Charity shop managers.

charity_girl

hi everyone,

Ive been working as a manager in a new charity shop in my area for 6 months. I wasnt given any training and basically thrown in at the deep end, plus im very young. but iv managed to set up a successful charity shop with a good amount of donations recieved despite the competion.

In the town there are 11 other chairty shops (small town) my shop is on a little slip road that people dont normally travel on, there is no security no heating and the building is half finished. Also my bosses refuse to actually fit out the stock room. They wont even supply shelving and I have to put the railings up myself and even change ones they put on the shop floor.. ( they fell on a customer..) :eek:

Iv done my best to reach my sales targets and most weeks I do, but with the bad weather setting in and less foot traffic my sales have decressed dramatically and im wondering can any one give me some tips to put my sales back up?

hope you can help :A
thank you in advance :j

Savvy_Sue

My advice? Make sure that you document on a regular basis the things which need doing, in writing, to whoever you report to and higher up if that doesn't get you anywhere ... Sounds as if there are some serious health and safety issues which you MUST get addressed!

charity_girl

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

My advice? Make sure that you document on a regular basis the things which need doing, in writing, to whoever you report to and higher up if that doesn't get you anywhere ... Sounds as if there are some serious health and safety issues which you MUST get addressed!

Iv kept some notes in my diary. due to me not being fully trained I wasnt told about keeping an incident book or anything like that. I researched myself and got myself up to date. two of my volunteers as well as myself have been injured already.

In regards to speaking to people higher I have been visited by the board of directors and have put forward my complaints but to no avail. I have also emailed about certain issues and after being ignored I metioned it in a phone call to the person which followed a very awkward silence..:mad: still havnt gotten anywhere with it.

Although I love the job I must admit it is stressing me out and depressing me. Im just afraid they will close down the shop after all my hard work which would be a shame because it is honestly a great shop, we always get compliments about our good quailty stock and how well the place looks.

tbh im just at a lose now

Savvy_Sue

Is this a national 'chain' or a small one-off shop?

charity_girl

It's a registered national charity

Bayblue

charity_girl wrote: »

hi everyone,

Ive been working as a manager in a new charity shop in my area for 6 months. I wasnt given any training and basically thrown in at the deep end, plus im very young. but iv managed to set up a successful charity shop with a good amount of donations recieved despite the competion.

In the town there are 11 other chairty shops (small town) my shop is on a little slip road that people dont normally travel on, there is no security no heating and the building is half finished. Also my bosses refuse to actually fit out the stock room. They wont even supply shelving and I have to put the railings up myself and even change ones they put on the shop floor.. ( they fell on a customer..) :eek:

Iv done my best to reach my sales targets and most weeks I do, but with the bad weather setting in and less foot traffic my sales have decressed dramatically and im wondering can any one give me some tips to put my sales back up?

hope you can help :A
thank you in advance :j

Hello Charity girl; First and foremost regarding the shop fittings; form what I have experienced it's not uncommon for there to be rather ad hoc approach to fitting out charity shops. It shouldn't be the case, but it is and I know of quite a few places where volunteers and staff have carried out their own mini adaptations in order to make things better.

That said, the charity MUST adhere to the law when it comes to health and safety. So if you, your volunteers or customers are at risk from anything in the shop (you mentioned falling rails?) - it must be reported immediately to the appropriative dept and backed up by a written memo or email. You yourself could be liable if you knew something was faulty and did not report it, so make sure the shop is safe and if you're in any doubt- keep on at those above you until something is done. They will have to make amends to ensure the shop is safe for everyone.

You won't however, get a full refit, or indeed anything like a refit to the standards acceptable to mainstream retail .Most charities don't work that way...yet. Some enlightened ones are making sure that their shops are kitted out well and are realising that it can make a very positive impact on sales, (check out the new Shelter shops for instance) but most haven't got there and we have to make do and mend. Heating - you may to wait until it gets a little colder but yes again, something can, should and will be done- but you will have to keep asking, make records (perhaps record temperatures) and let them know what is required.

Security is more subjective- it depends what you mean by 'no security'. I don't have a shop alarm, and sometimes have to work alone. Again, I'm afraid they just don't want to spend the money. There are however several things that you can do to minimise risks.

Sales; Keep doing what you've already been successfully doing already. Think about adjusting prices - are your more or less expensive than others in the town? Or can you undercut some of your rivals by offering 2 for 1 on certain things?

Make sure that the shop always looks good, put out at least 50 items a day, but always make sure that they are good quality. The more you put out the more you'll sell but you also want your customers to know that your stuff is better than your rivals.

Get your best, most customer-friendly, chatty volunteers on the shop floor. It's amazing how many shops just stick some very quiet lady (sorry- no offence:p) on the till just so the rest can get on with things in the back. We need to sell the goods, it's not just about someone who can work the till.

Even the best managers cannot control everything, and things can affect sales but if you're doing all of that, and you sound like you are and more, then hopefully it will maximise your sales to the best that they can be.

Good Luck

Savvy_Sue

charity_girl wrote: »

It's a registered national charity

In that case, I'd add to the advice from Bayblue and suggest you make 'friends' with other managers, find out how they get things done.

sharnad

Do you know what other perks near by charity shops offer to volunteers. If you clamp down to hard the. You might have some volunteers leave. I don't understand the discount only being on others hey can wear to work rather than a clothing

BigAunty

charity_girl wrote: »

...

Although I love the job I must admit it is stressing me out and depressing me. Im just afraid they will close down the shop after all my hard work which would be a shame because it is honestly a great shop, we always get compliments about our good quailty stock and how well the place looks.

Sometimes, an individual just can't do anything to redress what are institutional/leadership/cultural issues embedded in the organisation itself so stop taking it so personally - only worry about the things that you can influence. You aren't being rejected directly (your ideas and requests certainly are) but it probably feels like you are under attack.

You might be best to consider getting out all you can to get a better position with a more mature charity rather than trying to kill yourself trying to turn a sinking ship round, particularly if they are giving you targets that are simply never achievable due to lack of footfall.

See if you can find websites or online tutorials about retail marketing/PR or charity shop management advice. See the earlier comment about Social Media - is this something you'd like to do for the shop?

Start by updating your CV with all the things that you've done to improve the shop - the turnover, layout, marketing, exceeding targets and so on. And then take yourself off to an organisation where you are trained, valued and supported.

paddyrg

charity_girl wrote: »

two of my volunteers as well as myself have been injured already.

3 injuries already in a new shop - there is a serious problem that must be addressed straight away. Ask head office HR for assistance, the situation is untenable and 3 accidents in a short space of time they will see as a personal injury insurance claim waiting to happen