Words by Smiley Team
Fashion marketplace app, Depop, is launching a programme to help charity shops build successful online businesses on its marketplace.
The new Charity Seller Programme will provide charities on Depop with tools, resources, exclusive offers and personalised support to leverage the platform as an e-commerce channel. This follows a period of significant growth for charity e-commerce.
The volume of charity shop listings on Depop has increased by nearly 600% since the beginning of UK lockdown in March 2020. According to data from the Charity Retail Association, the average charity shop in the UK lost over £33,000 in income when high streets closed during the third lockdown.
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Some of the most successful charity sellers on Depop include:
- British Heart Foundation - @thebhf - Offering a trend-led collection of secondhand fashion ranging from accessories to retro sportswear and vintage wedding dresses, to fund research into heart and circulatory diseases
- Oxfam Festival Shop - @oxfamfestivalshop - Selling vintage and secondhand festival fashion to raise money for Oxfam's global poverty-fighting work
- Demelza Hospice - @demelzahospice - Specialising in secondhand bargains, from designer handbags to classic clothing. Funds raised provide specialist care and support for children with serious or terminal conditions, and their families, across Kent, East Sussex and South East London.
Rachel Swidenbank, VP of Sellers at Depop, says: "The pandemic prompted many charities to pivot towards online selling, and we think there’s an amazing opportunity to build on this as the popularity of secondhand fashion continues to grow. We’re passionate about helping our sellers succeed, and this programme is aimed at encouraging charities to thrive online by keeping them ahead of the latest trends, and sharing insights on digital merchandising."
Allison Swaine-Hughes, retail director at the British Heart Foundation, said: "We have been delighted by the response to our Depop account and feel like we have been truly embraced by its online community. Since launching, we have become one of the top sellers on the site, with a five-star rating and now have 14,000 followers, who have helped raise £28,000 for the charity’s vital research into heart and circulatory diseases.
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"As the UK’s largest charity retailer, we are always seeking to expand our online operations and explore different avenues for raising funds for the charity’s important work. The Depop team were a fantastic support to us while we were setting up this initiative and continue to be so. It has been the ideal platform for us to sell trend-led donated items and attract a new audience of fashion focused shoppers, who are passionate about sustainability."
Participants in the new Charity Seller Programme will be able to access support in the form of tips on trending categories and in-demand items; personalised support; exclusive offers and discounts; promotion in the Depop app, and onboarding tutorials and guides to introduce best practices for success.
Charities looking to register a new Depop shop can email [email protected] to connect with a member of the team.
