# Charity Retail Association rejects Mary Portas' view on charity shop numbers

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2011/10/26/charity-retail-association-rejects-mary-portas039-view-charity-shop-numbers/
- Published: 2011-10-26T07:32:01+01:00
- Author: Howard Lake

**The Charity Retail Association has criticised Mary Portas’ suggestion that the
number of charity shops able to claim rate relief in any one town centre should 
be restricted. Portas was [reported as proposing the cap](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8836593/Portas-to-make-it-tougher-for-out-of-town-retail-parks.html)
to last week’s meeting of the [All Party Parliamentary Group on Town Centres](http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/register/town-centres.htm).**

The TV presenter and retail marketing consultant is producing a report, [the Future of the High Street](http://www.maryportas.com/news/2011/05/17/the-future-of-the-high-street),
for the government on the future of the high street.

The [Charity Retail Association](http://www.charityretail.org.uk) (CRA) countered
her proposals by publishing its latest consumer research that suggested that charity
shops “enjoy more public support than ever, and are seen as a vital resource on 
the high street”. The Association has 330 members with about 7,000 shops, representing
80% of charity shops in the country.

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## “The problems on the high street are nothing to do with charity shops”

Wendy Mitchell, Head of Policy & Public Affairs at the Association, said: “The problems
on the high street are nothing to do with charity shops. In fact, charity shops 
are often occupying premises which would otherwise be empty – so any cap on the 
number of charity shops is likely to increase the number of empty shop fronts. The
High Street Review should focus on the lack of consumer confidence, competition 
from out of town developments and ways to support small businesses through the downturn–
not place the blame unfairly on charity shops.”

## Quality and bargains matter most

According to the CRA’s research, 84% of people said that they shopped in charity
shops because of the quality of the goods, and because they could find better bargains.
Nearly two thirds of people on lower incomes shop in charity shops, and over 20%
of unemployed people and people on the lowest incomes said that they would increase
their shopping in charity shops in the next year.

![](https://wfay6x.infiniteuploads.cloud/2023/03/090604-SC-Portas-001.jpg)

Shop guru Mary Portas at the opening of Mary’s living and giving shop in Westfield
shopping centre, London. A new concept in charity shopping, mary’s living and giving
shop supports three charities including Save the Children.

## Increase buying

In addition, 52% of the people who said they would increase their buying in charity
shops also saw shopping there as an affordable way to support a good cause at a 
time when they couldn’t afford to give cash donations.

Consequently the Association is writing to the Prime Minister David Cameron today
asking him to reject any proposal which would limit the work of charity shops in
Ms Portas’ High Street Review.

Gerard Cousins, Retail & Trading Director at the charity Barnardo’s, said: “Charity
shops are invaluable to the high street. They occupy otherwise vacant premises, 
offer a service to the local community in providing a choice of quality, affordable
goods and ensure that the public can recycle unwanted items – keeping them out of
landfill. I believe the high street should be regenerated, however I do not believe
this needs to be at the expense of stores currently renting high street retail units”.

The CRA’s Consumer Research was conducted by JRA Research from 5-12 October 2011
with a representative sample of 1,002 people.

 * **[Mary Portas to open Save the Children shop in Edinburgh](https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/11/02/mary-portas-open-save-children-shop-edinburgh/)(
   2 November 2009)
 * **[‘Mary, Queen of Charity Shops’ airs tomorrow](https://fundraising.co.uk/2009/06/01/039mary-queen-charity-shops039-airs-tomorrow/)(
   1 June 2009)**
 * **[Mary Portas to open 15th Living and Giving Shop for Save the Children](https://fundraising.co.uk/2014/09/02/mary-portas-open-15th-living-giving-shop-save-children/)(
   2 September 2014)**