The Great Big Move!
The news you have all been waiting for. It's official. We really are going to be moving. And where we are moving to is going to be fantastic. It will give us a chance to really put down roots. And it's not a million miles away either - in fact, it's really very close to where we are now…
We’re moving to 16 Church Street, just opposite the entrance to the Chiltern Shopping Centre, or ‘Church Street Studios’ as it says on it. A sophisticated green shopfront! It's currently empty, and was previously Collectibles. We are taking the ground floor.
And we are going to need your help! So this newsletter is dedicated only to the move, which will now be our focus until we are in the new shop! We have a list of 11 specific asks that we have. Please take a look and see if you are able to help
There is a list giving detail a little further down
Click here to give us details of how you can help
You can also email info@refreshwycombe.org.
We are planning to move early in the new year.
So the plan is that our last day of trading this year will be Sunday 21st December, and we are planning to re-open, in the new shop, on Tuesday 13th January.
We are intending to take it slowly over Christmas, taking time to pack up carefully so it can go back on the shelves more easily. We also have ambitions to paint our current shelves…
Then, in the new year, we will start on the heavy lifting. The first weekend of the new year (3rd/4th) the plan is to make some minor alterations and decorate.
Then, following on from that during the week (5th-9th) and in the second weekend (10th & 11th), move the shop goods (and re-open in the new shop). We then have the rest of January to move the stock that is currently not on display, before vacating the current unit at the end of January.
When we moved into our current shop from the shop next door, we were blown away by the kindness of so many of you who descended on the old shop and - as if by magic - moved everything all in the space of a few hours. And it really was magic - it is the magic that comes from community!
So, we need your help, please, with…
Plumbing: We need to move a sink within the new shop. Is there someone who is willing to help do that for free, or for mates rates? This can be done any time over Christmas (from 22nd Dec), and needs to be done before 5th January.
Partition wall: We need to build a partition at the back of the shop to give us a sorting zone. Can anyone help for free, or mates rates, to get that put up, and can anyone help with donations or cost price for the materials needed? Again, between 22nd December and 5th January.
Electrician: We had hoped the landlord would tidy up the various trailing cables, but it's for us to do - so, if anyone can help for free, or mates rates, that would really amazing. Not a huge amount of work, perhaps half a day or so? Again, between 22nd Dec and 5th January.
Plastering: This is something we can live without if we need to, but there are a few areas where the plaster has come off the walls towards the back of the shop, and getting it fixed would be great. If you don’t ask…! And yes, you’ve guessed it, between 22nd Dec and 5th January.
Painting: We need to freshen up the inside of the shop. We’ll need paint as well as painters! Any takers? Yep! between 22nd December to 5th January please!
Window cleaning: We need to clean the windows - they are filthy! It would be great to get this done as soon as possible - but will need to be done regularly. So is there someone happy to do it once, or possibly to do it weekly?
Packing: If you find that Christmas and New Year is a time of year that gives you spare time, and you can give us a few days, we’d love your help. In a perfect world we will have half a dozen vols helping with packing, each of whom can give a number of days (rather than lots of people giving us an hour or so), 2 or 3 days each, between Monday 22nd Dec and Monday 5th Jan.
Painting Shelves: We have ambitions to paint our metal shelves as we clear them in packing, to freshen them up for the new shop. This would also be a few volunteers for a few days each, again between Monday 22nd Dec and Monday 5th Jan.
Moving: This is where we will need lots of people, please, for a short space of time to physically move the stock. As we won't be having to move far, we think we can manage without removals specialists - although if you run a removals company, and are willing to help, please do! We are targeting the weekend of 10th and 11th January, for as many hours as you can. And, if you can help during the working week 5th-9th, to give us a head start, that would also be great..
Restocking: Putting out all the stock in the new shop, ready for opening. A bit like packing, a few volunteers for a good number of hours would be wonderful. This will be at the weekend of the move (10th and 11th) and carrying on to the 12th as well, ready for being open on 13th (we hope!).
Tidying up: Once the main stock has been moved, we will also need help moving the stock that we currently hold behind the scenes, and generally tidying up. Again, it would be great to have a few vols who can offer 2 or 3 days each for this, focusing on the week of the 12th, and finishing off the week of the 19th.
If you are able to help, or know someone who may be able to, please either click this link and complete the form, or email info@refreshwycombe.org
We’ve been hoping we can pull this off for months, working out what rent we can pay, agreeing the details of the lease, and although we have not yet actually signed the lease, we have been through all the issues, and know how we can deal with them all. So we now know that it is ‘just’ a question of dotting the i’s and crossing the t's. We’ll let you know when the lease is signed, so you can uncross your fingers and toes!
And, with the help of the core volunteer team that make sure the shop is open during our advertised hours (well, mostly!), we have decided that we can extend our opening hours in our new location. We went to our current 6 day a week, 12-4 (10-4 Fri and Sat) back in September last year. When we move we’ll be adding in mornings, and staying open a bit later in the evening. We’ll be open Tuesday-Saturday 10-5, and on Sunday 1-5, still closed Mondays.
We have set up a crowdfunder - if you are able to help at all?!
And last, but by no means least, we want to give a big shout out to Dandara for giving us the opportunity to run our ‘meanwhile’ shop in their shopping centre. When we opened back in June 2022 we had Primark on one side and Wilco on the other - and although they have closed, our trade has been quietly growing, despite being nearly the only shop left. So we know we are doing something right!
Looking forward to sharing more information when the lease is signed, and to seeing some of you over Christmas and New Year as we move ourselves into the wonderful new shop!