Recent reports have highlighted how well Charity Retail sector is doing. The numbers of shops are on the increase and sales are on the up, so what is fuelling this increase? Many charity shops have invested in ‘high street retail’ software systems. More specifically this investment has been on EPoS systems that can also automate the reclamation of gift aid. Gift Aid allows charities to reclaim tax (from the Government) on donations from donors, at no cost to the donor or charity. “This investment is one of the main drivers for growth,” comments Cybertill’s Business Development Director, Rob Finley. “Cybertill has experienced this first hand, as almost one in three charity shops in the UK now use Cybertill. There are other factors too, most notably the economy. This is arguably the principle reason why more people are visiting and shopping in charity shops. They see the value and the quality of the goods on offer.”
According to research undertaken by OnePoll 44% of consumers are now shopping in charity shops. The research highlighted price and quality of goods as the main reasons. This increase in footfall has resulted in the surge of investment in the charity retail sector. Charities are looking to capitalise on this resurgence are deploying EPoS and gift aid systems. Not only does this help manage stock and stores more effectively, but charities are able to claim additional funds back from gift aid, which helps to deliver a quick return on investment. This is true for regional and national charities, for example St Barnabas Hospices, in Sussex are able to claim an additional £10,000 a month in gift aid whereas Cancer Research UK hope to claim £18m over 5 years.
Whilst the upsurge in charity retail is principally a result of the economic climate the resulting investment in charity EPoS systems and gift aid software is allowing charities to create more funds for their causes whilst being able to manage their retail arms more effectively. You can find out more about Cybertill’s charity retail system by clicking here or by contacting us directly.
