Is there still a stigma to buying your clothes in a charity shop?

When I was in high school, my mum would sometimes drag me into Aldi. I'd argue to stay in the car while she picked up the shopping for the week but on the occasions when those arguments proved futile, I'd wander around the store with my eyes firmly fixed to the floor for fear of seeing anyone I knew. Being seen in that store or turning up to school with an Aldi carrier bag made kids an easy target for the bullies in my school playground. Looking back on that, it's amazing to consider how the reputation of the chain has changed and developed over the past decade - discount food stores have undergone a complete re-branding.

For my final blog post of 2015, I wanted to consider whether the same has happened with charity shops so I took to Instagram this morning to ask...as we approach 2016, do you think there's still a stigma around buying clothes in charity shops?

Unanimously, you said there is but attitudes are changing.

scarletlady13 puts this down to 'the popularity of 'vintage' getting younger people involved in charity shopping' in addition to 'the standards in stores...getting better and better' and suggests that 'the high street look of stores will only encourage more people'.
Vintage, I wholeheartedly agree with. Vintage shops have become wise to their appeal to the mass market, particularly students with new loan installments burning a hole in their pockets! With that awareness came price hikes and I think shopping for vintage in charity shops became a good way to achieve an individual look without paying over the odds for it. I think when vintage sections are done well, they can really add value to a charity shop and give it a new market. Once you've got the customers through the door, it becomes easier to sell the idea of second hand which isn't vintage!
I also agree that across the board, standards in shops are generally improving. I can remember going into shops a few years ago and the majority of the stuff would look tired with discolouration or other damage. Charities have definitely become wise to the quality customers want and I rarely see anything with even the slightest hint of bobbling anymore. Charities have to compete directly with low-cost fast-fashion retailers and the only way to win that is to give people who rosecottage says 'would rather buy cheap and nasty (but new)' excellent quality in their second hand.
For me, the jury is still out on how far new layouts, shop fittings and store presentation can go in overturning stigma. Cancer Research may share the same hangers and rails as Topshop but we all know it's not Topshop! I think that for some people, the reputation of the humble charity shop is set and no amount of glitzy displays or posh shop fittings is going to overturn that. I'd be interested to know if anyone was drawn in by the new look charity shops and was converted?

2ndhandstylequeen puts the change in attitudes down to charity shops having developed over the years into 'vibrant income generators and in many cases really attractive go-to destinations'.
I have to say, I think Mary Portas did a lot for the reputation of the charity shop in her television programme documenting the overhaul of a Save the Children shop in Orpington and her continued collaboration with the charity has created some beautiful spaces and I'd argue that she really led the way for the types of rebranding scarletlady13 was referring to.
In addition to that, charities have been making better use of the Internet and social media. Shopping online is so popular these days and people have become accustomed to being able to purchase whatever they want at the click of a button. Instagram allows charities to showcase their wares to thousands of people in an instant and even if we can't all dash into that store and pick up that item, it gives people a good idea as to the types of stock the charity has. The amount of bloggers documenting their charity shop purchases has also increased and blogs like The Thrift from Barnardo's make really interesting reading.

tildyteacake mentions Oxfam's collaboration with M&S having 'helped some people who might not have ventured into a charity shop to buy clothes before feel more comfortable about doing so'.
Charities have definitely used more well-renowned retailers to further their cause. My favorite example of this has to be the Encore range at British Red Cross which stocks end of the line products from H&M and Cos. Again, it's all about getting people through the door. If customers know they can get a brand new, just out of store Cos ring for a fraction of the cost they might go in the shop, regardless of their preconceived ideas - once they're in, the good quality donations can do the talking.
Another fantastic example of a charity using well known retailers to increase sales (and I can't believe I'm giving all you Manchester lot this tip off again!) is The Lighthouse Charity Shop in Withington which stocks brand new Missguided clothing and shoes. I go there specifically to look at what has been delivered from the mystical Missguided Manchester warehouse and find myself buying a whole host of other bits! There's always a number of young girls shopping in there purely for the Missguided stuff but isn't that what successful retail is about? Giving the customer what they want!
I think these factors have gone some of the way to bringing the charity shop into the modern day and made them meaningful to a younger audience.

