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

You can subscribe to our blog to find out every time we post – and we share these round ups every Wednesday on our website, LinkedIn and Facebook. 

Here’s our pick from the past 7 days

Charity Super.Mkt

The Charity Super.Mkt is returning to London with a new pop-up shop over the holiday season. The roaring success of the project has helped promote a new kind of multi-store charity shop for the modern shopper.

Charity Super.Mkt to open West London pop up | UK Fundraising

London isn’t getting all the love as the Charity Super.Mkt has also spread to Manchester establishing the area’s first department charity shop! It has been wonderful watching this project grow and spread and we hope to continue to see it’s success and everything it means for our industry

Manchester department charity shop Charity Super.Mkt is massive success | I Love Manchester

Recommended Course:

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

Charity Shopping & Cost of Living

As the cost of living crisis continues and we move ever closer to Christmas, more and more people are finding Charity Shopping as a good way to save some cash. Both of the following articles explore the trends of shoppers and the movement towards charity shops, featuring our friends from Mind and the CRA.

Shoppers turning to charity shops due to the cost-of-living crisis, research suggests | Civil Society  

Charity urges people to shop second hand this Christmas to save money | Nation.Cymru

Christmas Visual Merchandising

Christmas in charity shops is always a special and exciting time. But do you know how to really make an impact to ensure all your party outfits, decorations, gifts and seasonal items make as much money as possible for your charity?

It’s important to plan how your shop will be merchandised so you maximise sales. In this 90-minute session Kat will take you through the key areas to focus on and provide visual merchandising tips and ideas to create exciting festive displays.

Read more

Communities Make Charities, Charities Make Communities

An amazing story from St Barnabas Hospice in Lincolnshire raising £6500! A fantastic example of how engaging with the community and holding in store events can produce great results.

Sustainable Shoppers Raise Over £6,500 For Hospice Care In Lincolnshire | Charity Today News

Another example of a successful local event in store, from St Wilfrid’s Hospice.

Chichester hospice celebrates second hand fashion by hosting their own charity shop fashion show | Sussex Express

Recommended Course:

Charity retail community engagement – events, social media & telling your story – Charity Retail Learning

Ultimate Guide To Charity Shopping

Top tips for charity shop shopping – why not share your thoughts with your customers via blogs, social media, and press releases. Reaching new audiences and communties online

The ultimate guide to charity shopping | Happiful

More About Us

We’re back! After a really busy summer we’re back with our weekly charity retail news round-up for you. Here we share our pick of the best, most interesting and inspiring stories from our sector, in the UK, Ireland and the rest of the world.

You can subscribe to our blog to find out every time we post – and we share these round ups every Wednesday on our website, LinkedIn and Facebook. 

We hope you enjoy them.

Charity Shop Impact

A brand new report comissioned by the CRA has found that the Charity Retail sector contributes a whopping £75.3 billion of social value last year! The report also found that for every pound invested in charity retail operations generated over £7 in social value. The report highlights the massive role Charity Retail plays in our soceities and all the great work being achieved.

Charity shops have positive impact on wellbeing valued at £75.3 Billion, new study finds | Charity Retail Association

Prince of Wales Renovations

Our good friends at Prince of Wales Hospice are underway renovating their amazing Pontefract store. The store will be a one of a kind three-in-one shop, with sections for retro, vintage, and urban clothing. We can’t wait to see how it turns out and look forward to experiencing it first-hand in our Mystery Shopper service

Prince of Wales Hospice shops undergo refresh and renovation | Wakefield Express

Revamp your charity shop with our CRL course: Visual Merchandising

Secondhand Sales Gain Momentum

This new report has taken a look into the trends for second hand sales in Charity Shops and beyond. Initiiatives like these are instrumental to building the sector and understanding the trends of wider society

UK Resale 2023 | Insider Intelligence Trends, Forecasts & Statistics

Sell beyond brick and mortar by bringing your retail operation online: Introduction to eCommerceg

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P/reloved Initiative

Congratulations to Emmaus Preston for the fantastic artist Joseph Doubtfire for the great success of their Endever Festival and preloved artworks. Events like these are a massive part of connecting with your local community.

Celebration for Emmaus Charity Artist in Residence for Encounter Festival | Preston City Council

Build strong ties with your local community through CRL: Charity retail Community Engagement – events, social media & telling your story

Secondhand Menswear Boom

British Heart Foundation has found a massive 35% in the sale of secondhand menswear last year. Love Island star Dr Brett Staniland has teamed up with BHF as a Retail Ambassador help continue the great progress made so far

Menswear flying off the shelves in charity shops as second hand movement gains traction in UK | Retail Technology Innovation Hub

Learn how you can contrinute to the secondhand clothing boost: Introduction to selling on Depop

30 Years in Retail

A fantastic lookback at 30 years of retail at Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity. This quick Q&A gives amazing insight into how much things have changed in the last 30 years and future of charity retail. Here’s to 30 more!

