A charity shop turned into a designer boutique for a night and made nearly £4,000 in sales after offering fashion gems for less than a third of their price, including a pair of Jimmy Choo patent pumps valued at £600 for just £60.
Shoppers queued outside the Sue Ryder store on Essex road for two hours to get first choice of the designer bargains, sold to support people with life-threatening diseases.
Store manager Marzena Reeves, who has been working at the shop for 12 years, said it took her several months to sort through the donations and collect enough designer items for the charity shop’s biggest night.
“[The VIP nights] are very successful. In only a few hours, we can raise between £3,500 and £4,000.”
Reeves’ favourite item of the night was a brand-new velvet dress from Erdem valued at £1,660 and sold at £70. “We have some true gems here”.
With hundreds of charity shops across the UK, Sue Ryder has been hosting its VIP nights for more than three years now.
For only £5, people can purchase a ticket for the event and shop designer brands, such as Balenciaga, Christian Louboutin or Saint Laurent, at affordable prices and for a good cause.
Even though VIP nights happen twice a year (during summer and autumn), Reeves invited charity shop lovers to stay tuned with the stores “spontaneous” events coming up, which will be announced through Sue Ryder’s social media.
