Torre del Mar Furniture proves a big hit
Cudeca recently opened a dedicated furniture shop in Torre del Mar in Velez Malaga and it has proved an immediate success, with donations of goods coming from far and wide (as are the customers).
In June, Melanie Saktreger and Tony Wilkes opened a new style of charity shop for Cudeca – one specially dedicated to furniture. Many of the charity shops have tried to handle furniture in the past, but with only limited success, primarily due to lack of space. The secret to the success of the furniture shop is the fact that it is in a warehouse unit, so the stock can easily be displayed and handled, also because Tony is prepared to provide transport to collect and deliver goods (sorry, but this does not include the labour to carry furniture up into apartments!).
The new warehouse has approximately 200m2 of space and is located opposite the current Cudeca shop in Torre del Mar. Furniture of all types is held in stock, with beds, dining room suites, sofa sets, wall units, dining tables, pictures and even accessories such as lamps. White-goods such as refrigerators and microwaves are also at a premium and there are actually waiting-lists for some items.
Key to the success of the warehouse, apart from the infectious enthusiasm of Mel and Tony, is the fact that goods can be collected and delivered using the Cudeca vans. Marisa Ballestracci in the Cudeca Centre helps coordinate collections from around the Cudeca shops (with the dedicated assistance of Laurie and Kath Howard), while Tony personally arranges collections in in the Torre del Mar area.
Mel and Tony are also running the El Palo shop and are hoping to sell some furniture there too.
If you would like to donate some furniture to Cudeca, please contact either Marisa in the Hospice on 952 564 910 (email huchas@cudeca.org) or if you are on the east side of Malaga, contact Tony directly on 661 826 654. We are regularly in need of help in the shops or with collecting and delivering furniture – if you would like to help in that way, please contact Katie O´Neill in the hospice (952 564 10)
The photographs show the interior of the “warehouse” with some of the stock and Tony ready to spring into action!
