Young shoppers inspired by resale platforms such as Vinted and Depop are helping UK charity shops outperform the wider retail sector, despite mounting cost pressures on the high street.
According to the Charity Retail Association (CRA), charity shop sales rose 1.4 per cent last year, ahead of the 1.1 per cent increase recorded across non-food retail by the British Retail Consortium.
Save the Children reported a 3 per cent uplift in retail sales, including an 11 per cent surge in December alone, raising more than £1m in that month.
Ian Matthews, director of retail and communities at Save the Children, said the charity had seen a “big spike”, with strong trading continuing into January.
“We are seeing an increase in younger people interacting with our shops, whether that is shopping or volunteering,” he said.
The renewed momentum on the high street has been partly attributed to the explosive growth of digital resale marketplaces.
Vinted, now the third-largest fashion retailer in the UK behind Primark and Next, has more than 17.4 million UK users and 105 million registered users globally.
The Lithuanian-founded platform reported revenues of €813.4m (£713.5m) in 2024, up 36 per cent year-on-year, and a net profit of €76.7m (£67.2m).
It’s on track to surpass €1bn (£877m) in revenue this year.
Its appeal can be attributed to the balance of both affordability and sustainability, especially for younger generations. Amid cost-of-living pressures, shoppers can access branded and premium items at lower price points, while aligning with growing environmental investment.
Depop, which was acquired by Etsy for $1.6bn in 2021, generated $788m in gross merchandise sales in 2024 and an estimated $85m in revenue.
The social commerce app has more than 45 million registered users, with 90 per cent of active users under 26. According to eBay data, 59 per cent of Gen Z and 56 per cent of Millennials plan to increase their spending on second-hand goods this year.
Meanwhile, 79 per cent of Gen Z consumers would pay more for brands aligned with their values, according to Givsly’s 2025 ‘Rise of Conscious Consumers’ report.
Allison Swaine-Hughes, chief commercial officer at British Heart Foundation, said platforms such as eBay, Vinted and Depop had helped grow overall interest in second-hand shopping.
“As the biggest eBay charity seller and a top-rated Depop seller, we know there’s strong demand for quality preloved items,” she said.
“Transactions across our physical shops are up on the previous year, demonstrating that demand across our wider estate remains strong.”
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