However, cissyclogs argues that 'the stigma is alive for sure, with people telling me it is embarrassing to shop second hand' and JennyLou77 saying 'some people physically recoil when I tell them an item is second hand'.
I guess we can't convince them all! And would we want to...there'd be less for us to buy?!
I get it, I really do. I can understand why people are weird about adopting an item of clothing that has been on the body of someone you don't know, perhaps multiple times. Even the most committed of charity shop lovers draw the line somewhere - my mum, who taught me all I know about charity shops, is still reluctant to buy a second hand shoe and if she does, she can be seen cleaning the inside of it with a wet wipe and potentially, a bottle of bleach. Shoes, underwear, bedding - where do you draw the line?
I think it's normal to want something that is just your own. But I would guess that the majority of items in a charity shop have touched less bodies than a dress you try on in Urban Outfitters.

I just wanted to finish with something from faracharityshops. Here's hoping 'more people will cotton on to what a good, if not vital, thing thrifting is in this day and age. It's green, conscientious, benevolent and most of all rewarding for any genuine lover of the unusual'. 

2015 has been a great year in my charity shop life and it's been a real pleasure to share that journey. I hope 2016 yields some incredible bargains for all you second hand lovers. Happy New Year :) x

In fives.

So here I am again apologising for the lack of blog posts of late...November has been chaotic! 

At the beginning of the month, there were a few difficulties at work and some big changes in my personal life running alongside. A couple of weeks were a complete write-off emotionally and I had to take some time off work mid-month. However, luckily for the blog, I feel as if I've spent the last two weeks shopping constantly! I even left my Manchester comfort zone to return to my old haunt of Liverpool and spend an afternoon exploring the charity shops of Allerton Road for the first time in five and a half years! I also spent some time shopping with my charity shop inspiration and original second hand shopper motivation - my mum! Preston city centre was really disappointing but she took me to some of her out-of-town favourites and we both managed to get some bargains. Alongside this, I've been exploring all the usual suspects across Manchester. The result of all this is a never-ending stream of washing and photographing to be done (and a pretty dented bank balance!).

I think the most manageable way to explore all my new bargains is to list them about five at a time and I'm going to start with today!

I had an appointment at the doctor first thing this morning and due to severe laziness, I haven't changed doctor from when I moved house a year ago so I needed to get the bus up to the practice. This gave itself nicely to getting a dayrider and completing an abbreviated version of the charity shop run! 

The only place I really wanted to go was Withington - somewhere I haven't been in ages. For everyone who doesn't live in Manchester, Withington is a small place just down from the student hub Fallowfield and half way to Didsbury. There are a fair few charity shops - big chains like Cancer Research and Oxfam sit alongside local charities like Barnabus Manchester. After a quick lunch in Fuel Cafe and a lunchtime drink (it's obviously payday!), I set off exploring. I had a message on Instagram about two weeks ago kindly letting me know the Lighthouse charity shop had a whole load of Missguided stock which had just come in but I hadn't managed to take a look until today. I wasn't expecting there to be anything left but the shop was full of it! I overheard the lady saying to two girls that she handpicks from a warehouse of it (where is this wonderful place?!) and gets fairly regular deliveries. There were about ten different items I could've happily taken home but I had to hold myself back, given I need money for Christmas and all!

I'm in love with this gorgeous electric blue coat (so much brighter when not in front of the camera) which cost £9.99. I know what you're all thinking - a £10 spend on one item from a girl who crams items into a £2.50 'fill-a-bag' bag like there's no tomorrow?! I think there are some things which are worth a bit more and a coat is one. It's pretty miserable in Manchester most days now and I get pretty unhappy when I'm cold. It's also new. And it's payday.

I also picked up these crazy white shoes. Like the studded, leopard print boots from a few months ago, I can't decide whether these are incredible or super ugly! I do know I shouldn't wear them anywhere which is potentially muddy...they were £4.99 - again, more than I'd normally pay but they're immaculate.

Earlier in the day, I stopped off in Hyde. Usually a charity shop gold favourite, I was a little disappointed and only managed to pick up these Zara mustard coloured skinny trousers for £3 in Cancer Research.

These next two items I picked up on Saturday after finishing work in Sale.

Both were from Scope and cost a grand total of £7.25 (shoes £4 and shirt £3.25).

How has your November been for bargains? Hopefully I can post a bit more regularly now things are back on a more even keel - I know I've got a lot of catching up to do! There's just not enough days in the week to wear all my new things! I can think of worse positions to be in :)

Char x

Selling your charity shop purchases.

