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Sustainability-minded Flo Patterson found a Versace bag for £15 during a visit to a charity shop
Gail Wragg stands up and observes the scene unfolding around her.
She finds herself at the center of a sea of trash bags, shelves full of electrical equipment and also has to sort through some 800 artificial Christmas trees.
Like other retail workers, Gail's store is preparing its inventory for the holiday rush.
But rather than a retailer looking to make big profits to keep shareholders happy, Gail runs a Barnardo's charity store aimed at raising money to fund the organisation's work.
She has worked in the charity sector for more than 40 years and says demand is higher than ever as people can no longer afford new things after a period of rapidly rising costs of food, heating and housing.
“Even though attendance increased this year, donations decreased,” she explains.
“People come here because of the cost of living, but they also stopped donating because of the cost of living.”
For shoppers, there are plenty of great deals on offer – with £15 covering the price of a Versace handbag and even a TV for some savvy shoppers.
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Doug Hodgson appreciates the variety of items available to browse
Increasing demand is a view shared by Robin Osterley, chief executive of the Charity Retail Association (CRA).
The body is the industry voice for charity shops and says 2023 has seen “record growth” in sales.
It says members have already reported “strong” shopping habits in the run-up to Christmas, at the end of a year where steady sales growth of 2.9% had previously been recorded.
“People increasingly want to spend less money on Christmas, but also have a warm feeling of contributing to good causes and making an impact,” he adds.
That feeling is evident in the workshop, where customer Doug Hodgson looks at a row of kitchen accessories.
He says a shopping list isn't necessary – you just need to have an open mind.
“No one comes here to buy a fondue set, but who knows, maybe I’ll leave with one,” he smiles.
“Don’t tell anyone.”
Last year Doug wanted to surprise his partner so he came here to the Abbeydale Road store in Sheffield, South Yorkshire to get some 'Christmas sparkle'.
“She was feeling bad, so I wanted to cheer her up. When she was at the hairdresser, I dragged her over here and bought a little tree and some pink and silver baubles. She loves pink!
“I have everything set up in our studio for his return. She cried. It made her Christmas,” recalls the 57-year-old woman.
Gail, 66, says reducing the stigma around charity shops has also helped drive demand.
“In the 1980s, my kids would say, 'Don't tell anyone you work for charity.' They hated it!
“They were embarrassed and worried in case people would think their clothes came from there, even though it's fashionable now,” she says.
Around a quarter of people will buy children's presents to unwrap on Christmas morning from charity shops, according to an Oxfam survey.
They suggest books, toys and board games as potential bait for parents hoping to help Santa keep a few extra pennies in his pocket.
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Gail Wragg, store manager and grandmother, has a lot of work to do sorting the Christmas stock.
Across the town, shoppers at the Sense charity store at Hillsborough Barracks can combine a hunt for vintage items with fresh produce at the nearby Morrisons supermarket.
Flo Patterson flips through a display of men's winter sweaters.
She moved to Sheffield six months ago after studying textiles and design in Manchester. She now works as a marketing and sales manager in the textile and sustainable development sector.
Flo says she and her friends all go to charity shops.
“It’s a simple way to make sustainable choices. There are too many second-hand clothes.
“Fast fashion often means polyester items that never biodegrade. You can find older articles of better quality.
Assistant store manager Chiara Hunter says they've been “very busy” in 2024.
“More and more celebrities are doing charity shopping and I think the power of social media has really helped,” she adds.
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A rummage through shelves, boxes and racks could pay off for a savvy buyer.
Flo has already started her Christmas shopping.
“I like the idea of finding gems. I once found a Versace handbag for £15. The sweaters are also always of better quality,” she adds.
Charlotte Deering can often be found at charity shops near her home in Cheshire.
The 28-year-old uses social media under the name themoneyferret to highlight thrifty gifts and discounted finds.
She cites a £15 TV for her daughter's bedroom as her best purchase.
“I couldn't believe it, I almost walked out of the store, I was so happy.
“I actually kept the price tag to remind myself what a good deal it is,” she smiles.
Charlotte Deering
Charlotte Deering said she loved hearing from people she inspired to buy second-hand
This Christmas, Charlotte, who began her online journey after a spell of homelessness and the traumatic birth of Maeve, now four, set herself a budget of £5 for new festive decorations.
“I bought a little mushroom ball for 50p, a rocking horse ball which I'm going to give to my mother,” she says.
“My grandmother and grandfather, who passed away, had a rocking horse, so I thought it would be a lovely keepsake for her tree.”
She also bought a bag of Playmobil figures for a few euros to replicate the company's more expensive Advent calendar for Maeve.
“There was no way I was going to pay £25.
“I created my own which looks great. I stuck all the numbers on the packaged numbers so she gets to choose them and find the numbers herself so it all helps with her calculations too which is a bonus.
Charlotte says she finds it quicker to get around to charity shops rather than doing a traditional search on the high streets and cites them as a “win-win”, adding: “You're donating to charity and you save money, so everyone benefits. »
Zara Canfield
Zara Canfield buys Christmas outfits from charity shops, including her dog's
Zara Canfield, 31, from Banbury, started using second hand stores in 2019 after attending Oxfam's Second Hand event in September.
The month-long campaign calls on people to fight environmental pollution caused by the fashion industry by buying used items.
Since then, she hasn't bought any new clothes.
This week she bought £30 worth of Christmas items from the Oxford charity shop.
“I came out with a huge bag full of trinkets. I have hair accessories, pots and jars to fill with gifts, new pajamas for my sister and all sorts of other things.
She said she was able to source party outfits from charity shops. Last year she bought an elf dress for £3.99 and a jumper for her sausage dog Minnie.
Her family and friends are now accustomed to her second-hand gift purchases and she says they “didn’t bat an eyelid.” There is no snobbery at all.
Zara, who is engaged to her partner Olly, says she is also considering buying her wedding dress second-hand.
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Denise Berham has been an engaged charity client for years
Back in Sheffield, the paint has just finished drying at the large charity store St Luke's Hospice.
The new outlet, which raises money to help care for terminally ill adults, is the organization's largest.
Jennie Booth stands in the 7,000 sq ft warehouse and says new sites like this are shaking up the image of charity shops having “little old ladies knitting behind the counter”.
“We get phenomenal donations,” she told me.
“Most of our Christmas stock arrives in January, when people realize they have more gifts than they need: designer items, shoes and handbags.”
Jennie says the charity needs £14million a year to operate – and she has to raise £10million herself.
“We have to be smart and do business head-on,” she says.
She says charity shopping is now popular with many people and consumers are increasingly looking to do something worthwhile with their unwanted items.
In the store Denise Berham, 63, is looking for Christmas gifts.
She has been an engaged charity shopper for years – finding a Louis Vuitton purse and handbag over a decade ago.
Today, his sights are set on slightly less luxurious pieces.
“I love buying old books and retro games that you can't find.
“Mousetrap is the one I want – I’ll be happy if I find him.”
