Fresh start for RED Inc

The Pop-up Red shop in Magellan Street may be closing, but shop manager Mitch Halligan says to "watch this space".

From left, Red Inc Work and Training Co-ordinator Mitch Halligan, volunteer manager Cat Reid, and trainee Shannon Bedding, are sad the Pop-up Red store is closing, but say it will make way for bigger and better projects. Picture: Cathy Adams

THE Pop-up RED shop in Magellan Street is closing its doors, but shop manager Mitch Halligan is pragmatic about what the project has achieved, and what is in store for the shop space.

Mr Halligan is the work and training co-ordinator at Realising Every Dream Incorporated (RED Inc), and he said while the store had been a community success, it had not been a monetary one.

The store opened 14 months ago as a social enterprise to allow RED Inc’s artists to exhibit and sell their work, learn retail skills, and sell handmade and vintage goods.

“We’d love to say it’s a great success this shop. But we can’t financially sustain a loss,” Mr Halligan said.

“We feel it did all of the things we set out to for it to do. We gave everybody the venue, the outlets to sell their stuff, and showed the community what they could do.

“We need the space ... for different formats that are more affordable ... it will re-incarnate in different forms.”

The shop was one of a number of innovative ideas to find alternative income for RED Inc to help ensure the survival of the service, particularly when the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is introduced.

Volunteer shop manager Cat Reid, and RED Raven, said the services offered by RED Inc were vital to the community, and her son, and urged people to support the organisation.

“What we realise with the NDIS coming in, we are going to really need sponsorship for things like rent, art supplies, and cars,” Ms Reid said.

“It’s in my best interest to make ensure that RED Inc keeps going; there’s nothing else like it.”

Mr Halligan supported Ms Reid’s call for sponsors. He said while the service would continue to come up with new ideas, they needed support.

“Without sponsorship, philanthropy, and diversion of income streams, organisations of this scale are not going to survive this change,” Mr Halligan said.

The store closes its doors December 16.