Member-only story
Back to the shop floor with Oxfam
Adventures in retail and why volunteering works wonders
I recently set up my own freelance business which meant a lot of time spent online, often working at home. Whilst I was busily setting up websites, marketing myself and applying for contracts, I started to notice that I was missing talking to people. There is only so much meaning you can obtain from someone liking your LinkedIn post. Online ‘likes’ are a boost, but I wanted to feel useful in real life.
Oxfam’s mission is to end worldwide poverty and they are currently raising money to help people in Yemen, Syria and Bangladesh. I saw a new Oxfam shop was opening nearby and looking for volunteers. The shop had been set up entirely from scratch by the hard-working manager and assistant manager. On my first shift, I was given a tour and shown how to use the till. When I completed my first transaction of £3.98, I was thrilled! The man buying the DVDs looked slightly concerned at my manic grin. But the sense of achievement was there. I had learnt something. There was a satisfactory click as the till shut. I was hooked!
Working in a charity shop offers the opportunity for customer interaction or working behind the scenes if you prefer it. I enjoyed being on the shop floor. Over the course of a shift a steady stream of people came in with donations…
