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

Get ready for a pre-loved Christmas! 

All the signs are that pre-loved will be the first choice for shoppers this Christma – for gifts, home wear and party clothes. Make sure you’re ready for a bumber Golden Quarter – and if you make a great impression with some of the shoppers who are new to charity retail and they’ll keep coming back all year round

Christmas 2022: Parents do away with gifts for adults and shoppers cut back on buying non-essential goods | inews

Recommended:

Christmas Visual Merchandising Webinar – practical, inspirational tips & ideas for making a magical & profitable Christmas | Charity Retail Learning

Charity Shop Survey – the results are in

We’re so fortunate as a sector to have brilliant insights from the CRA and from the annual Charity Shop survey by Civil Society. The latter has just been published and one of the headlines is a decrease in cash donation via shops – as well as charities starting to see a decline in donations of stock – both in terms of quantity and quality. We will need to work hard to attract to goods we need to meet the rise in demand from shoppers

Charity shops lose over £2m in cash donations in three years | Civil Society

Recommended:

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

Selling lottery tickets via your shops

Increasingly we’re seeing more joined up work between retail and fundraising teams – a fantastic move as pooling talents and working together can really elevate results. Here’s an example from St Catherine’s Hospice in North Yorkshire, launching single lottery tickets sales via their chain of shops

Saint Catherine’s launches lottery – chance to win up to £20k | York Press

Recommended:

Internal Engagement – Closing the Gap Between Your Retail Teams and the Wider Charity | Charity Retail Learning

Big Issue showcases charity retail

A nice article about where to find some of the UK’s best charity shops, featuring- Oxfam,Crisis,Traid, Mary’s Living & Giving (from Save the Children), British Heart Foundation& Mind

You can also search for charity shops in your area via  the CRA’s Find a shop – make sure your shops are featured and your details up to date if you’re a CRA member

Charities with shops: Where to find Britain’s best charity shops | The Big Issue

Mind store launched in Carnaby Street shopping district

We’ve loved seeing the coverage of this fab new store in the heart of London’s trendy shopping district. Once again showing that preloved is definitely the coolest way to shop. Make sure you visit if you’re passing!

Carnaby to welcome first permanent charity shop | Retail Bulletin | The Retail Bulletin

More About Us

The Charity Retail Consultancy helps charity retailers and other non-profits (including museums and galleries) develop their retail operation, improve their product offer and people, and improve their profitability.

The Charity Retail Learning provides online & face to face training developed by charity retailers, for charity retailers. We work in partnership with the Charity Retail Association to deliver Charity Retail Learning to their members and beyond.

The Charity Retail Coach offers a first class executive coaching service via our Associate, Dan O’Driscoll.

To find out more or to speak to us about how we can help you, please get in touch:

hello@thecharityretailconsultancy.co.uk

Jayne – 07598 243210

Vicki – 07985 574904

Follow us on social media:

Kat Maclennan, 
Visual Merchandising Associate– The Charity Retail Consultancy

Click here to learn more about our upcoming webinar:

We’re saving the planet! Using Visual Merchandising to tell your sustainability story – 19.10.22 | Charity Retail Learning

Book a place on the webinar now and receive our Buy-1-Get-1-Free deal

As Charity shop retailers we inherently understand the sustainability benefits that charity shopping brings to our community and the environment.  However, this message is sometimes challenging to communicate to customers, and we can often take for granted that everyone understands how even small actions can help to save our planet.

Oxfam

All brands are fighting to promote their sustainability credentials to customers, from Ebay advertising their ‘preloved’ clothes to a young consumer via Love Island sponsorship to Cos and Lulu Lemon offering resale programs and encouraging a full circle marketplace.

This is all good news for our exciting sector, ensuring sustainability is front and centre in customers’ minds and charity retail is obviously the easiest and best way to shop in a truly worthwhile way.

How can we use imaginative VM to highlight these powerful benefits?  I believe we can have a three-pronged approach to this….

Firstly, to communicate how buying second hand helps the environment through saving materials, energy and waste.  Can you visually demonstrate in your window how much water is saved by purchasing jeans from your shop and maybe run the theme throughout your store, creating a destination denim area?  Or explain how shopping locally saves transportation damage to the environment showing the distance certain products have travelled?

