Does anyone work in the charity sector?

[Alfa_75_Steve]

Only I have an interview for 'head of retail operations' with a large local charity next week.

I have to do a 15 minute presentation focussing on how I'm going to increase donations and how they'll complement the range of new products they sell.

Obviously, I'll get into a shop and have a chat with the manager, but I'm slightly lost, having never done charity work before.

[V8mate]

Sure you're the right man for the job?

You have to think 'retail' not 'charity'. It's good retailing which will improve donations as well as retail sales. Make 'charity' a real red herring in your mind and just use clear retail principles to improve their business.

It's not the BHF is it?

[Alfa_75_Steve]

V8mate said:

Sure you're the right man for the job?

You have to think 'retail' not 'charity'. It's good retailing which will improve donations as well as retail sales. Make 'charity' a real red herring in your mind and just use clear retail principles to improve their business.

It's not the BHF is it?

No, it's not - any reason why you ask?

In terms of thinking 'retail', yes that's all well and good as it's my area of expertise - it's the 'how to get people to give us more free stuff' that is where I'll fall down.

[V8mate]

Alfa_75_Steve said:

V8mate said:

Sure you're the right man for the job?

You have to think 'retail' not 'charity'. It's good retailing which will improve donations as well as retail sales. Make 'charity' a real red herring in your mind and just use clear retail principles to improve their business.

It's not the BHF is it?

No, it's not - any reason why you ask?

In terms of thinking 'retail', yes that's all well and good as it's my area of expertise - it's the 'how to get people to give us more free stuff' that is where I'll fall down.

A friend of mine was Head of Ops at the BHF until a few months ago; I thought you might be applying for his old job

My mother likes giving to charity shops (usually MY stuff!) and frequently sees the reaction of charity shops workers to other people's donations. Apparently, they reject a huge proportion of items and/or throw stuff away. This clearly means that charity shops are not competently marketing what they DO want.

Now charity shops are in all kinds of locations and, naturally, will have different customer profiles. Maybe suggest that you will introduce 3 or 4 'types' of store, each fitting a certain profile. You'll work with Area and Branch managers to define the shop 'types' and then decide which one each branch fits in to. There will then be matching marketing material - even if it's only window posters, which actively ask for certain types of items.

Just an idea... (which is my area of expertise )

[JDMTim]

I work for one of the larger charities..

We, as many others now a days are run as a business, i work in IT so my only exposure to retail has been installing a couple of WYSE terms. Retail are quite big on gift aid, might be worth reading up on that?

Sorry i can't be of any more help, if you have any specific charity related questions feel free to drop me a mail.

Regards

[Alfa_75_Steve]

Thanks for the suggestions so far.

I reckon I need to have a chat with some of the shops in my area to find out more about their collection methods.