Chadderton charity shop transformed with festive window makeover

The UK’s largest preloved book retailer has gifted Chadderton’s Age UK charity shop with a festive window-display makeover, the kind usually reserved for high-end brands.

World of Books aims to support charity shops during a period of tough trading conditions - the Charity Retail Association revealed earlier this year that 35% of its members are considering reducing paid hours to combat rising costs.

National window dresser Penny McNeish, who is used to designing for world-famous brands such as Harrods, Selfridges, Ferrari and Harvey Nichols, travelled to the Greater Manchester town to create the new window display.

Age UK Chadderton, located in its shopping precinct, is run by a close-knit team of four staff members and an active group of 35 volunteers and was one of a handful of winners from across the UK. 

The competition was open to charity retailers who use the World of Books B2B service, Sell Your Books Pro, where shops can scan in donated goods for extra revenue and clear space in their stores. 

Chadderton’s Age UK shop manager Jenna Boyle said: “We were over the moon when we found out we’d won World of Books’ competition.

"The window looks absolutely fantastic, it’s festive, creative and is unlike anything we’ve done before. 

“Our shop plays a big role locally, offering not just a place to pick up pre-loved bargains but also a space where our volunteers, who come from a range of multicultural backgrounds, can feel welcomed and part of the community. 

“We pride ourselves on our shop’s appearance, so having the opportunity to learn from World of Books and Penny will have a long-term impact when it comes to trying out future ideas, as well as attracting visitors. 

“We hope the community will stop by to enjoy the display and do a bit of Christmas shopping with us - there’s something for everyone!”

World of Books’ initiative seeks to support charity shops in raising additional funds for important causes, while also promoting the environmental benefits of preloved retail and sustaining vibrant, thriving high streets.

The Chadderton store regularly uses the Sell Your Books Pro service to sell and recycle excess books and media, making the most of their donations while freeing up space, a vital benefit following the busy Christmas period when stock levels surge.

Kama Villiers, Enterprise Customer Success Manager at Sell Your Books Pro, said: “We loved seeing the transformation at Age UK Chadderton.

"Charity shops are at the heart of their communities, but Christmas can be a particularly challenging time for retailers who are already stretched. 

“We’re proud to not only help them raise extra funds for a vital charity, but also give something back in a creative way.

"It’s brilliant to see the kind of visual merchandising usually reserved for high-end brands bringing joy to a local high street.”

The sparkling new window will be on display across the Christmas period, helping the team raise valuable funds for Age UK’s vital work supporting older people.

To find out more about World of Books, and the Sell Your Books Pro scanning service for charity retailers, just click here

To find out more about Age UK, visit: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/

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