Charity shops are under pressure as donors sell higher-value clothes and goods through online platforms such as Vinted, eBay and Depop, rather than donating them, new research from Rathbones, one of the UK’s leading charity wealth managers, shows.

Its study with senior charity executives and donors found both groups are seeing fewer of the best clothes and other items reaching charity shops as more people use online resale sites.
Nearly two out of five (38%) senior executives at charities which run shops say they have seen a fall in the quality of donations they receive since the rise of Vinted, eBay and Depop. Around one in 10 say the drop in the quality of donations has been significant. Around 42% say the quality of donations is unchanged while nearly one in five (18%) say they are receiving better quality items.

The squeeze on charity shops is also reflected in Rathbones research undertaken with people who give items to charity shops. Around half (49%) of respondents admit their use of online sellers has had an impact on what they donate.

Around a fifth (21%) say there has been a slight drop in what they give as they keep their best items to sell online, while 19% admit the quality of clothes they donate is significantly lower as they only give charity shops items that do not sell. Around 9% say they have stopped giving to charity shops and only sell online.

Charity shops make a major contribution to charity finances – data shows the profit contribution of charity retail organisations is around £300 million a year with more than 9,900 shops employing around 24,900 employees supported by more than 223,500 volunteers.

Charity shops are an important source of income for many charities, so any shift in the quality or volume of donated goods matters for the sector. It is understandable that people may want to sell higher-value items online, particularly while household finances remain under pressure, but this research shows there can be a knock-on effect for charity retailers.

“The good news is that selling online and supporting charities do not have to be mutually exclusive. Donors can still give a portion of what they earn, use platform donation options where available, or continue donating items that charities can resell. Small choices can make a meaningful difference to charities that rely on retail income.