Charity Chest pop-up fashion store raises $20,000-plus for Women's Refuge Whanganui

Doing their part to support Women's Refuge Whanganui are (from left) Amanda Betts, Mere Whanarere, Mel Potaka-Osborne and Jackie Phillips.

The Charity Chest pop-up shop was so successful that people are already asking when the next one will appear.

The pop-up shop has raised more than $20,000 for Women's Refuge Whanganui through the sale of donated clothing - described by its spokeswoman as "an incredible outcome".

"We still have some Heartspeak pieces being made by Amanda Betts and local designer Sara Frederickson for auction," spokeswoman Carla Jayne Smith said.

"Our aim is to turn a donated $200 Cotton On voucher into $2000."

The success of the project was because of many people, Smith said.

"Our heartfelt thanks go out to all who donated clothing, all who shopped with us, businesses that sponsored or contributed to the daily prize giveaways, those businesses that did the designing and printing of our brochures.

"A special thank you goes out to the 25 or so volunteers that worked tirelessly to run the daily operation of the pop-up store, sorting, ironing, merchandising, selling and giving our customers the royal treatment they deserve. The Charity Chest was fun and had a great energy."

The opening night included guest speaker Amanda Betts and a fashion parade by models from local agency Embrace Model Management after the official opening by Whanganui MP Harete Hipango. DJ Madalyn Newton played at the opening and for the first few days the store was open.

"The collaboration and support from the community has just blown me away," Smith said.

"Women's Refuge Whanganui is very grateful. People have been asking me when the next pop-up shop will be already."

Updates will be posted on the Charity Chest Facebook page.