Charity shops on the high street: complementarity or unwanted neighbour?

Abstract

Within the last ten years there has been substantial growth of the charity retailing sector. This increased retail presence and sophistication of marketing practices have led to the contention by mainstream retailers that charity shops, which enjoy specific fiscal arrangements, have an unfair competitive advantage. Utilising evidence from a range of town centre locations, this paper examines whether this allegation can be substantiated. Three sources of primary research are used: the profile of charity shops within a town centre context; the attitudes and perceptions of mainstream retailers and their organisational bodies; and finally, the perspective of town centre managers towards charity retailing. Analysis and subsequent discussion suggests that charity retailers can perform a complementary role within town centres, thus reducing the potential of conflict with mainstream retailing. Copyright © 2000 Henry Stewart Publications

Still serving the community? The professionalisation of the UK charity retail sector

“…A final positive outcome of the professionalisation of the sector for communities is the resulting upgrading of the high street. While a stigma is often still attached to charity shops, it is undeniable that in many instances they are filling what would otherwise be vacant premises on high streets (see Paddison (2000) for an in-depth discussion).…”

“…The Charities Advisory Trust (1996) survey also argued that because many bought-in goods in charity shops are charity Christmas cards or goods bearing the charity logo, that charity shops present little or no threat to local traders. More recent research by Paddison (2000) into the relationship between charity retailers and local traders suggests that this tension has subsided.…”

The Sustainable Suburban High Street: A Review of Themes and Approaches

“…Interestingly, the Clone Town report makes no mention of charity shops, which is conventionally regarded as a symptom of high street decline (Vaughan 2006, 291). Paddison (2000) notes that the 1990s witnessed a dramatic increase in charity shops combined with a steep decline in retail units. Even so, he argues that there is no necessary conflict between the interests of the charity and retail sector to the extent that they are seen to add value to the overall retail environment, for example, in diversifying the customer base.…”

‘Twin transformations’: The Salvation Army’s charity shops and the recreating of material and social value

“…However, in recent years, this function has been increasingly relocated to more central service points, in many cases separating the shop front from points of assistance or aid. Add to this ‘the introduction of paid staff within charity shops, largely at managerial level, but also paid van drivers for door-to-door collection and even paid shop assistants’ (Maddrell, 2000: 125), the shifting of stores to the high street (Paddison, 2000) and the differences between the charity shops in the 21st century and their late 19th century predecessor become clear (Horne, 2000).…”