New pop-up shops thanks to grant
POP UP furniture reclaim shops are set to help Conwy residents on low incomes. Social enterprise Crest Co-operative has received a £2,500 cash injection from the Big Lottery small grants project to run pop-up furniture, electrical and clothing shops, at four locations in the Conwy county. The shops will run once a month over the next year.
The first shop will pop-up at Llanrwst Youth and Community Centre on Watling Street (next to the swimming pool) tomorrow (Friday), October 9 from 10am2pm. The aim is to help people on low incomes and residents who do not have access to transport.
Llanrwst shoppers can browse a range of sofas, tables, wardrobes, home electrical appliances and clothing. Interest free payment plans will be on offer, for shoppers who are struggling to pay in full.
Crest Co-operative’s pop up shops have already proved a hit with Kinmel Bay residents. Tenants from housing association Cartrefi Conwy have benefited from the events. Plans are now in place to bring pop-up shops to Llanfairfechan and the Peulwys housing estate in Llysfaen.
Sarah Jones, Peulwys Community House Development Manager, for Cartrefi Conwy said: “The tenants will benefit from the pop shops as it will be local in their community, value for money, especially with the benefit and universal credit changes.
“We are giving the tenants an alternative route to furniture rather than going down the route of big stores and buying items on finance,” she added.
Crest Co-operative has four furniture reclaim and community shops in Llandudno, Llandudno Junction and Colwyn Bay and works closely with the local authority to collect and reuse tex- tiles, electricals and furniture.
Rod Williams, Operations Director, at Crest Co-operative said: “The pop-up shops are a great way for Crest Co-operative to offer our shop services to rural and hard to reach communities. We hope that it helps residents on low incomes and residents who are unable to travel far to reach our services.
“We are really looking forward to coming to Llanrwst and have had the support of local residents and the town council,” he added.
Shoppers can visit Crest’s Llanrwst pop-up shop on Friday, October 9, from 10am-2pm. For further information visit crestcooperative.co.uk, search for Crest Co-operative on Facebook or @ crestrecycle on Twitter.