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New Home For Newport's RSPCA Shop

Newport's RSPCA shop is relocating to a new store next month (November).

RSPCA Isle of Wight's St James' Street branch was served notice by the landlord earlier this year, prompting an urgent search for a new premises being found.

A new shop at 6-8 Carisbrooke Road has since been secured, and work is underway to ensure it can open in November.

To mark the end of ten years at its current location, staff at the Newport shop are creating a distinctly Halloween feel and inviting customers old and new to visit the store in its final few days.

The Isle of Wight RSPCA branch receives no direct funding from the national organisation and relies heavily on income from its network of charity shops in order to fund its work at the IW Rescue Centre at Godshill.

Suzanne Pugh, branch manager, said:

“It was a bit of a surprise when we received notice on the St James Street shop but we have a positive outlook and we see this as a really exciting opportunity to move to new premises.

“Although we will be closed for four to six weeks, we aim to re-launch in mid-November to meet the demands of the seasonal shopping period which is so important to us.

“We thank everyone for supporting the shop over the last decade and hope to see everyone back shopping for the animals at our new Carisbrooke location.”

The new shop has a prominent position on the street and is well served by parking from quick drop-off spaces and a paid public car park at the rear. It is also well served by local bus service.  

Newport Shop Manager Emma Fautley thanked the store’s customers for their support over the past decade.

She said:

“We really couldn’t operate without all our regular customers; who donate and shop for the animals.

“After five years managing the store, I am still amazed at the generosity of our donors and how they have enabled me to fill the Newport store with a wide range of quality items.

“All the wonderful volunteers who have worked here have really enjoyed seeing all our friends on a regular basis and we look forward to seeing them all again at the new store.”

Emma said that all items in the store must go ahead of the weekend closure and that all items except the Halloween stock will be reduced by 50% until its doors close at 4pm on Saturday (October 9).

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