Member Article

MANCHESTER BUSINESSES ENCOURAGED TO SUPPORT THE EMPTY SHOP PROJECT

Multi-award-winning charity fashion initiative - The Empty Shop - is back for a fifth year at Manchester Arndale, and the city’s businesses are being urged to back the project once again.   This year, the event is taking place at the start of spring, to encourage local shoppers and businesses to declutter their wardrobes and clean out their closets for the new SS18 season.   Local businesses can arrange to drop off pre-loved and unwanted clothing at Manchester Arndale until 11 March, encouraging staff to donate together as part of their community outreach projects. Or the business community can get behind the project by organising their own drop off points within offices and sending clothes straight to the Goodstock by V•Inspired store on Oxford Road.   Fashion stores and labels are also being urged to get involved by donating old stock, samples and last season’s garments, or even donating new, stand out pieces which will be auctioned at the end of the project.   After the 11 March, the clothing will be counted up, weighed and taken to the Goodstock by V•Inspired store, where it will be sold to raise funds for two charities that directly help the city’s young people; V•Inspired and Centrepoint. There will be a VIP sale event held at the store attended by local celebrities, bloggers and press.   Centrepoint supports more than 9,200 homeless young people each year and works in Manchester supporting over 2,000 vulnerable young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. V•Inspired is the UK’s leading volunteering charity for 14 - 30 year olds, helping more than 37,000 young people every year to make their mark on causes that they care about whilst learning new skills for employability and personal development.   David Allinson, Centre Director at Manchester Arndale, commented: “Each year we are overwhelmed by the generosity of Manchester shoppers and businesses. The Mancunian spirit drives The Empty Shop and we’re thrilled to have watched the project exceed expectations year-on-year. In 2017 the initiative achieved a record-breaking 2.5 tonnes of clothing donations and we hope to smash that target in 2018.   “The project will be followed up by a high profile sale event in April, and we are hoping that local celebrities get behind the cause by donating special items that we can auction off to raise even more funds for our amazing charity partners.’’   Ben Bowden, Regional Fundraising Manager from Centrepoint said: “We’re excited to be part of this incredible initiative in 2018, having watched the success of the project in previous years. Manchester is a wonderful city and we cannot wait to see some of the items that will be donated and sold to raise money to help some of our city’s most vulnerable young people leave homelessness behind for good.”   Tim Charlton from V•Inspired, commented: “V•Inspired first collaborated as a charity partner in 2017 and we were so impressed with the response the project received. Manchester residents came out in force to support the initiative and donated generously, meaning we were able to raise all important funds for the charity, helping us to support even more young people.’’   Purple Riot were re-appointed to manage the media relations and PR for The Empty Shop who have worked with Manchester Arndale for the fourth consecutive year on the initiative. Last year, the agency picked up the CIPR PRide North West Gold award for Best Not For Profit Campaign for its work with The Empty Shop.   To find out more about The Empty Shop project, visit manchesterarndale.com To donate, clothing can be taken to the drop-off point which is located outside Next on the upper mall at Manchester Arndale. Large deliveries can be sent directly to the Goodstock by V•Inspired store on Oxford Road.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Eve Deasy .