Anyone who reads the blog regularly will know I'm always in the Mustard Tree shop in Ancoats. After the success of previous Mondays, I decided to have another walk up the other day and was delighted to find that the 'Fill a Bag for £2.50' sale was still on with restocked rails. Though all was not well...

During my browsing* time, I saw a fair few items of clothing that I knew could be sold on for profit which sent my brain into absolute meltdown regarding the moral implications of such a transaction. Just to be clear, I'm not talking life changing amounts of money here - I think if you have an eye for certain collectables or antiques, there is a substantial profit to be made from buying with the purpose of selling but I'm purely talking about clothing.

I'm sure I'm not the first person to buy something from a charity shop with a view to take it lovingly into my wardrobe and wear it until it falls apart but on getting it home, discover it doesn't fit and rather than donate it back, has put it on eBay (or similar). I don't see a problem with that at all because that's more of an accident (although maybe I should try things on!) - I think what I'm trying to address is the buying specifically with the clear intention to sell on. I think that can raise criticisms. I also want to point out that if you're buying to sell, there are tax implications and you need to let HMRC know as technically, you're operating a business.

In my experience, second hand clothing doesn't sell for all that much on eBay and fees from the site and from PayPal cut into any profits you might make.
However, the medium-sized carriers which Mustard Tree offer for the 'Fill a Bag for £2.50' sale can fit a fair few items in - probably about six or seven pieces of clothing. By my fast-maths calculations, you're paying about 38p an item there. If everything in your bag is good quality, a current season style and from a decent brand, there is undoubtedly a profit to be made.

I opened this up on Instagram and of those people who responded, the majority were in support of selling on. Here are a few of the points:

1) Regardless of the reason for buying an item, the money still ends up in the till.
If the person who buys to sell on doesn't purchase, there's nothing to say anyone else will. After going through pass-on, the item may end up going for rag which would mean a vastly depleted price. It's better for the charity to sell at full price, regardless of who is paying it and what their intentions are for the item.
2) Shops are savvy.
Most shops have clear instructions to volunteers detailing how much different brands can make. The shopper is paying the charity the price they asked for the item which is the best a shop can hope for. In general, shops price according to value and are wise to the worth. With this in mind, you're probably very lucky to find anything to make a profit on.
3) Charity shoppers are a kind bunch.
Casual selling on comes from some real charity shop lovers who also buy for themselves and donate unwanted items too. For many sellers, the money they make goes back into buying more from charity shops - therefore, it's a cycle that helps everyone. Potentially finding something to sell on may also encourage you to shop more and spend more with a charity.

However, there were some points raised against:

1) If buying to sell happens too often, it proves the charity isn't getting the best price.
Shops need to price competetively but have different avenues for sales now including eBay. If a buyer can generate a profit on an item, the shop should be charging more or listing these items online themselves.
2) Charity shops sometimes hold back items for sellers which means shoppers don't get to see them.
I know a lot of charity shops offer staff and volunteers discount but the rule is normally that the item goes on the shop floor first to give customers a chance to see everything. This could be important to ensure customers have faith in the shop and they may lose customers if they know items are being saved specifically for buyers to sell on.
3) Buying to sell can offend volunteers.
One Shop Manager mentioned that a customer told a volunteer that he would be selling the items and the volunteer was really offended. I think that's really valid - most volunteers volunteer because they support the cause and wouldn't want to think the charity was losing out on money. They also give up their time free and work hard to increase funds gained through retail. Maybe it can seem wasted and unfair that someone should make a quick profit?
4) Considering the purpose of the shops, making a profit from goods is 'distasteful'.
Marc Crosby, writing here addresses the issue that 'Charity shops...are there to help the poor and disadvantaged, so looking to make a profit from items you bought there is distasteful.'

I'm still very much sitting on the fence with this issue. I didn't buy to sell in Mustard Tree even though I knew I could've made a few quid. Even when my £2.50 bag wasn't full and the staff member suggested I could get a few more items in it, I didn't go back and collect what I thought could make money even though I would've paid the same amount to the charity. Maybe that was a bit foolish of me?

The actual reason I didn't was because it was Mustard Tree. The Ancoats shop supports disadvantaged people in the area in which I live and I know the volunteers who work there also shop there. The whole operation seems a lot more personal than a lot of other shops I go into and I don't like to think I'm taking something from someone who might love it.

I'm really sentimental when it comes to clothing; I shop in charity shops partly because I like the thought of giving something a new life after it was unwanted. I also don't care about money. Finding something lovely at such a bargain price might make someone's day and I don't want to take that away from someone because I could make a few quid - I don't think that's a fair trade.

