Miranda Kennedy, Head Injury Southland and Richard Russell
The concept of transforming an empty retail space in Invercargill Central into a temporary pop‑up cap shop has now been tested and measured as a success.
Over the weekend of Saturday 29 August and Sunday 30 August, thousands of caps moved off the shelves as shoppers explored the extensive donated collection.
As caps sold and gaps popped up, volunteers popped more caps into the gaps, keeping the displays full and inviting throughout the weekend.
The caps were originally gifted to the Rotary Club of Invercargill Charitable Trust from a local estate, with hundreds sold at the 2026 Rotary Book Sale. The pop‑up initiative offered an additional opportunity to move more of the collection and raise further funds for the community.
The retail space was generously supported by Invercargill Central Ltd, enabling Rotary to maximise proceeds for the fundraiser. The event was facilitated by the Book Sale Committee, with Chair Richard Russell describing the pop‑up as unique for our city and the new mall, noting that the weekend exceeded planning expectations. Big thank you to members who volunteered their time to set up, operate, and pack up the Pop‑Up Shop.
A donation of funds raised from the Pop‑Up Cap Shop are set to go to Head Injury Southland Charitable Trust, who had applied for funding support.
Miranda Kennedy, Field Officer, was on site to share information about the work Head Injury Southland Charitable Trust do across Southland.
Final proceeds from the pop‑up are currently being reconciled, and once confirmed, a date to present the donation to Head Injury Southland will be shared with members.
Conversations have already begun about a future pop‑up opportunity, with the success of the first event demonstrating that this creative fundraising concept has plenty of potential to pop up again.