Jumping on the charity shop boom

Lucinda and Alina visit London’s Portobello Road to peruse the rails and speak to the managers of some of the capital’s boutique charity shops about their views on the rising popularity of thrift shopping.

The Charity Retail Association has reported a 10 per cent year-on-year increase in charity shop sales, bucking the wider trend of declining high street retail. The studio discussion features the CRA’s chief executive, Robin Osterley, and Libby Gordon, chief executive of Fara UK, to discuss how charities can take advantage of this growing consumer appetite.

Robin outlines the four different categories of charity shopper, including an expanding group of consumers prioritising sustainability, and suggests ways in which charities can increase their appeal to the respective types.

Libby describes the creative ways in which Fara, which supports children and young people in Romania, has used its shops to increase its visibility and grow communities, including through interactions with social media influencers. She also discusses some of the changes Fara is making in response to rising overhead costs, such as reviewing the shops’ open door policy.

In the Good News Bulletin, Lucinda conducts a mini review of the range of 2023 charity calendars, with a tribute to the roundabouts of Nuneaton among the usual trend of nudes.

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