By Dominic Abassi

Woodgrove’s new personal shopper service benefits Haven Society

Apr 23, 2017 | 9:33 AM

NANAIMO — A brand new offering at Woodgrove Centre will not only improve your look, but also help local women and children escape domestic violence.

Woodgrove launched their Style Team program, a two-hour session with a personal shopper for $20, with all proceeds going to Haven Society.

“The best thing about it is each appointment is customized to the individual, so they’ll get exactly what they need,” Woodgrove marketing manager Nola Dunn said. “That stylist will take them around the shopping centre, they’ll definitely ask them about their favourite stores and brands, but they may take them to different stores, expand their horizons.”

Woodgrove approached Haven Society to benefit from the program, according to Haven’s communications manager Chantal Lambert. “As an organization the size we are, we don’t often get opportunities for the kind of promotion we get from an event like this. It was something in our wildest dreams,” Lambert said.

She said aside from the financial support, having their name and logo front and centre in a place with the kind of foot traffic Woodgrove gets is important “so people who really need our services know how to find us and know we exist.”

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Haven Society serves nearly 4,000 mid-island women and children every year who have, or are experiencing domestic violence. Lambert said the majority of their funding comes from the provincial government but fundraising allows them to cover deficits and expand programming.

“I do know one of the things we’re really interested in doing is having more public education within schools. Going in…and teaching them about healthy relationships and how violence is actually preventable,” she said. “We really want to work on the prevention of domestic violence rather than just only dealing with the results.”

Dunn said Haven does “wonderful work” and was a great tie-in for the program. She added there is no obligation to buy anything for people who take part in a Style Team session.

“It’s designed to make shopping fun again. Your time with a stylist is a great time to ask questions about your wardrobe,” Dunn said.

A Style Team launch event held April 20 at the mall was sold out and raised $1,500 for Haven Society.

You can book a session online at www.woodgrovecentre.com.

dominic.abassi@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @domabassi