But then am I saying I'd buy to sell somewhere that was more of 'chain' charity? Yes, probably. Is that fair?

I'm still really keen to know what other charity shoppers make of this issue so please comment below if you feel strongly about this!

 Char x

*'browsing' makes me seem quite passive. I'm actually very protective over my bargains as one lady found out when making a beeline for some items I'd temporarily placed at the end of of a rail. 'SORRY I'VE JUST PUT THEM DOWN, I'M 100% BUYING THEM! THANKS' 'Oh goodness, sorry...'

Shopping on a serious budget.

Last week, I had a day working in London which meant getting up at 5am and returning home at 9pm. I was shattered all week and by the time weekend came around, all I wanted to do was sleep! Having finally caught up on rest today and not wanting to waste my entire weekend being unconscious, I decided to have a little local adventure for a couple of hours.  Due to having to renew the tenancy on my flat and various other bills, I'm a little lacking in funds this month so I was in two minds whether to go at all but as a compromise between being able to eat and preserving my sanity, I gave myself a £5 spending limit and stayed close to home.

I'd initially only planned to go to Droylsden and visit a little community charity shops called COTE near Edge Lane tram stop which I used to spend a lot of time in before I moved house last year. On discovering it was the same price for a ticket to Droylsden as it is for a return to Ashton-under-Lyne, I thought I'd extend my journey a little further.

The most sensible idea would surely have been to find one or maybe two things I really loved but I'm a binge shopper by nature and I'd never have been satisfied with that! Fortunately, there were plenty of bargains to be had and I managed to pick up all this for exactly £5.

My first purchase was from Willow Wood Hospice shop in Droylsden which I absolutely LOVE. The shops support a local hospice in Tameside and are really well priced. The Droylsden shop had a makeover fairly recently and is now the proud owner of some lovely wooden floors which really open the shop out. I picked up a book called 'The Hundred Year Old Man' by Jonas Jonasson. I'd never heard of the title before but I'm still having great trouble finding a novel to engage my interest so hopefully this might remedy that! The paperbacks in the Willow Wood shop are 50p for two and the lovely lady behind the counter tried to give me this for 25p as I couldn't find another I wanted but despite having a constant bee in my bonnet about overpriced second hand books, I didn't accept. What's really lovely about Willow Wood is that you can have a chat with the staff - we were getting into the politics of the march on the Tory party conference today! The volunteers there are so friendly and so interesting, that I actually took a seat to listen to the end of the debate!

Following that, I went into the enormous Barnardo's that Droylsden has. It's half 99p shop, half donation centre and always a hive of activity. I was quite upset to discover they had drastically reduced the amount of clothing on the shop floor to give way to more furniture and household items (although I do understand this raises far more money per space used). I think I'd gone in Barnardo's and Willow Wood in the wrong order because there was a lady scanning the rails clutching tightly onto some amazing dresses and a pair of beautiful lace up ankle boots which looked like my size. She definitely saw the jealously in my eyes...
However, I did manage to pick up the lovely beige jacket in the left of the picture!
Spend so far - £1.49.

Then I went into another of Droylsden's shops. I don't like to say negative things about charity shops so I won't mention the name but I never normally go in this one because it perpetually smells like wet dog and everything is really expensive, which would not be conducive to my £5 cause. However, there was a sign in the window stating there was a half price rail inside. I'm not one to turn down a half price rail at the best of times. When shopping on a tiny budget, I'd say it was a necessity.
There was a pretty green dress on the rail or £3.29 (full price) or (£1.64 half price) but I had to think carefully and realised having not set foot on Ashton turf yet, spending 33% of my budget would not be wise. Ah, to be well off...

I also noted that my old employer has opened a shop in Droylsden...they're getting to be a bit like rats, never more than 6 foot from one. Sorry, that's dreadful - moving swiftly on...

To Ashton. Ahh, I do love East Manchester and it's grittiness. Ashton-under-Lyne truly is a place like no other. I had to be strategic here because there's a fair few shops in Ashton but I only had £3.51. My first stop was Age UK £1 shop, where I had originally planned to spend the majority of my remaining funds...if only I could find something to spend them on... After studying two dresses for quite some time, I decided one was just too leopardy (yes, even for me!) and the other had a smidgen of a bleach stain on the hem. In usual circumstances, I would have bought both but today was thrifting to the extreme!

