Foodbank Charity Shops

[nailit]

Why don't the food bank (Trussell trust) have charity shops?
Ive been with the foodbank for about 6 weeks now and know that they have overheads to pay for (in the warehouse that im working in they have 3 paid staff to pay plus utility bills and a van to keep on the road).
Just a thought that occurred to me. Im not back in until next Wednesday so will ask them then, in the meantime any thought appreciated :-)
(all other charities have shops...)

[kvalidir]

They do Nailit, see here:-

https://www.google.com/search?q=trussell+charity+shop&oq=trussell+charity+shop&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.7480j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&;dlnr=1&sei=bb-jW5KuBo2SzwLDm7HwBw

[spathiphyllum]

Charity shops can have a lot of overhead costs, sometimes loosing money

[nailit]

Thanks Kval, not many though. I was told when I started there that they rely soley on donations (both food and money)
Spath, if a charity shop was losing money it would shut down surely? Fact is high streets are becoming dominated by charity shops.

[Theland]

Lots of charity shops around here. Just not enough charity to keep them all going. Very sad.

[nailit]

I do question why we even need charity shops in 21st century Britain?
Why the explosion of them in recent times?

[nailit]

Cant see Theresa May buying anything soon out of one.

[Mamyalynne]

It's not very new, it's been gradual - there's one street in my town centre that is almost all Charity Shops and has been for the best part of 20 years.

A multitude of reasons, people love a bargain, love to mooch, are often short of money for new things and love quirky and retro stuff.

Also a great place to take your unwanted goods, they may become someone's treasure.

[fiction-factory]

>I do question why we even need charity shops in 21st century Britain?
Why the explosion of them in recent times?
Using a charity shop is not necessarily a sign of poverty. Some people love a bargain. Some people, including pretty affluent people, believe in the recycling of clothes to save the earth's resources. Some people do it because they want to help the charity. Some are just curious to see what other people give away. Maybe some do it to save on washing and ironing - they shove it in a bag and buy it back neatly pressed on a hanger. And yes , some buy because it's all they can afford when it comes to getting clothes or becaus ethey'd rather use the money for other things.

[hc4361]

Charity shops aren't there to benefit the people to shop in them, nailit.

[fiction-factory]

Mamya's wasn't there but I agree with her. The retro point is a good one too. I donate to them and I also look in there for certain things. I am nowhere near being hard up. I guess people who earn more than Theresa May will also pop in

[kvalidir]

One of the local aristos around where I live is a real bargain moocher, always in the charity shops and at the carboots, I see them nearly every time I go to the carboot, and they are most certainly not hard up.

[bainbrig]

When we were young and poor we went to second-hand shops (which seem to have disappeared with affluence). Wouldn’t have dreamed of buying anything new! And not because we ‘loved a bargain’ - just had no money.

Nowadays young people seem to have been brainwashed into always wanting brand new items!

BillB

[Mamyalynne]

There are many young canny shoppers and bargain hunters out there too, trust me - my Daughters have certainly picked up the habit.

[bainbrig]

But that.’s my point - we weren’t bargain hunters or canny shoppers - just broke!

[Georgiesmum]

Yes, and dont forget people hunt for bargains in charity shops and car boot sales to resell at a profit. A few years ago there was a nice antique shop in our town, that was always very busy and I heard it said that everything he sold he had bought at car boot sales. He obviously knew what to look for and recognised a bargain when he saw one!

[kvalidir]

9 out of 10 things in my new places are upcycled / second hand / re-purposed Bill and I'm neither broke nor older, really the only new things I have are tech, so TV's, computers etc.
I'd always rather have second hand stuff because it's more unique and interesting generally. x

[rowanwitch]

Too many overheads and too many fighting for quality donations. They all have paid managers, and incur costs for insurance etc. By tapping into a different sourcing structure they do far better

[Mamyalynne]

The point I was responding to BillB was your last sentence.

//Nowadays young people seem to have been brainwashed into always wanting brand new items! //

It's too general, some have and some haven't.

[nailit]

I worked in a charity shop (RSPCA) for 5 yrs. Without a doubt the amount of animal cruelty that was successfully prosecuted would not have happened if it were not for that shop.
Yes, people love bargains (no brainer there) but why on earth are there charities trying to stop (or address) injustices in 21st century Britain?

[tamborine]

Its a christian charity, accepting donations & tax free exes

https://www.trusselltrust.org/about/