Charity shops.

There are numerous charity shops where I live. They’re quite fussy about what they’ll accept and one is currently refusing all donations. We also now have ‘social enterprise’ shops, which seem to focus on one particular type of item, eg a school uniform and children’s clothes shop which also has sports equipment for sale. There’s another which sells repurposed homewares like quilted cushions, small items of furniture like dining chairs and coffee tables that have been renovated and accessories such as knitted hats and mittens.

Ours all seem to be doing ok, but I have noticed an upturn in 'events'. The Handbags & Glad Rags Month or Happy Homeware Week. My personal favourite is the Haberdashery event every 6 weeks - little bags of buttons, crocheted doilies and any number of embroidered tray cloths.
All vying for my shiny coins! What's a girl to do?
(Some of the window displays are very pretty and creative, which is downright sneaky of them)

In our market town I think there are six charity shops. Two are for hospices in our county (for children & for adults). I love all the shops!

I live in a very small town, not much more than a village to be honest …….and we have THREE charity shops plus the church collects items for a local food bank.

I'm in Whitby, and there are somewhere between 10 and 15 here still open.

I moved from Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria, where originally there were 3, then one closed to become a dog groomer, about 3 years ago.

I frequent charity shops, donate to them and buy from them.
We had one excellent one in my local town but they closed after Covid. The charity now has a large warehouse out of town that is on an industrial park and not accessible except by car.

Another one is on a local retail park, again well off the high street.

In the nearby major market town there is almost a whole street of them!

So yes, it is a conundrum...how some remain and some leave.