Secondly, highlight the ‘second life’ customers can give to your donated product?  Customising and repurposing clothes and furniture, visually showing how pieces can fit into home and lifestyle through VM and workshops is great.  Or tell the amazing story of key items, a

St Michael’s Hospice , Herefordshire

special wedding dress, record collection, or piece of furniture, who owned them before, where have they been, what have they seen?

Finally, it is incredibly important to be credible from a green perspective in everything we do, from the re use of packaging to the

construction and design of window displays and shop fits, we must be telling the same sustainable message and communicating this to customers.

If you would like more tips on how Visual Merchandising can help tell your sustainability story along with an understanding of the possible barriers to success and possible solutions to help achieve your goals, join me on 19^th October for a Charity Retail Learning webinar.

Look forward to seeing you there!

More About Us

The Charity Retail Consultancy helps charity retailers and other non-profits (including museums and galleries) develop their retail operation, improve their product offer and people, and improve their profitability.

The Charity Retail Learning provides online & face to face training developed by charity retailers, for charity retailers. We work in partnership with the Charity Retail Association to deliver Charity Retail Learning to their members and beyond.

The Charity Retail Coach offers a first class executive coaching service via our Associate, Dan O’Driscoll.

To find out more or to speak to us about how we can help you, please get in touch:

hello@thecharityretailconsultancy.co.uk

Jayne – 07598 243210

Vicki – 07985 574904

Follow us on social media:

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

Reaching out to students

Fab to see charity shops front and centre in this article for new students in Bristol. If you have a local student population, make sure you’re in touch with the colleges & universities to help them spread the word about your shops – or get in touch with other charity retailers in your area and make a coordinated approach for an even bigger impact

Bristol on a Budget: A fresher’s low-cost living guide | Epigram

Recommended:

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

British Retail Consortium encouraging members to work with charity retailers

The British Retail Consortium announced it has developed new guidelines to help keep clothing in circulation. Developed by a combination of retailers, resale platforms, charity retailers and other industry experts, the voluntary initiative outlines steps retailers can take to adhere to the principles of circular economy for used clothes. Make sure your charity is in touch with local and national retailers to take advantage of their interest in the circular economy and forge new partnerships

BRC launches guidelines for used clothing | Lets Recycle

Recommended:

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

How much?!

Lots of you will have seen the news about a Ming vase featured on Antiques Roadshow, picked up for a few pounds in a charity shop. It’s gutting for the sector when we see these stories – but perhaps it also drives new customers in search of that elusive mega-bargain too. Reaching out to local dealers, specialists and auctioneers can sometimes help find the right price for more unusual items. We’ll soon be launching a new course on pricing so keep your eyes peeled for that

BBC Antiques Roadshow guest stunned as he’s told charity shop purchase of less than £8 is worth thousands | Manchester Evening News

Shopping secondhand online – new tech from the US

An interesting read, demonstrating that secondhand ecommerce isn’t standing still for one second just now

Gently’s shopping aggregator aims to remove friction of locating secondhand apparel | TechCrunch

Recommended:

Introduction to ecommerce | Charity Retail Learning

Happy 75th Birthday, Oxfam Broad St

The shop often cited as the first modern day charity shop – set up by Joe Mitty in Oxford – celebrities its 75th anniversary this year

Oxford charity shop to celebrate 75th anniversary | Oxford Mail

More About Us

The Charity Retail Consultancy helps charity retailers and other non-profits (including museums and galleries) develop their retail operation, improve their product offer and people, and improve their profitability.

The Charity Retail Learning provides online & face to face training developed by charity retailers, for charity retailers. We work in partnership with the Charity Retail Association to deliver Charity Retail Learning to their members and beyond.

The Charity Retail Coach offers a first class executive coaching service via our Associate, Dan O’Driscoll.

To find out more or to speak to us about how we can help you, please get in touch:

hello@thecharityretailconsultancy.co.uk

Jayne – 07598 243210

Vicki – 07985 574904

Follow us on social media:

 ;

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

Thanks to the CRA for a great conference

It was so good to be in Harrogate last week, meeting up with so many brilliant charity retailers and suppliers. We hope you all had as good as time as we did.  Thank you to all the team at the CRA for an amazing couple of days – and for everything else they do for our sector.

