The Charity Retail Consultancy

22/08/2026

✨ Looking for your next big step in charity retail? Four fantastic leadership roles are available featured by the Charity Retail Consultancy. With closing dates fast approaching, now is the perfect time to apply.

Head of Retail & Trading: RSPCA Woodside
Lead Woodside’s trading portfolio across multi‑site retail, online sales, new goods and customer experience. You’ll shape commercial strategy, drive sustainable income growth and play a key role in developing and launching their new 2027 superstore.
Leicester | £45,000 | Deadline: 26 August

Retail & Trading Manager: Brandon Trust
Oversee a multi‑site retail operation across the South West, driving commercial performance and exploring new formats, locations and digital trading opportunities. This role blends strategic leadership with social impact, supporting meaningful opportunities for people with learning disabilities and autistic people.
South West England | £48,000 | Deadline: 28 August | Interviews: 4 September

Retail & Fundraising Trustee: Norwich Samaritans
Use your retail or fundraising expertise to support governance, strategy and income development for a charity providing vital 24/7 emotional support. You’ll help guide the branch’s future, strengthen sustainability and champion its work locally. No previous trustee experience required.
Norwich | Voluntary | Deadline: 30 August

Retail Area Manager: Brandon Trust (Devon/Cornwall)
Lead a cluster of charity shops across Devon and Cornwall, driving sales, supporting Shop Managers and strengthening community relationships. You’ll champion great retail standards while helping create inclusive opportunities for people with learning disabilities.
Devon & Cornwall | £36,829 | Deadline: 4 September

Explore all four roles and share with your network 👉 thecharityretailconsultancy.co.uk/vacancies

Whether you’re looking for Shop Managers, Area Managers, eCommerce Managers, specialists, Directors of Retail or any other team member – we have a great network of connections and lots of recruitment experience.

19/08/2026

Make sure you didn't miss the CRA's new Head of Retail guide, available now! With input and advice from existing Heads of Retail across the charity retail sector, and special input from us!

If you are a new or aspiring Heads of Retail, this is the perfect resource.

🔗 Get your copy here:
For CRA Members https://zurl.co/vsVHk
For non CRA Members https://zurl.co/cFsDQ

“The most important part for me is the on-boarding. This has a structured 6 month training plan, including a hospice tour. It's important to involve everyone in all we do everybody plays a part in our success, and sharing this and the impact it has makes everyone feel valued."
— Head of Retail, hospice (6–15 shops)

Getting onboarding right sets the tone for everything that follows. Our new guide is full of real, practical approaches like this from Heads of Retail across the sector, covering team building, volunteer support, and more.

🔗 Get your copy:
For CRA Members https://zurl.co/IY1I3
For Non CRA Members https://zurl.co/xGYR5

17/08/2026

A great Head of Retail is the key to a great retail operation. If you are a new or aspiring Head of Retail and looking for guidance, the Charity Retail Association's new guide is exactly what you have been looking for

Follow the links below to find out more

🔗 Get your copy here:
For CRA Members https://zurl.co/vsVHk
For non CRA Members https://zurl.co/cFsDQ

What's the one thing you wish someone had told you when you first became a Head of Retail?

Our brand new guide gathers exactly this kind of insight, the lessons that usually only come with time, from Heads of Retail across the sector.

Grab your copy and get a head start. 🔗

For CRA Members https://zurl.co/4tXG5
For Non CRA Members https://zurl.co/tZR7r

14/08/2026

🛍️ We were thrilled to work with the CRA on developing this new e-toolkit for built for new and aspiring Heads of Retail. Bringing together sector insight, real shop‑floor experience, and accessible learning that supports staff and volunteers across the UK.

💡 It’s brilliant to see more shared resources that champion professional development in charity retail. Tools like this make it easier for managers and teams to learn together, reflect, and grow.

👇 Take a look at the links below

🔗 Get your copy here:
For CRA Members https://zurl.co/vsVHk
For non CRA Members https://zurl.co/cFsDQ

"I wish I'd known just how important it is to balance people and performance. Leading a team isn't just about setting targets — it's about understanding personalities, motivations and challenges, and that takes time and patience to get right."
— Head of Retail, hospice (16–30 shops)

Managing people is one of the toughest parts of the Head of Retail role - and one of the most important. Our brand new guide dedicates a full section to People, covering everything from team leadership and EDI to volunteer support and multi-site management.

