By DANIELLE GALVIN
SALES have picked up dramatically at the Red Cross Store in Pakenham following a relocation from its old Main Street shop.
The lease at the Main Street store was up so the volunteers relocated to a smaller, more boutique site around the corner on Treloar Lane.
Retail area manager Chris Drossos helped with the big move and said they were not expecting such an increase in sales.
“We did the move the week before last,” he said.
“We simultaneously closed the one store and opened the next one with the help of the volunteers.”
Mr Drossos said the volunteers had been amazing and supportive for the move, leading the merchandising of the store and doing all of the odd jobs around the place.
“One of our four volunteers merchandised the store completely and another volunteer did all of the odd jobs, put up the clock and so on,” he said.
“They are all really happy and they love the smaller boutique look at the store.
“The volunteers have really helped me create the look and they just love the new store.”
The Treloar Lane is also closer to Woolworths and the Pakenham Central Marketplace.
Mr Drossos said that the store is more intimate and allows the volunteers to talk to the customers.
“We have had relocation signs for ages letting people know about the big move,” he said.
“Customers have really embraced it.”
Sales have taken off in the new store so much so that the volunteers are desperate for more stock particularly in the lead-up to the warmer months.
“We are really pushing for donations,” Mr Drossos said.
“Since we’ve opened up, we’ve been so busy and we almost need twice as much stock.
“We are asking for summer donations, I think the excitement of the new store and the lower prices contributed to the sales.”
Brand new stock generously donated to the store went quickly and Mr Drossos said the move had been a really positive outcome for the community.
He said the volunteers were still working as hard as ever.
“Even though some have been with us for 10 years or more in the old location which has been their home away from home, they have still embraced this new location and it’s business as usual for us,” he said.
