How to make your charity shop thrive all year round

If you own a charity shop, you may have noticed more families coming in to buy their back-to-school uniforms and accessories. According to the BBC, over half of all parents in the UK say that they would buy second-hand school uniforms this year.

But it’s not only in September that children need new school uniforms, bags, and PE kits. Here’s how your charity shop can continuously make money throughout the school year.

How should I advertise my charity shop?

First, you need to get school uniform donations. You can do this by advertising across social media sites that you accept school uniforms. This is an easy way to share that you are looking for school uniforms and can jog people's memories to donate. You could also comment under the local schools' social media posts. These comments could both ask for donations and share the stock you have available. August is the most popular time of year for parents and carers to buy school uniforms, so commenting and posting during this time is your best bet to get more customers heading to your store. Another way to advertise that your business stocks school uniforms is to put them on display. You can do this by putting a sign in your window or creating a dedicated corner in your shop. Finally, why not ask local schools if you can hang posters on their noticeboards? Schools will be keen to help parents save money where they can. Seeing the name of your charity shop often will remind people to donate school uniforms and even other bits and bobs around their houses. These posters can be displayed all year, as children are constantly growing out of school uniforms and need items replacing.

Should I accept card payment in my charity shop?

When it comes to payment in your charity shop, accepting credit and debit cards is key. According to UK Finance, Card payments are now the preferred way to pay in the UK, with over half of all payments being made by card. The number of people who opt to pay by card increased due to the pandemic and the rise of contactless payments. They provide a quick, convenient, and safe way to pay for goods and services. Many of us already have digital wallets on our phones, such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, making it easier to pay by just clicking a button. This increases the number of spontaneous purchases we make. When paying by cash we are limited to how much money we have on us at that exact time. Whereas with card, there is more room for additional purchases as we have access to the money in our bank accounts, instead of our wallets.

UTP card machines

Here at UTP, we supply a wide range of card machines, suitable for many business needs. Countertop card machines are ideal for businesses with one point of sale, such as charity shops. These card machines are designed to be stationary, connecting to WiFi or with an ethernet cable. You can accept all major credit and debit cards on this device, including Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Our countertop card machine also accepts contactless payments, including the digital wallets found on smartphones. When accepting contactless payments, your business will be able to serve more customers. Qminder found that 56% of UK customers said that faster queue times and shorter wait times positively impact their shopping experience. Payments can be processed in less than two seconds on our countertop card machines.

We provide some of the cheapest transaction rates on the market. Our dedicated team will learn about your average transaction value and find the best rates for your business. On average, we save our customers 33% on their transaction rates. For charities, saving is very important. More of your savings can go toward good causes and really make an impact.

If you’re looking to take card payments in your charity shop or looking to change providers, contact us today for a free quote. You can either do this online or call us directly at 0330 99 99 300.