Pendleside Hospice has taken home a gong at a national charity awards for a pop-up shop scheme with online clothes retailer boohoo.com.
The Reedley-based charity beat off stiff competition from a host of national charities for the Innovation in Charity Retailing category at the Charity Retail Association annual awards.
The scheme with boohoo.com saw Pendleside’s Keirby Walk store in Burnley undergo a refurbishment, £2000 of which was donated by Boohoo, with work being carried out by boohoo staff and hospice volunteers.
The fashion retailer then held a two-day take over where they sold sample clothes and accessories from the brand with everything costing under £5.
The event was so successful that scores of people queued up at the shop to have the chance to bag a bargain, and raised £5,000 for the hospice from shops sales and donations.
The initiative was the brain-child of Catherine Argyle, Pendleside’s Area Retail Manager, she said: “I’m absolutely delighted that the scheme was recognised by the Charity Retail Association.
“It’s a huge honour and we can’t quite believe that we were chosen as the winners of the category, beating off competition from a range of both local and national charities.
“The pop-up shop initiative was really successful, bringing in lots of people who’d never been to our shops before as well as raising more than £5,000 for Pendleside. We are very thankful to Boohoo.com for all their help and support.”
Other shortlisted charities for the award included Sobell House Hospice and Shelter.
Robin Osterley, Chief Executive of the CRA said: “This award is for an incredibly creative rebranding partnership in which Pendleside Hospice’s Burnley shop worked in conjunction with Boohoo.com.
“Pendleside created a first of its kind Pop up Shop selling samples of clothing, shoes, and accessories which were donated by Boohoo. Boohoo lent a huge amount of physical, monetary and technical support to the rebranding.
“This partnership continues to bear fruit, and is a fantastic example of a charity retailer working really closely with a local commercial employer to create great added value for both.”
Picture : Comedian Jo Caulfield (far left) with representatives from award sponsors acopia, Catherine Argyle (second to right)