30 Years in Retail, A FNHC Q&A Review with Lily Caswell | Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity

More About Us

We’re just home from the Charity Retail Conference in Harrogate. We’re still feeling the energy, excitement and love for preloved that was palpable over the two days.

What an event! We never stopped chatting to all the amazing folk there….so much so that Vicki even lost her voice – and we’re definitely not used to her being quiet!  🤣

For us, the highs were:

💚 How positive everyone felt about how our amazing sector is performing just now. Preloved is definitely top of the sustainability agenda and as a sector we’re all stepping up to meet the new demand and keep ahead of the game.

💚 Hearing the fabulous stories of the award winners – hands up everyone who quickly wiped away a tear when the Young Volunteer Award was announced….. 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️.

💚 Seeing the amazing reaction to our Charity Retail Learning subscription package. Partnering with the Charity Retail Association to help inspire and upskill retail teams makes us so proud – and we were delighted that so many of you wanted to sign up for a subscription.

CRL subscription package flyer 2023

💚 Attending our good friend Ngozi Lyn Cole’s EDI session. Creating an inclusive sector is all our responsibility and we’re proud to work with Ngozi on this journey.

💚 Going to the Thriftify pre-conference evening and hearing from influencers about their take on preloved, sustainable fashion. They are the future and we love them! (And PS, how AMAZING was Emily from Thriftify’s orange dress?! 😍)

💚 Seeing our I ♥ Charity Shops Pride badges being worn with pride all around the Conference.  And if you haven’t already done it – why not enter your shops’ displays into our Pride Display competition?  We’re posting videos of entries every week until the closing date on our YouTube channel so make sure you check them out. 

💚 Seeing all our old friends and making new ones.

Our sector is a wonderful thing – and Conference is always a brilliant place to celebrate that. Thank you to the CRA team for pulling off yet another first rate event, to all those we spoke with that visited our stands, to the people who came along to our sessions – and just to charity retail for being such an important part of our – and so many others – lives for such a long time.

Here’s to 2024!

More About Us

Here at The Consultancy we’re getting very excited for the 2023 Charity Retail Association conference in Harrogate.

We’ve got new stands, new activities (including a free Lucky Dip – who doesn’t love one of those?!) and even some new people coming along with us.

So to help you get to know us better, we’re each sharing our answers to 3 Very Important Questions:

1 What’s your favourite thing about charity retail?

2. What’s the best thing you ever bought from a charity shop (online or bricks & mortar)?

3. What are you most excited about for the future of charity retail? 

Here we go…..

Jayne (Founder & Director & Co-Founder of Charity Retail Learning)

Favourite thing:

Charity shops are all about goodness – good for the planet, good for the pocket, good for a vibrant high street, good for the community, and good for the parent charity. Seriously, what’s not to love?!

Best buy:

My Stella McCartney Adidas trainers, from RSPCA Glossop for £10! I wear them all the time.

Future:

The sector is awash with opportunities and possibilities. Sales and profits are better than ever, and there is more appetite for innovation. What I love most in my role at The Charity Retail Consultancy is highlighting local and broader opportunities to our lovely clients and helping make them a reality.

Vicki (Senior Consultant & Co-Founder of Charity Retail Learning)

Favourite thing:

I love the creativity, and that everything about it is good – it’s sustainable, provides fabulous volunteering and employment opportunities, helps maintain lively and diverse high streets, engages with the community and raises millions of pounds for lots of fantastic causes.

Best buy:

My big Burberry scarf – from Martin House Wetherby shop. Bought over the phone after they shared it on their Facebook page. I live 300 miles away and they posted it to me. Fantastic service and I’ve worn it every winter (and some summers!) for the past 5 years!

Future:

Seeing young people engage more with the sector. I can’t wait to see what their energy and passion for the planet brings.

Diane (Associate Consultant)

Favourite thing:

The people, the sector community and that working within is helping make the world a better place.

Best buy:

A lovely gold framed mirror.

Future:

Constantly evolving, learning and as it becomes more on trend, the better we and the planet will be.

Julian  (The Charity Retail Marketeer)

Favourite thing:

The positive contribution to society in so many ways

Best buy:

A table from our local Emmaus that my wife Suzy upcycled

Future:

Where Gen Z, who love preloved, will take the sector in the future

Amelia (Engagement Associate)

Favourite thing:

The community that each store establishes. The charm of the crowd that charity retail attracts, from the local shoppers to the volunteers, all of whom are there to support an invaluable charity, creates a sense of community and kindness which is hard to come by in any other area of retail.

Best buy:

My trusty pair of Birkenstock clogs!

Future:

I’m excited for the future of charity retail’s clear social and environmental benefits as a result of its sustainability. Charity retail is at the heart of the sustainable fight for climate justice, as a result of its promotion of re-using and recycling puts sustainability over micro-trends and over consumption.

So there you have it – a team full of love for the sector and optimism for the future. ❤

And if you want to join in,  Amelia will be roving with her camera phone over the 2 days, asking you the same three questions. We’d love hear your thoughts – and then share them on our You Tube channel over the coming weeks.

