grannypiper- brilliant, every town should have one!
The charity I volunteered in received some odd decrees from head office. Door open whatever the weather, shivering manager stood under the tiny heater! Only one item to be displayed in the windows. Previously attractive, they just looked as if we hadn't bothered.
Constant updates of the list of items we weren't allowed to sell. The knitting needles had to go (H&S apparently) but I don't understand why the dozens of (steadily selling) knitting patterns were thrown out too. Handknitted items including unworn baby clothes are banned because they don't have fire safety labels.
Books must have pristine white pages, no yellowing. Thank goodness the dedicated bookshops which Oxfam runs will display and sell books less than perfect condition, those are often the out of print interesting ones. Some weeks more books went for pulping than were put on sale. And, of course, any clothes needing a button or having had alterations such as a handsewn hem must go for rags. What a waste.