Recommended:

Safeguarding | Charity Retail Learning (Free for all CRA Members)

It’s Sustainable Fashion Week!

It’s been great seeing some of the fab events and activities going on for SFW this year. This event will only grow and grow – make sure you take part next year if you’re not doing so in ‘22.

Sustainable Fashion Week launches in Bristol this weekend | Epigram

Our favourite so far is St Oswald’s Hospice in Newcastle who are telling the story behind fast fashion & showing how to style second hand in their shops and on their social media

St Oswald’s Retail | Facebook

In celebration of Sustainable Fashion Week, we are also promoting our upcoming Sustainability based Visual Merchandising Webinar. Book a place on the webinar now and take advantage of our Buy-1-Get-1-Free special offer!

We’re saving the planet! Using Visual Merchandising to tell your sustainability story – 19.10.22 | Charity Retail Learning

New stats from the CRA

The Charity Retail Association have released their latest Quarterly Market Analysis. If you’re a member you can check out their fantastic research covering a wide range of subjects. If you’re not a member – join up today!

The headlines are that staffing remains a challenge, transaction numbers – and as a consequence, income – have risen steeply, online selling remains strong and donation quality has declined slightly. 

Executive summary – Charity Retail Association- QMA Analysis Q2 2022.pdf

Secondhand furniture hits the headlines

This Big Issue article highlighting furniture shops run by charities is a handy reference point and a reminder that as the cost-of-living crisis impacts on us all, making sure your community knows what you sell and where is even more important. Use your social media, local press, charity newsletters and ambassadors to put the word out

Where to find charity furniture shops | The Big Issue

Recommended:

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

Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland takes steps to make their stores more accessible

We loved reading about how CHSS are using new technology to improve access for people with disabilities to their store in Wishaw. We heard from Steph Edusei at Conference about how accessibility is so important – and this is one example of how we can make a difference

Wishaw charity shop using new tool to make shopping more accessible for disabled customers | Daily Record

More About Us

The Charity Retail Consultancy helps charity retailers and other non-profits (including museums and galleries) develop their retail operation, improve their product offer and people, and improve their profitability.

The Charity Retail Learning provides online & face to face training developed by charity retailers, for charity retailers. We work in partnership with the Charity Retail Association to deliver Charity Retail Learning to their members and beyond.

The Charity Retail Coach offers a first class executive coaching service via our Associate, Dan O’Driscoll.

To find out more or to speak to us about how we can help you, please get in touch:

hello@thecharityretailconsultancy.co.uk

Jayne – 07598 243210

Vicki – 07985 574904

Follow us on social media:

 ;

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

The Charity Retail Marketeer

We’re introducing a brand new service to our Consultancy.

The Charity Retail Marketeer will be bringing you charity retail specific support on all things marketing related. And to make sure we’re offering you exactly what you need, we’ve set up a quick survey to gather your ideas.

It only takes a couple of minutes to complete – and one lucky respondent will win our brand new Charity Retail Marketing Essentials course.

The Good Store

Our friends at Groundwork London recently opened a sustainable department store on South Molton St, London. The store is a whole new concept, offering sustainable products – either secondhand, upcycled or ethically and sustainably made. Traid are partnering with Groundwork to bring a curated clothing offer to the store. Definitely worth checking out! 

Sustainable department store The Good Store opens in London – Retail Gazette

CRL course: Green Credentials for Charity Retailers

Have you got your collectables pricing right? 

TV auctioneer, Charles Hanson, is finding underpriced treasures for sale in charity shops and sharing them with his followers on Twitter. Great to drive people into our shops – but not so great if we don’t recognise those donations that have greater value. His Twitter account is definitely worth following to help grow your knowledge of antiques and collectables

TV auctioneer shares which £1.50 charity shop finds are worth £100 – Daily Record

Volunteers needed….. 

