Now is it just me or have charity shops become savvy to the increase in their popularity due to the current interest with all things vintage, recyclable and thrifty? I have noticed recently that this is happening in particularly well-heeled areas of London where the stock tends to be significantly better and so are popular with in-the-know shoppers.
The Kings Road, Chelsea, is home to a treasure trove of charity shops filled with beautiful stock donated by it wealthy residents. This has always been top of my list for second-hand shopping and I vacate them regularly. However recently I have become aware of the over-ambitious pricing strategy which has been put in place, for instance I saw a jacket in there, which I had in my own wardrobe, which was priced for more than it retailed at - ridiculous.
Now I understand that charity shops are helping good causes however my fear is that if this ambitious pricing strategy continues it will mean that the current trend for charity shopping will become a short-lived thing. People will no longer choose to shop there as they have been priced out meaning less customers, less donations from the public, who are disillusioned with charity shops, and will choose an alternative to dispose with their unwanted goods (ebay, swap shop, bin), and therefore a decline in trade and in the long run.