Emmaus opens new store
Emmaus, a North Staffordshire charity, is set to open a brand new store in the City Centre.
Emmaus North Staffs is moving its social enterprise from Cannon Street, Hanley to a 5,000 sq ft shop on the lower-ground floor of the Potteries Centre which will specialise in quality second-hand clothing, shoes, books, music, film, bric-a-brac and various items of furniture for the home.
The shop will also boast a showroom area for new beds, mattresses and white goods – which will all be available to order and for delivery.
Funds raised at the store will help Emmaus North Staffs continue to tackle furniture poverty in the local area. Each year the charity partners with local councils and housing associations to offer free items to more than 800 households who are without access to essential furniture and appliances.
The charity’s Executive Lead, John Webbe, said: “It’s great to be a part of the popular Potteries Centre and we cannot wait to welcome customers to experience our new store from Monday 23rd May. This shop will also be different because we will have a whole area dedicated to brand new beds and white goods at discount prices. Customers will be able to browse the models on offer and then place an order for delivery in the local area.”
Claire Ashworth, Emmaus North Staffs chair of trustees, said: “Opening our Potteries Centre store is the first step towards bigger and better things for our charity. We’re so pleased and hope that local people will continue to shop with us and enable us to support the people of North Staffordshire who need it most.”
To add, the charity will be providing various workshops to the public from the new Potteries Centre shop.
Amy Whittaker, General Manager of The Potteries Centre, said: “We’re always on the look-out for ways we can support charity-led enterprises and engage with local creatives, and so we are thrilled to welcome Emmaus to The Potteries Centre. We believe that the pre-loved retail space will add real value to our visitors’ experience, while the free woodwork courses present our community with the opportunity to develop a new skill, and perhaps even forge a pathway to a new career.
“Emmaus will be situated in the lower mall, which is set to become a hub of community-led initiatives, with a number of retail, food and business projects set to open in the coming months.”
Emmaus North Staffs will also be relocating its Emmaus Furniture Mine warehouse store – which has also been based at Cannon Place, to a more central City Centre location at a date to be confirmed.
John adds: “The new warehouse is going to be a huge benefit for the charity and the local community. Customers will have the opportunity to view and purchase larger items for the home in a bigger more accessible environment.”
Emmaus North Staffs is also currently working on plans to establish a community for people in North Staffordshire who have experienced homelessness. This accommodation will offer a home, work experience, daily support and funded training to rebuild lives, and will be the first of its kind in the county.
The new Emmaus shop will be located on the lower ground floor opposite New Look. Open Monday to Saturday.
To find out more about Emmaus North Staffs visit www.emmaus.org.uk/north-