Where most high street shops are fading, charity and vintage shops are thriving. Whilst it is miserable that we are losing some of our favourite high street stores because of the recession, it is giving charity shops a boost.
Charity shops used to be knitwear, bric-a-brac and hand-me-down clothes maintained by elderly women. However the abandoned shops are now in full swing and sweeping profits due to the shops closing down frequently on the high street. There has also been a return of vintage clothing, and where else better to pick up a bargain and get yourself a fashionable item that isn’t worn by the majority of shoppers?
According to Charity Retail Association, there are 7,700 charity shops in England which raise around £200 million per year. They get tax concessions because all the profits from a charity shop go to fund the work of the charity, which provides public benefit. They serve a charitable purpose so they benefit from exemption from corporation tax on profits. They receive 80% mandatory non-domestic relief which is funded by the central government, with a further 20% relief available at the discretion of local authorities.
Amanda Silkstone, 40 from Chesterfield works as a sales assistant at Age Concern in Chesterfield. She said that Age Concern hasn’t increased in business because of high street stores closing because “we can’t compete with Primark.” She thinks that the economy will pick back up again and that it’s just going through a slump.
High street music and DVD stores have suffered the most, as people can now get the same products online for a cheaper price; GAME and HMV have been affected by the recession. Fashion retailers such as; La Senza, Firetrap, Azendi, Pumpkin Patch, Peacocks, Barratts and T J Hughes are just a few of the popular chains that have either gone into administration or have closed due to the recession.
Charity shops have now caught up on ‘visual merchandising’, they now have shops on eBay and stock trendy up to date fashionable items that appeal to the younger generation. It’s not just elderly women hunting for collectables in charity shops; it’s also youths on the search for one-off individual items that the high street doesn’t offer. It’s no longer embarrassing to shop in those kinds of shops, quite the opposite in fact.
Au revoir high street stores, charity shops have made a comeback. Boutiques, independent stores and good old-fashioned bargain hunting is back.
Revevant links
Find your nearest charity shop – Charity Retail Association charity shop finder
Age Concern – About the charity
Search eBay for charity items – eBay charity shops
Becky Whitworth
Jessica Hassall
Jessica Thorpe
Charlotte Pearson
pickandmix12 
Charity shops boom in the recession as people don’t have as much money to spend. The stigma of buying second hand is fading and mainstream fashion is losing it’s appeal. The vintage trend has rolled around again and it can’t be replicated with mass produced goods. Especially not when the real thing retails far cheaper and boosts charities too. Personally I love them. Being a student trying to furnish my first house it’s a great option for buying quality goods much cheaper than the high street. I love my bargains!
Yes they are the perfect place to pick up something individual that you wouldn’t find on the high street, and at a great price! I can’t believe it’s taken people so long to realise what they have to offer.
I grew up when charity shopping was a necessity. It was my secret I kept from school friends. Suddenly, it’s become cool to shop there and you get respect for a good spend. While it sorta annoys me that people have leapt on ‘my’ bandwagon it’s great news for those kids like me who grew up on hand me downs. My blog is full of fab one offs I’ve picked up second hand.
I think that young people used to be embarrassed to shop in charity shops, whereas now they want vintage items and one of goodies. There’s nothing wrong with a bargain! And let’s face it, if you buy a dress from the high street your bound to bump into someone wearing the same outfit.