Charity shops – feeling the pinch

Sir, – Walking through town in the early morning recently, my eye was nostalgically drawn to the colourful and attractively themed window displays of the various charity shops in Dublin’s south city centre. Growing up in the 1980s and 1990s, such shops were a guaranteed and fun way to purchase an original and complete Halloween costume at a pocket-money price.

I was quite taken aback at the high prices of some of the items in the windows, with one pair of non-designer shoes priced at €35. Vintage clothing is now more popular than ever with young people, who are trying to play their part in climate action, buying pre-loved items rather than something new or an item of “fast fashion”.

Charity shops are subject to high rent, rates and energy costs just like for-profit businesses operating on the same streets. It’s important though that charity shops operate ethical pricing policies for their stock, which is donated free of charge. Young people on limited budgets should not be taken advantage of because of a trend for vintage items, nor should those shopping second-hand for affordability or environmental reasons.

Your customers eventually become your donors. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. – Yours, etc,