Harrods window dresser surprises Camberley charity shop with festive makeover

Sue Ryder’s shop at 16 Obelisk Way helps raise vital funds for the charity, which provides critical care for people with a terminal illness and bereavement support.

The initiative from World of Books aims to give a sales boost for charity shops during a period of tough trading conditions.

As part of its national competition, window dresser Penny McNeish, who normally designs for world-famous brands such as Harrods, Selfridges, Ferrari and Harvey Nichols, travelled to the store to create the new window display.

The competition was open to charity retailers who use the World of Books B2B service, Sell Your Books Pro, which allows shops to scan in donated goods for extra revenue and clear space in their stores.

The charity shop, located just off Camberley’s High Street, is run bytwo staff members and an active group of 12 volunteers, and was one of a handful of winners from across the UK.

Shop manager and Camberley local Selena Perry has worked at the store for almost a decade, and she’s seen quite a few changes to the town centre in that time.

She said: “Christmas is such an important time for local retailers, especially as it’s been a really tough time for the high street, but we’re really excited to bring some festive cheer to Camberley with our new display.

“Having this festive display not only takes the pressure off our busy team but will most certainly grab the attention of passers-by and encourage them to shop second-hand and locally this Christmas.

“The opportunity to refresh our shop display has been so rewarding. We’re incredibly grateful to World of Books and the talented Penny - her creative ideas will absolutely inspire our future window displays and have brought a real buzz to the shop and our team.”

World of Books’ initiative seeks to support charity shops in raising additional funds for important causes, while also promoting the environmental benefits of preloved retail and sustaining vibrant, thriving high streets.

The Sue Ryder store regularly uses the Sell Your Books Pro service to sell and recycle excess books and media, maximising the value from their donations while freeing up space, a vital benefit following the busy Christmas period when stock levels surge.

Hollie Capell, Customer Success Manager at Sell Your Books Pro, said: “It’s great to hear that the team at Camberley are so pleased with their festive makeover. Sue Ryder offers palliative care to people with a terminal illness as well as bereavement support, so helping it stand out on the high street to raise vital funds is something we’re really proud of.

“Any help we can give to our charity retailers in the run-up to Christmas and beyond is always a pleasure, and we hope the expertise of Penny and the beautiful window she has created will be beneficial for inspiring future displays.”

The new window will be on display across the Christmas period, helping the Sue Ryder charity to provide expert palliative and end-of-life care as well as grief support.

The Sue Ryder shop not only raises vital funds for the charity but also serves as a hub within the community, encouraging the reuse of good-quality items and providing volunteering opportunities, including via the Sell Yours Books Pro service.

To find out more about World of Books and Sell Your Books Pro, visit: https://sell.worldofbooks.com/en-gb/pro/sell-your-books

To find out more about Sue Ryder shops, visit: sueryder.org/shop