Charity retailing has a long heritage in the UK and dates back
to the 1940s when the Red Cross and Oxfam began raising money for
good causes by selling donated items. These days charity shops
generate significant amounts of money for their good causes. This
section considers the development of the sector, both for new as
well as donated goods, and assesses usage of charity shops in the
context of the downturn and potentially worsening personal finances
for many people in the UK.