COVID, development prompt move of Goodwill blue boutique to Montrose
Akron-region discount hunters who have missed blue A Goodwill Boutique can now locate it across town in Montrose
The new spot, at 3900 Medina Road in Copley, opened Jan. 19 and will celebrate the move with a grand opening celebration Thursday, Feb. 10.
“The boutique in downtown Akron experienced a good run many thanks to the gracious help of its buyers, landlord, the city of Akron and Downtown Akron Partnership,” mentioned Cheryl L. Watkins, vice president of operations and logistics for Goodwill Industries of Akron. “The company is optimistic about growing the boutique notion even more in the Copley location. This thought provides another style of shopping expertise that is extremely various than our regular retail suppliers and no matter whether searching or donating to Goodwill, it all supports our mission of encouraging persons put together for, discover and retain work.”
Blue initially opened in 2015 in Kent before going to its place on South Primary Road in Akron, stated Jennifer Bako, the director of community relations of Goodwill Industries of Akron.
Bako stated a mix of downtown design and the pandemic prompted the move from Akron to Montrose.
The last working day at the Akron site was Jan. 8.
Extra:Goodwill going upscale in thrift retail outlet procuring
Additional:Purchasers at Blue Goodwill Boutique obtain designer items at fraction of price tag
“The lack of downtown foot visitors has been a fantastic problem to the boutique,” Bako claimed. “It held on through the building and the consequences of the pandemic, but it was not looking at foot targeted traffic return so it ought to consider to grow this thought in a new place for now. For instance, in 2017 and 2018, blue’s annual foot site visitors yielded nearly 6,000 transactions each year. Its transaction amount in 2021 was about 3,000.”
New Montrose site by now attracting more foot targeted traffic
The Montrose place is a little bit larger sized than the former Akron shop — “just beneath 4,200 feet in comparison to about 3,500 toes,” Bako said. Blue has three workers “and is at this time choosing.”
“We stay optimistic because blue allows our Goodwill to attain a new shopper foundation it may not see at its retail retailers,” Bako mentioned. “We look forward to concentrating our efforts on escalating at the new spot. Since opening, the new site has found an increase in foot traffic and we are psyched about the prospects in the Copley area.”
The boutique offers garments, jewellery, shoes and equipment “mainly for ladies, but there is a developing area for gentlemen,” Bako reported.
“It can be described as if a own shopper has long gone by our donations and picked out some unique, higher-good quality merchandise,” Bako claimed. “Quite a few can be new with tags. Currently, denims and purses are the most well known merchandise. At this time, all denims are $16 and most jewelry is $5.”
Out of each individual greenback expended at blue and other Goodwill retail shops, 89 cents goes back towards funding the nonprofit organization’s mission to help men and women get ready for, come across and retain employment, Bako said
There are at this time no designs to open up more blue boutiques, Bako said.
“We are centered on developing at the new location,” she mentioned.
Donations are not taken at blue, Bako reported.
“The boutique is not one particular of our major donation facilities, which can be identified at each and every of our 14 retail stores together with attended donation facilities in West Akron and Hudson,” she reported.
Much more:Donors, thrifters delight in reopening of second-hand shops
In 2021, Goodwill Industries, which serves Summit, Portage, Medina, Ashland and Richland Counties, assisted11,328 individuals in the local community with occupation search assistance, teaching and other providers.
Several hours for blue A Goodwill Boutique are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For details, phone 234-200-0130 or go to https://goodwillakron.org/store/blue-boutique on the net.
Reporter April Helms can be arrived at at [email protected]