A NEW shop with a community twist is opening in one of Reading’s shopping malls.
Charity Super.Mkt, the first multi-charity shop in the UK, is set to open a branch in The Oracle following a successful month-long launch in Brent Cross, north London.
The shop sells clothes donated by 10 British charities, including high-profile organisations such as Cancer Research UK, Bernardo’s, Marie Curie, and Age UK.
It will also support Blue Cross, Cats Protection, DEBRA, Helen & Douglas House, The Shaw Trust, Havens Hospices, Shelter, Sue Ryder, Thames Hospice, and Smart Works.
The shop was a project put together by fashion brand founder Wayne Hemingway and the Textile Reuse and International Development CEO, Maria Chenoweth.
The initiative is intended to boost charity retailers which Ms Chenoweth said were not getting the recognition they deserved.
It is also aiming to cater for a younger, eco-concious consumer, with the continuing cost of living crisis also meaning shoppers are seeking cheaper alternatives.
Now, much like its London pilot, the store is setting up shop in the former unit of a branch of Topshop in The Oracle, which will be the first of the store’s stops on a tour around the UK.
It will feature recycled fixtures and fittings, and many of the smaller items such as hangars and plastic bags will also be leftovers from Topshop and Topman stores.
Mr Hemingway and Ms Chenoweth said that the the idea came to them after having run “market-style pop-ups” at car boot sales.
The original pilot store in Brent Cross extended its stay for a further fortnight after proving popular.
The supermarket is also seeking volunteers for its store.
Charity Super.Mkt will open its doors to customers on Friday, March 24, remaining until Sunday, April 30.
It will be open from 9.30am-8pm, Monday to Friday, from 9am-7pm on Saturdays, and from 11am-5pm on Sundays.
For full details about the charities supported or to volunteer, visit: charitysupermkt.com
