Sector Spotlight:
Charity retail
we catch up with mark chapman of the charity retail association to see how the sector is fairing.
Mark, could you let us have a little background about you, your work experience and how you got into the Charity Retail Association?
I’ve been working in the Third and Sporting Sectors for the past 15 years and after moving across from West to East London recently, the opportunity to work in the charity retail sector presented itself and I’m glad both our stars aligned.
Charity shops have had a fairly negative press recently in so much that they seem to dominate the high street when shops are closing. What are your thoughts on that?
Charity shops will from time to time be on the end of unwanted headlines. It’s easy copy for some media outlets but when you scratch the surface of these stories they are based on misconceptions; that’s where we come in to defend them.
Charity shops are such a force for good in UK society and it’s a pleasure to tell that story and spread the word of a fantastic sector.
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How could charity shops work in partnership with other local retailers?
I think that charities need to look on what is currently offer in a particular high street and compliment what is already there, so both parties can draw in footfall. Personally speaking, it would make no sense to me for a charity to open up a bookshop next door to a second hand store selling something similar. Charity shops are community hubs so the potential tie-ups with commercial retail are endless.
What do you think the future of charity retail is?
From a personal perspective I think the high street will undergo huge change in the next ten years and the charity retail sector has to rise to the challenge. Some experts have commented that the amount of retail units in the UK have to shrink for the high street to become successful again and that’s something I tend to agree with. Look at the facts: a considerable amount of shops and local amenities used to be located in town centres. They have now moved out to the fringes, to retail parks and suchlike. Charity shops have to meet the challenge of serving their community but with year-on-year reduced footfall.
How are charity shops faring generally? What areas do you think need some improvement?
Growth was consistent in the sector throughout 2018 despite some extremely challenging circumstances. For that alone I think charity shops are coping well. With all retail environments, there is need for improvement. Charities are savvy and know they have to diversify to ensure their offering is an attractive one to the UK consumer.
“Charities know they don't have a given right to expect money for their cause.”
In your conference you talk about a number of areas including 32 focus sessions. Which ones stand out in particular?
I find satisfying any session that helps charity retail staff learn from their peers. By the sector coming together and collaborating, it will mean only increased professionalism and ensuring that charity shops are ready to compete for a potential donation. Charities know they don’t have a given right to expect money for their cause and have to work hard for each penny or pound received.
In what ways can people volunteer to help charity shops?
They can do this in a number of ways; it’s not about just serving behind a till. Are you an accountant? Then help with the village charity’s bookkeeping. Plumber? Ensure the charity shop in your local area is leak free. There are so many ways volunteers can make a real difference that doesn’t involve steaming clothes and putting items on racks, however important those two tasks are in the everyday running of a charity shop.
What are some of the issues that charity shops face that the Charity Retail Association is helping with?
We have recently been successful in reducing some of the burdensome admin around the sector.
For example, the Retail Gift Aid scheme is of great use to charities but if they don’t have a donor’s email address, it costs them money to let them know via letter post how much their goods have raised over the previous 12 months - even if that sum came to the less than a price of a postage stamp. Now, with our help and lobbying HRMC, charities don’t have to send that letter unless the donation is £20 or more.
That’s saved some of the bigger charities a six-figure sum per year in saved administration costs, which means those funds can be now directed to exactly where the donation was intended. - one of the categories for your Charity Retail Awards is the most valuable item sold
What’s been the most valuable items sold to date?
Our awards winners have seen their goods sell for several thousand pounds each in the past.
Last year’s winner was a painting that reached nearly £10,000 in an auction. It’s a credit to the charity shop staff that they realised the item donated was so valuable.