So I went down the road to the RSPCA shop which used to be a £1 shop and then wasn't and seems to be a £1 shop again and picked up this black River Island jumper with open sleeves.

 

 
£2.51 remains.

So I'd planned to go to COTE on the way back but as the tram pulled into Edge Lane, I could see the lights were out and it was closed. After considering my options in town, I decided I would have to return home with £2.50 burning a hole in my pocket but as I pulled into Holt Town, I remembered MUSTARD TREE! Quick scan of Twitter showed me that they had been having the fill-a-bag for £2.50 sale towards the end of September but I didn't think it'd still be on, surely I couldn't be THAT lucky...

Mustard Tree you are good to me. This sale is unreal although you really have to get in quickly, which I definitely didn't do, coming a week and a half late to the party! However, I did manage to pick up these beauties.

Crazy pattern? Woolly yet machine washable? Sold.

Black and red Missguided cropped jumper

Topshop leopard top 

 Zara skirt

I also managed to squeeze a blue and white striped jumper and a purple skirt into my £2.50 bag of dreams and still had room left!

One penny remains, which has now been placed in my charity shop piggy bank.
Today really restored my faith in the charity shop bargain! I'm so excited to wear (and read) everything I bought today. Furthermore, shopping on such a tight budget really made me think about what I was buying. I definitely have a tendency to just buy in charity shops because I think things are so cheap, it doesn't matter if I can't squeeze myself into it, I'll just donate it back. But while I don't want to discourage donating to charity, that is a waste of money, no matter how little money that may be. I'd like to say today has taught me a lesson or two about spending wisely but no doubt I'll be back on the major hauls again next month!

Char x

All Aboard!

Recently, I was contacted by All Aboard Charity Shops after admiring some of the photos on their Instagram page. Having previously thought all their charity shops were in London, I was delighted to discover I didn't have to continue just to look from afar as the charity have a shop in Prestwich in North Manchester! 

So last Monday, I took the short tram ride from the city centre and this is what I discovered...

The charity was founded over twenty years ago by a lady called Stella Lucas and was set up to help and support, through retail sales, Jewish charitable organisations. Nowadays, All Aboard run nineteen shops in total, eighteen of which are in Greater London. Proceeds from these nineteen shops and a successful eBay account support over fifty organisations based in the UK.

Shop front - All Aboard, Prestwich

The Prestwich shop makes up part of The Longfield Centre, a shopping precinct just opposite the tram station. The shop was easy to find with really clear branding and an open and attractive front window. The inside of the shop is bright, airy and open with clear sections for menswear, jewellery, things for the home etc and also has a section for children, much to the delight of parents wanting to shop!

I was given a really warm welcome and made to feel really at home by Shop Manager Wendy, Deputy Shop Manager Angela and all the shop's wonderful volunteers! In addition, I met Corri who oversees all of All Aboard's nineteen shops (I can't even imagine how much money I'd spend if that were my job!).

My first impression was just how organised an operation Wendy runs! A look in the upstairs storage room of the shop revealed stock sectioned off into not just summer and winter but sparkles and gifts for Christmas, raffle prizes, fancy dress, toys and decorations along with separate storage for different accessories - many incredible hats, bags and pairs of shoes! Wendy told me she knows exactly where everything is so if a customer asks for something in particular, she can tell them if they have it within a couple of minutes. Having worked in shops myself, I'm in awe of anyone who can form such order from donations where no bag is the same!

Lovely things for the home

Huge collection of donated jewellery

Gift ideas and raffle prizes ready for Christmas

Fancy dress

A walk around the shop floor served to highlight how well-renowned the shop is within the local community. Customers were chatting to each other and to volunteers and I overheard more than one customer saying, completely unprompted, that All Aboard was their favourite shop in the area to visit. This was also evident in the amount of donations the shop receive. The volunteers were kept busy with multiple drop-offs in the two hours I spent at the shop. Considering the shop is surrounded by some charities with UK-wide branding, this is a real testament to the reputation Wendy and her team have built up in the years the shop has been trading.

Wendy told me she has about twenty volunteers with three people on a waiting list to join. Everyone who reads the blog will know how much I support the 'traditional' charity shop as not just a retail outlet but as somewhere with the interests of the community and the local people at the heart of it. That's what All Aboard do so well - yes, the stock processing is quick and the till was always ringing but there was a really nice feel to the place which hits you as soon as you walk through the door.
I'm pretty certain this attitude is representative of the charity as a whole. Corri told me that founder Stella still visits the London shops frequently despite being 99 years of age!

