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Francesca’s – Hibiscus Hospice’s charity shop specialising in secondhand designer and high-end clothing, closed last month after trading in Silverdale Village for 11 years.
At the same time, hospice closed its other store in Silverdale Village – the small Op Shop in Keith Hay Court – amalgamating the two into a single store.
The new store, at 10 Silverdale Street, features designer clothing from Francesca’s and other donated clothing as well as crockery, furniture, jewellery and other assorted goods.
Last year, the local hospice joined joined its counterparts on the North Shore and Warkworth/ Wellsford in an alliance designed to help all three make best use of limited resources. Under the Northern Hospice Alliance, the three hospices share resources and services, but goods and funds donated in each local area remain within that community.
The merger included a retail review but chief executive Jan Nicols says this was not the reason for the changes to its Silverdale stores.
She says Hibiscus Hospice had been looking for sometime for a new site to amalgamate the two shops.
“It gives a lot more space and a different opportunity to merchandise the stock,” Jan says.
She says the response from the public when the new store opened last month was “amazing”. She also said that volunteers had done a wonderful job, including moving stock and cleaning the vacated stores.
An increase in donations and customers at Saint Chad’s Op Shop in Orewa has seen the shop expand.
The Op Shop opened around 12 years ago and sells clothing, crockery, books and other small items with all proceeds going to the church’s general fund.
Recent renovations opened up a new area on the shop floor, pictured, as well as creating a more open, spacious feel to the store.
Storage and sorting is now done in separate cabins behind the store.
