Member Article

Covent Garden and UK charity Smart Works launch the ultimate summer shopping pop up

This August, Covent Garden will partner for the second time with UK charity Smart Works to bring every fashion and beauty lover’s dream boutique to 62 Neal Street, stocking the ultimate holiday essentials with discounts of up to 70% RRP. Open to visitors from 3rd-23rd August, the Smart Works Holiday Shop in Covent Garden will stock a huge variety of the most exciting fashion, accessory and beauty brands with 100% of proceeds going directly to the charity. Smart Works exists to give unemployed women the confidence they need to reach their full potential ahead of an interview, secure employment and achieve financial independence.

Open daily from 11am-7pm Monday-Friday and 11am-6pm Saturday and Sunday, the roster of brands being sold within the Covent Garden Smart Works Holiday Shop include ALIGNE, Anthropologie, Astrid + Miyu, Bobbi Brown, Celeste Starre, Dear Frances, Elizabeth Scarlett, Frame, Free People, GANNI, Hunza G, Jovonna London, Justine Tabak, Lily & Lionel, Linda Farrow, LK Bennett, Mr Jones Watches, O Pioneers, Olivia Burton, Ollie Quinn, OMNES, Pink City Prints, Phoenix Style, Radley London, Really Wild Clothing, Reformation, RIXO, Ro&Zo, Seraphina, Seventy + Mochi, Sisterhood, Stripe & Stare, SPANX, and Thought Clothing. The pieces provided by each brand will be from their current and recent collections and available at up to 70% RRP.

Smart Works has eight centres across the UK where it provides personalised styling sessions as well as one-to-one interview advice. The charity uses the power of clothes and coaching to empower women to find confidence and reach their full potential ahead of interviews. 69% of women who visit Smart Works go on to get a job within a month, and in the last 10 years it has supported over 30,000 women.

Kate Stephens, CEO of Smart Works said: “We’re delighted that, for the second consecutive year, we can bring our mission to one of London’s most renowned shopping and entertainment hubs: Covent Garden. At Smart Works, we dress and coach unemployed women for their job interview and 69% go on to get a job within a month. This is fashion as a force for good, and we are proud to work with much-loved brands to give an elevated shopping experience whilst raising essential funds. The need for our service has never been greater and we are thrilled to continue our important partnership with Shaftesbury Capital. Together we will help empower more women to job success.”

Michelle McGrath, Executive Director, Shaftesbury Capital said: “We are incredibly proud of the difference that Covent Garden can make by bringing the retail community together, delivering a positive impact for women within the UK. We’re delighted to support Smart Works once again, with their important mission of empowering unemployed women, giving them the confidence they need to reach their full potential.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Nick Thornton .