The Benefits of Charity Shops
Everyone knows charity shops, they are on every high street in the UK! Maybe there’s one or two, or maybe there’s five in just the one town. Most people, I assume, don’t realise the bargains you can come across in charity shops.
Principles Long Belted Coat. Source: Sarah McCallum
According to the Charity Retail Association, there are currently 11,200 charity shops in the UK. With 84 per cent estimated to be in England, five per cent in Scotland, three per cent in Wales and 400 in Northern Ireland.
The following charities operate the main charity shops in the UK:
I often shop in charity shops due to my gran sharing their beauty with me. There’s nothing better than having a rummage through the rails and finding that one thing your wardrobe needs!
Items in charity shops are usually cheaper since they have been bought before and maybe worn - it is a more financially viable option as well as a sustainable option.
I surveyed 16 people and found that 25 per cent shop within charity shops with 18.8 per cent saying they shop in charities shops ‘sometimes’, thus leaving 56.3 per cent of people not shopping in charity shops at all. This percentage shocked me as someone who shops in charity shops as much as I can, I can’t believe people wouldn’t go in for even just a rummage.
For the people that shop in charity shops to my knowledge, it seems that they only buy clothes, yet the real deal is the accessories. Now, I know many people will think immediately not, but charity shop earrings with the helping hand of some antibacterial wash are some great finds. Even stylish bags can be found in charity shops!
Some of my favourite accessories I have found in charity shops are:
All images sourced by Sarah McCallum.
There should be some encouragement to shop in charity shops because it reduces your spending on fast fashion and lets clothes be loved again. Purchasing from charity shops directly helps people involved, and benefits the charity you have bought from, so you are gaining a new fashion piece, but you're also helping people along the way.