User Guides

Annual Shopiago Charity Awards winners announced, showcasing the best of the charity retail sector

Winners included a volunteer who has drastically increased shop revenue by 1110% in just a year, and a rare Def Leppard record sold by a Sheffield charity shop for over £1,000.

In its third year, Shopiago has announced the winners of its 2024 Online Charity Retail Awards, which celebrate the best and most innovative charity retailers from around the UK. Winners were calculated based on Shopiago data from the last year, with some categories selected by a judging panel of industry experts, including Jen Graham, better known as influencer Charity Shop Girl. Other judges included Jayne Cartwright, Founder and Director of the Charity Retail Consultancy, Chris Gale, Expert Circular Innovation and Impact Consultant, Helen Olszowska, Managing Director of The Seashell Collective and journalist, and Robin Osterley, CEO of the Charity Retail Association. 

Winners received a £250 donation to their charity, along with £250 in high street vouchers to treat their team and an exclusive trophy to showcase their team’s hard work.

Winners included Caroline Grey, who won ‘Volunteer of the Year’ for her work at the British Red Cross shop in Exmouth, Devon. Working mostly from home, Caroline researches and lists items donated to the store, and has increased the shop’s online sales revenue from £761 to £9,209 in just a year. 

Commenting on the win, awards judge Jayne Cartwright said: “An absolute superstar! Caroline has played a big part in increasing sales in just one year – phenomenal!”

The ‘Ultimate Gamer’, awarded to the teams that show the most grit in Shopiago Trade-in’s regular games and challenges, went to the team at St Ann’s Hospice in Stockport. The team, known by their gamer tag StAnnsScans, have won three times during Shopiago Power Hours. 

The ‘Ecommerce Treasure Hunter’ award for 2024 went to St Luke’s Hospice’s Sheffield store, where the team uncovered a donated rare vinyl album from local legends Def Leppard, which subsequently sold online for £1,022. Judge Helen Olszowska said “What a brilliant find! A modern classic that sold for even more than the estimated price!”

Shopiago, a B Corporation and part of World of Books Group, works with charities to sell online and clear excess stock responsibly. Shopiago Trade-in enables charities to sell pre-loved books, CDs, DVDs and computer games for quick cash, clearing valuable space and generating revenue quickly and easily. This enables charities to make more money from donations, ultimately raising more vital funds whilst feeding the circular economy.

Thom Bryan, Business Development Director at Shopiago, said: “Looking through the award submissions is inspiring. The winning teams are using Shopiago to create a revenue stream for their shops, whether that's through scanning books and media or finding that rare gem in donations, it further supports the vital work charities carry out every day. We regularly hear about the fun teams have taking part in our games and competitions while they boost their Trade-in earnings, and these award winners have proved how much of a difference that can make to their revenue.”

Jen Graham, aka Charity Shop Girl, was on the judging panel and said: “Judging these awards has been fascinating. Hearing the stories of the hard work, determination and clever thinking of people working and volunteering in the sector has really warmed my heart and drives home just how important retail revenue is for charities.”

Full list of 2024 winners:

Ecommerce Best Newcomer: St Luke’s Hospice, Sheffield

Trade-in Ultimate Gamer: StAnnsScans for St Ann’s Hospice, Stockport

Warehouse Trade-in Scanner of the Year: Mitchell Rose, Douglas Macmillan Warehouse, Stoke-on-Trent (working with his team Liz Clarke and Benjamin Humphries

Trade-in Team of the Year (under 100 shops): Faith in Families, Cwtch Mawr, Swansea

Trade-in Team of the Year (over 100 shops): Society of Saint Vincent De Paul, Broombridge, Dublin

Volunteer of the Year: Caroline Grey, British Red Cross, Exmouth

Ecommerce Treasure Hunter: St Luke’s Hospice, Sheffield

Trade-in Superstar Shop (joint winner): Forces Support, Coalville, Leicester

Trade-in Superstar Shop (joint winner): Sue Ryder, Camberley, Surrey

ENDS

Watch 2024 winners video