Customer Spotlight: Why Pauline Shops Pre-Loved

Posted: July 16th, 2022

By Willow Burn Hospice

In the second of our retail focus articles, Pauline Blakey, a shopper at our Willow Burn Store in Consett, shares with us why she shops pre-loved.

I first started to shop at Willow Burn some years ago and continue to do so as I feel it is important to support a local charity. I live in Consett and have known family who have accessed the care given at Willow Burn Hospice, so I wanted to give back.

I support by donating my old, but still wearable items to the shop and in return I have bought some amazing outfits both pre-loved and new, this prevents adding to landfill.  I think it is an incredibly sustainable way to shop.  The staff in the shop are all very friendly, the atmosphere is lovely and the manager gets to know what you like and points things out which may be of interest.  The prices are also very competitive.

I would advise anyone to shop in Willow Burn and don't be snobby about buying pre-loved; this is a sustainable way to buy fashion which hopefully will stop fast fashion and exploitation of workers abroad.

Once again thanks to the staff and the manager who loves parting me from my cash!

Pauline has also shared with us three items she has bought and loved at the Willow Burn Hospice Store in Consett (see below).

If you would like to feature in our next Focus on Retail article, please email: rtodd@willowburnhospice.org.uk

If you missed our last article, you can read Katrina's story here.

Find your local shop here.