After the fantastic response to our Pride display competition last year, we’re thrilled to let you know that we’re running it once again in 2023.

Over June and July, we’re looking forward to seeing the best of charity retail, with colourful, inclusive displays celebrating all things Pride.

Pics L to R: Sue Ryder, Keighley, Prince of Wales Hospice, Kippax,  British Red Cross, Canterbury

You can email us pictures of your displays – both windows and in-store – between June 1st and July 21st to hello@thecharityretailconsultancy.co.uk 

We’ll announce our winners on Wednesday 26th July.

Pics L to R: Devon Air Ambulance, Cowick St, Barnardo’s Vintage, Cheadle

Prizes will include a beautiful, stained glass Pride hanger for your shop window, training vouchers and other Pride goodies.

To help you deliver the best display you can, our wonderful VM expert and competition judge, Kat Maclennan is running a webinar on May 18th – Welcome All! Using VM to drive inclusivity and engagement through Pride month and beyond.

Places on the webinar are Buy One Get One Free too, so at just £25 pp plus VAT it’s not to be missed!  You can book your place here.

Pics L to R: Hobart City Mission, Moonah, St Peter’s Hospice, Stoke Lane

We can’t wait to see your proud and fantastic creations!

(Main image is last year’s winner – Barnardo’s Marchant City, Glasgow)

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Each week we share with you our pick of the best stories on charity retail, shopping secondhand and the circular economy from the UK, Ireland and around the world.

We also  add links to relevant Charity Retail Learning courses associated with each article to help you implement some of the ideas we’re sharing

Here’s our pick from the past 7 days

Charity Retail Social Value survey – we need your input!

Our good friends at the Charity Retail Association are collecting views on the social value of charity shops via a short survey. If you haven’t completed it yet, please do – and share widely with your supporters and organisations, as it’s for everyone who shops, volunteers or works in charity retail.  The more responses they get, the more valuable the research will be and the whole sector will benefit – so get sharing! 

Social value of charity shops survey – We need your input! | Charity Retail Association

Can charity shops really be called “greedy”?

This is an interesting read from Third Sector in defense of accusations of “greed” around charity shops who don’t sell their goods for pennies (most shops nowadays!) You have to subscribe for free for the whole article, but definitely worth a read.

Ian MacQuillin: The ethics of ‘greedy’ charity shop prices | Third Sector

Retail Ambassador announced for BHF

We’re seeing several charities establishing Ambassador schemes to help raise awareness. Last month Charity Shop Girl Jen Brady and The Air Ambulance Service announced their partnership – and this week it’s BHF and Kimberly Hart-Simpson’s turn. Finding local (or national) influencers to work alongside your chain can really pay dividends. The CRA has contact details of influencers who are happy to be approached, so that’s a great place to start if you want to find out more

Kimberly Hart-Simpson announced as our first Retail Ambassador | BHF

Charity retail pop-up launching in Melbourne

After Charity Super.Mkt here in the UK, here’s news of a collaborative pop up in Australia too, run by Charitable Recycling Australia

Charitable Recycling Australia launches ‘Charity Shop?’ pop up | Wastemanagement Review

Crisis x De Montfort Uni collab

Working with fashion students can be a great way to highlight sustainability, reach new, younger supporters, raise profile and raise income. Here’s a lovely example from Crisis

DMU students’ designs on sale after winning sustainable fashion challenge

Unusual things found in charity shops….

We love a bit of a giggle – and a great charity shop oddment. So if you fancy some ring pulls in resin, a chicken impaler or a creepy cat with skull jewellery, it’s all here. Can’t wait to see if any of these make it to the Most Unusual Donated Item final at the CRA awards in June….

40 Bizarre Treasures That Could Only Be Found In Secondhand Shops, As Shared On “Charity Shop Stuff” | Bored Panda

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Each week we share with you our pick of the best stories on charity retail, shopping secondhand and the circular economy from the UK, Ireland and around the world.

We also  add links to relevant Charity Retail Learning courses associated with each article to help you implement some of the ideas we’re sharing

Here’s our pick from the past 7 days

Volunteering to combat loneliness

Here’s a great blog that Billy Farrell, Assistant Director of Retail from CHSS wrote for us about how volunteering in a charity shop in combating isolation and loneliness. Why not share it on your socials to help attract volunteers to your charity? 

Volunteering To Combat Isolation and Loneliness | The Charity Retail Consultancy

Volunteer Recruitment – how to develop, implement & review an effective volunteer recruitment plan 

Volunteer Induction & Recognition

Gen Z shopping habits

An interesting article on the different shopping habits across the generations. Gen Zs are the most likely to shop secondhand online to save money, with 42% purchasing a pre-owned item digitally in the past year.

