Why benchmarking matters now
Charity retail has grown up. What was once a cottage industry is now a serious trading sector, and the shops that thrive are the ones that know where they stand. Benchmarking is how you find out – confidentially, honestly and in numbers that mean something.
The 2027 benchmarking cycle brings together data from across the sector to give participating organisations a clear, comparable view of their performance.
What we measure
The benchmark covers the four metrics that tell the truth about a charity shop estate:
- Income per square foot – the single best measure of shop productivity
- Gift Aid conversion – the percentage of eligible donations that are gift-aided
- Stock turn – how quickly donated stock moves from donation to sale
- Volunteer productivity – income generated per volunteer hour
Together, these show not just how much a shop earns, but how efficiently and sustainably it earns it.
How organisations participate
Participation is confidential. Organisations submit trading data through a secure, standardised template, and in return receive a tailored comparison against peers of similar size and type. No organisation is named in another's report.
What you get back
Each participating organisation receives:
- A confidential comparison against the sector and against peer groups
- A clear view of where they lead and where they lag
- Practical, prioritised recommendations based on the gaps the data reveals
- An honest, evidence-based foundation for investment decisions
Why it is worth doing
The shops that benchmark consistently outperform those that do not – not because the data is magic, but because you cannot improve what you do not measure. Knowing where you stand is the first step to moving forward.
How to take part
Benchmarking opens to the MAVORA Community each cycle. Join the community to be notified when participation begins, or contact us directly to discuss taking part.