Customers seeking second-hand sequins and scarves helped Oxfam GB buck the high-street sales slump over Christmas.
The charity announced today that its shops achieved their best performance for eight years in the week before Christmas, with sales up by 7 per cent on 2018.
Oxfam’s online shop recorded an 11 per cent year-on-year increase in the nine-week festive trading period.
Total sales over the festive period were £19.3m, which was £1.3m more than in the previous year.
An Oxfam spokeswoman said sequins, velvet and cashmere were top search terms on the Oxfam online shop, which saw womenswear sales rise by 10 per cent.
Leather jackets, scarves, first-edition books and cameras were also in demand online, boosted by a 15 per cent Black Friday sales increase.
High-street shoppers typically bought two items worth a total of £6.96.
Andrew Horton, trading director at Oxfam, said: “Shoppers are more and more discerning, thinking carefully about how they spend their money.
“Oxfam offers an affordable, ethical and sustainable alternative to other outlets. Our products are good quality and do good too.”
Oxfam’s performance contrasted with that of many high-street retailers.
The British Retail Consortium said today that total UK retail sales fell by 0.1 per cent in 2019, with sales particularly weak in November and December, when they fell by 0.9 per cent.
More than 20,000 staff and volunteers work in 601 Oxfam high-street shops in the UK.