Category: Retail

A shop run by East Cheshire Hospice has reopened more than two years after closing its doors.

Now the charity shop on Chestergate has made an urgent appeal for donations of clothing and accessories to put on sale.

The store greeted its first customers on Saturday (May 7), reviving the Hospice’s town centre retail presence.

The Chestergate premises have undergone a major refurbishment over the last few weeks to give it a completely new look.

The store had to close in March 2020 when the pandemic meant social distancing was impractical  due to space restrictions.

It became a bereavement centre briefly, but the Hospice realised the venue was unsuitable and are delighted it has now returned to its former retail use.

Hospice Commercial Manager Louise Delany said: “It’s great to be back in the town centre and although we’re in familiar surroundings, it’s a fresh new shop with a stylish and elegant interior.

“It looks and feels completely different than before, with a bright and modern yet rustic atmosphere throughout its two floors.

“There’s something for everyone here and we’d love it if people came along to see us.

“I must stress that we’re in need of more donations and now that we’ve opened hopefully people will drop by with items we can sell.

“We’d be grateful if supporters can look in their wardrobes and dig out any good quality clothing and bric-a-brac. We also want electrical items, but no toys and books.”

The shop is managed by Lindsay McDonald who previously worked at the Hospice’s Thornton Square shop.  It will be open six days per week (Mon- Sat 9.30 am to 4.30 pm). The charity also has shops in Poynton and Handforth.

Lindsay McDonald, manager of the new East Cheshire Hospice shop on Chestergate.

Hospice Marketing Manager Luke Brightmore said:  “Our retail shops are a hugely important part of our fundraising, and also an important connection to our community.

“Not only does selling your donated clothing, furniture and goods help raise vital funds for the Hospice and the work we do, but having these locations out in our communities where people can visit, interact and support us really helps to maintain that special bond that we have with our community.

“The new shop on Chestergate sells only the most beautiful pieces of clothing, accessories and other pre-loved items, and is also eco-conscious, striving for little to no unnecessary waste.”

The shop also needs  volunteers. Anyone interested can call 01625 511997.

East Cheshire Hospice is hoping for another merry Christmas with sales of its festive cards. East Cheshire Hospice raises between £15,000 to £20,000 each year from supporters buying Christmas cards.  The Hospice reluctantly halved its stock a year ago, with fewer locations open to sell cards during the pandemic.

But this year Christmas cards – costing £4 for packs of 10 – are available again at all usual outlets, along with pocket diaries at £2.

The items can be bought at the Hospice shops in Thornton Square, Macclesfield, Handforth and Poynton. Macclesfield Library and Wilmslow Library, along with Knutsford Cinema, are also now selling them until Saturday, December 4.

Cards can also be bought from the Hospice reception, although East Cheshire Hospice is requesting that customers only go there if necessary to keep visitor numbers to a minimum.

Cards can also be ordered via the Hospice’s website, or leaflets which have been distributed to supporters. Delivery charges will apply to cover admin costs for postal sales.

Commercial Manager Louise Delany said: “Our Christmas cards are always big sellers and are a great way to support the Hospice.  “They’re excellent quality with nice designs and we’d urge customers to hurry up and buy them because certain designs do sell out quickly.

“We sold out quickly last year when we had to halve our order because of Covid. “We’re asking people to try to visit our shops, or libraries, if they want to buy cards in person.

“Of course, they’re still welcome to come into the Hospice on Millbank Drive, but we’re encouraging people only to come in if they can’t get to other locations.”

That message is echoed by Clair Close, a Hospice volunteer for 15 years. Clair, from Macclesfield, started off in the Hospice’s choir. For the last seven years she has helped on reception and is also an admin volunteer for the medical team.

Hospice volunteer Clair Close shows off  the range of Christmas cards.

Clair said: “Our Christmas cards are always popular and we’ve already had a lot of interest this year. I enjoy volunteering here – it’s such a wonderful place and the money raised from the cards goes directly towards caring for our patients.”

Bargain furniture is helping fund patient care at East Cheshire Hospice.

The Hospice generates around £10,000 a month from selling recycled furniture generously donated by the public.

The scheme is so popular the Hospice is now appealing for even more offers of unwanted furniture items. The goods are on display at the Hospice’s Thornton Square shop in Macclesfield, and its shops in Handforth and Poynton.

Furniture is often snapped up by bargain hunters as soon as it appears in stores and is advertised on the shops’ Facebook pages and Facebook Marketplace. The only condition for accepting furniture is that it is clean and sellable and has no scratches, unless of antique value.

Left, Lindsay McDonald, assistant manager at the East Cheshire Hospice shop at Thornton Square, with commercial manager Louise Delany

Commercial Manager Louise Delany said: “Furniture gets sold almost immediately and is extremely profitable for us. “That revenue is vital to allow us to provide care for our patients, their families and carers free of charge.”

“It costs £7,500 a day to run the Hospice, so the furniture revenue alone pays for well over a day’s care each month.” “We want to thank our donors for thinking of the Hospice when they’re replacing furniture and our message is that if more people have goods they want to donate, then we’re more than happy to take items from them.”

“Customers are delighted when they upcycle something because it saves the environment, saves money and also supports the Hospice at a time when we urgently need help, especially as our income fell during the pandemic.”

Hospice furniture co-ordinator Michele Slack can be contacted on 01625 409647 to arrange collections, or visit www.eastcheshirehospice.org.uk furniture donation page. Furniture sales can be made over the telephone. Volunteer van drivers collect and deliver furniture six days a week. Collections are free, with a £25 fee for deliveries.

Louise said: “We have a mix of retro and modern furniture and anything made of pine is always popular. Our van will go to anywhere the Hospice serves which is a wide area.

The charity’s ECHO shop in Poynton, which opened almost a year ago, has been a huge success generally and now has an antique corner and sells retro bric-a-brac. Louise said: “We’d love to have ornaments with some age to them. It doesn’t have to be antique.”