MEDIA RELEASE

One Pop up Store Giving Back to People Experiencing Homelessness in Auckland

Julian Beacham, an ordinary Kiwi guy, has decided to help less fortunate people in Auckland by organising New Zealand’s inaugural rent and premise free pop-up clothing shop called the Street Store, due to ‘pop up’ along the iconic red fence at 75 Quay Street in Auckland Central, opposite Les Mills Britomart on Sunday 7th December 2014.

The Street Store Organisation was founded in South Africa, January 2014 by Maximilian Pazak and Kayli Vee Levitan with support from their agency they work at, M&C Saatchi Abel based in Cape Town. The Street Store was designed to draw people together by creating the world’s first free pop-up store for people experiencing homelessness. It’s as simple as anyone bringing quality clothes to hang up or putting good pairs of shoes on posters and less fortunate people choose what they like, with assistance from volunteers available. There is also free on-street temporary event car parking nearby for people gifting clothes to veer in and parallel park, walk to Pop-Up Store then carry on with their day.

Partnering with pop-up shop specialists, Pop Up Now and Lifewise – an innovative not-for-profit community and social development agency providing critical services to vulnerable and at-risk people of all ages, Julian is bringing the well renowned ‘Street Store’ concept to Auckland City - the 82nd homeless store to pop up worldwide since January 2014.

“We care about people experiencing homelessness in Auckland and New Zealand and the latest estimated figures are concerning. According to Lifewise up to 250 people call into their support hub to utilise their services every month as well as many more who are working but cannot afford housing, so they’re living in their cars,” says Julian Beacham, organiser of Pop-Up Clothing Street Store for Auckland.

“We’re passionate about giving back to the community and after seeing the official Street Store video online recently, I was moved enough to dedicate more time by helping restore some dignity for people experiencing homelessness in Auckland. We all enjoy wearing something new and fresh from time to time and we believe it’s important even people experiencing homelessness have an opportunity to choose clothing they like, especially leading into Christmas. It’s also about increasing awareness for people experiencing homelessness within our community and letting them know that we care and want to listen, then moving forward from there,” he continued.

As pop-up shop experts, Pop Up Now has partnered with the Street Store Auckland to ensure people experiencing homelessness enjoy an exciting and professional pop up shop experience for an entire day.

“We live and breathe pop-up stores, so when the opportunity arose to give back to Auckland’s community by extending a helping hand through our expertise, it was an absolute no brainer. We want people experiencing homelessness to have at least some enjoyment when selecting clothes for themselves or their family. We are honoured to assist Julian in this campaign to advocate for an even better life for people experiencing homelessness,” says Lizzi Hines, founder and Managing Director of Pop Up Now by Spaceworks.

The Lifewise team believe the Street Store is an excellent ‘touchpoint’ or point of engagement for those without housing and living on streets, or those who are otherwise marginalised.

“The Lifewise team are excited to be involved in the Street Store concept," says Moira Lawler, General Manager of Lifewise. "For us, it is an opportunity to engage with people who need housing support and offer them our services. We firmly believe that it is possible to resolve homelessness and will be lending our 'hand up, not hand out' approach to the event.”

People of any age, as well as clothing retailers who are also willing to give back, are welcome to come along and gift good clothing or nice shoes (new or pre-loved) anytime from sunrise to sunset on Sunday 7th December 2014. Any clothing gifted and not collected by people experiencing homelessness will be delivered to Auckland City Mission’s depot.

“This concept is something we wholeheartedly believe in, to start conversations or dialogue. It’s about bringing people in our community together, people who are willing to gift clothes with people experiencing homelessness. I wouldn’t have been able to have come this far without these relevant partners – Pop Up Now and Lifewise,” Julian concluded.
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Background information:
Time: 6:00am - 8:00pm
Date: Sunday 7th December 2014
Address: 75 Quay Street, Auckland Central
Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDw0JtwQU8A
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/802388086491679
Twitter: twitter.com/StreetStoreKiwi
Website: www.popupauckland.info www.thestreetstore.org

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