We’re all feeling the pinch volunteer wise, since the pandemic. This article shows how the Home Start Aberdeen charity shop supports really vital services in these challenging times, but is being limited due to lack of volunteers. It’s really important to consider fresh ways of attracting volunteers to our sector – with the general interest in sustainability and Secondhand September about to start, now is a great time to get those messages out there

‘We need YOU’: More volunteers needed to meet charity shop demand (pressandjournal.co.uk)

CRL courses: Volunteer Recruitment & Volunteer Induction &  Recognition

Salvation Army joins the superstore movement

Another fabulous superstore opened this week -this time from the Salvation Army in Redcar. This article not only focuses on the shop opening, but how it can help people struggling with the cost of living crisis – and appealing for stock. All great messages to be getting out now.

From furniture to clothing: The huge new charity shop hoping to help with the cost of living crisis – Teesside Live (gazettelive.co.uk)

CRL: Right Shop, right stock

Conference is almost here!

The highlight of the year – the Charity Retail Association Conference is just a few weeks away. Have you booked your place yet? It already has more delegates attending than ever before, so don’t miss out on being there. Booking closes on Monday 5th September.

 We’re thrilled that our friend & Tik Tok sensation Jen – aka Charity Shop Girl – will be co-hosting the award ceremony too. See you there!

Charity retail conference and exhibition 2022 – Charity Retail Association

More About Us

The Charity Retail Consultancy helps charity retailers and other non-profits (including museums and galleries) develop their retail operation, improve their product offer and people, and improve their profitability.

The Charity Retail Academy provides online & face to face training developed by charity retailers, for charity retailers. We work in partnership with the Charity Retail Association to deliver Charity Retail Learning to their members and beyond.

The Charity Retail Coach offers a first class executive coaching service via our Associate, Dan O’Driscoll.

To find out more or to speak to us about how we can help you, please get in touch:

hello@thecharityretailconsultancy.co.uk

Jayne – 07598 243210

Vicki – 07985 574904

Follow us on social media:

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 – lots about community engagement this week, so here’s the link to our course to give you more help and ideas Charity retail community engagement – events, social media & telling your story – Charity Retail Learning

Second hand sixth former

It’s great to see so many young people actively wanting to wear second hand clothing. This story from Jersey is fab – could you challenge the 6th form pupils in your area to buy their school wardrobe from your shop?

Jersey student goes second-hand for sixth form wardrobe – BBC News

Weston Hospicecare offers bargains and access to services in its new stores

We’re seeing an increasing number of superstores popping up across the country. As well as being able to offer a huge range of product, they also provide the opportunity to talk about and deliver charity’s services on the high street. Check out this article to hear about what Weston Hospicecare are doing in their area

Huge new charity shop to open in Weston-super-Mare – Somerset Live

Charity Retail Learning course:

Charity collaboration – how your retail team and wider charity colleagues can work together to generate great results – Charity Retail Learning

Local community welcomes its newest store

We love the branding and messaging around this new store from the The Hospice of St Francis. It really brings the community feel to the store – something that’s so important to shoppers nowadays. How does your charity shop make that connection with its local community? 

Amersham Owned charity shop official opening approaches | Bucks Free Press

Charity Retail Learning course:

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

Making retail an experience

This event by Royal Trinity Hospice shops in London is a great example of how to make high street  retail feel exciting and interesting. Events and engagement really help to drive customers off their devices and into your stores. 

Brands and retailers donate stock to Royal Trinity Hospice pre-loved fashion charity event (fashionunited.in)

This piece also talks about the Hospice’s brand partners scheme – a brilliant way to drive high quality donations to its stores.

New & nearly new donations from brand partners raise over £1mn in a year for hospice – UK Fundraising

Charity Retail Learning course:

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

Sustainable Fashion Week programme launched

It’s great to see Royal Trinity Hospice, CRA, Brandon Trust, Thriftify, Children’s Air Ambulance, Hospicecare  and Barnardo’s all taking part in SFW this year. 

Sustainable Fashion Week – What’s On

Charity Retail Learning courses:

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

Green credentials for charity retailers – Charity Retail Learning

National Thrift Shop Day

To celebrate all things Thrift, August 17th was National Thrift Shop Day in the US – here’s a taster of what it’s all about

 National Thrift Shop Day: How to Observe at Goodwill and Other Stores (greenmatters.com)

More About Us

The Charity Retail Consultancy helps charity retailers and other non-profits (including museums and galleries) develop their retail operation, improve their product offer and people, and improve their profitability.

