Cats Protection shop opens in Erdington
22 July 2016
Update on Opening Day ! Amazingly, dazzlingly successful! Dozens queuing up, hundreds passing through the doors and spending - and even more donations and kind people offering to volunteer.
New manager Tamara was on board, and CP retail experts Lorna and Pam were on hand to advise and celebrate with the volunteers and the public. Radio WM presenter Danny Kelly cut the ribbon - and thanks to Jenny Reynolds, there was cake! Sales were £800 by lunchtime !
.. and previously ..
A new CP charity shop on Erdington High Street is opening its doors to the cat-loving public on Friday (22 July) – and assistant manager Anita Byers ‘can’t wait to raise lots of money for the local cat community’.
Says Anita, who was previously a visual merchandiser for New Look in the Bullring and has been appointed assistant manager of the Cats Protection Erdington store: “We have had some wonderful donations so far which we're sure Erdington shoppers will love. And folk have been popping their head round the door while we’ve been getting the shop ready, with the result we’ve around a dozen volunteers already on board.”
Here is what assistant manager Anita had to say as she prepared the store for its opening:
“Hi, my name is Anita Byers, I’m 27, and previously Visual Merchandiser for New Look in the Bull Ring. I’ve an online surface design business called 28BC where we design pretty patterns and sell them to fashion houses to be used on clothing or on our own products - currently pocket mirrors, notebooks and framed prints - some of which I will be donating to our lovely new CP shop. I have three cats who I adore – Pingu, Jasper and Poppie.
“I’m so very excited to be part of the new shop opening, and can't wait to raise lots of money for the local cat community. We have had some wonderful donations so far which we're sure shoppers will love! And already we have a dozen or so volunteers on board and together we are so busy and happy getting the shop ready to open. Thanks for all the donations and all the support so far – especially all the branch members I’ve met, plus Karen of the Maypole store, Michelle of the Walsall shop, and Pamela Dean, Area Retail Manager.”
** Cats Protection committee members and all the volunteers and supporters are ‘thrilled at long last to have a charity shop presence in such a good spot on Erdington High Street, and are sure it will help raise much-needed funds for North Birmingham’s needy cats and kittens. Please – everyone – come along, browse and buy!’