The Isabel Hospice shop in Hatfield has marked 26 years of trading by undergoing a refurbishment offering customers an improved shopping experience. (video below story)
The town centre store is one of Hatfield’s longest serving charity shops and, over the past two and half decades, has contributed hundreds of thousands of pounds towards helping fund the Hospice’s work supporting those with a life-limiting illness.
Over the last five years alone, the shop has raised £217,000 for the Hospice, enough to pay for 7,750 hours of nursing care, or the equivalent of running the In-Patient Unit for 45 days.
In February, the shop closed for two weeks while it underwent a renovation, which has resulted in a brighter, more modern look and layout thanks to the introduction of a range of new fixtures and fittings, such as new shelving and payment desk.
The book corner has also been transformed from a cramped nook to a more spacious section dedicated to books, DVDs, CDs and games, while the women’s section has been redesigned with new shelving and the removal of an unused changing room to create more space to browse and shop.
Like all of the Isabel Hospice shops across eastern Hertfordshire, the Hatfield outlet is run by a dedicated team of staff and volunteers, who strive to create a welcoming environment for their loyal customer base.
Shop manager Lucie Brady, who herself started as a volunteer 15 years ago, said her team were passionate about not only offering the best possible shopping experience but also creating personal relationships with visitors to be able to offer support to those who need it.
“We have customers who we see every day,” she said. “It’s more than just a shop, it has a lovely community feel.”
The shop is currently in need of good quality donations to help keep its shelves and rails stocked. All the proceeds from the sale of preloved goods go towards providing compassionate end-of-life care at the Hospice and within the local community.
For more details on what the Hospice can and cannot accept, click here.
