Hundreds turn out as new charity shop superstore opens in Leeds town - with 99p section
Hundreds of supporters and shoppers gathered in a Leeds town today - as a new charity superstore opened its doors.
St Gemma’s Hospice officially opened its new 6,000 square foot shop in Boroughgate, Otley, as the charity expands its retail presence across the city.
It features a 99p section, a large books and media area, and curated fashion and homeware displays.
Queues formed outside the shop before opening, with the ribbon cut by Dr Esther Pugh, senior lecturer in Fashion Retail and Sustainable Fashion Marketing at Leeds Beckett University.
Chris Davey, retail development manager at St Gemma’s Hospice, said: “The response today has been fantastic. Seeing so many people turn out to support the new shop really shows how much the community values both sustainable shopping and the work of the hospice.
“Every purchase made in our shops helps fund specialist care for local patients and families, so it’s wonderful to see the tills already ringing on opening day.”
The relocated Otley shop is running a week-long showcase of a striking fashion installation: the Corset Revival Project.
The initiative sees discarded corsets transformed into one-of-a-kind artworks by designers and artists from around the world.
Created in collaboration with Leeds Beckett University students, the instillation is currently on display in the store window and will later be exhibited and auctioned to raise funds for hospice care.
St Gemma’s Hospice runs 27 charity shops across Leeds, which together generate more than £1million in profit each year to fund palliative and end-of-life care for thousands of local people.
As an independent charity, it relies heavily on fundraising and retail income to sustain its services across Leeds.