# Online shoppers provide boost as charity shop sales grow

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/04/03/online-shoppers-provide-boost-as-charity-shop-sales-grow/
- Published: 2024-04-03T09:16:00+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**Charity shop sales continued to grow at the end of 2023, boosted by strong online
sales, according to the Charity Retail Association’s 2023 Q4 Quarterly Market Analysis
report.**

61 charities took part in the survey, representing 4,525 shops, with respondents
reporting a 19.4% increase in online income compared to the same period in 2022 
as customers shopped for the festive season.

75% of charities who took part in the survey said they sold online, while in-store
income grew 1.9% year-on-year, which the report says was driven by an average transaction
value increase of 5.6%.

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Charity shop performance over this period outpaced commercial retail, with respondents
reporting a total income growth of 3.1% between October-December 2022 and October-
December 2023, compared to a decline of 1.5% for non-food commercial retail sales
in the same period, according to [BRC](http://brc.org.uk/) figures.

Looking ahead, almost half (47%) of respondents indicated that they intend to increase
their number of shops over the coming six months.

Robin Osterley, Chief Executive of the [Charity Retail Association](http://www.charityretail.org.uk/),
said:

> “Charities really saw the benefit from their investment in growing their online
> channels at the end of last year, with shops being able to boost their sales, 
> especially in times of low footfall, by providing customers with an accessible
> alternative to shopping in person. Although the vast majority of charity shop 
> income still comes from in-store sales, it has been important for charities to
> build their online presence in recent years, and this is something we’re seeing
> going from strength to strength.
>  
> “Shops continue to face challenges such as the cost-of-living crisis, volunteer
> shortages and the quality of donations, but have proven their resilience and popularity
> again and again, reflected in their ongoing growth and expansion.”

Donated goods made up 73.6% of all in-store income in October-December 2023, with
63.4% of all income from donated goods in general charity shops coming from clothing
and accessories.