The Charity Retail Academy provides online & face to face training developed by charity retailers, for charity retailers. We work in partnership with the Charity Retail Association to deliver Charity Retail Learning to their members and beyond.

The Charity Retail Coach offers a first class executive coaching service via our Associate, Dan O’Driscoll.

To find out more or to speak to us about how we can help you, please get in touch:

hello@thecharityretailconsultancy.co.uk

Jayne – 07598 243210

Vicki – 07985 574904

Follow us on social media:

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

New report on circular fashion

Recurate released a report this week called Circular Fashion is Now – How to win new fans, inspire brand loyalty and save the planet. A really interesting read for our sector.  

Circular Fashion is Now | Recurate

You can read the full report here: Circular Fashion is Now

Recommended:

We’re saving the planet! Using Visual Merchandising to tell your sustainability story – 19.10.22 | Charity Retail Learning

A trip round some North West charity shops

Some lovely mentions here for the YMCA, Southport Lifeboat, Queen’s Court, MIND, & Barnardo’s

Lancashire bargain-hunter shares top hacks for finding cheap designer clothes in the least suspected places | LancsLive

Approach your local paper to help promote your shops Social media is great – but don’t forget that plenty of people still read their local papers online. This article about St David’s Hospice shops is a great example of working with the local press to highlight what’s on offer

St David’s Hospice: Help the planet by supporting ethical retail | InYourArea Community

Recommended:

One Item Three Ways – with Jen the Charity Shop Girl | YouTube

Western Australia starts to remove collection bins

This is an interesting development. We know that clothing banks can create an eyesore if not managed properly, and sometimes the stock isn’t that fantastic, but the removal of banks in WA may be a sign of what’s to come across the rest of Australia – and perhaps in the UK too. This article details some of the issues that various charities such as Good Sammy, Alinea, & St Vincent de Paul  are facing as a result.

WA charity shops run low on stock as local governments and others remove donation bins | ABC News

Tommy Hilfiger moves into the reuse market

Yet another mainstream designer is making the most of the increasing interest in reuse. The charity retail sector needs to work hard to ensure we hold onto our supply of product as we see more and more examples of this kind of commercial  partnership

Tommy Hilfiger Gets Into The Secondhand Business With ThredUp | Nylon

Recommended:

Green credentials for charity retailers | Charity Retail Learning

Thriftify expands following large investment

Good to see fellow CRA Corporate member, Thriftify expanding and recruiting following a 1.6 million euro investment

Charity retail platform Thriftify to create 20 jobs following €1.6m investment | Silicon Republic

More About Us

The Charity Retail Consultancy helps charity retailers and other non-profits (including museums and galleries) develop their retail operation, improve their product offer and people, and improve their profitability.

The Charity Retail Learning provides online & face to face training developed by charity retailers, for charity retailers. We work in partnership with the Charity Retail Association to deliver Charity Retail Learning to their members and beyond.

The Charity Retail Coach offers a first class executive coaching service via our Associate, Dan O’Driscoll.

To find out more or to speak to us about how we can help you, please get in touch:

hello@thecharityretailconsultancy.co.uk

Jayne – 07598 243210

Vicki – 07985 574904

Follow us on social media:

;

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’re also now going to 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

Sustainable, secondhand September approaches!

This time of year is always exciting as we approach some key events in the charity retail calendar.

Firstly, we have Secondhand September for the whole month – set up by Oxfam in 2019, it’s a great way to engage with customers, donors and volunteers.

Second Hand September | Oxfam GB

Recommended:

We’re saving the planet! Using Visual Merchandising to tell your sustainability story – 19.10.22 | Charity Retail Learning

Sustainable Fashion Week

Sustainable Fashion Week also happens in September – and this year it’s gone large! 

