New 2 Yew is a thrift shopping phenomenon in Hope that has met with great success. The store’s owners Jasun and Michelle Horsley, have lovingly taken over the care of the store from its previous owners, and put their passion for the community into their work.
The store on Wallace Street is bright and alive as The Hope Standard was greeted by enthusiastic patrons and the warm smiles of Jasun and Michelle.
It’s obvious the pair take great pride in their trade, and offering quality items for low income families in Hope, as well as vintage seekers, looking to reuse or repurpose gently used items.
Their business model has been so successful that they have engineered a philanthropic new venture called “Good Neighbour Day,” in which, an entire week’s profits go toward a local charity of the community’s choosing, once a month.
Last week $440 of the store’s revenue went to Our Last Hope Animal Rescue Society, as the first ever, of what will hopefully be a long line of monthly donations. The next donation day is scheduled for Wednesday, July 13.
The community is invited to come into the store to donate and to vote at New 2 Yew’s voting station, or on their Facebook page.
What has made this particular thrift shop so successful?
“This community really has a need, and we provide for that need. We started donating early on, to different people and organizations, and then we kept donating,” said Michelle. “It was beautiful to be able to enrich the community, so we kept going with it, and eventually it turned into “Good Neighbour Day.”
Most items in the store go for a whopping $2, and children’s items go for 50 cents a piece.
There are a few items that are priced higher, but cost is determined on a fair scale, although Jasun and Michelle are open to bartering with their patrons.
New 2 Yew is a bustling store, as customers peruse the counter, and they are colourful, dynamic and varied. Thrift shoppers come from all over to New 2 Yew to browse the electric store, even as far as Vancouver, according to Michelle.
“I love this store, it’s fantastic, but I’ve been banned for spending too much money here,” said longtime shopper, Benjamin Wolfe.
The store also has two unique handymen.
Twins Bill and Bob are always nearby to volunteer their time to the upkeep and betterment of the store, and to socialize in the friendly and accommodating atmosphere.
