We’re set to reopen our doors after a 16-week closure due to the Covid-19 shutdown and preparing for a phased reopening, with our Bridgend Superstore and high street shop on Caroline Street the first to welcome customers back on Monday 12 April.
With a smaller than usual staff team, we hope to open our Maesteg and Porthcawl shops later this month.
Around 90 per cent of the our income comes from the sale of donated pre-loved items and house clearances. For every week closed during lockdown, we have faced a significant income shortfall that is used to provide accommodation, food, and support to help people rebuild their lives after being homeless.
As well as providing vital funds for the charity, our shops provide work experience, training, and a sense of purpose for the people it supports and are key in helping them regain their confidence and self-esteem.
Marc Roberts, Head of Retail at Emmaus South Wales, said:
“We are delighted to be reopening our shops and welcoming back our supporters. Our shops are a fantastic resource for anyone in need of quality affordable items, anyone wanting to embark on an upcycling project or looking for quirky, vintage, and retro items, or for people who want to shop responsibly, buy second-hand, and look after our environment.
“We have followed advice from the Welsh Government and Charity Retail Association to implement measures to keep everyone safe. These include limiting the number of customers at any one time, installing markings and signs throughout our shops and hand sanitiser stations at all entrance doors.”
Our shops stock a wide-range of good quality second hand and vintage items, including furniture, homeware, electricals, white goods, books, clothing, and accessories.
Due to the 16-week closure, we have a full warehouse of unsold stock and will be limiting donations in store. We’re asking that people only donate good quality items on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at our Bridgend Superstore. Items that are damaged or in a condition that cannot be sold costs our charity money to dispose of and will be turned away.
To check opening times for each Emmaus South Wales shop or to find out more about what items we accept as donations, visit www.emmaus.org.uk/south-wales or check our Facebook page for regular updates.