Durban’s first ever Street Store

“Hang up, help out” is the motto for The Street Store, a genius, yet simple initiative created to give the “have nots” a dignified shopping experience.

Pop up shops have become more and more popular, but the pop up Street Store is the first rent-free, premises-free idea of its kind and promises a shopping spree without spending a cent.

The needy come to the store, select the items they would like, the “purchase” is wrapped and off they go.

Who came up with this brilliant idea? Art director and designer, Max Pazak, and copywriter, Kayli Vee Levitan, both from M&C Saatchi Abel.

Pazak designed the posters, which double up as clothing hangers and shoe stands, to create the shop.

The first Street Store took place in January in Cape Town and has since popped up all over the world, from Canada to Brazil and now it is coming to Durban.

Owner of Blue Bug, Riette du Plessis is hosting the first Street Store in Durban on November 15 from 9am – 12pm outside Christ Church, Addington at 398 Mahatma Ghandi Road.

After watching a video clip about the initiative Du Plessis had to be part of this project, as “a small gesture to pay it forward”.

For Du Plessis, the Street Store movement is a way to show compassion to people who are generally ignored and shunned, because of their socio-economic status.

You can get involved by donating new or second-hand clothing to the Grace Family Church in Ballito, Riverside and Umhlanga Campus or at JAM clothing at The Crescent.

If people would like to help they can sign up on the Grace App that can be downloaded on any smartphone or send an email to jill@grace.za.org.

Grace Family Church Umhlanga needs assistants to come and sort the clothing on November 13 from 9am-12pm.

Du Plessis would like to thank all the sponsors and organisers for getting this project off the ground as well as every single person who has donated clothing so far.

Feeling inspired? If you want to host a Street Store, just log on to www.thestreetstore.org, download the artwork and files, get approval from your municipal council, and start making a difference!