Charity shops have reported an “unprecedented” spike in sales since reopening in May as new and younger customers seek more affordable and sustainable items.
Dermot McGilloway, retail development manager with the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, said a “much wider” range of consumers are visiting the charity’s 243 Irish stores.
“All kinds of people are coming through the front doors of our shops at the moment,” he said, adding that a greater number of male customers has led to many shops running out of menswear.
Mr McGilloway believes many of these new and younger shoppers are motivated by the desire to be “thrifty and prudent”, as well as more sustainable.
“Consumers at large seem much more focused on ethical shopping. We are consuming too much and that message is definitely resonating with shoppers,” he said.
‘No other options’
Then there are also those who “financially have no other options”. The social justice charity has experienced an “exponential rise” in requests for assistance, he said. And he added that back-to-school costs and lifting of a blanket eviction ban are putting people in a “lot of difficulty”.
“Shops are reporting the return of many low-income families trying to meet their basic and essential needs,” he said.
Chief executive of Mayo Roscommon Hospice Martina Jennings noted a “marked increase” in sales compared to pre-pandemic levels.
“More people are coming through the door both to buy and to donate . . . People are happy to be able to support the charity. But I also think they are more conscious about sustainability,” she said. Regular customers have “come back in their droves”, but there are more young customers than ever before, many of whom are thinking about the environment, added Ms Jennings.
The high level of shoppers has been maintained for many weeks across the charity’s 12 outlets in Mayo and Roscommon, which “we are grateful for”, she said.
“To maintain that level of custom we need a really high level of donations,” she explained. But she added a caveat: only about 20 per cent of donated items can be sold on.
There has also been an “unprecedented spike” in sales at Barnardos’s seven stores across the country, according to retail manager Colette Miller.
“We have been really busy getting donations but sales are also well up. It is better than we had predicted,” she said.
As the charity’s shops are “embedded” in the community, retail managers know their customers well, said Ms Miller. And across the board they are seeing many new faces – children’s clothing is in high demand, as low-income parents struggle to afford high prices elsewhere, she said.
“Even if you are shopping in one of the major fast-fashion shops like Penneys, children’s clothes can be expensive.”
While there is no shortage of shoppers, the stores “really need volunteers”, added Ms Miller. A large proportion of voluntary workers would have been older and some of them have been slow to return due to fear of Covid-19, she said.
“We need volunteers all the time . . . but we are seeing our workforce come back and we are welcoming them back with open arms.”
Seasoned shoppers and bargain hunters
The hunt for a sustainable bargain is a relatively new experience for 18-year-old Sophie Cullinan from Co Wicklow, who has been enticed by her peers to the charity shops on Dublin’s South Great George’s Street.
“I wouldn’t have been a big charity shopper before. I started because my friends had started,” she says.
And she is a convert – as finding a unique piece is a really satisfying experience. “When you get something for €10 that is worth much more, it is kind of a nice feeling.”
The reward is bolstered by the knowledge that her money is going to a good cause and the purchase is not part of the fast-fashion economy, she adds.
Her 18-year-old friend Grace Kirwan is a seasoned charity shopper and explains the drawbacks of trying to follow “micro trends” that mean popular styles last little more than a month. The cheap clothing available through popular fashion websites and high-street stores makes for a semi-disposable wardrobe, she adds.
“We are all students so it is hard to buy good quality new clothes on minimum wage. Here you can get good quality clothes for a cheaper price. When you get things in charity shops that have already been worn a good bit and are still in good condition you know they will last you a long time,” she says.
The four friends, who travelled to Dublin’s city centre for a day of browsing, are all conscious about the environment. Kirwan says she would feel “a level of guilt” if she were to buy most of her wares in cheap clothing stores due to her concerns for the planet and the use of child labour.
At the Simon Community charity shop on Camden Street, 23-year-old barista Saoirse Clandillon has come away with a bargain pint glass. She has been searching for items to fill her new house and was determined to exhaust all of the charity shops within range before ordering from online stores.
“I like a good bargain. The money goes to charity and you will find something unique you cannot get anywhere else,” she says.
She enjoys clothing that fits her individualistic and brightly-coloured style. But the environment is also on her mind: “Fashion is quite important to me and this is slightly more ethical than fast fashion. Your clothes are not requiring new materials. It is better for the environment.”
