00:00Charity shops in Kent remain popular for affordable, sustainable shopping.
00:04However, rising running costs have forced some stores to close,
00:08while others are expanding into larger shops.
00:11Walk down any high street and you've probably noticed charity shops closing their doors.
00:16But despite this, industry leaders are saying that the charity sector isn't in crisis.
00:21So what's actually happening behind the counter?
00:24Recently, well, last two years, we opened up The Hangar, which is our huge warehouse shop.
00:30With that, we've had sales soaring in there and it's also been able to help the smaller shops in funding,
00:37etc.
00:38Where we may fall short, the larger shops are able to help us out.
00:42And we're also looking to expand further later on down the line, hopefully to possibly another warehouse store or something.
00:49I think it's a huge benefit for the charity. It will increase sales, donations.
00:54And on top of that, it gives a lot of charities like a hub space where they're able to distribute
01:00certain things to certain shops.
01:02So this shop is like our boutique shop.
01:05So we try to use The Hangar as a way to navigate certain suppliers to come to the shop.
01:11The decision to close smaller branches and invest in larger stores has come as a surprise to local communities.
01:19But with the cost of running a shop continuing to rise, more charities are adopting this approach to stay afloat.
01:26But what do local residents actually think?
01:29I get what they're doing.
01:31They're going more for the bigger warehouses and trying to get more things in.
01:36However, I think we need to support the high street and the local shops in the high street.
01:41And I think that's what brings people from the charity shops into that aspect.
01:46If they need the space, if there's the demand for it, then yeah, I don't see why they shouldn't get
01:54bigger properties.
01:56I think it's a big shame because the smaller branches are often more accessible to people.
02:01I think it's probably a positive thing overall.
02:02I mean, I'm not really sure, but I'm glad there's more interest in charity shops.
02:07As shopping habits change and prices continue to climb, Kent's charity shops are being forced to adapt.
02:13But with bargain hunting and sustainability still in demand,
02:17the question is whether bigger stores are the future of charity retail across the county.
02:23Maisie Walker for KMTV, Rochester.
