Oxfam has announced plans to open up to 10 new UK superstores in the next five years, as it prepares to launch its second large outlet.
The charity is scouting for potential locations for its next superstores, which it hopes will create up to 150 jobs and 1,000 volunteering opportunities, and said that it hoped to announce them by the end of the year.
An Oxfam spokesperson said the new superstore, which will open in Manchester on Friday, built on the “huge success” of its first superstore in Oxford, which opened in 2019 and raised more than £180,000 for the charity in 2023/24.
“The average shopper spends four times the amount at the Oxford superstore, compared with our Oxfam shops,” the spokesperson said.
When asked about the motivations behind the charity’s expansion into superstores, the spokesperson said: “Of course, online shopping has increased in popularity, which is why we are keen to champion our online shop.
“But the superstore offers a destination shopping experience which offers not only a larger, more flexible shop space for preloved clothes, books, music and more – but also acts as a community hub where people can work, volunteer, donate and shop.”
The Manchester superstore alone had created 15 jobs and 150 volunteering opportunities, Oxfam said.
Louise Fallon, retail trading director at Oxfam, said the superstore “marks an exciting step in our plans to open more new superstores across the nation which will help raise even more money for our life-saving work around the globe”.
The store, which is 10,000 square feet and based in Manchester Fort Shopping Park in Cheetham, will have two floors of secondhand clothing, accessories, books, homewares and music, as well as a cafe.
The store will also double as a community hub, which offers space for community groups and workshops to meet.
The Oxfam spokesperson said community groups and social enterprises will be able to book the space for workshops, activities and talks by getting in touch with the store.
“We are really excited for the space to be used by the community – whether it is for an upcycling workshop or for presentations or performances for events,” the spokesperson said.
Fallon said: “The store not only has an incredible treasure trove of pre-loved clothing, books, music and more – but we hope it will act as a social hub at the heart of the community for everyone to use and enjoy.”
The superstore’s launch will include a raffle hosted inside the store which will offer participants the chance to win a Manchester United shirt signed by its FA Cup winning squad.
The spokesperson said: “The superstores are a testament to the surging interest in second hand shopping – with global sales of preloved clothes increasing by 18 per cent last year, according to the research specialist ThredUp.
“We hope the superstores will help us to continue raising as much money for Oxfam’s life-saving work around the world as possible.”