So much choice in ladies clothes

Shop Manager Wendy modelling two gorgeous Zara bags 

I'd really like to thank everyone at All Aboard for facilitating such a great day! I'm really excited to return as the shop complete the change over into winter stock - some of the pieces I got a sneak preview of are really gorgeous! If you're in the Manchester area, don't just take my word for it - the shop is open six days a week for you to see for yourself!

Winter stock waiting to make an appearance!

As for my purchases, they'll be making an appearance in a recent finds post towards the end of the week!

For a full list of All Aboard shops and to find out how you can support the charity, please see the website.

Char x

Recent finds.

I haven't posted any second hand finds for quite a while now but that doesn't mean I haven't been shopping! I was actually quite enraged when I discovered the first Monday after pay day was Bank Holiday - for one, I always have Mondays off so while everyone else was enjoying their three day break, I just had a normal weekend with too many people hanging about on the Monday when I normally have a nice quiet day! What was more annoying was that Monday after payday is normally my super charity shop day where I visit a multitude of different areas in one mad bus travelling day which I couldn't do because 90% of charity shops are closed on a Bank Holiday! Fuming.

So, to make up for it, I got up super early (5.30am) on Sunday and went to the car boot. I've got a horrible feeling that it was the last one of the year (unless anyone has been to Burnage Rugby Club this morning?) which makes me feel pretty sad as they're a relatively new discovery for me. On a more positive note, I did find some great items.

First up was this white dress which has the original tags and cost £2. The girl I bought this from had some amazing bits but most were just a size too big for me :(. I tried this on when I got home and, although you can't see them on the pictures, the dress has two pockets. The fabric isn't completely opaque either so you can see the pockets inside - I'm sure I could pay somebody to do something about that (as my sewing skills don't go beyond reattaching a button) - has anybody had this problem before?

I also picked up these Miss KG slip on shoes for £2. They're only a tiny size three but I took a chance and they fit really well. 

They're in ridiculously good condition for a second hand pair of shoes so I did a bit of a search and here they are, currently listed on the Kurt Geiger website  - http://www.kurtgeiger.com/leo-black-synthetic-36-miss-kg-shoe.html for £42!

From the same lady, I also purchased these Topshop black boots, again in incredible condition. 

In fact, all the shoes on this one stall were £2 and the lady was saying the money was going to St Ann's Hospice. This obviously combined charity shopping and car boots into one which made me super happy! 

I also got this black leopard print pattern dress for £2. I've discussed my love of leopard print before and I'm so glad that all the winter clothing is appearing - I'll be delighted to be back in all black outfits!

My final car boot purchase was these blue velvet pointy flatform creeper type shoes (not entirely sure what they are!).

These cost 50p and yes, that label does say £55.

My other two purchases this week were from The Salvation Army shop in Sale which currently has my favourite charity shop thing...the £1 rail! From that, I picked up this comfy grey jumper with gold beads on the front...

...and this book for 50p. I'm having a real problem with books at the moment. I have three on my bedside table which I've started but just can't get into. If I'm not gripped by the first few pages, I don't read any further, which is probably a really bad attitude! Hopefully this one will turn things around!

Char x

Experiences of volunteering.

I saw a news article last week surrounding a study showing that among people who work, those who also volunteer in their spare time are generally happier. There can be no doubt that volunteering has many positives - the benefits for the cause you support through volunteering is obvious but it extends beyond that. Many people volunteer to improve their social lives and meet new people. It's also a great way to gain new skills which can be transferable in the job market.

