Sutton and Cheam Cats Protection’s bright new shop was opened when local MP, Paul Burstow, and Cllr Mary Burstow cut the blue ribbon on Saturday 3rd September. Lots of volunteers, supporters and local residents were at the opening ceremony creating a buzz in The Broadway and generating interest in the new premises, which very much marks a turn in the approach to fund raising by the local CP branch.
The importance of the opening was marked by the attendance of representatives from CP national headquarters, including Greg Brown, London Regional Manager and Claire Mitchell, Regional Development Assistant, London, both of whom have given branch members much support in bringing this project to fruition, and Simon Haste, Head of Property. Also in attendance, was Heather McCann, Chair of the Trustees Board at National Cat Centre, as well as a long- time member of Croydon Cats Protection.
The shop window featured an autumnal theme with a simple but attractive arrangement and a great internal display of a range of good quality clothing, bric-a-brac and books. The opening saw local lamp posts bedecked with balloons in CP colours of blue and yellow and the mascot cat purring for passers by and callers in alike. This lovely ginger and white cat, whose first outing had been at the Carshalton Environmental Fair, was hoping someone would come up with its name in ‘The name the cat competition’ . Volunteers served the many visitors with welcoming refreshments – tasty nibbles, delicious mini fruit tartlets and a drink.
September 3rd was a great success. Newly appointed Shop Manager, Vicki Greenwood said, “The shop was really busy and takings were good. Profit is essential to the success of the shop but I also really want the shop to support the principles of CP.”
Like all successful events, however, which involve people in being busy, the day was not without incident – with a slightly damaged volunteer and a seriously damaged piece of bric-a-brac but everyone lived to tell the tale and the mascot cat also got a name – Jubbly. Congratulations to Ann Bickford, who works at the local Wingrave Vets, for coming up with this winning suggestion and many thanks to all those volunteers who helped on the day.
The successful opening not only represented the work put in since her appointment by Vicki Greenwood, but also the months of preceding work put in by volunteers in particular branch chair, Christine Crewe and treasurer, Stella Fenwick, both of whom were much in evidence on the day. Work has involved negotiating the lease of the premises, contracting and managing the building / decorating work, fitting the shop, advertising, interviewing and appointing the shop manager, encouraging volunteers to take on the new role of shop assistants, planning and advertising the opening event and collecting and sorting clothing and other goods for sale. The help of Greg and Claire has been invaluable during this process. Thanks also to Roger Weston of Symingtons who was instrumental in sourcing the shop for us and assisting with the negotiations to secure the lease.
The shop is of course a long term venture and will provide a focal point for volunteers and a place to publicise our work and promote the cats we are trying to help. For continued success lots of further help is needed – volunteers are needed to help and support Vicki, good quality donations are required and customers. So come and offer your services, the good quality things you want to give up and your custom - soon be time for Christmas shopping!
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