Survey reveals online shopping habits of Gen Z | Chain Store Age

Introduction to ecommerce | Charity Retail Learning

Increase in customers, decrease in donations? 

Lots of charities are reporting record sales just now which is fabulous. But are you beginning to see a drop off in donations as people hold onto items for longer for sustainability and financial reasons – or are selling their goods privately online? This article from Canada tells us that the Salvation Army Thrift Stores there need more stock in the light of increased sales. Make sure you have a good plan in place for your stock acquisition to head off any challenges that might be on the horizon

The Salvation Army Thrift Store reporting drop in donations amid increase in customers | Durham Radio News

Right stock, right shop – how to effectively stock your shops | Charity Retail Learning

British Heart Foundation research shows that 25% of UK wardrobes contain no preloved items

We’re doing great moving people over to buy preloved fashion – but we’re not there yet, as this survey from the BHF highlights

A quarter of the nation’s wardrobes contain no preloved items | BHF

Tik Tokker window takeover

Lots of love online for this Tik Tokker who volunteered to re-dress charity shop windows in Brighton

British Heart Foundation – London Road, Brighton @Scarlett Elizabeth… | TikTok

If you want to make a real impact with your window displays, we have lots of options for you

Visual Merchandising Masterclass – Creating exciting shopping experiences and maximising sales | Charity Retail Learning

All Visual Merchandising Courses | Charity Retail Learning

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This is a guest post by
Billy Farrell,
Assistant Director of Retail at Chest, Heart & Stroke Scotland

Volunteering

Tackling isolation and loneliness is key to building stronger social connection and healthier communities. The Scottish Government recognises this in it’s “A connected Scotland” framework that resonates with the work of Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland (CHSS) and it’s No Life Half Lived strategy.

Paul Okroj, CHSS’s Director of People Driven Development, is sitting on the advisory panel to link in the work of the charity and volunteering more generally with the government’s plans. Volunteering provides people with the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships regardless of age, status or identity and CHSS believes it plays an essential role in this agenda.

Volunteering in charity shops is a wonderful example of this as we see time and time again that it is a rewarding experience for the volunteers themselves over and above the benefit to the charity and the wider community. From speaking to our volunteers we realise the increasingly role that volunteering in a CHSS shop is playing in reducing loneliness and isolation.

Understanding the problem

Isolation can happen for a variety of reasons, including geographical location, health issues, family breakdown, work or financial stress, and discrimination. At CHSS we have 40 shops from Hawick in the Scottish Borders to Forres in the Highlands, and people come to volunteer with us for all these reasons. Older adults who live in rural areas may be isolated due to limited transportation options or a lack of access to community resources. Similarly, individuals who suffer from chronic illness or disabilities may feel isolated due to mobility issues or the stigma associated with their condition. 

Loneliness has been linked to an increased risk of depression, anxiety, and suicide. It can also lead to physical health issues such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and a weakened immune system – conditions that are central to the work of Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland. We often see through the services that we provide to people with our conditions the negative affect of loneliness on quality of life, including social withdrawal, loss of motivation to engage and worsening physical health. 

That’s why we are always delighted when people who are recovering from a stroke or managing a long-term heart or chest condition, come to volunteer in one of our shops. Volunteering in a CHSS shop can provide a sense of community and belonging, which can help to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation. By interacting with other volunteers and customers, individuals build meaningful connections and friendships.

How Volunteering can help

People who have lost a partner or loved one to one of our conditions are also often struggling with loneliness and isolation. They tell us that volunteering in a CHSS shop can provide a sense of purpose and fulfilment, they feel like they are contributing something to a cause that helped their loved one, and that in turn helps to improve their mental health and overall wellbeing.

Volunteering in a CHSS shop can help to break down social barriers and promote understanding and acceptance among a diverse range of people. Over the last year or so, we’ve welcomed Ukranian refugees into our shops as volunteers. Some of them have arrived here alone, isolated from their families. By working together towards a common goal in our shops, they have developed positive relationships and a sense of connection, and for some improved their English language skills too.

Is Volunteering right for you?

There are all sorts of people who experience loneliness and isolation. Volunteering in a CHSS shop not only helps us to raise vital funds for services that help people with our conditions, but also provides an important service to people who are seeking company and community. Loneliness can have negative impacts on both physical health as well as mental health, so we see it is a preventative health measure that ties in with our charity No Life Half Lived mission.

To read more about A connected Scotland, click here

To sign up to be a volunteer at CHSS, here is the link

Many thanks to Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland and their fantastic volunteers for the images used throughout

Charity Retail Learning Courses

Volunteering:

Volunteer Recruitment – how to develop, implement & review an effective volunteer recruitment plan

Volunteer Induction & Recognition

Billy’s Course:

Essential Stock Processes – from back room to shop floor

More About Us

Each week we share with you our pick of the best stories on charity retail, shopping secondhand and the circular economy from the UK, Ireland and around the world.

