Supersize Charity Shops Feed Rising Demand

Supersize charity shops are opening up to cope with the rising demand for second-hand goods.

The latest Sue Ryder out of town superstore has opened on a retail park in Kings Lynn, Norfolk, to offer shoppers a bigger range of clothes, furniture and other items.

The shop - the third opened in the county by the charity, which helps people with life-changing illnesses - also makes it easier for customers to leave donations.

Out of 43 new stores opened across the UK last year, seven were supersize.

It is yet more evidence of the growing popularity of charity shops as many high street retailers continue to struggle.

One report from the Local Data Company found that on average 14 high street stores closed every day last year.

However, charity shops continued to turn a profit. They currently make £200m for UK charities every year, and provide around 17,000 jobs.

With councils looking to ban or restrict "chugging" street collectors, the continued success of second-hand shops is vital to charities.

One charity, Save the Children, has teamed up with the retail guru Mary Portas to diversify and give their stores more of a boutique makeover.

All the money raised at the Sue Ryder superstores goes towards providing care for people living with end of life and long term conditions such as dementia, cancer, strokes, Parkinson's disease and brain injuries.