Reluctantly the Madrugada management
team has decided to close its Portimão charity shop. Research before its
opening in March 2011 indicated that the location right in the centre of town on Rua
Direita near the theatre was a good
position.
Since then, however, things have
radically changed. One only has to walk through this area of Portimão to see how
hard hit independent retailers have been by the town’s new shopping centres,
Chinese stores and of course the general recession. Also despite raising money
for a good cause, all sales of goods donated by the public are subject to 23%
iVA in Portugal.
Madrugada President Alison Blair
explains the soul searching and reasoning behind the closure: ‘Unfortunately
right at the start the Portimão shop only ran on a break even basis, but we
took the long view hoping things would improve. Now following recommendations
from our fiscal and management boards we really have no choice.
‘We must not lose sight of Madrugada’s
main objective which is to help people live out the final days of their lives
in the manner and place of their choice. Charity shops are just one of many
ways of raising money to achieve this aim.
‘On behalf of Madrugada I would like to
take this opportunity of thanking Christine and Mike Browning and their team of
volunteers for their heroic efforts in setting up and running the Portimão shop
and wish them well for the future.’