Have you visited our newly expanded shop in Honley?

Charity shops are an important part of any community, providing a place to donate and purchase pre-loved fashions and goods at affordable prices. Shining a spotlight on the incredible work of our retail teams, this month, we visited our Honley shop, following the completion of our recent expansion.?

Our lovely Honley shop opened its doors to the community on 4th April 2012 and has since become a beloved destination on the high street. While we were temporarily closed in late December through January to expand into the vacant salon next door, our customers were naturally curious about what was happening with their favourite shop. We were thrilled to share the news that The Kirkwood Shop would be returning to the Honley high street, with more fashion options and a new and improved larger space.

Sharing project updates on our Facebook page, our wonderful customers were delighted to learn that their beloved shop would be returning. Carolynn White commented:?"Wonderful news, I miss popping in every morning when I finish work for a chat and a browse." Emily Jane Smith also commented:?"So glad you are doing this, and we don't still have a big empty shop on our lovely high street."

After receiving such positive feedback from the community, we decided to speak with John Marshland, a well-known retail volunteer at The Kirkwood Shop in Honley, to get his thoughts on the expansion project.

John has been a resident of Honley for two and a half years. The village, located between the rolling hills of Holmfirth and the busy town centre of Huddersfield, renowned for its agricultural show, Honley, is a close-knit community that stands united during tough times. Its charming pubs, diverse shops, and cafés make it an enchanting place to live. The Kirkwood shop is the beating heart of the Honley village high street, attracting hundreds of visitors every year.

On volunteering in our shop, John describes the thrill he gets from doing something special for others, “I've lived in Honley for around two and half years and absolutely love it. I volunteered at various places before moving to the area. When I visited the Honley library to inquire about volunteering, they directed me to The Kirkwood shop.

"From the first few times I volunteered there, I loved it. I volunteer on Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning, volunteering some Saturdays too, working behind the till.?

“I love what I do because I get to talk and interact with people. I retired in 2011, and after about a year, I just wanted to volunteer and have done different things since then".?

John continues, "Our shops are a crucial component of The Kirkwood movement, serving as an extension of the hospice and its work, which benefits not only the Honley community but the entire Kirklees area. The Kirkwood shop serves as a focal point of the village, and I am proud to volunteer there. I will continue to do so for as long as possible."

John volunteers under the supervision of shop manager Sam Senior, who has worked with The Kirkwood for the last 15 years. A valued and dedicated member of The Kirkwood retail team, Sam began her employment in our Marsden shop before taking up a permanent role as manager of the Honley shop, and for the last seven years, has helped to build up a solid customer base within the community and is proud to be part of The Kirkwood movement.?

Sam has loved her role and is thrilled to have been included and involved in the expansion project, commenting: “I've worked for Kirkwood for 15 years, managing the Honley shop for seven of those years. The shop has just grown from strength to strength, and when I heard we were expanding into bigger premises, I was thrilled.”

Sam began her career with The Kirkwood as a volunteer in our Slathwaite shop as she wanted to help support a good cause. Bringing with her a wealth of knowledge in the retail sector from her previous employment at the House of Fraser, and when the opportunity arose to work for The Kirkwood, she jumped at the chance.?

“I really enjoyed volunteering with The Kirkwood. I was already working in the retail sector, and when I saw the job come up to become a shop manager for The Kirkwood, I applied. I enjoy working in busy environments, and it is something I want to continue to do.?

“The trade that we do in our shops helps to care for people in our community, helping to make a difference with the income generated from sales going back into patient care, and that is something I feel proud of.?

“I'm very passionate about everything that happens in the shop, and even though it's The Kirkwood’s, shop, I do treat it like my only little business which I want to protect and take care of and do the best for.?

“I also love the fact that I get to work with so many great volunteers like John, who make the experience of working there so special. We have a great team of volunteers, who all have different skills, some work in the back, sorting through donations and their work is just as important as a role like Johns working the front of the shop, speaking to customers and working on the till. I am very proud of all our volunteers and the time, effort and love they put into their roles, it is appreciated.”

During the Honley shop expansion, Sam explains the buzz that was beginning to circulate about the reopening, saying: “I couldn't wait for us to get in there and open again. Our original shop was nice, but it could often get a bit cramped, so to have that extra space now is great.?

“During the weeks leading up to the reopening, everyone kept asking when it will be open again? and when you hear so many people asking about your shop, you realise just how important we are to the village, and that feedback is something we should be proud of.?

“I’d encourage anyone who lives in or around Honley to come and say hello and browse our products. We usually get some people popping in three or four times a day, which is great because you get to know them as customers very well.

“I’m looking forward to the future of the Honley shop and seeing how we can grow it even more than what we already have.”

Take a look at the transformation below!

Have you visited our newly expanded shop recently? We'd love to hear your feedback. If you would like to share your thoughts on our Honley shop or have any questions about how you could become part of our retail teams, please email us at: [email protected].

Coming up next month, we visit The Kirkwood Shop – Cleckheaton as we catch up with Mike Briggs and his team to discover more about a shop?for good loved by its community.