Talking Shop: celebrating the everyday heroes of charity retail
Charity shop workers and volunteers keep the sector ticking, so celebrating and rewarding them in every way we can is at the top of our list. At Shopiago, we are constantly impressed and inspired by the brilliant teams working at the heart of the charity retail sector, and we want to profile the ecommerce superstars quietly working behind the scenes every day to raise vital funds for good causes.
Welcome to Talking Shop, where we are shining a light on some of the brilliant employees and volunteers working to promote the benefits that online retail can bring to charities, and encourage more volunteers into the sector. We recently spoke to three incredible charity retail workers who are hell-bent on maximising funds for some of our charity partners through retail operations.
Introducing....
Gareth Noble, Monmouth Shop Manager for the British Heart Foundation, funding lifesaving research and supporting people living with heart and circulatory diseases.
Kassia Parkinson, Peterborough Shop Manager for Deafblind UK, providing essential care and support to people living with sight and hearing loss across the country.
Martyn Shaw, Gloucestershire E-commerce and Systems Manager for Longfield Hospice, providing free, year-round care for adults in Gloucestershire living with a life-limiting condition.
Tell us a bit more about what you do for your charity?
Gareth: I am the Shop Manager of the British Heart Foundation’s Monmouth store, organising and maximising the contribution that the store provides to the charity. Whether this is through encouraging volunteering, or making the shop presentable and welcoming to customers.
Kassia: Deafblind UK works to provide essential care and support to people living with sight and hearing loss across the country. I am the Shop Manager for Deafblind UK’s Peterborough store, managing a team of volunteers and running the day-to-day in the shop to raise money for our cause.
Martyn: I am the E-commerce and Systems Manager for Longfield Hospice in Gloucestershire - a charity that offers end-of-life care for people in their homes and helps with care workshops, as well as support for families at the hospice.
What do you like most about working/volunteering for the charity?
Gareth: For me, it’s making a difference that positively affects a matter very dear to me on a national and local level, funding lifesaving research and offering support to those living with heart and circulatory diseases.
Kassia: Deafblind UK works tirelessly to care for and support those living with sight and hearing loss - two life-altering disabilities. This disability isn't one that is talked about all that much, so being a part of raising not only money but awareness is extremely rewarding.
Martyn: The great work that is provided from the money that we are raising as a team. 85% of our income is raised through our shops and voluntary donations, so providing essential support to such a vital function of the charity’s fundraising operations is incredibly rewarding.
What would you say to anyone thinking about getting involved in Online Charity Retail?
Gareth: Don't miss out on the opportunity to get involved in recommerce operations for your charity! This area of retail is rapidly changing and evolving. Learning how to utilise it is key to unlocking a relatively untapped source of charitable income.
Kassia: Online retail is such an essential part of the charity world today, as a lot of things are online-based nowadays. Being online is just another way to get your charity's name out there, and opens another invaluable stream of revenue.
Martyn: Online charity retail offers a great opportunity to raise even more funds in a worldwide market, so it really is a no-brainer. Not only can you reach a global audience, but you can also achieve higher prices for those hidden gems cropping up in your donated stock in-store.
What’s the best treasure you’ve ever found, or sold, in the Charity sector?
Gareth: My most treasured online sale was a collection of toy police cars that sold for £160 with the help of Shopiago, despite being deemed worthless by their previous owner.
Kassia: We find a lot of interesting items in donations, but my personal favourite was some original 90's Red Arrow models!
Martyn: We were delighted to find a Bronica camera amongst our donations that sold for £1,100 during Lockdown. This was a fantastic vintage camera and a huge help towards our charity.
Get in touch
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