Laura Gaddis, center, is pictured in a clothing section of the new Little Angel store which she opened this week two shops away from her well-known Guardian Angel Thrift Store in the Fuquay-Varina Shopping Center on Highway 401. She’s shown with Mark Daniels, department manager at the new shop and her daughter Shari Stocks who is also a staff member.
Guardian owner Laura Gaddis said that customers have always asked for larger space for them to browse through the items to look for the things they may need. “I would just like to thank the community for all the support they have given the Guardian Angel over the past 10 years and let them know that they have played a huge part in our success,” she said.
. “We were getting requests to stock more items such as fabrics for a large number of quilters in the community who wanted various color and types of fabrics to make things.”
She pointed out that used furniture sales in the Guardian Angel are also very popular and they had experimented with new pieces in a former store in Charlotte which they eventually had to close due to poor business response. New furniture will be in the store.
“We were also looking for a way to increase sales so we could provide more money for Alzheimer’s Research,” she explained. Guardian Angels has already donated $1 million to Duke, UNC, and other research programs in North Carolina, and also had a 10th year birthday party last year.
In addition to donated items coming in at the 26,000 square foot Guardian Angel, the 9,000 square foot Little Angel will also have items purchased from major retailers who have overstocks, discontinued, or no longer manufacture items. Shipments have been coming into the new store by semi-trailer tractor loads and are being worked up for display on the sales floor.
Meanwhile, Guardian Angel Thrift also announced its first official corporate sponsor. Realty Executives Cary at 3643 SW Cary Parkway, located in the Fresh Market Shopping Center is now a new donation-receiving location. Donations of gently worn clothing, shoes, books and costume jewelry are encouraged. The receiving center opened March 15. Items dropped off at this location will be brought to Fuquay-Varina where they will be put on sale on both Guardian Angel locations. Larger items such as furniture can be arranged for pick up by calling all locations.
Mrs. Gaddis said the community and Guardian Angel work as a well-oiled team. “They donate their reusable item, we clean up these treasures, they come by and selectively purchase items that benefit themselves and in turn we donate these raised funds for Alzheimer’s Research. That is the community teaming together to become one as we work on a common goal.”
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