty Gift Shop (named for Ben Franklin) in October of 2024, locals can peruse a distinctive display of quality wares and gently-used clothing any fashionista would be glad to have, at thrift store prices.

Ferguson studied design in Ireland, transformed the drab store as soon as she took over.

“There was not much floor to ceiling, maybe a couple display cases. I figured there was a lot of potential. You have to have a lot of storage in the shop display area,” says Ferguson.

Next, she worked on the variety, and she’s particular. “You have to have something for everyone to have interest,” she says. The shop boasts clothes, jewelry, pocketbooks, a children’s corner, a vintage corner, and house goods, many in like-new condition. “That’s really, I think, how it’s gotten off the ground so well,” says the shopkeeper. 

The feedback has been very positive, and sales have tripled.

“Clients are thrilled,” she says, because they “can find anything and everything in the store now. You don’t have to go to Marshalls. It’s serving the community, and it’s serving the Senior Center. In this kind of unsure financial climate we’re in, (customers) absolutely love coming in and getting something. I keep the prices very low for that reason. I don’t have any overhead; I’m getting the donations for free.”

According to Franklin Senior Center Director Sarah Amaral, any profit Ben’s Bounty takes in goes straight back to funding Center programs. “That can range from Supportive Day, to our café, to lectures, fitness classes, because we don’t have any municipal funding for our programs. It’s all based on fees and our gift shop, with help from the Friends of Franklin Elders,” says Amaral, who has nothing but praise for Ferguson’s merchandising skills. “She just has a vision for it, and she’s meticulous about what she takes,” she explains.

Donations come from Franklin and surrounding towns. 

“There’s a lot of downsizing going in the community as well, so why not support your own community first rather than Savers. Recycle and repurpose, and if you can get a toaster for $3-$4, why not do that than go to a store and pay $25.” says Ferguson. Any donated products that aren’t new are cleaned, and that includes jewelry “especially the earrings, they’re all sterilized, and if there’s something that doesn’t look like it should be presented in the shop, we have a free table, and I put things out there as well.”

Going through donations is a lot of work, and Ferguson is thankful, she says, for “the help and assistance I get from the office staff and the volunteers, they come in every day. I have four different people coming in every week to cover their shift, a huge commitment, and I’m very grateful for that.”

In addition to ensuring a tasteful breadth of offerings, the merchant also has a way with her customers. “Colette gets to know the clients and what they’re looking for,” says Amaral, “She’s transformed the gift shop to really like a boutique. Even the staff are coming in and buying things all the time.” 

“You’ll find a little bit of everything here, and not just adults, kids too,” says customer (and donor) Tracy, who encourages other local residents to come down to the Franklin Senior Center to check out the merchandise, but advises, on the good stuff, “If you don’t buy it on that day, it’s going to go.” 

Ben’s Bounty Gift Shop is located at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill St., Franklin MA. Store hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Donations to the gift shop are accepted Mon-Fri from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.