New Walsall Acorns superstore opens providing Christmas cheer for customers

The shop on Bescot Retail Park in Walsall measures 10,000 sq. ft. total space and has a dedicated area for donations received, along with free parking, while volunteers are also being sought to help sort through stock and help with the day-to-day operations of the superstore. 

The store, which is the eight Acorns store, is open from 9am to 8pm from Monday to Friday, from 9am to 7pm on Saturdays and from 10am to 4pm on Sundays and donation points have been set up outside the unit, giving supporters an easy way to drop off good-quality items and help keep the shelves stocked. 

In the run-up to Christmas, the store was full of people looking for Christmas gifts, household bargains and just to come and support Acorns, which provides specialist palliative care for babies, children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions, and support for their families. 

Among those visiting was Mandy Goode from Walsall, who said she had been a supporter of Acorns in the past and was keen to have a look around the store.

She said: "I'd heard that it was opening, so I was keen to come down and have a mooch and I have supported Acorns across different places.

"I support lots of different charities and I really do think that Acorns do a good job and I think this store is huge, which shows there's a lot of support for Acorns, with a lot of people giving as well as buying from here.

"I've come down here today because I like bric-a-brac and I wanted to see if I could pick up a few items and, maybe, some Christmas presents."

Thousands of items have been stacked on the shelves including pre-loved clothes, furniture, electrical items, household goods, children’s toys and bric-a-brac with all sales helping to provide vital care for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions.  

The store had already received a lot of support on social media, with Claire Woodland and Dawn Archer from Facebook group Wonderful Wednesbury both very pleased with the store.

Dawn said: "We think it's brilliant as the store looks great, it's really big and the free parking really helps as well."

Claire said: "We've filled our baskets as there's been loads of choice and we've been surprised by the amount of choice as we knew it was big, but we didn't realise how big.

"Acorns is a brilliant cause with the work it does for sick children in the area and it's much needed as they're doing their best to extend and provide for more people."

Acorns business development manager James Roberts had been visiting the story to see how things were going and said he was really pleased to see the store busy.

He said: "To see the store open and busy, for me personally, makes me proud, but for the local community in Walsall, who have been a massive help for Acorns over the years. it's absolutely massive for the charity.

"The reaction to the store has been far better than I could have ever imagined, with the outreach from donations and people volunteering being incredible, and I think it can only go from strength to strength with our connection to the Walsall community.

"The support we've had since opening in terms of people coming in and buying items has been incredible and I couldn't have imagined how much money we've taken in since we opened and it's still busy and going strong."