Charity boutique, FOUND by Create has scooped the Oscar of the shopping centres, bringing national success to The St Johns Centre in Leeds with the city’s first purple apple.
The British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC) annual ‘Purple Apple Marketing Awards’ celebrated this year’s top shopping centre campaigns.
From over 120 entries across the UK only three Purple Apples – the very top prize- were awarded for imagination, innovation and excellence in shopping centre marketing. A proud winner, bringing recognition to Leeds, is the St Johns Centre for vintage boutique ‘FOUND by CREATE’.
FOUND, run by social enterprise CREATE, was developed through an innovative partnership with the St Johns Centre. The distinctive store not only sells gorgeous pre loved and vintage clothing but also provides skills training and employment for people who have been homeless.
Laurie Barton Wright, Centre Manager says, ‘St Johns are delighted to have been recognised at a national award event particularly when only three top awards were given out. It is an outstanding achievement and testimony to the hard work carried out by CREATE and the shopping centre working in partnership. Leeds has a reputation for independent retailing and we are glad to show the rest of the country that we are very much an innovative city’.
Sarah Dunwell, CEO at CREATE adds, “FOUND by CREATE is a great part of our social business. We deliver social change for the homeless community through innovative business solutions. It is great that this recognition by the marketing industry demonstrates that great business and great social values can be achieved together. Our staff love being recognised not just for delivering good charitable aims but a fantastic retail experience.”
To find out more call in and see the shop in the Lower Mall in the St John's Centre Leeds, or to find our more about the award click here…
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