Shop with us

Our volunteer team from the Collingwood store in Victoria. Australian Red Cross/Peter Tarasuik.

The retail industry has faced tough challenges this year with sales declining and many businesses closing. Red Cross Shops has responded to this challenge by engaging the public and increasing our clothing donation levels. A staff restructure also resulted in appointing a Learning and Development Manager, as well as Volunteer Coordinators in each state/territory to empower, train and manage our volunteer workforce. Despite the difficult retail climate, Red Cross Shops fulfilled its mandate of returning a surplus to Red Cross.

Contribution to Red Cross

Cost saving initiatives implemented this year included increasing the use of volunteers in Red Cross Shops which ensures a sustainable surplus is delivered to the organisation. This surplus is an important revenue stream that contributes to Red Cross being able to assist those most in need.

New partnerships

A retail donation group was developed this year in order to better approach retailers, designers and wholesalers to request clothing donations. This led to the development of new partnerships with a number of major retailers, including Peter Alexander, Topshop and Roger David.