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Find The Charity Retail Consultancy on Stand 30 and Charity Retail Learning with the Charity Retail Association stand

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

It’s all happening at the Charity Retail Association!

Two really important bits of news from our chums at the CRA this week. Firstly – have you booked your conference place yet? It’s always a fantastic event and well worth attending. Places can be booked via the link. 

We’ll be there with stands from the Consultancy and Charity Retail Learning, alongside lots of other fabulous exhibitors with exciting and helpful products for you and your retail operation. 

Charity Retail Conference 2023 | Charity Retail Association

And – even more excitingly (if that’s even possible!) – the shortlist for the Charity Retail Awards was announced this week. 

There’s some amazing people and organisations in there – congratulations to all those who’ve been shortlisted.  And a special shout out to all our friends and clients in the list:  Caroline Peach & St Barnabas Hospice, Charlotte Greenwood & Isabel Hospice,Susan Cooper from Highland Hospice,Chris White & NCBI, Oxfam,Derwen College,Alan Haynes from All Aboard,Liz Booyse from City Hospice, The Air Ambulance Service, St Giles Hospice and Debra. Good luck everyone!

Charity Retail Awards shortlist 2023 | Charity Retail Association

Price of Vintage survey needs you!

Dr Esther Pugh from Leeds Beckett University is researching pricing in vintage stores. If you sell vintage in your operation and can spare a few minutes, she’d love your input. The survey is here 

‘The Price of Vintage’ – Developing a Framework for the Pricing of Vintage Clothing

Community welcomes Salvation Army superstore

How lovely to read all the positive messages around a new Satcol donation centre in Stoke. A far cry from the days when charity shops were lumped in with bookmakers and pawn shops as an unwelcome presence on the high street.  We wish the Salvation Army well with their new store. 

Charity shop set to open on Stoke-on-Trent retail park | Stoke-on-Trent Live

Young Lives vs Cancer to close its retail operation

We were sad to read this news this week. We send our best to all the Young Lives vs Cancer staff and volunteers affected by the closure and hope you find new roles within the many other fabulous charities operating in the south west.

Charity shops bear cost of living brunt as 13 branches axed | Devon Live

News from Australia

Good news for Victoria charity shops as Government backs down on tax

The decision from the Victoria Government not to apply a waste levy on charity shops in the state is good news all round, and an acknowledgement of the important role charity shops play in the circular economy

A relief for charity shops | Berwick Star News

Volunteer with Vinnies Victoria!

We loved this wee volunteering video from Vinnies Victoria – diverse, upbeat and a simple yet strong message.  Video is a great way to get your message across. 

Vinnies Victoria Volunteering | Linkedin

Can giant charity shops stop fast fashion in its tracks? | The Big Issue

Pride Competition announced

Details of this year’s Pride display competition were announced this week. We loved your displays so much last year, we just knew we had to do it again! All the details are in the link – and if you’re looking for inspiration, our 2 for 1 offer means our Inclusion & Engagement VM webinar later this month is the place to go. 

Get ready for the charity retail Pride display competition 2023! | The Charity Retail Consultancy

Welcome all! Using Visual merchandising to drive inclusivity and community engagement through Pride month and beyond | 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

Pride Competition announced

Details of this year’s Pride display competition were announced this week. We loved your displays so much last year, we just knew we had to do it again! All the details are in the link – and if you’re looking for inspiration, our 2 for 1 offer means our Inclusion & Engagement VM webinar later this month is the place to go. 

Get ready for the charity retail Pride display competition 2023! | The Charity Retail Consultancy

Welcome all! Using Visual merchandising to drive inclusivity and community engagement through Pride month and beyond – 18.5.23 | Charity Retail Learning

Secondhand market predictions

An interesting read from Thredup and the US, with lots of good links too. Lots of focus on commercial partnerships and not a mention of thrift shops! We need to make sure as a sector we hold our space. 

ThredUp CEO on Resale Economy: ‘Math Says This Stuff Is Super Hard’ | Yahoo

“How to break up with fast fashion” author, Lauren Bravo, sings the praises of charity shops

After 5 years volunteering with Crisis and a lifelong love of secondhand, Lauren Bravo tells us why she believes charity shops are he romantic heroes of the high street 

Why charity shops are the romantic heroes of the high street | Evening Standard

An eco-friendly Coronation party – courtesy of your local charity shops!

Some great tips here for making sure there’s as little waste as possible during the weekend’s celebrations. Good to share with your customers.

Top tips for making your Jubilee party eco-friendly (lancashire.gov.uk)

You never know what you might find….

How lovely is this story, about a rowing club trophy found in the RSPCA Burton shop? Everyone’s a winner! 

Man astonished at history behind £10 ‘jug’ bought from Burton charity shop – Staffordshire Live (staffordshire-live.co.uk)

More About Us

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)

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 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

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

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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