🔗 Get your copy here:
For CRA Members https://zurl.co/vsVHk
For non CRA Members https://zurl.co/cFsDQ

07/08/2026

Make September a month of learning with our two upcoming webinars

🧩 Introduction to Neurodiversity: 17 September 2026
Our brand‑new webinar helps shop teams, managers and support staff build confidence in understanding neurodiversity and supporting colleagues and customers in practical, meaningful ways.

🚨Special launch offer🚨: 20% off until 16 August! A great chance to bring this learning into your organisation at a reduced rate.
🔗 https://charityretaillearning.com/product/introduction-to-neurodiversity-17th-september-2026

🎁 Gift Aid for Retail Leads & Back Office Teams: 23–24 September 2026
One of our most popular webinar offers, this two‑part session is designed to strengthen compliance, improve reporting accuracy and boost Gift Aid performance across your retail operation. Perfect for anyone overseeing Gift Aid processes or supporting shop teams

🔗 https://charityretaillearning.com/product/gift-aid-for-retail-leads-back-office-teams-23rd-24th-september-2026

Already a CRL Subscriber? Claim select free spaces on our live webinars as part of your subscription! Get in touch at [email protected] to book now

EARLY BIRD OFFER : Get 20% off If you sign up before August 16th! Every charity shop includes neurodivergent people. Is your team ready? Do any of these statements sound familiar to you? "I'm struggling to recruit volunteers." "One of my managers doesn't know how to support a team member." "I don't....

31/07/2026

The moment is finally here, we are ready to announce the winners of our 2026 Pride Display Competition 🏆🏆🏆

We received so many fantastic entries that we've gone with something a little different this year. We couldn't decide on just one winner between them all, so we are celebrating 3 winners, with some additional special mentions. We are so thankful for all our friends who have participated and shared their wonderful displays

Many thanks for all those that entered, and winners stay tuned for your prizes and goodies 🎁

The moment is finally here, we are ready to announce the winners of...

21/07/2026

AND THAT’S A WRAP FOR SEASON 1! 💫 🥳

A huge thank you to everyone that tuned in to the pod… all 19 episodes, 42 guests and 2 guest co-hosts! Thank you to everyone who shared their stories, innovative ideas, challenges and celebrations. We couldn’t have done this pod without you 🎙️

Recording for Season 2 is already well under way and we’ll be sharing some sneak previews of guests over the summer, ready to chat again in September! Until then, make sure you tune in to all previous episodes because charity shops are full of stories that deserve to be told.. and we love sharing them with you ❤️

From your hosts, Charlotte & Mimi xx

17/07/2026

We are delighted to share some of our 2026 Pride Display Competition entries 🎉 Our Pride Competition is coming close to the end, and we are so excited to share the winners in the coming weeks 🏅

This week featuring entries from Big C Cancer Charity, The Hospice of St Francis, Martin House Children's Hospice, RSPCA (England & Wales) West Dorset Branch, St Peter's Hospice, and Shelter

Still got pics? Email them to [email protected] before the end of July 19th to enter and feature in our full showcase celebration!

We are delighted to share some of our 2026 Pride Display Competitio...

15/07/2026

The £0 shop refit - sounds too good to be true? 🤔

Then check out this week’s Charity Shop Chat episode with our very own visual merchandising expert Kat Maclennan and guest co-host Jayne Cartwright for practical ways to increase sales, often with little or no spend ❤️

Tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or wherever you get your pods 🎧

10/07/2026

🌈 Our second 2026 Pride Display Competition showcase is here!

🪟Featuring entries from Big C Cancer Charity, DEBRA UK, Highland Hospice, Ashgate Hospice, Crossroads Isle of Man, Shelter, and St Helena, we have even more to show you next week so stay tuned!

✉️ Our Pride Display Competition is continuing through to July 19th. If you have any pics from your displays, send them to [email protected]

We are delighted to share some of our 2026 Pride Display Competitio...