Hi all fellow charity colleagues.

This new group that I recently set up has the potential to be a very large one given that so many charities depend upon the revenue stream, local profile and brand awareness that charity shops (and social enterprise) generally provide. Running a successful charity shop or other similar social enterprise is a real science as I know many will agree - one doesn't have a core stock range that you can just buy in and sell.

The stock range is dynamic by nature, one rarely has enough 'good stock' to sell, you need a team of well trained and motivated volunteers to help sort, process, price and sell...and you might be quite surprised at what sort of 'things' the public donate to charity shops. Also a shop manager needs to be confident and bold with the general public, OK with spreadsheets, IT and often EPOS technology, great at multi tasking, teachable (e.g. personal development and KPIs), driven, well connected, passionate about the charity's cause. Also can recruit (not easy) and manage (not easy) the right type of volunteers (not easy) and, well... almost a miracle worker!

Please actively use this group to bless, encourage, help and advise as you see fit.

David Farndale