St Luke's are opening their brand-new shop on The Moor next Monday 7th August, so we chatted with Sheffield charity about all things second-hand to bring you the low-down on this exciting new store and all the great work St Luke’s does to support patients in Sheffield.
St Luke’s Hospice provides palliative care for adults in Sheffield living with terminal illnesses, aiming to give them the best quality of life whilst providing support for their families. Their 15 charity shops dotted across the city all play a vital role in raising funds, with their new concept store on The Moor being the latest addition to their retail chain.
The story behind the new concept store
Marie (Head of Retail) told us that the idea of the new store came about when the unit on The Moor came up for sale and it just felt like the right thing to do – “being a Sheffield charity, it felt like we should have a presence in our own city centre, and because of the location alongside a diverse community and student population, paired with the rise in popularity for eco-conscious pre-loved items, it felt like the right time to try out this concept.”
Barley (The Moor Shop Manager) also said “With pre-loved and retro fashion becoming mainstream and altering a great number of retail models for countless high street brands, it only made sense for St Luke’s Hospice, as a modern charity, to get on board and establish their own new-concept store.”
“I haven’t seen a charity shop quite like it”
St Luke’s The Moor will be a ‘one-of-a-kind’ store but what exactly does that mean, and what makes this new shop different from any other charity shop? Marie explained that the eco-conscious shop will pride itself on providing a place to shop pre-loved, unique created looks – “you can expect boho-chic and urban pieces – think dungarees, crop tops, retro apparel, crops, pleather and loads more!” The store will really appeal to the younger generation but also anyone who’s passionate about shopping stylish second-hand. “Although the store’s main focus is on clothing, we will have some books and homeware pieces up for grabs that fall within our theme alongside a dedicated music area with a DJ deck and listening station so you can go back in time and listen to some pre-loved LPs!”
St Luke’s already has a handful of ‘specialised’ stores such as Netheredge Boutique; for people who love getting designer clothes cheaper, Broomhill Vintage; for unique vintage and collectable items, and Hillsborough Clearance Store; where you’re guaranteed to bag a bargain! These supplement the main traditional charity shops across Sheffield but provide a different offering for St Luke’s customers, “these shops pull our diverse range of customers together into niche areas of interest, whilst not distracting away from our core traditional shops. We try to be as inclusive as we can, offering a wide variety, and these ‘specialised’ stores mean people can go in to shop with an idea of what to expect.”
We also asked Marie whether she thinks charity shops are becoming more popular these days, especially with younger generations – “Definitely, the stigma surrounding them is disappearing and more people in general are shopping second-hand with people seeing charity shops as community hubs. It also makes sure less is going to landfill. The added appeal is that the money goes to a really good cause which encourages people to shop there, but it’s a win-win situation as you’re getting good quality bargains with the chance to find unique pieces you won’t come across anywhere else.”
A lot of thought has gone the eco-friendly ethos of the store and is shown through the interior alone which provides an insight into the kind of vibe they are aiming for – “as soon as you step into the store there will be an eco-feel as all the fixtures and fittings have been donated or upcycled including the chairs that decorate the walls and the foliage which is made from recycled plastic. The till counter itself is made of off-cuts from other projects! There will be no paper posters or leaflets, instead there’s a changeable digital screen to reduce unnecessary waste alongside paper and cotton shoppers instead of plastic carriers too.”
How can you help?
St Luke’s The Moor welcomes donations like every other store – Marie says “It doesn’t matter if it doesn’t fit the theme of The Moor as donations can go back to the Donation Centre to get sorted and sent to the appropriate place, making sure each of our shops has enough stock.” You can check their donation information here.
You can even volunteer! Whether it be your local shop or even the Donation Centre, there are lots of different roles available if people want to gain experience in a particular area. “The Moor store has provided a wide range of new and exciting volunteering roles such as Personal Shoppers, Visual Merchandisers, and Content Assistants alongside a range of regular roles like Cashiers and Stock Processors which may be appealing to students or anyone wanting to give back to the community in the heart of the city centre.” You can find out more about volunteering roles here.
The Grand Opening
If all this sounds right up your street and you just can’t wait to get your dose of pre-loved, ethical fashion, get yourself down to the The Moor on Monday to celebrate with the St Luke’s team for their grand opening.
With a ribbon cutting at 10am by Sheffield’s sustainable fashion influencer Faye Wagstaffe (@charity_shop_gal), DJS, live music, and a celebrity guest appearance from Pulp drummer Nick Banks – its sure to be an exciting day! The first 30 customers will receive a brand-new exclusive St Luke’s tote bag, and customers spending over £50 during the day will receive a 10% off voucher for their next visit!
So, whether you go on opening day to show your support whilst bagging a eco-friendly bargain, decide to have a clear out and donate your pre-loved items, or give up your time to become a retail volunteer at your local store, know that your support is vital in providing care for patients in Sheffield and allowing St Luke’s to continue doing what they do best.
Follow @stlukesthemoor on social media to keep up to date and join them on Monday 7th August for their Grand Opening starting at 9:45am at 102-104 The Moor.
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