Charity shops across the UK are seeing a surge in customers as the cost of living crisis drives more people to second-hand shopping. However, volunteers have expressed concern over rising prices, which they say could harm those who rely on charity shops for essentials.
Lauren Knapman, 28, from Newport, regularly shops in charity stores and posts about her finds online. She said the trend is partly due to cost but also a growing desire to live sustainably. 'There's definitely been a stigma around buying second-hand in the past,' she said. 'But I just think mindsets are changing - obviously it does save you a lot of money but also stops things ending up in landfill.'
Kelly Allen, 40, from Llantrisant, a sustainable fashion blogger, has noticed prices increasing, especially in parts of Cardiff. 'If you truly rely on charity shops to clothe your family, I think that's a bit of a worry,' she said. The trend is reflected in figures from Cancer Research UK, which reported a record 14% increase in turnover across its 600 shops, with customer numbers up 10% at its Cardiff superstore.
At The Climate Shop in Lampeter, Ceredigion, volunteer Rhys Jones said he sees 'more and more people finding it very difficult to make ends meet'. Fellow volunteer Sara Avila noted a rise in customers seeking cheap curtains to block draughts this winter, as 'curtains are horrendously expensive to buy new'.
Despite the increased demand, donations to charity shops have fallen, with Cancer Research UK reporting a 10% drop in Wales over the past three months, potentially another symptom of the cost of living crisis. The charity's shops save about 25,000 tonnes of textiles from landfill each year.
