What’s new pussycat

The Cats Protection charity shop in Leamington is on the move – to a new site on the town’s high street, The Parade.

After three years in Regent Street the charity was looking for much larger premises and found the new site via ehB Commercial, the Leamington commercial property consultants.

Victoria Mawer, an award-winning member of the commercial property agency, said the size of the new premises would enable the charity to sell many larger items – including furniture.

Mid-Warwickshire branch co-ordinator Chris Osborne said the charity was immediately looking for new volunteers ahead of the expected opening later this month (March).

“Matt Johnston runs our Regent Street shop and he and the 20 volunteers who work there will all be coming to the new shop – but we will need many more volunteers, including someone to drive the collection van and people strong enough to lift furniture!” said Chris.

Another reason for the move was to seek greater footfall. “We will be nearer the town centre now and that will help us meet the annual sales target for the shop, which has been set at £80,000.”

The branch, which annually neuters 800 cats and rehomes more than 400, needs £50,000 each year for vets’ bills alone.

• ehB’s Victoria Mawer is currently Warwickshire’s ‘Deal Maker of the Year’, as selected by leading trade journal Estates Gazette. It is the second time she has won the award. The magazine also named ehB Commercial as Warwickshire’s ‘Most Active Agent of the Year’ for a record fourth time.