Hutchesons of Portsoy has donated 5 containers full of brand new, kitchen and bathroom furniture and accessories to local charity, Stella’s Voice.  Each container holds thousands of pounds worth of new and boxed bathroom and kitchenware. The proceeds secured will be given to vulnerable families in Moldova who have been fleeing from the war-torn Ukraine.

A report by The Council of Europe (https://bit.ly/3zQroIY) dated 17 June 2022, reports that Moldova has taken just under 500,000 refugees from Ukraine. Moldova, which has the largest concentration of refugees per capita, has also appealed for international help in dealing with the numbers arriving.

Stella’s Voice works in Moldova to protect vulnerable children and young people from human traffickers.  At its various locations in the UK, Stella’s Voice runs several reuse and recycling projects to help fund the work of the charity, whilst working towards a better environment by diverting hundreds of tons from landfill each year.  Stella’s Voice also works with several supermarkets by collecting items that have been damaged or are near their use by date.  These items are then donated locally helping some of those in most need in the local community.

European Director for Stella’s Voice, Mark Morgan adds, “we are most grateful to Hutchesons of Portsoy for this great donation which has come at a time when people are in great need, having fled Ukraine for their lives.”

The idea for this charitable initiative came from Mike Wiseman who recently joined the team at Hutchesons of Portsoy. During one of their regular team meetings, the matter was raised on what should be done with all the boxed furniture.  In his new position as Store Person, Mike talked about Stella’s Voice and all the good work they do protecting young people from human trafficking. Mentioning all the old stock in HoP’s warehouse, Mike suggested donating everything to this local Peterhead based charity.

As Managing Director, Neil Hutcheson says, “all the team were immediately on board with Mike’s fantastic idea.  We immediately reached out to Stella’s Voice to see if they wanted to visit us and have a closer look at all the old (but new!) stock in our warehouse. I think that the staff from Stella’s Voice were pleasantly surprised when they realised that everything was brand new and still in boxes!”

HoP made the decision to move away from installing new kitchens and bathrooms to enable this family run company to focus on the main business activity. With HoP’s annual sales having seen a 100% increase over the past 12 months, the business needed to make much needed space available, to cope with the dramatic increase in stock being delivered on stie.

HoP is proud to be the North East of Scotland’s number one supplier and installer of gas, electric and wood burning stoves and fireplaces plus wood burning and electric range cookers. A family run business since 1961, owner and director, Neil Hutcheson has been on the frontline of change since taking over the business from his father back in 2000 when the company focused on the installation and maintenance of central heating systems.

With 2 showrooms located in Midmar and Portsoy, HoP houses one of the largest displays of fireplaces and stoves outside of the Central Belt.

By donating 5 container loads of boxed kitchen and bathroom furniture to Stella’s Voice, HoP will be making a significantly positive contribution to helping those less fortunate.

Summer has officially arrived, which means it’s a great time to start prepping your outdoor space for the season ahead. And nothing adds cosiness and light to a garden quite like your very own fire pit!

Since time immemorial, communities have gathered around a fire to discuss important issues or celebrate. It’s an almost forgotten ritual, but one which is undergoing a modern revival. And why not? Fire pits are a smart addition to your outdoor space for several reasons. Not only are they the perfect gathering spot for entertaining your friends and family, but they can also be used to cook and grill everything from marshmallows to fillet steaks. Some styles even function as pizza ovens for some extra culinary chutzpah.

Even better, contemporary fire pits come in a wide range of styles, meaning there’s guaranteed to be one to suit every budget and lifestyle.

Here are our top tips for making sure you choose the right fire pit for you.

Wood Burning or Gas?

The first thing to consider is what type of fuel you want to use. Traditionally, there was only one option for a fire pit – wood! And there’s no doubting it does replicate most closely that ‘campfire’ feel which many people are looking for when they’re in the market for a fire pit. A wood fire pits is also a great choice if you want to try your hand at a bit of fire pit cookery, with different types of wood producing very different – and delicious, flavours.

On the other hand, wood burning fire pits can be a little messy. Just like a campfire, they give out plenty of smoke.

Free Standing or Built In?

Traditionally, a residential fire pit tended to be little more than some large bricks or stones surrounding a hole in the ground. Luckily, these days there are far more choices available. Most commercially available models are free-standing and offer both versatility and easy installation, and you can purchase a free-standing fire pit for as little as a few hundred pounds. By way of an alternative, a built-in fire pit offers permanence and stability and can be a great choice for the fire pit cookery enthusiast. Plus, it can also be used as a central part of a landscaping theme.

Generally, fire pits don’t require professional installation, but if you opt for a model that uses natural gas or requires an electrical connection, make sure you hire a gas fitter and/or electrician to hook it up.

How big?

Hand in hand with a decision about whether to go with a freestanding or built in option, you will also need to work out what size is going to best suit your needs. So, determining where your fire pit is going to go and how you plan to use it is probably a good place to start. Smaller designs like fire bowls are ideal for compact gardens and are often portable for placement versatility. But if you want to make a bolder statement, then a larger stationary fire pit table may be just the ticket. The best thing to do is consider just how you intend to use your fire pit, how much space you really have and also how much time and money you want to spend on purchasing one.

The Look.

Last but not least, it’s important to think about what look you’re after because this can dramatically change the look and feel of your entire outdoor space. Fire pits, literally, come in all kinds of shapes and sizes and can be crafted from a number of different materials. You could opt to keep things sleek with a matte black design, or add some shimmer and shine with silver, copper, or bronze styles instead. Decorative details like ceramic tiles, mosaic surfaces, and themed cut-outs can also lend extra charm. But once you’ve landed on the right look for your landscape, you’ll be amazed by just how much of a difference a fire pit can make to not only the visual appeal of the space overall.

Generally, woodburning fire pits don’t require professional installation, they are straightforward and hassle free to assemble and position.

Why not visit our showroom in Portsoy and see which outdoor garden stove matches your needs and requirements?