A former charity shop employee at a large chain has shared the reasons why she thinks so many stores are forced to close down and what she believes needs to change
A former charity shop worker believes ‘the end is near’ for thrift stores. In a brutally honest post, she detailed a number of issues she believes have to change to keep customers engaged.
While you may think charity shops are busier than ever during the cost of living crisis, it isn’t that simple. Existing on the high street comes with challenges such as rising rents, utility bills, and other obstacles that customers do not see.
For that reason, Meg wanted to highlight some of the struggles. The ex-employee, who used to work in an unnamed chain charity shop, listed four reasons the thrift stores could be in serious trouble.
“Charity shops are dying,” Meg boldly stated at the start of her video. “I worked in a big chain charity shop and here’s why I think the charity shops aren’t gonna last much longer.”
She also reminded viewers that her views were her own. They are based on her personal experiences working in a chain charity shop and do not reflect all stores.
1. ‘Out of touch’ head office
For her first point, Meg explained that some charity shops would go for a “more expensive, high-end boutiquey feel”, which she thought was a mistake.
While some chain charity shops have become ‘incredibly corporate’, they offer a ‘mid-range retail experience’ that does not leave customers wanting to come back for more.
Meg claimed that, in her experience, they often ‘wasted money’ on campaigns and new goods to compare with a high street store.
“They had shops open in central London that made no money, but they kept them open for brand awareness when it was dragging the rest of us down,” Meg argued.
2. Overworked staff members
For her second point, Meg went on to claim that volunteers and staff in some charity shops she worked in were ‘completely overworked’ and faced poor working conditions, mould, and dirty donations they had to sort through.
She also claimed that theft and aggression were common occurrences in the stores, as she spoke from her personal experience. She added: “Just for someone from head office who’s paid 10 times more than you, to tell you that you’re not selling enough f***ing lottery tickets.”
3. Pricing
“This is a touchy subject and it’s a difficult one. I stand on the fact that charity shops exist to raise money for the charity, not to give you a bargain,” Meg said. “However, something’s got to give.”
She found some charity shop chains consistently more expensive due to stores raising prices, which sometimes has nothing to do with the shop floor employees.
“Head office will send a price guide in and you have to follow it,” she explained, revealing she often couldn’t afford the items in the store she was working at. “And at the end of the day, charity shops cannot compete with vintage.”
4. Fast fashion donations
Lastly, Meg claimed that the vast majority of donations she received were from fast fashion brands and did not attract much money.
“Charity shops need to make money to stay open, and they can’t make that kind of money on Primark and Shein,” Meg argued. “The overconsumption these days is actually insane. People buy and buy and buy and then just give it to the charity shop.”
After wrapping up her list, Meg had a recommendation for those who want to go thrifting without encountering all of these issues. Her top tip is to try out some different stores to see which suits you best. After all, every shop is different!
“I don’t know what the future holds. I think the future of the high street is already kind of in jeopardy,” Meg said. “And I, as a consumer, I much prefer shopping in a small independent charity shop. They’re always so much better.”
You must be logged in to post a comment Login