We are pleased to announce that the Charity Retail Association has agreed to sponsor the next three years of the Charity Shops Survey, published by Charity Finance and Fundraising Magazine.
The Charity Shops Survey is now in its 25th year and will be published in September. The survey tracks shop numbers, income, costs and profit, and volunteering and staff, and covers more than half of the UK’s charity retail outlets. Its ability to measure the same data over a quarter of a century of charity retail makes it an invaluable resource for organisations in the sector.
Last year’s survey covered more than 6,600 shops, with a combined income of more than £828m.
The survey found that charity shops have enjoyed a decade of boom. Since 2006, shop numbers have grown every year, and shops have increased the amount they contribute to the running of their charities by 78 per cent.
But it also found that charity shop profit was beginning to slow down, and that growth appeared to move in the opposite direction to the wider economy, meaning that this year may have been a challenging one for the retail sector.
David Ainsworth, editor of the Charity Shops Survey, said: “The shops survey always throws up a few surprises and last year was no exception.
“We found that the steep decline in the price of recycled clothing was causing serious problems, and that shops were concerned about custom as the nation’s consumers had more money to spend. But despite all this, the charity retail sector continues to grow in terms of shop numbers, income and profit.
“This year we’re keen to see if the sector is still facing the same challenges, or whether new trends have emerged.”
Robin Osterley, chief executive of the CRA, said: “We are delighted to be once again sponsoring the Charity Shops Survey. This vital piece of work is the key annual public research report into the state of the charity shop market, and provides crucial background information for all of our stakeholders, including members, the media, and central and local government.
“We would encourage all charities who own shops to participate fully in the survey and make it as comprehensive as possible”.