Sponsored by our very own Charity retail Association, the week showcases sustainable fashion in the UK – and invites al charity retailers to take part. You can read more about the launch in Bristol here:

UK Sustainable Fashion Week to host first show in Bristol | Fashion United

….and how to get involved here:

Charity Retail Association sponsors Sustainable Fashion Week 2022 | Charity Retail Association

Here’s a great example of promoting the event and gaining community engagement  from Florence Nightingale Hospice Charity:

Buckinghamshire hospice charity partners with local schools for Sustainable Fashion Week | Charity Retail Association

Recommended:

Green credentials for charity retailers | Charity Retail Learning

Charity Retail Conference and Awards

Finally in September, it’s the highlight of the year – the Charity Retail Conference and Awards.

Have you booked your place yet? It’s a fantastic two days, not to be missed – bursting with new ideas, information and inspiration. Book your place today:

Charity retail conference and exhibition 2022 | Charity Retail Association

More About Us

The Charity Retail Consultancy helps charity retailers and other non-profits (including museums and galleries) develop their retail operation, improve their product offer and people, and improve their profitability.

The Charity Retail Learning provides online & face to face training developed by charity retailers, for charity retailers. We work in partnership with the Charity Retail Association to deliver Charity Retail Learning to their members and beyond.

The Charity Retail Coach offers a first class executive coaching service via our Associate, Dan O’Driscoll.

To find out more or to speak to us about how we can help you, please get in touch:

hello@thecharityretailconsultancy.co.uk

Jayne – 07598 243210

Vicki – 07985 574904

Follow us on social media:

;

 



Vicki Burnett, 
Senior Consultant – The Charity Retail Consultancy

As someone working in the charity retail sector, I’m often given donations from family, friends and neighbours to drop off “next time you’re in a shop”. If you work in the sector too, you’ll know how it goes.

I’m always delighted to help – after all, where would charity shops be without stock to sell? And with the growth of peer to peer and commercial second hand selling, quality product is going to be harder to come by, so we need everything we can get.

So – last week, a neighbour who has limited mobility kindly gave me 3 big boxes of lovely stock to donate to the charity of my choice.

Donating my goods to a charity shop

I tried…..

Shop number one – I pulled up outside and saw a sign in the window “Sorry – we can’t accept donations as we’re short of staff”

Disappointing, but at least I didn’t get it out of my car.

Shop number two – I parked outside, lugged a box through and was told they weren’t taking any donations as they were already “overwhelmed”

I was cross by now. The shop didn’t look “overwhelmed” – and I have to say, in over 30 years of working in charity shops, I struggle to remember a time in one where there was absolutely no way they could accommodate any more stock.

I left, pretty annoyed, thinking that I’d never donate to that shop again.

Shop number three – a large superstore with furniture as well as clothing. I followed the signs to the donation drop off point, winding through lots of furniture that didn’t make my journey with a large, heavy box very easy.

On reaching the till, the staff member behind it was chatting to two others on the customer side – both with their backs to me. They eventually moved away and the person behind the till said “just put it there” and waved in the direction of a walkway. I was concerned about blocking this but he shrugged and said “put it anywhere”. I was thanked at this point – but no ask about Gift Aid and I certainly didn’t feel like my donation was appreciated.

Once again I left feeling fed up and dejected.

Surely, we can do better than this?

What donating goods means for the donor

Giving something away is an act of kindness. It takes time, effort and energy to donate goods. It sometimes involves giving away things that belonged to a loved one we have lost. It can be emotional, hard work, complicated….. the least we can do is ensure we accept the goods our donors bring and let them know how much we appreciate their support.

How can we do better?

So, how do we make the most of this generosity and leave our donors feeling great about donating their goods?

1. Do everything you can to never turn stock away. We know it can be tough, but saying no is a real no-no.

Things that can help are:

• • Make sure there’s sufficient allocated space for incoming stock in your back room. Using stock pens helps keep things safe and makes the most of the space as you can stack goods higher
  • Keep your stock moving – regular rotation of unsold stock drives teams to keep filling up. Goods shouldn’t be out for more than 2 weeks, so keep on sorting and moving the stock through at all times
  • Have a plan for when you get lots of stock – can you pass it onto other stores in your chain, if you have them? Can you work with corporate partners to have temporary storage nearby? Planning in advance can really help relieve those super busy times
  • Have a promotion – make all items (or those you might have lots of) a single, great value price to help stimulate sales and make space for new stock

2. Let your donors know where to come to drop off their donations. Signage can help – and bear in mind they will need a clear route through the shop if they’re carrying large bags or boxes. You can use your website and social media to let them know in advance too.
3. Make sure your shop floor team are trained in how to make your donor feel special:
   • Say thank you with eye contact and a big smile,
   • Refer to and treat the goods with respect – it’s a donation, not “stuff”.  Don’t ask the donor to “dump it”. And if you handle it, handle it with care.
   • Tell the donor what a difference their donation will make – how it can help your charity’s beneficiaries
4. Gift Aid it!

