// The number of items sold online by charity shops has soared by 151% in the six months between February-July

// The average charity shop store lost £33,000 of income during the lockdown between December 2020 and April 2021

There has been a surge of sellers of second-hand goods, which are usually found on the high street, taking their businesses online since Covid-19 restrictions left stores shuttered.

The number of items sold online by charities soared by 151 per cent in the six months between February and July, according to data from Shopiago, a web-based platform that enables charities to enter ecommerce.

The majority of online charity shop sales during the period took place on eBay, where charities usually do not pay fees and can reach a wider audience.

Pet supplies, baby products and sports memorabilia were some of the top sellers online for charity shops during the spring and summer, according to Shopiago.

The British Red Cross, Sue Ryder, Barnardo’s and the British Heart Foundation were among those putting donations received in their stores up for sale online.

The average charity shop store lost £33,000 of income during the lockdown between December 2020 and April 2021, according to the Charity Retail Association, which represents about 400 charities running thousands of shops.

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