Willow Burn Hospice has expanded our retail operations with the official opening of a new charity boutique in Lanchester. The Willow Burn Boutique, located on Croft View, opened to the public on Tuesday 27 May at 11.00am, marking a significant development in our retail offering.
The new retail space offers a modern and curated shopping experience, with a focus on high-quality pre-loved fashion, including vintage, designer and high street items. The boutique has been designed to elevate the traditional charity shop model and support the organisation’s commitment to sustainability and innovation in retail.
In addition to physical sales, the boutique will also house the charity’s growing online retail platform, allowing Willow Burn to reach supporters across a wider geographic area and further diversify its income streams.
Rachel Quince, Deputy Chief Executive and Head of Fundraising & Marketing said: “We are absolutely thrilled to finally open in our hometown of Lanchester. We have been searching for the right retail space in the village for some time and opening the doors in our 35th anniversary year is incredibly special.
Retail is a key income stream for the hospice and we are committed to growing in this area to continue to fund and develop our much-needed palliative care services.”
The new store is managed by Olivia Kiss, who has worked at Willow Burn for over a year and brings seven years of retail experience to the role. Olivia also serves as the hospice’s E-Commerce Co-Ordinator.
She said:
“I’m passionate about sustainable fashion, vintage clothing and raising money for a good cause – so it really is my dream job. The boutique is an exciting expansion of everything I love. We’ll have more space for donations and even more opportunities to uncover those hidden gems that help us raise vital funds for the hospice.
“Around 90% of my wardrobe is from Willow Burn – from a Topshop faux fur coat to a vintage Laura Ashley dress – and that’s not going to change! I’ll probably be our best customer.”
The boutique is open Tuesday to Saturday, from 9.30am to 4.00pm and welcomes shoppers looking to combine style with purpose.
