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Shoppers flock to charity shops

From the archive, first published Monday 22nd Jul 2002.

Shoppers spend more than £500,000 a year in a string of charity shops blamed for making an area of oxford look run down.

The seven charity shops in London Road, Headington, include Marie Curie Cancer Care, Oxfam, Sobell House Hospice, Clic Childhood Cancer, the British Heart Foundation, and two Cancer Research UK branches.

Between them, the shops raise about £530,000 a year.

Charity workers said the turnover proved how many people were flocking to Headington, despite recent criticism from other retailers that the influx of charity shops was bad for the area.

Anita Lewis-Moss, manager of the British Heart Foundation charity shop, led staff in the store's first birthday festivities by dressing up as the Queen of Hearts and offering customers jam tarts.

As part of the birthday celebrations, the charity commended three volunteers, Mattie Styles, Joan Turner and Janet Butler, for their help with fundraising.

Ms Lewis-Moss said: "I'd like to thank all the volunteers, and especially Mattie, Joan and Janet, for the support they have given.

"We were one of the last charity shops to open in Headington. If it wasn't for the volunteers we wouldn't be running today."

Since the Marie Curie Cancer Care store opened 10 weeks ago, it has raised £15,000, and managers are forecasting annual takings of about £80,000.

A spokesman for Marie Curie said: "We are very pleased with the success of the Headington shop. A lot of people are coming to the area because of the charity shops.

"We're playing a part in keeping Headington alive and helping the other retailers, who have been nothing but helpful."

Caroline Howell-Williams, retail operations manager for Clic, said: "We always choose to place new shops where there are lots of other charity shops."

In May this year, some retailers in the area said Headington was becoming a charity alley.

They complained the charity shops had an unfair advantage because they did not have to pay VAT, had low business rates, and were staffed by volunteers.

Headington Business Association declined to comment.

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