Charity shop sales continue to soar as charities report record sales quarter

Charity shops continue to be a shopping destination of choice as people look to get the best value for money and shop with variety and quality, the latest data from the Charity Retail Association shows.

Charity shops are now working to keep up with customer demand after seeing a 15.1% growth in like-for-like store income in January-March 2023, compared to the same period in 2022.

A 12.4% increase in the average number of transactions per day has helped to boost sales, as people look to refresh their wardrobes.

As a result of this growth, charity shops are looking at investing in the future; opening new or bigger stores, extending their opening hours, improving their online offer and focusing on training and recruitment campaigns.

Recruiting and retaining volunteers and staff is more important than ever for the charity retail sector, and although the sector has seen an increase in volunteer levels over the past year, 33% of respondents still reported volunteer shortages in the survey, and 38% reported staffing challenges as a problem they’re facing.

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

“It’s clear from our data that charity shops remain incredibly important to shoppers as the they look for affordable shopping choices to help combat the effects of the cost-of-living crisis. Charities are working hard to provide their customers with the best shopping experiences that meet shoppers’ needs, from trying out new online sales platforms to renovating their shops.

“Charity shops are also perfectly positioned to appeal to sustainable shoppers, as more people look to make environmentally-friendly choices and can easily find a range of charity retail options on their doorstep.

“The public can help to support charity shops by prioritising donating to charity shops when having clear-out, and volunteering their time wherever possible. Charity shops not only benefit people looking for affordable and sustainable shopping, but are also crucial to raising money for good causes, so every time you support a charity shop it really does matter.”

Find your nearest charity shop on the Charity Retail Association website at www.charityretail.org.uk/find-a-charity-shop/.