FARA’s new report sheds insight on importance of charity shops engaging Gen Z and Alpha shoppers
FARA Charity Shops has published a new report “The Devil is in the Retail: Generation Dread – why modern-day fashion choices are so fraught”, setting out the importance of charity retail to a generation of young consumers with clashing fast fashion shopping habits and sustainability concerns.
FARA’s report concludes that British youth are in flux over shopping culture: craving self-expression and still addicted to the thrill of uninhibited consumerism on one hand, while simultaneously crippled with climate change anxiety and worry that their habits are toxic and unsustainable, due to waste, resource depletion and unethical trading practices, on the other.
In light of this trend, FARA say, the charity retail sector can play a vital role in helping the future consumer make planet-positive choices, by providing “joyful” shopping experiences and stimulating a long-awaited revival of the high street. Their report emphasises the relevance of charity retail to shoppers facing the cost-of-living crisis, just how important charity shops will need to become in educating and empowering young people, reconciling them with a more sustainable way of shopping and self-presentation.
However to do so, FARA states that charity shops must adapt to ‘survive and thrive’, and that the charity retail sector must provide a more fun and enjoyable shopping experience, whilst exploiting sophisticated marketing techniques as well as ‘influencer (and de-influencer)’ culture.
Their research and survey results show a trend amongst the Generations Z and Alpha that demonstrates a stark contradiction between their attitude and behaviour towards protecting the planet and their shopping habits – which FARA says charity retail is best-placed to correct. They point to the many benefits of charity shops to highlight their unique position; not only are charity shops critical to reducing items sent to landfill and tempting shoppers away from fast fashion, but they are also critical in providing relatively low-cost goods, acting as community hubs that can empower marginalised groups, encourage skills development and bring social cohesion. FARA also stresses the type of experience shoppers have when in a bricks-and-mortar store and says that charity shops they can also provide a much deeper and more satisfying shopping experience when compared to the short-lived high of buying new goods online.
Key findings
- Charity Retail can offer Gen Z and Gen Alpha a version of consumerism more closely aligned to their values and outlook.
- Feel Good Shopping: Respondents ranked the altruistic benefit of charity shops as the best thing about
Charity Retail, followed by sustainability.
- Greenwashing Won’t Wash: Half (51%) of Gen Z and Millennials say the clothes they choose to wear
represent their views and attitudes on sustainability.
- The Power of Campaigning: 45% of Gen Z and Millennials say they will buy more second-hand clothing in the near future.
- Social Media’s Triple-Edged Sword: 67% of young people say social media impacts their shopping habits due to wanting to express themselves more through fashion, shopping more, but also becoming aware of
sustainable fashion practices.
Background industry data highlighted in the report
- 84% of 16-25 year-olds are moderately to extremely worried about climate change
- 82% of consumers say they feel a positive emotion after buying a second-hand item
- 96% of young people say charity shops are relevant in the pre-loved fashion industry
- A 2020 European Commission study found that a quarter of misleading environmental claims came from the fashion industry
- 96% of green claims in fashion could be false
- 95% of Gen Z and Millennials feel the fashion industry is not doing enough to be sustainable
- 52% of Millennials and 46% of Gen Z have sold clothing on resale platforms
Libby Gordon, CEO, of the FARA Foundation said: “Our report emphasises the critical need to further elevate the role of charity shops within communities, so that we not only provide sustainable goods and raise much-needed funds, but also become hubs for inspiring events and social interaction. This is an area FARA Charity Shops intend to focus on. We recently launched our Autumn Campaign, “We are FARA Family”, by showcasing a series of short films all featuring an inspiring member of the FARA community. This campaign emphasizes we’re here to serve and engage our wider family, building spirit and encouraging more people to donate goods, shop with us, or consider working/volunteering in our shops.
“What the research indicates is that to address the conflict between consumerism and sustainable living head-on, the charity sector has work to do and there is a real opportunity to lead the way in inspiring the next generation of consumers. It must use some of the clever marketing practices employed by traditional retail. These include ensuring high standards in the way goods are curated, and the use of innovative technologies (apps, platforms) to personalise the shopping experience and reward sustainable choices.
“To lure Gen Z and Gen Alpha to a more sustainable way of shopping will require a rejuvenation of Charity Retail in which the feel-good buzz of a new purchase can be maintained, but with the added satisfaction of making planet-positive choices. Social media will have its role here too, with influencers (and de-influencers) sharing facts and moulding retail habits.”
08/12/2023 08:03