I've tried and failed to volunteer for three different causes over the past few years.
The first voluntary role I applied for was with one of the youth uniformed organisations. I saw the advert on a Manchester volunteering website shortly after becoming unemployed in 2013. I wanted something productive to do with my time, other than job hunting and the idea of setting up a new unit in East Manchester really appealed as I got a lot from my experiences with them when I was younger. I also love East Manchester and still feel like it's home to me despite being a city centre-dweller now! So after an informal chat over the phone, I was invited to an initial meet-up in Droylsden with the lady who was running the recruitment and the other people who had applied to volunteer.
After the initial meeting, I felt really positive. I got on well with both girls who attended and we put together a strategy to move forward with the unit. Over the next few months we met up approximately every three weeks. In the beginning, although I didn't think progress was particularly speedy, I was unsure how quickly these things develop normally so I tried to keep positive about it all despite there being no concrete plans. We went to view a venue and decided it would be perfect but after a few weeks of deliberation, the headteacher at the school we planned to run out of, said it wouldn't be possible. No contingency plans had been made and we were starting all over again. Myself and the other prospective volunteer had little communication with the charity and for most of the time so had no clue what was going on!
A year after I originally applied, no unit had been set up. We had no venue and no sign of one. The most annoying thing was, the charity were reluctant to hand any of this responsibility over to us and instead, the whole operation was being run by someone who lived in Stoke and didn't know the Manchester area at all! After discussing it for a while, myself and the other girl decided to cut our ties with it. I had a full time job again by then and having seen no progress, was extremely frustrated. We wasted so much time attending useless meetings and training courses which amounted to nothing! The worst thing is, I was unemployed for about three months in the beginning and could've dedicated that time to another cause who may have been slightly more proactive!

My second attempt was with an animal charity in the rehoming centre. I applied over the internet when I saw there were vacancies for animal care assistants. My only ever career dream as a child was to be a vet so this was right up my street! I travelled for over an hour on two buses to take my identification documents to the centre. When I got there, the manager was rude and completely disinterested. I never went back.

Most recently, I applied to do some mentoring with a mental health charity. Once again, I applied online and was asked to attend an informal interview at the centre in which I would be volunteering. Following that, I was invited on a few different courses to make sure I was suitable for the vacancy which meant I had to take four days of holiday from work (which I was completely happy to do at the time as I believed in what the charity were trying to do). After this, a DBS check had to be completed but this was returned quickly. And then nothing...until about two weeks ago. For six months I heard absolutely nothing, during which time I was offered a bit of flexibility to my hours at work meaning I would no longer be free every Monday which is when I had planned to do the volunteering. I took it. I was finally contacted by email just recently and the wording was very much to the tune of 'we have someone for you now, get in touch as soon as possible so as not to be inconvenient'.

I just want to say here that I do not expect to have a red carpet rolled out for me because I've decided to give away some of my free time. However, I do work full time and the time commitment required for all of the above opportunities was substantial. I applied because I believed in each of the causes and wanted to do something to help them.
I've got to say, it's really put me off volunteering now. Everyone I've met has been so completely disorganised and in many cases, horrendously rude. It really makes me wonder how they've recruited any volunteers at all! I've also worked in jobs where I've recruited and managed volunteers and I would never have dreamt of treating them with the disrespect I've been shown.

I'd be happy to have my faith restored if anyone wants to share their positive experiences of volunteering?

Char x

Ps. I also want to say thanks to Jenni who brought this to the forefront of my mind after telling me about her volunteering experience!

Better late than never?

Yesterday, The Guardian Online reported that the charity Oxfam is set to launch six ‘super-saver’ discount stores in an attempt to combat losses in their retail division. It has been suggested that these shops will have block prices of £1, £2 and £3 to encourage customers to snap up more bargains and follows reports that across its 700 UK stores, the charity has seen a fall in sales of 3%.

It has been suggested that the fall in sales is due to a number of contributing factors:

1.     Charity shops are in competition with discount retailers such as Primark. ‘Fast fashion’ shows no signs of slowing down as the high street continues to promote cheap garments. If you can get something new for the same price, why would you buy something that previously belonged to someone else? In addition to this, retailers such as Aldi and Lidl now sell clothes making ‘charity shops look rather pricey’.

2.     The popularity of online shopping continues to grow. Charities simply cannot offer customers this on a large scale as items are usually one-off. Many charities do look to listing more expensive and rare items on auctions sites like eBay but this is time consuming and doesn’t result in a repeated sales.

3.     Donations are down so shops simply have less to sell. In line with the 3% drop in sales, Oxfam also reported a 2% drop in goods being donated. It has been suggested that this is due to people buying less clothing meaning they have less to donate.

No doubt all this is true but does Oxfam have other problems?

I get a lot of comments on Instagram and Twitter from people who are annoyed about the high prices in some charity shops in the UK and without a doubt, the main offender is Oxfam. I’d like to think that this news means the charity have some awareness of these attitudes but with new discount stores set to represent less than 1% of Oxfam’s retail outlets, how much change can we really expect to see? Understandably this will be a trial, and while I fully support it, will Oxfam’s bosses be able to get a true picture of how successful a reduction in prices across the board would be from figures from just six shops? Even if they do, how long could a pricing restructure take while sales continue to drop?

