Charity Retail News Round-Up – week commencing 31.10.22

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 Shop Gift Card gathers pace

We were delighted to see our friends at St Giles Hospice go live with the Gift Card recently. It’s such a fantastic scheme – we encourage all CRA members to join and be part of a scheme that will be as much of a household name as Book Tokens before long!

St Giles Hospice signs up to gift card scheme for charity shops | Lichfield Live

Everyone’s embracing secondhand

News from the US where affluent shoppers are becoming increasingly more likely to shop secondhand, driven by the desire to be more sustainable

Resale revolution: Affluent shoppers embrace secondhand shopping | CNBC

Also this article gives a great overview of some of the activity by mainstream retail moving into the pre loved market

Rise Of The Resale Business In The Retail World | Forbes

Costs of running stores escalate

We are all feeling the pinch as the cost of living crisis takes hold. This article about The Betty Ennis Foundation Charity in Coventry highlights the struggle many charities are facing to cover increased bills. Thankfully the rise in customers and those wanting – or needing – to shop in charity retail will help to offset some of the extra costs, but there’s no doubt that times are hard just now

‘The cost of running our charity shop foodbank has hit £4,000 – it’s frightening’ | Mirror Online

M&S champion flexible retail hours for staff

Some great ideas here from M&S – so important when facing the challenges of getting the right staff, and being up against other sectors where flexible and home working is more simple.

M&S offers 4-day week for store staff in flexible working drive | Retail Gazette

NCBI revisited…

This is an older article, but one that still resonates and has some great sustainability messages. Rosie Henson has since moved over to CRUK and NCBI is now headed up by the fab Beverley Scallan – and continues to do brilliant work in Ireland.

‘Lighter wallet, clearer conscience’: The planet-friendly impact of charity-shop shopping | Image

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

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