What is a charity shop?

A charity shop is a retail shop that sells used clothing and other items to the public to raise money for charities. Charity shops usually sell second-hand items, though some may also stock new items. They are often staffed by volunteers. Items in charity shops are usually donated to the shop by people who want to support the charity. Since a charity shop doesn't have to spend much to acquire its inventory, it can sell items at low prices yet still make enough money to cover shop operating costs and use the profits to benefit charities.

Who staffs a charity shop?

Most charity shop staff are volunteers. Larger charity shops may have a manager who receives a small salary, but the majority of charity shops rely entirely on volunteer staff.

Where does a charity shop's inventory come from?

Generally, local residents who wish to support a charity will donate clothing or other items they no longer need to a charity shop. This arrangement benefits everyone: donators can clear out unneeded items from their homes, charity shops can resell the items to raise money for their charities and shoppers can find things the need at low prices. Charity shops prevent unwanted items from going to waste in landfills, which greatly benefits the environment.

Who benefits from the money I might spend at a charity shop?

The end beneficiaries of the money you might spend at a charity shop will vary depending on the charity that the shop is affiliated with. For example, OxFam, a charity that operates shops in the UK, aims to reduce global poverty. Therefore, the money you spend in an OxFam shop would benefit people living in poverty in many parts of the world. A charity shop run by the British Heart Foundation would use the money the shop brings in to support people in the UK who from heart disease and to fund public health education efforts. Although it's often easy to figure out the people who ultimately benefit from a charity shop's effort, all charity shops should clearly explain who benefits from the money the shop brings in.

If I buy clothes at a charity shop, does that mean I will buying clothing meant for the less fortunate?

No. This is a fairly common misconception people have about charity shops. Many people worry that the clothes or items in a charity shop are meant for the less fortunate to wear and use. While charity shops are a cost-effective place to purchase clothing and other necessities for people with low incomes, the items in a charity shop are not earmarked for the less fortunate. Charities distribute clothing and other necessities to the less fortunate through other channels. In fact, charity shops want as many people as possible to shop there and to donate their unneeded items to the shops. The more people who shop or donate, the better able a charity is to help the less fortunate.

Are charity shop goods clean?

While the goods in a charity shop are generally not new (some shops do carry some new items, however), they will all be clean. Part of what charity shop volunteers do is inspect each donated item before they place it on the shop floor to make sure it functions and is clean and fit to sell.

I received a leaflet from someone who offered to come collect my unneeded goods for a charity shop. Is this legitimate? How can I tell a genuine charity shop collector from an imposter?

While most charity shop collection services are legitimate, there have been a number of cases in the UK recently in which imposters pose as charity shop collectors. These imposters distribute leaflets offering to pick up your used items on behalf of a charity shop, but in fact will resell your donated items for their own profit. The easiest way to check if a charity shop collection service is genuine is to look for the registered charity number on the leaflet. Keep in mind that this is different from a registered company number. A registered company is not always a charity, but all registered charities should have a charity registration number.

Can I volunteer at a charity shop?

Almost all charity shops welcome new volunteers. If you'd like to volunteer at a charity shop, speak to the current staff of the shop. They will be able to tell you more about what being a volunteer involves, and will be able to tell you how to apply to volunteer there.