Introduction to Jayne Cartwright, owner & founder of
The Charity Retail Consultancy

The Charity Retail Consultancy spots the opportunities and understands the challenges of this thriving sector.  Founder, Jayne Cartwright has had an extensive career in charity retail, so brings vast experience, knowledge and determination to bring about positive change for the consultancy’s clients.  Her first role was with Oxfam as one of its earliest shop managers running a traditional shop, a vegetarian café and a charity supermarket before managing a district of 11 shops raising £1m per year. 

 She then worked with The Children’s Society for 8 years as a Retail Operations Manager, then Head of Retail for 90 shops across the country.

Jayne joined Save the Children UK in 2005 and as Head of Retail was responsible for the staff team, its 3600 volunteers and 125 charity shops.  For two years she also headed up the UK Community Fundraising operation, maximising the opportunities between CF and Retail as two locally led fundraising operations.  Jayne created and led a relationship with Mary Portas, resulting in a BBC TV series Mary Queen of Charity Shops, the rollout of a new shop fit, a pop up shop generating £100K profit in 3 weeks and a permanent charity relationship with Mary Portas.  Jayne secured relationships with commercial retailers and won the prize of Woman of the Year at the national everywoman in retail awards 2010-2011, a first for a charity retailer.

Jayne was executive director of retail at YMCA England responsible for 165 shops. She oversaw a healthy increase in profits, driven by decisions to develop staff alongside a strong acquisition and closure strategy.

Jayne served on the board of trustees for the Charity Retail Association and regularly gives key note speeches and workshops at its conferences. She worked voluntarily with the think tank DEMOS on measuring the social value of charity shops. She has also served on the board for a children’s hospice charity.

Jayne created The Charity Retail Consultancy in 2010 to help charities develop and improve a high street offer.  The consultancy has been commissioned by over 30 charities to undertake projects such as developing business plans and strategies, reviewing current and designing future retail operations, preparing key stakeholders for the creation of a charity retail operation, developing new roles and supporting recruitment, and presenting key note speeches.