I’ve been noticing a few subtle changes in my most frequented Oxfam shops recently, which are Oxfam in Sale, Cheshire and the Emporium on Oldham Street in Central Manchester. Both now have sale rails for stock that has been out for a couple of weeks without selling where clothing is usually half the original marked price. In addition to this, high priced items being sectioned off. There seems to be more to appeal to the real bargain hunters amongst us. As a long-time charity bargain hunter, I sensed trouble.

I’ve never hidden how I feel about inflated prices and a number of months ago I posted about my shock to see the Manchester Oxfam Originals shop charging £100 for a coat. I also faced a few conflicting opinions on the usage of ‘boutique style’ shops. In light of this news, I’m really happy to see Oxfam move away from these and focus on providing cheaper clothing. I spoke a few months ago about who is the real customer base of the charity shop and I still strongly believe that it’s the people charity shops were intended for – those who need cheaper clothing. When the economy picks up and those charity shoppers who were just looking to save a few pennies can afford the high street again, charity shops won’t get a second look.

My concern is that Oxfam can’t undo their bad rep. One bad shopping experience can make or break a charity for a bargain hunter. Many people who contact me say they don’t bother to look in Oxfam anymore as they know the prices will not only put them off buying and item but will actually make them feel angry! Can six shops really undo that bad feeling and entice customers back in?

How do you feel about the proposed ‘super-saver shops’? If you’ve fallen out of love with Oxfam, would you be enticed back in with block prices?

Char x

You can read the original story at:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/10/oxfam-looks-to-discounting-as-high-street-shops-struggle-with-competition

Back in the game.

Sorry (again) for my lack of posts lately. Things have been hectic at work and then I got ill (again) last week which resulted in me being bedridden for three days! I wasn't completely fixed yesterday on my day off but I just couldn't stay inside any longer so made a quick trip to Stretford to have a little walk around the shops there. 

Stretford is home to my new favourite charity shop, as discussed in my previous post. The Barnardo's 99p shop is a real triumph of charity retailing- friendly, good quality, full of bargains! The little lot below cost me a tiny £4.95.

Black and purple, velvet, panelled dress. I love dark colours - the majority of my wardrobe is black of grey so this beauty fits in perfectly. It's something I'd wear to meet friends at weekend. I'm quite dressy out of work and don't own a single pair of jeans so dresses like this are a staple for me.

I also picked up this shirt. It's much more a grey-lilac colour than is shown in the photo. Something I'd wear in and out of work, I thought it was really simple but flexible.

New Look grey-green tunic. There's a small rip around the neckline but nothing a few stitches won't fix! It's from the Tall range, which I am certainly not, so I'll be wearing it as a dress with tights!

Creamy-white lace dress with button-up back. Again another simple piece which I can wear in and out of work. This was a little grubby looking in the shop but I've given it a good wash and it looks fine!

Vintage style button up back flowery cut out blouse. I think this is just so cute. Again, I need to make a few repairs around the flower cut outs where the material has got a little frayed but such a small job.

I also saw a Celia Birtwell floral blouse and a MaxMara shirt which were both too small. If you're Manchester based, this shop is really worth a look. It's jam-packed with rail upon rail of bargains!

I was going to make my way home after purchasing these but couldn't resist the British Heart Foundation shop with their half price sale being advertised outside. This is something which seems to be going on across all the UK shops at the moment and is well worth a look! I once overheard someone laughing about the idea of a charity shop having a sale but why shouldn't they? From what I can see, The BHF seem to be selling off any surplus summer stock in preparation for the colder weather. All that stock would just be sitting around waiting for next summer! 

I picked up this gorgeous red dress, originally priced at £5.49 and knocked down to £2.74. It's in perfect condition (probably brand new without the tags). Absolute bargain!

The same knock down could be found on this grey dress.

I also picked up this Topshop cropped black and white pattern top for £2.39, reduced from £4.79.

This white skirt is from Zara. Sadly I may have to sell this one on or donate it back as it's a large!

Finally for £1.64, I got this incredible blue suede skirt. It's pretty old with the tags saying Clock House which was C&As old label before the company disappeared off the high street!

And then I went home and took some painkillers and had a nap and tried to get better!

Have you picked up any great bargains in my absence from Internet?!

Char x