We also  add links to relevant Charity Retail Learning courses associated with each article to help you implement some of the ideas we’re sharing

Here’s our pick from the past 7 days

Charity Super.Mkt opens in Reading

It’s wonderful to see the next stop on the pop up tour of this brilliant collaboration – once again charities are working together to make a massive impact in a traditionally mainstream retail environment. 

UK’s second multi-charity shop opens after London outlet raises £370,000 | Civil Society

Service delivery from charity shops

Do you deliver any part of your services via your shops? Retail is a great way to widen access to the work your charity does and makes the most of the space and resources you already have. We love this example from the US of Out of the Closet Thrift stores – a HIV charity that offers free HIV testing from its shops. (And what a great name for the chain too! Love it!)

Out of the Closet Thrift Stores | Facebook

Gumtree focusing on sustainability

Looks like Gumtree is raising its game – interesting to read it’s partnering with a charity, We wonder if this will be something it does more of in future – perhaps introducing a charity sellers programme, like ebay or Depop? Worth keeping an eye out.

The Drum | How Gumtree Plans To Change Perceptions Of Shopping Secondhand To Save The Planet

Recommended:

Introduction to ecommerce | Charity Retail Learning

Charity Retail Association members to get 10% discount on all Charity Retail Learning courses

From 1st April, if you’re a member of the CRA, you’ll automatically receive 10% off all CRL courses. Whether you buy one or two courses only or take up the fantastic subscription offer that gives you access to the entire suite of learning at a fraction of the price – you’ll get the same level of discount. Contact the CRA for your coupon code if you’re already a member – or find out more about how to join if you’re not.    

Charity Retail Learning

Don’t forget to enter into the charity retail awards!

Closing date for entries is April 21st – make sure you’re shouting about all the brilliant things you do at your charity. 

Charity Retail Awards 2023 | Charity Retail Association

More About Us

Each week we share with you our pick of the best stories on charity retail, shopping secondhand and the circular economy from the UK, Ireland and around the world.

We also  add links to relevant Charity Retail Learning courses associated with each article to help you implement some of the ideas we’re sharing

Here’s our pick from the past 7 days

Increase in charity retail shoppers over the winter

The Charity Retail Association shared more good news this week, with  a 9.1 per cent increase in the average number of transactions per day in charity shops compared to 2021. You can read more about it here

Charity shops see boost in shoppers over the winter | Tenby Today

Are you taking part in the Big Help Out?

This is a great opportunity to promote volunteering in your retail operation – make sure you keep in touch with what’s happening. More info on this is also available from the Charity Retail Association

The Big Help Out app is here – how you can get involved in the Coronation celebrations | Cheshire Live

Recommended:

Volunteer Recruitment – how to develop, implement & review an effective volunteer recruitment plan | Charity Retail Learning

Vinyl resurgence – are you aware of the value of your vinyl?

Vinyl is a great seller again – and especially in charity shops. This Big Issue article highlights the joys of secondhand vinyl. 

Are you using Discogs to value your vinyl? It’s a fab site and a great source of pricing info

Charity shop vinyl tells the story of our musical journey | The Big Issue

H&M Selling PreLoved via ThredUp

Greart to see another mainstream retailer like H&M working with ThredUp and moving into the preloved market:

Inside H&M’s Strategy to Become a More Sustainable Organization | My Total Retail

Recommended:

Introduction to ecommerce | Charity Retail Learning

You saw WHAT in a charity shop…..?!!

When you have your coffee break, why not have a romp around the curious things that end up in charity shops with examples from Oxfam, Air Ambulance, Barnardo’s, Severn Hospice, Sue Ryder, Goodwill, and many more (WARNING – some of them are a bit saucy!)

And don’t forget there’s an award for the most unusual donated item, so get your entries in!

50 Random And Unhinged Things People Gave To Charity Shops That Confused Or Cracked Buyers Up | Bored Panda

Recommended:

Right stock, right shop – how to effectively stock your shops | Charity Retail Learning

More About Us

Each week we share with you our pick of the best stories on charity retail, shopping secondhand and the circular economy from the UK, Ireland and around the world.

We also  add links to relevant Charity Retail Learning courses associated with each article to help you implement some of the ideas we’re sharing

Here’s our pick from the past 7 days

2023 Charity Retail Awards

It feels like the blink of an eye since we celebrated the best of our sector at the postponed awards for 2022 – and here we are again, with nominations open for this year’s accolades. If you need help crafting the perfect nomination, get in touch to see how we can help  

Charity Retail Awards 2023 are GO!! | Charity Retail Association

Charity Shop Girl scoops Most Fashionable Mama award

Whilst we’re on the subject of awards, we want to say huge congratulations to our friend Jen – aka Charity Shop Girl – on receiving Most Fashionable Mama at the Glomama awards. Very well deserved!

