Sandton City is thrilled to announce it will reopen the doors of South Africa’s most stylish, successful and award-winning charity shop for a third and final year. The Empty Shop will again open in the Checkers Court on Saturday, 29 October, giving shoppers the opportunity to #cometothecity, be part of an award-winning global CSI campaign and donate clothing, accessories, children’s books, games and toys in good condition to a hugely worthy cause.

In 2016 The Empty Shop at Sandton City concludes after a successful three-year partnership with McCann Johannesburg, which came across the concept after it was first pioneered in 2013 at the VillaLobos Mall in São Paulo, Brazil. Since making its debut on the African continent, The Empty Shop in Sandton City has collected 8,3 tons of clothing and in 2014 set a world record for the highest amount of clothing donated.

As a novel and unique approach to giving to charity, The Empty Shop concept is simple: Donate, style and empty. Everyone from the general public, to fashion bloggers and celebrities are invited to participate and contribute. 

In previous years, local celebrities such as Rolene Strauss, Jen Su, Maps Maponyane, Azania Mosaka, Anele Mdoda, Lucas Radebe, Thando and Vanya Mangaliso, and Jason Greer have all heeded the call to donate. For the last instalment of The Empty Shop, Sandton City is challenging celebrities and the public alike to better their previous donations to make this year’s drive the best yet and collect even more, which will all be donated to HospiceWits.

The Empty Shop works by shoppers donating clothing in a good, clean condition to the shop. Clothes are then expertly styled on mannequins, and each evening the store is emptied and ready to receive new donations the next day.

Julie Hillary, General Manager: Sandton region, JHI Retail, says the response from the public to The Empty Shop over the last two years has been outstanding. “We are delighted to host The Empty Shop once again and invite our shoppers to donate as many clothes, accessories, children’s books, games and toys as possible and end three wonderful years on a high note,” she says.

All proceeds will be donated to HospiceWits, which provides quality palliative care and support to communities in throughout Johannesburg and Soweto. Through HospiceWits patients are assured of the best quality of life, dignity and strength through programmes of homebased palliative care and two in-patient units. “By partnering with initiatives such as the Sandton City Empty Shop, HospiceWits is able to generate funds through the sales of donated items in our charity stores. Every item donated ensures that we never have to turn a patient away for financial reasons,” says Joy Ruwodo, Marketing & Fundraising Manager at HospiceWits.

The Empty Shop will be open during Sandton City’s trading hours from 29 October: Monday to Saturday 09h00 – 20h00 and Sunday 09h00 – 18h00. The Empty Shop will close at 18h00 on Sunday, 20 November.