11 Best Charity Shop Tips For Shopping Secondhand

Whether you are an avid charity shopper or you’re only just considering making the jump to a more sustainable wardrobe you will love our ideas when it comes to shopping smarter for secondhand. 

As a huge charity shop fan, I have put together the best 11 charity shop tips for finding those unique pieces and great bargains!

Photo Credit: Jen Graham ‘Charity Shop Girl- CSG’

Shopping secondhand is the most eco-friendly way to shop.

 The fashion industry produces between 2-8% of global carbon emissions & the dying of textiles is the second largest polluter of water globally. It takes around 2,000 gallons of water to make one pair of jeans!

So, shopping secondhand will reduce the need for new resources in the production of new clothing.

Shopping secondhand can also save you money, as items are often less expensive than new ones. It is also a great way to find unique, one-of-a-kind items that are not available in regular retail stores.

Let’s not forget, that it also supports a great cause, local communities and small businesses, you just have to have an open mind!

If you’re looking to start charity shopping, check out these 11 top charity shop tips for the ultimate secondhand shopping experience.

11 Best Charity Shop Tips For Shopping Secondhand

1. Research your local charity shops

Getting to know the charity shops in your local area before your shopping trip and knowing exactly where the best places to shop secondhand are will make your trip a lot less stressful.

Each charity shop and thrift store sells different items in different areas so make sure to research which shops are best for what you’re looking for. For example, some shops will specialise in vintage clothes, a great women’s section or even books.

2. Location, Location, Location

The location of a charity shop is important if you are looking for more high-end clothing brands. In my experience, there seems to be a high concentration of designer labels in more affluent areas. However, there is a downside and the prices tend to be on the higher side here too. I have even experienced ultra-fast fashion items being priced higher than the average as well and I’m not going to be buying overpriced fast fashion brands like Shein or H&M.

Other areas have great quality items too and sometimes there will be some sneaky high-end labels and designer pieces for a fraction of the price, you just have to look closely and visit regularly.

3. Visit the charity shops regularly

After speaking to my local charity shops this week, most of them receive new donations regularly. They mentioned they rotate items on a 2-3 week basis. This means they add new stock all the time!

Visiting charity shops regularly is the best advice I can give you, the best time is on weekdays (if you can) as they tend to be less busy than at the weekends.

Another amazing tip I was given was to visit your local charity shops after the Christmas holidays! There are so many unwanted (brand-new) gifts being donated that could be yours!

4. Be open-minded  

When you go clothes shopping at regular high street shops you will probably know exactly what you’re looking for. Most shops sell hundreds of the same item, in the same colour and many sizes, so it’s easy to find what you want.

Compare that to looking in your local charity shop and you may not find exactly what you’re looking for. Try and be more open-minded because you may find something even better and if you can use a sewing machine, you onto a winner!

Experiment with your style! Remember thrift shopping allows you to shop for what you like rather than just copying the latest micro trend.

5. Be selective

I mentioned being open-minded, but you should also be as selective as possible. Try not to get pulled in by the prices and overconsume just because charity shop clothes are cheap.

Search for better quality items that you can invest in rather than lots of cheaper purchases. These items will last longer and have less impact on the environment.

6. Check all items before purchasing

Most charity shops will check their donated stock before putting it onto the shop floor, but as the items are preloved, small stains, etc., can be missed.

Check your items thoroughly and make sure they are in the condition you were expecting before purchasing as some stores may have a no-returns policy.

Most charity shops are run by volunteers and their policies may vary so be mindful to respect the guidelines of your chosen store.

7. Make friends with charity shop staff

Building relationships with local charity shop staff can help foster a sense of community and belonging. This will benefit your shopping experience so much as you are also more likely to receive a personalised service.

Staff will be able to recommend products or items they know you would love and may even hold items or make special arrangements to accommodate your needs.

Plus, if you ever had a problem with a product you have purchased, having a relationship with shop staff makes it a lot easier to resolve these issues.

8. Donate your clothes to charity

Donating your high-quality clothes to charity is a great way to give back to the community and a great way to get to know the staff (as I mentioned above). This act of generosity helps people in need and helps fund your chosen charity.

Clothes in excellent sellable condition are in high demand and can provide individuals and families who cannot afford to buy new clothes with the necessities they need to stay warm and presentable.

When you donate clothes to charity it also helps to reduce waste by keeping these items out of landfills.

If you do donate your clothes, please check them for any small stains or excessive wear and donate sellable items.

9. Follow charity shop influencers on social media

Following charity shop influencers on social media is my favourite tip of the day! The other tips are super important too but nothing inspires me more to shop secondhand than seeing people successfully shopping in charity shops and still looking chic.

5 of my favourite charity shop influencers:

I highly recommend following them to inspire your shopping trips.

Jen from Charity Shop Girl (CSG)

Jen is one of the most inspiring charity shop influencers around, she is the reason I now travel far and wide to experience charity shopping in different towns.

Follow her on her Tiktok & Instagram to see her chic secondhand outfits, her best charity shop finds and the latest charity shop hauls plus all the work she does to promote charity shops in the UK.

Lottie from LottieRoseVintage

Lottie, ‘your secondhand style sister’ has such an in-depth knowledge of thrifting! After 2 decades of hunting for secondhand fashion and working as a charity shop manager, she shares all her secrets and top tips for charity shop shopping.

Follow her on Instagram for some impressive photos and insider knowledge!

Lucy from Second Hand Styling UK

Lucy is a Cheshire-based stylist specialising in secondhand fashion. She is the founder of Secondhand Styling UK where you can shop secondhand, swap your wardrobe and find her super informative sustainable fashion blog.

Her Instagram is full of exciting content which promotes charity shopping, tips and tricks for styling secondhand fashion and preloved clothing sales. Not one to miss!

Faye from Charity Shop Gal

Faye is a charity shop influencer who started her thrifting journey in 2019. She is a big advocate for charity shops around the UK and dedicates her Instagram to showcasing her sustainable and stylish looks.

You have to check her out if you’re looking for some secondhand fashion inspo!

Lauren I got it from the charity shop

Lauren is another popular charity shop advocate as she vowed to not buy anything new in 2022-2023. Her Pinterest-worthy Instagram showcases her latest charity shop purchases, chic secondhand outfits and style tips.

Lauren’s professionally styled photos will inspire you to shop the way she does! Enjoy scrolling!

10. Volunteer at your local charity shop

If you have any free time, volunteer! Volunteering at a charity shop is a fantastic way to give back to the community and make a difference. It is a thoughtful way to gain work experience, meet new people, and develop new skills.

By volunteering at a charity shop, you can help raise money for a good cause, provide low-cost items to people in the community and encourage recycling and sustainability.

Charity shops rely on volunteers to help sort, price, and display donations, as well as assist customers. Plus the easiest way to get first dibs on all the charity shop bargains.

11. Visit charity shops online

The future of charity shops appears to be going digital, some charity shops already have a strong online presence and offer a wide selection of items for purchase on their website. These charity shops may have high-quality websites making online shopping easier.

Although some may not so it is best to check their website or social media channels and you will probably get a good idea if it is worth checking their online items or not.

Some of the best bargains I’ve found have been online!

11 Best Charity Shop Tips For Shopping Secondhand

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