Recommended:

Charity Shopping with Jen, the Charity Shop Girl | YouTube

Guide released on how to make the most from your book donations

Our friends at Shopiago have produced a helpful guide on processing books – and how they can help with bulk collections. You can read more about it and download the guide here 

Making the most from your book donations – Guest blog by Shopiago | The Charity Retail Consultancy

Royal Trinity Hospice take sustainability even further

A great example from Royal Trinity Hospice on how to really commit to sustainability in all elements of a charity retail operation

Royal Trinity Hospice shops take commitment to sustainability one step further | Local News | News | Clapham Nub News

Recommended:

We’re saving the planet! Using Visual Merchandising to tell your sustainability story | Charity Retail Learning

Donation days initiative 

Our friends at Isabel Hospice are fabulous innovators – and their Tonnes of Care campaign is a great example. This article features a fab partnership that’s yielded some fantastic results already

Isabel Hospice donation days at the Dutch Marketplace | Welwyn Hatfield Times

Merger builds strength for Responsible and Haru

New developments in Northern Ireland as these two businesses join forces

Circularity platform Responsible acquires re-commerce provider Haru | Fashion United

Cats Protection brings positive vibes to Penrith

Lovely to see such a positive story around the new Cats Protection shop in Penrith. Focusing on a great shopping environment, sustainability – and creating jobs for local people who’d been made redundant after mainstream retailers in the town had closed, this ticks all the boxes. We wish them lots of success.

New charity shop set to open in Penrith – Cumberland and Westmorland Herald

Recommended:

Space management – making the most of your shop floor | Charity Retail Learning

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At this time of year, you can find yourself with a bit of money left in your expenditure budgets.

Sometimes it’s because you’ve managed to get better deals than you’d hoped. Other times planned and budgeted-for work just hasn’t happened.  That may be because of things like time pressures and staff shortages – or just dealing wit those curve balls that can come out of the blue in our sector.

Well, here’s the good news. We have a way that you can put that underspend to good use – and will reap rewards for you well into the future.

Invest in your team

Investing in your team is always a good move. Motivating, upskilling, valuing and supporting staff and volunteers through training opportunities is a massive factor in any charity retailer’s success. And Charity Retail Learning can help provide you with all of that.

Here’s how:

• All our content is completely focused on charity retail, making the training relevant and resonant from the outset
• Our team support you every step of the way, making signing up and managing your team’s training quick and easy
• It’s simple to access, with our click-through courses all accessible from a laptop, tablet or phone
• Our Subscription offer gives your whole team of staff and volunteers access to all of our content at a massive discount
• Individual courses start at just £25 plus VAT, making them affordable for every charity.
• We provide reports for you to see how your team is progressing – and certificates for every learner when they pass their course

Our learners love our courses!

We’ve supported thousands of charity retailers through their learning with us. Here’s what some of them have to say:

“Excellent course and tutor, information was so relevant and helpful”

Each week we share with you our pick of the best stories on charity retail, shopping secondhand and the circular economy from the UK, Ireland and around the world.

We also  add links to relevant Charity Retail Learning courses associated with each article to help you implement some of the ideas we’re sharing

Here’s our pick from the past 7 days

Charity Super.Mkt – MK2!

Have you heard the news? Following its fantastically successful (and now extended) run at Brent Cross, Charity Super.Mkt is being rolled out to Reading. Check out the details here if you want to be involved:

Charity Super.mkt: Reading … we’re coming for you! | Charity Retail Association

Recommended:

Visual Merchandising | Charity Retail Learning

Planning & Running a Charity Pop-up Shop | Charity Retail Learning

Mary’s Meals shops chain to close….

We were gutted to hear that Scottish charity, Mary’s Meals will be closing it’s shops later this year. Another victim of rising costs.

Mary’s Meals closing all its charity shops in Scotland | The Oban Times

…whilst Wales Air Ambulance begins its expansion

We’re delighted to see our friends at Wales Air Ambulance are opening a new store In Mold today – on St David’s Day. We wish them every success for this and their future plans – and Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus!

Mold: Wales Air Ambulance latest shop set to open on St David’s Day, 22 years after the charity first launched | Deeside

Leaving goods outside a charity shop is fly tipping 

An interesting article about fly tipping in Berkshire, highlighting that leaving donations outside charity shops could lead to a fine

Let’s scrap fly tipping | West Berkshire Council

Recommended:

We’re saving the planet! Using Visual Merchandising to tell your sustainability story | Charity Retail Learning

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