setting up a charity shop

karis12

hi im hoping you kind people may be able to send me the the direction of some good resources i could use.

ive been given an opportunity to manage a charity shop from the get go but i have no experience of retail or managment let alone setting up a shop so im kinda being thrown in in the deep end. this is a once in a life time chance as i have been ill for 10 yrs unable to work and if im able to get it making money i will be able to get an income and the employer is understanding of my disability and is still wanting me to manage the shop.

im very determined to make this work but would like some advice on the dos and dont and if there is any good places for advice on what ill need todo to make this a success

hope your able to help
thank you in advance

Savvy_Sue

Charity Retail site.

Is this the first shop being set up by this charity? I hate to discourage you, but there's an awful lot to take on board. Managing a charity shop is much like managing any other shop, with the added complication that you're using volunteers (who may be harder to manage than staff), and the need to acquire, sort and display enough stock to keep the customers coming in.

gingerdad

Totally know where you are coming from 20 months ago I set about on behalf investigating and then setting up a charity shop from scratch. It's been so successful we now have two neither or our managers had any retail experience. I'd recommend buying the setting up a charity shop book from the site savvy sues linked too.

I did find though there are massive gaps in information out there. If you have any questions let me know. The main challenges for us have been volunteers both recruiting and retaining. We've had a good number but it is up and down. Stock wise we've had no issues and if anything we get too much and have learned to manage it.

It's not an easy job both managers work nonstop and neither expected the job to be what it is if that makes sense.

karis12

yes its the first charity shop for this charity. it is linked to the local church and have had alot of interest from volunteers already which is great.

ty for the book i will look it up and see what i can get from that

im not expecting it to be easy. i know there will be alot of hard work, long hours and difficulties to overcome but i know that this is something i can do and have the determination to make this work, we are hoping to get funding for a part time manager to help mentor me to start with but we wont know for sure if we will get that funding and if not its up to me.

ty

Savvy_Sue

Let me know if you're in the Greater Bristol area ...

SailorSam

Whereabouts are you ?
Om our local radio (merseyside), they've been talking this morning to some women who have just started their own charity shop in Southport. They were unemployed and looking for work and thought this would give them work experience at the same time they were helping others. A couple of them did craftwork so as well as selling the jewellry & cards they make they have also started classes teaching others.
I never caught the name of the shop but if you were to email radio merseyside i'm sure the presenter would give you a contact number ......... [EMAIL="sean.styles@bbc.co.uk"]sean.styles@bbc.co.uk[/EMAIL]

Update:
Just thought, if you were to google Radio Merseyside Presenters then click this mornings Sean Styles show you could 'listen again' to the show, the bit were he's talking to the ladies from Southport are towards the end of the show.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/liverpool/hi/tv_and_radio/newsid_8236000/8236057.stm

karis12

im in a lincolnshire area so not to close to Bristol soz

ty sailorsam it sounds a lil similar to what im hoping to try do so may have a listen if its still available