Sustainability in Retailing: A Study of Consumer Intentions Regarding Involvement in Charity Shop Activities

Abstract

Charity shops are an example of alternative retail formats that specialize in selling second- hand products. This activity is seen as a way of promoting sustainability since selling used products reduces wasteful purchasing of new products. What is more: by giving used products a second life, it is possible to raise money that can be transferred to people in need. The purpose of this article is to examine the relationship between past charity involvement of young consumers and their intentions of engaging in charity retailing; investigate which of the declared forms of engagement in charity retailing is preferred by respondents and how these variables are affected by such factors as gender and religiosity. Data for the analysis were obtained from a survey conducted in March 2018 using the PAPI method on a sample of 326 Poles aged 16-24. It was found that previous involvement in charitable activity correlates positively with an intention to engage in charity retailing activities. The study also showed that the most popular form of getting involved in charity retailing indicated by respondents is to donate something to a charity shop, while the least popular one is volunteer work for such a shop.

Keywords

• sustainability in retailing
• alternative retail format
• charity shop