Charity shops go digital to compete with booming second-hand fashion apps

Charity shops in the UK are pivoting to online sales due to declining in-store income and rising operational costs. According to the Charity Retail Association (CRA), online sales have seen consistent growth, with three-quarters of retailers now participating in e-commerce. While physical donations have diminished in quality as people segregate items for online selling, charities like the British Heart Foundation have expanded their digital footprint on platforms like eBay and Depop. The sector anticipates a challenging future with expected profit declines due to economic pressures despite previous successes post-Covid.

"There's no question these are tough times for charity retailers," said Robin Osterley, chief executive of the CRA. "The increase in the national living wage...going to hurt quite substantially."

"BHF retail has seen strong profit years post-Covid," said Mike Taylor, the charity's commercial director. "But 2024 has been more challenging...we expect to see a reduction in profits due to the tough trading environment."

Read at Business Matters