No way to save the shop

Photo: IMOGEN NEALE

CLOSING DOWN: Save the Children south Auckland branch president Anne Green, left, and retail manager Yvonne Nasmoth will have some time on their hands when the shop closes at the end of the month.

The open sign on the Save the Children shop's front door will be flipped around for the last time at the end of this month.

After 20 years of business the bright little Broadway shop is closing its doors for good.

Save the Children’s south Auckland branch president Anne Green says it’s a decision they’ve wrestled with for five or six months.

"We kept putting it off," she says.

But the foot traffic doesn’t pour past the front door like it used to and the volunteers aren’t getting any younger.

Mrs Green says a call for volunteers late last year did generate some new helping hands but not enough to fill the roster.

What’s more, staying in business would mean installing an eftpos machine and a phone line – two things the shop’s never had.

Retail manager Yvonne Nasmith says they’ve looked at moving into a shop that’s closer to the hustle and bustle.

But the shops are either too big or too expensive.

She says she’s peered into the windows and thought: "Oh, we’ll never fill that up."

When the shop goes so too will its travelling shop that visits south Auckland clubs and retirement villages around Christmas time.

As for the Papakura-based knitting group that’s been around longer than the shop – their bonnets, booties, blankets and bright cardigans will be sold through the charity’s Howick branch.

"Everybody’s sorry that we’ve had to close," Mrs Nasmith says.

"And most people are very sorry because it’s a good charity."

The end of the shop doesn’t mean the end of the charity’s south Auckland branch though.

Mrs Green says they’ll just have to come up with other fundraising ideas.

And before the doors close for good on February 26 people have a chance to take advantage of the closing down sale.

The shop is open Monday to Friday from 10am to 4pm.