Charity Shop Home campaign shows that stylish interiors don’t need to cost the earth

The Charity Retail Association has been showcasing the best preloved furniture and homewares to be found in charity shops through its Charity Shop Home social media campaign. 

Charity Shop Home first took place in 2023, shining a spotlight on the fantastic range of homewares available in charity retail, with tips on how to style sustainable finds. The campaign features entries from charities across the UK, which are shared across the Charity Retail Association’s social media channels.

Charity Shop Home, sponsored this year by Wil-U, has gone from strength to strength, with more than 30 charities and charity shop fans taking part in the campaign, including Oxfam, Barnardo’s, Age UK and Emmaus UK.

Credit: A Charity Shop Home entry from Emmaus Sheffield 

Robin Osterley, Chief Executive of the Charity Retail Association, said:

“Charity Shop Home is one of our most popular campaigns, as it gives charities the chance to showcase their brilliant visual merchandising skills, as well as the quality of sustainable homewares and furniture on offer. Charities put enormous effort into making their shop displays appealing by creating stylish room set-ups to inspire shoppers.

“Buying preloved furniture and homewares from charity shops is a great way to support good causes and show that interior design doesn’t need to cost the earth.

“We’ve been blown away by the high standard of contributions we’ve received this year, and I’d like to thank all of the charities and charity shop advocates who have taken part in Charity Shop Home 2024!”

Credit: Charity Shop Home entry from Marie McDonald, @charitybeginsat

Richard Dorf, CEO of Wil-U – An easier way to do good, said:

“We believe supporting a pre-loved lifestyle is another great way to do good, which is why it’s been important for us to support the CRA’s Charity Shop Home campaign. It’s been fantastic to see so many charities and individuals getting involved to promote sustainability and innovation in the sector.”

Charley Fedorenko, Deputy Manager at Emmaus Sheffield, said:

“We wanted to take part in the Charity Shop Home campaign as homewares in charity shops seem to still hold so many hidden gems and haven’t had the same exposure or kudos as clothes.

“If you look at some of the amazing pictures from these charity shops, you can see some of the modern, eclectic, and truly wonderful items kindly donated by the public, that can be styled in so many ways.”

Charity shop advocate and influencer Estelle Bilson shares her preloved finds on her social media accounts, including @70shousemanchester on Instagram. Estelle said:

“I’ve shopped in charity shops I was a child, partly out of necessity with my parents and part the thrill of not knowing what you’re going to find – it’s impossible not to wander past one and not pop in to see if there’s any treasures.

“Bric-a-brac is one of my favourite things to hunt for and I always make a bee line for the homewares to see what I can find, whether that’s Pyrex cooking vessels, cookery books, ornaments, or linens. I’ve found some amazing items over the years, and many can be found in our home and kitchen. 

“I always promote buying second hand whether that’s through my social media or in my book, ‘70s House – A bold homage to the most daring decade in design’.”

Credit: Charity Shop Home entry from Estelle Bilson, @70shousemanchester

You can view all of this year’s Charity Shop Home contributions on the Charity Retail Association’s Instagram account at @welovecharityshops.

26/02/2024 14:01