Charity shops: Shhh! Don’t mention the Web! 15 July 2008 Howard Lake Fundraising UK Ltd www.fundraising.co.uk [email_address] 01206 579081

An open and shut case High street charity shops aren’t open 24 hours a day. They’re lucky if they open for more than six hours a day. When closed, their windows remain a useful… shop window So, why no mention of the charity’s website which is open 24 hours a day?

High street charity shops aren’t open 24 hours a day.

They’re lucky if they open for more than six hours a day.

When closed, their windows remain a useful… shop window

So, why no mention of the charity’s website which is open 24 hours a day?

Not open for business Next time you pass a charity shop, see if they promote the web address Don’t be surprised if they don’t Do be surprised given that the charities have been fundraising online since the mid/late 1990s.

Next time you pass a charity shop, see if they promote the web address

Don’t be surprised if they don’t

Do be surprised given that the charities have been fundraising online since the mid/late 1990s.

Not convinced? Join me on my tour of Canterbury and Whitstable last weekend searching for web addresses in charity shop windows…

Join me on my tour of Canterbury and Whitstable last weekend searching for web addresses in charity shop windows…

Spot any? No, nor me. Actually, there was one on one of the posters in the Oxfam shop. Small type though. So, a good use of charity real estate? A missed opportunity? A lack of integration?

No, nor me.

Actually, there was one on one of the posters in the Oxfam shop. Small type though.

So, a good use of charity real estate?

A missed opportunity?

A lack of integration?

Yes! How much would it cost to promote the website in a charity shop window? 1p perhaps – a laser print-out, or a b/w photocopy Could charity trading arms have stretched to affording that in the past 10 years?

How much would it cost to promote the website in a charity shop window?

1p perhaps – a laser print-out, or a b/w photocopy

Could charity trading arms have stretched to affording that in the past 10 years?

What to do? Work for a charity? Check if your shops have a web address in the window. Visiting a charity shop? Ask for the web address, and mention you couldn’t see it in the window.

Work for a charity? Check if your shops have a web address in the window.

Visiting a charity shop? Ask for the web address, and mention you couldn’t see it in the window.

24-hour charity shops Let’s get the most out of charity shops – driving traffic to charity websites even when they’re closed

Let’s get the most out of charity shops – driving traffic to charity websites even when they’re closed

Thank you Howard Lake Fundraising UK Ltd www.fundraising.co.uk [email_address] 01206 579081