Thrifting fan predicts 'end of charity shops as we know it' amid store closures

A thrifting expert has warned Brits that the "end of charity shops as we know it" could be in sight, predicting a wave of second-hand stores will have to "reinvent themselves" to keep pace with current trends. Earlier this month, Cancer Research UK shared plans to close nearly 200 of its shops over the next year 18 months, while launching 12 out-of-town superstores by 2027.

Meanwhile, Scope has announced more of its own charity shops will be permanently closing their doors in England and Wales within the next fortnight, bringing the total number of closures to 58 so far this year. This has led self-styled 'Vinted and charity shop treasure hunter' Lisa Brown to share her thoughts on other charities following suit.

"Small high street shops are going to have to close - they can't maintain and can't pay the bills - they're making a loss," said Lisa, who provides reselling advice and charity shop tips online.

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She went on to predict the rise of "big warehouse-type stores" taking the place of smaller outlets, akin to thrift stores in the US.

"Obviously they are going to be few and far between because they need big locations and big sites," she added. "So they're going to be on industrial estates and not the high street really anymore."

Lisa also believes charity shops will undergo a "rebranding" process, something she said is already happening. She went on: "What they are doing is opening kind of vintage-style retro shops - you may have already been in one without realising it is a charity shop."

She shared her thoughts on the reasoning behind this: "I guess they want to make you feel you're in more of a boutique than a charity shop - and that way they can command higher prices."

Lisa closed by insisting "we could see the change coming" for ages, with the rise of Vinted and similar reselling apps making it easy for users to make money from their unwanted items rather than simply donating them.

Responding in the comments, one TikTok user said she reckons the out-of-town alternatives won't prove helpful whatsoever. "30 years ago when I had a baby and no money, charity shops were a God-send to my family," she confessed.

"I kept the love of the charity shop bargain, but I rarely buy now because they're far too expensive - even though I can afford to spend more. Big out of town warehouses aren't going to reach those in NEED, they're going to be for people who can afford to travel to them, re-sellers and internet 'haul' video makers - sad."

Another person who has visited one of the new larger shops slammed them: "We've had one of these large shops open locally, but their prices are even higher. I went into it and an Age UK one yesterday and they had a woman's coat with ripped lining for £50."

On the other hand, however, a third shopper expressed her support for such changes. "I think this will be much better," she declared.

"Warehouses with parking. Because the high street ones mean I have to pay parking. It will be another nail in the coffin for high streets though."

Whilst a fourth TikTok user shared from experience: "They are definitely trying to go for the whole thrift store look, I went to the opening day of a Salvation Army in Swansea and that was the first thing I said to my daughter was it looked like a thrift store in America, but then the prices were still decent."