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An example of this phenomenon is the experience of the shops run by Dove House Hospice.

The organisation offers care for people with a terminal illness. They cover the Hull and East Riding area and offer a variety of services to patients and their families; including drop-in and residential care in a specially built centre in east Hull.

Running the range of services cost £4.5 million a year. Over 20% of this income is raised by selling donated goods through a network of 26 shops across the region.

Marisa Coleman: Acting head of fundraising

Marisa Coleman, acting head of fundraising, says there has been an increase in sales as the credit crunch has started to bite. “Over the last two or three months we are getting new customers in.Ìý People we haven’t seen before, that are coming into charity shops in general I think for the first time. We’ve seen a steady increase.â€�

She adds that, although good for sales, the economic downturn is a double-edged sword for the charity. “Our only concern would be we’ve seen a downturn in donations at the moment, because everybody is hanging on to their clothing and furnishings. Obviously, the hospice is feeling the credit crunch like anybody else, our fuel bills are going up and our food bills are going up.�

The type of items that people are buying is also changing. Clothing is the usual mainstay of the shops sales.Ìý There has been an increase in the sale of books and DVDs, as people opt for a night in to save money.

Donovan Brewster, who manages the Ings Centre shop in east Hull, says that there has also been an increase in the sale of homeware. “We’re finding that they are buying a lot of household stuff where they usually go and buy new.Ìý They’re coming in here buying things for their kitchens, the house, decorations and stuff.â€