I run a charity shop & there’s secrets to bagging the best bargains – what to do and where to go for designer goodies
SUSTAINABLE living, upcycling, and buying pre-loved items are all the rage these days.
And with the cost-of-living crisis impacting millions of people across the country – and world – it’s easy to see why.
Even the likes of ITV2’s hit dating show Love Island has jumped on the trend in the last year, partnering up with eBay to promote second hand clothes.
Not to mention reality stars like Tasha Ghouri, who is an ambassador for eBay, urging the younger generations to be more conscious of how they’re spending.
With the shift in where people put their money nowadays, Fabulous magazine ventured into the world of charity shops, hearing first hand how the business has grown and exactly what kind of items you can bag if you just look hard enough.
Contrary to the common belief that they only sell junk and trinkets no one really wants, Director of Retail of Royal Trinity Hospice, Daniel Holloway has revealed they’ve sold every high end brand from Christian Dior to Oscar De La Renta.
“We had a knitted skirt by Oscar De La Renta that cost thousands of pounds. It was a donation that one of our loyal customers in our Kensington shop brought in,” he told us.
He explained that the manager immediately spotted the piece and, as a Sex and the City fan, decided it was perfect for the window display.
“You just have this one mannequin in the window with a top and this Oscar skirt, as if Sarah Jessica Parker had turned up. It sold literally on the same day, it was amazing.”
This isn’t the only high end piece loyal customers have brought into one of his 20 shops in south west London though.
Previously, one incredibly generous person came in with a whopping 20 Christian Dior gowns.
“About 18 months ago, we were given 20 Christian Dior vintage gowns, all of which were still in the dust bags. They ranged from the 90s to the early noughties. It was after the customer had a clear out,” he shared.
“We sent photos to the Dior Paris office to see if they wanted any of them. Luckily they didn’t and all 20 sold within weeks.”
They were all worth thousands too and when asked how exactly they set prices for each new item they bring in, he explained that they sell them on for a third of the original price. So if a dress came in at £1000, then you might be able to get it for just £300-350.
Other incredible pieces they’ve had come in are a pair of Miu Miu black suede boots with floral designs on them. Originally costing £1,250, the charity shop went on to sell them for just £250 – saving one lucky customer a whopping £1000.
They’ve also had a Louis Vuitton handbag that cost £1,200 to begin with, but went on to sell for £400 in one of their shops.
Others items currently on the shop floor include a Lindsey Thornburg coat (RRP £2,800, selling for £650), a Manolo Blahnik matching shoe and bag set (RRP £600, selling for £200), and Dior shoes (RRP £800, selling for £175).
Daniel explained that since the pandemic hit, they’ve had a massive increase in sales in fashion in their stores. After seeing the impressive figures, they chose to ditch household items and other trinkets you might see in charity shops and keep the focus solely on clothes.
“2022 has been our most successful year. I would say, in terms of profit, it’s 50 percent higher than it was the year before the pandemic,” he said, adding that it’s all because of the strategy of selling fashion.
“We’ve got two very different groups of people that come to us,” he said. “People that donate and people who are keen to shop sustainable fashion.
“We are seeing a younger demographic of working professional people in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and early 50s, who want to buy clothes of great quality and at an excellent price. So when they go out on a Saturday, no one else will be wearing the same thing as them.”
And no two weeks are ever the same in their stores either. Daniel explained that they rotate stock bi monthly in a bid to make sure those who come in regularly are seeing different items.
When asked if he has any tips for people who are just getting started in shopping for bargains at charity stores, Daniel said you need to get to make yourself known to the managers.
“We have a lot of customers who know our managers by name,” he shared, before explaining: “Our managers will telephone customers if particular pieces come in.”
He went on to share that younger people who walk through the doors of one of their shops should try to think outside of the box a little more. Just because you don’t love a T-shirt in the racks, doesn’t mean you can’t go home and jump on the trend of tie dyeing to turn it into something you would actually wear.
“Have a look and see what we’ve got… And then just kind of think creatively,” he said.
While they’re clearly doing better than ever, running a charity shop does come with a few difficulties… And top of the list is encouraging more donations.
“A traditional retailer buys more stock to sell more,” he said. “Obviously, we don’t buy anything, we rely on donations. One thing that is constant for us is working with our shop managers who work in the local community to attract people to donate to us.”
This issue hasn’t stopped Daniel from making big plans for the future of the company. After opening two new branches last year, he’s planning on opening an additional two within the south west London area.
Royal Trinity Hospice isn’t just about selling clothes though, they do a great deal to provide resources to those in need.
He said: “I think a lot of people don’t really understand what happens in a hospice. We offer end of life care to people. All of our care, so all of our catchment, is free. If you know you have a life limiting illness and you get referred to Trinity hospice, we will pick you up. Whether that’s care in your own home or in the hospice, we’ll do all of it for free.
“So people who buy from charity shops aren’t just getting themselves a great sustainable outfit, they’re actually doing something incredible for the community as well.”