ABSTRACT

Just as the charity retailing sector as a whole has undergone major changes since the mid-1980s, in many cases the staffing of charity shops has radically altered. However, as noted in Chapter 2, charity retailing is far from a homogenous sector, and changes in staffing reflect the complexities of the broadening continuum of different categories and management strategies in charity shops. This chapter examines the introduction of paid staff, as well as considering how best to make the most of a volunteer workforce and looking at new sources of volunteers for charity shops. Topics covered include the complexities of volunteers’ motivations and needs, and their role in the charity shop’s relationship with social and circulation of goods networks within the locality.