• • Always ask if the donor can Gift Aid the donation – help your team find a form of words they’re comfortable with. I always start the conversation with “Are you a part of our Gift Aid scheme?”
  • Have a simple and efficient sign up process – and say thank you again.

Every donation brings the opportunity to engage and delight your donor, as well as raise much needed funds. Do it right and your donors can become long term supporters and advocates of your charity.

How we can help

We have several click-through courses available that can help with the different aspects of accepting donations:

Engaging Your Customers – Creating a brilliant customer experience – Charity Retail Learning

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

Essential Stock Processes – from back room to shop floor – Charity Retail Learning

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

We also run face to face courses in customer service, incorporating mystery shops in advance of the day to have real life, relevant scenarios to include in your training

charityretaillearning.com

To find out more, drop us an email or give us a call on 07985 574904

More About Us

The Charity Retail Consultancy helps charity retailers and other non-profits (including museums and galleries) develop their retail operation, improve their product offer and people, and improve their profitability.

The Charity Retail Learning provides online & face to face training developed by charity retailers, for charity retailers. We work in partnership with the Charity Retail Association to deliver Charity Retail Learning to their members and beyond.

The Charity Retail Coach offers a first class executive coaching service via our Associate, Dan O’Driscoll.

To find out more or to speak to us about how we can help you, please get in touch:

hello@thecharityretailconsultancy.co.uk

Jayne – 07598 243210

Vicki – 07985 574904

Follow us on social media:

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’re also now going to 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

New charity retail insights from NFP Research

NFP’s latest research gives us some great headlines to help promote charity retail and engage with new markets

Charity shops in 2022: five observations from our research | nfp Research

Students collaborate with charity shops for sustainable fashion

A great initiative between the University of Chester, SHARE, and Save the Children. Showing an amazing way in which charities can partner with their local community to promote sustainable and affordable fashion.

University of Chester Students aim to make a difference with charity shop fashion collection | FE News

Recommended:

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

Thriftify competition gathers pace

A Thrift Off competition run by ecommerce platform, Thriftify, The Charity Shop Gift Card and She Wears Fashion are all collabing to find the best thrifter out there. We’re thrilled that our friend Jen – aka Charity Shop Girl won her round and is through the next stage. We can’t wait to see how the competition progresses!

 New superstores from Weston Hospicecare & Barnardo’s

We’re seeing more and more superstores popping up across the country. With the opportunity to sell a full range of product – and to offer charity services and engagement activities, they’re a great way to raise profile and income.

Huge new charity shop to open in Somerset town | Somerset Live

A huge charity superstore has opened at Swansea’s Parc Tawe | Wales Online

Recommended:

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

Retail with Impact – CRA conference bookings flying off the shelves!

Have you booked your place at the charity retail event of the year? The CRA conference is always a brilliant couple of days – this year it’s in beautiful Harrogate and ticket sales are going great guns! Make sure you book your place and don’t miss out. 

Charity retail conference and exhibition 2022 | Charity Retail Association

More About Us

The Charity Retail Consultancy helps charity retailers and other non-profits (including museums and galleries) develop their retail operation, improve their product offer and people, and improve their profitability.

The Charity Retail Learning provides online & face to face training developed by charity retailers, for charity retailers. We work in partnership with the Charity Retail Association to deliver Charity Retail Learning to their members and beyond.

The Charity Retail Coach offers a first class executive coaching service via our Associate, Dan O’Driscoll.

To find out more or to speak to us about how we can help you, please get in touch:

hello@thecharityretailconsultancy.co.uk

Jayne – 07598 243210

Vicki – 07985 574904

Follow us on social media: