SCRAPS A Purrfect Fit For New Mall Owners

For five years SCRAPS - MJ has been a tenant right next to the food court in the Town and Country Mall but in mid - December the charity had to move as a new store wanted there spot.

There was a momentary trepidation about the move.

But any fears soon disappeared as the move to a slightly smaller spot right next to The Source (Radio Shack) has gone purrfectly.

“We moved down here mid-December. We were asked to move by the 21st of December but we were able to move a whole week ahead of time,” Susan Neal store coordinator said.

Anne marcyshyn (left) and Susan Neal store coordinator stand inside the new store

The reason for the move was a new store is setting up in the space SCRAPS - MJ and their Nine Lives and adoption centre had previously occupied.

Under the terms of their agreement with the Town and Country Mall the animal rescue receives unoccupied space for free. If the space is rented then SCRAPS - MJ has to move.

For SCRAPS - MJ president Anne Marsychyn the move is no big deal as the group has had a highly successful partnership with the Mall for a decade.

Neal said the move took SCRAPS - MJ half a day - much quicker than expected.

“We had a good team of volunteers and we had a little plan. We had some help from the Mall staff too. They loaned us cart things. They modified them for us so they were great,” Neal said.

After the half day move it took volunteers another two days to arrange and layout the store.

Hand knitting by volunteers is on sale in the 9 Lives Boutique

The change in the space dimensions and layout had SCRAPS - MJ do some planning on how to display everything.

The new space is longer and narrower than their previous location but is also only 100 square feet smaller.

Asked if the new location is better than before Neal said it will take more time to find out.

“We had a busy Christmas season. It’s hard to tell right now long term. But there are some nice stores down here that people patronize so we had a good Christmas season. People came in,” she said.

“We had very few people come in and say they had problems finding us, so it was good.”

The store now consists of two aisles which Neal admits “was a little hard getting use to” but after consideration the new layout is fine and it also allows space so the store is wheelchair accessible.

“Some of our shoppers coming in say they like this new layout as it is easier to get around and it is easier to see what there is,” Neal said.

Marcyshyn had nothing but good things to say about the relationship SCRAPS - MJ has had with the Town and Country Mall.

It’s a relationship that started with the Town and Country Mall allowing them to set up tables to sell, then a store space for the Christmas season and finally a full time dedicated store for the past five years.

The relationship is a win - win for Marcyshyn as SCRAPS - MJ has a permanent home and visibility while at the same time the store and adoption centre help attract more traffic and potential shoppers to the Town and Country Mall.

Many of the articles SCRAPS - MJ has for sale in their store are made by volunteers to help raise funds for the groups work assisting feral cats.

It’s something Neal agrees with.

Some of the articles offered for sale

“It’s fantastic (being in the Town and Country Mall). It gives us a concrete base because for the rest of us our business in foster homes and feeding centres,” she said, adding “It’s all over the place. It’s not any kind of office, warehouse or something. It gives us a place where we can showcase cats. We can have meet and greets for cats. It works.”

For Town and Country Mall’s management and ownership the partnership with SCRAPS - MJ has been a positive one.

“It’s been a really great partnership. SCRAPS has a really great online presence and they promote the Mall which is great for us. We are able to assist them with space for there store and a place for their adoption centre. We are happy to partner with them,” Jennilee Novak assistant property manager.

Novak said not only is the Mall happy to partner with SCRAPS - MJ but they are also looking to see if they cannot bring in additional community groups.

She agreed the partnership helped community groups like SCRAPS and also benefited the Mall.

“Any time we can drive traffic into the Mall it’s a win - win for everybody. So we are always looking for those to help us promote the Mall through their business and in turn we can help them out by providing them a space.”

It’s a philosophy the Mall’s new ownership Pioneer Thinking Capital Corporation out of Vancouver has adopted.

The mall changed ownership just three days ago.

“They also own properties in Regina and Swift Current as well so they are very great at building community partnerships.”

“If you can’t partner with the people in your community what good are you for a community? Your community is not going to support you if you don’t support them,” Novak said.

The aisles in the new store are wheelchair accessible

SCRAPS - MJ Nine Lives Boutique and Adoption Centre is open Fridays from Noon to 4 pm and Saturdays Noon to 5:30 pm.