CategoryMiscellaneous
Charity Retail Conference and Exhibition
🎯 Selling to this event's audience? Get a free tailored buyer list
Tell us your work email and our AI instantly builds a buyer list matched to Charity Retail Conference and Exhibition — the best‑fit companies to target, the exact decision‑maker job titles, and the industry filters that fit what you sell.
🔒 Get my buyer details Free · ~20 seconds
About this event
Charity Retail Conference, Exhibition and Awards
The Charity Retail Conference, Exhibition and Awards is widely positioned as the charity retail sector’s key annual gathering. Organised by the Charity Retail Association (CRA), the event brings together delegates from across the charity shop community to learn, connect, and celebrate achievements through a combination of conference sessions, an exhibition, and award recognition.
What the event is about
The conference is designed as a practical, sector-focused programme where delegates can explore the latest ideas and approaches in community-powered retail. Attendees spend time both engaging with expert speakers through the conference programme and taking advantage of the exhibition to meet suppliers—new and returning—who support charity shops with products, services, and solutions.
Where it’s hosted
The CRA describes the most recent iteration as “Conference 2026”, held at the ICC Wales venue in Newport. This places the event in Wales, United Kingdom.
- Venue: ICC Wales
- City: Newport
- Country: United Kingdom
Format and key components
Based on the CRA’s official event write-up, the event runs over two days and includes:
- Conference programme: conference sessions packed into a two-day schedule, with delegates learning new approaches and ideas intended to be put into practice quickly.
- Exhibition: dedicated exhibition time where delegates can explore solutions and connect with suppliers.
- Charity Retail Awards gala dinner: an awards component that recognises sector winners and provides a celebratory, sector-wide moment.
- Networking and engagement: delegates are encouraged to speak with suppliers and peers across both days, building connections within the sector.
Why attendees come
The CRA emphasises the energy and enthusiasm created by the event, describing it as an experience where delegates leave inspired and motivated to apply what they have learned. The exhibition and speaker sessions support both practical learning and relationship-building—whether attendees are there as sponsors, exhibitors, delegates, speakers, or visitors.
Sustainability and sector theme
Alongside the conference and exhibition activities, the CRA highlights sustainability as a relevant focus area connected to charity retail. This reinforces that the event is not only about day-to-day operational improvement, but also about wider responsibility and long-term sector impact.
Headline sponsors and sector supporters (2026)
For Conference 2026, the CRA publicly listed headline sponsors and additional supporters. The CRA thanks organisations including:
- Nisyst
- Cybertill
- Eproductive
- Listing Monster AI
The CRA also lists a sponsor connection for the awards element, including 1st Waste Management.
Dates (if required)
The official text provided does not include specific calendar dates for the next occurrence of the Charity Retail Conference, Exhibition and Awards. It only references that “Conference 2026” took place at ICC Wales in Newport. If you share the exact next-year dates from the official event page (or the programme page), we can incorporate them accurately.
Data sheet
Charity Retail Conference, Exhibition and Awards – Event Attendee & Buyer Profile Analysis
Event Date: 23–24 June 2026 |
Location: ICC Wales, Newport, Wales, United Kingdom |
Event Status: Completed |
Research Date: 6 July 2026
| Event Overview | |
|---|---|
| Event Name | Charity Retail Conference, Exhibition and Awards |
| Event Date | 23–24 June 2026 |
| Event Status | Completed |
| Venue | ICC Wales |
| City | Newport |
| State / Region | Wales |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Organizer | Charity Retail Association (CRA) |
| Official Event Website | Charity Retail Association event page |
| Event Type | Conference, exhibition, awards, and networking event |
| Primary Category | Business Services |
| Secondary Applicable Categories | Retail; Logistics & Transportation; IT & Technology; Environment & Waste; Home & Office |
| Audience Reach | National, with likely UK-wide charity retail participation |
| Estimated Attendance / Expected Footfall | Attendance figure not publicly confirmed by the organizer. |
| Attendance Data Reliability | Medium-low; official page confirms the event format and participation types, but not a public attendee count. |
| Main Purpose of Event | To bring together charity retail leaders, shop operators, suppliers, speakers, and award participants for learning, networking, product discovery, and sector recognition. |
About the Event
The Charity Retail Conference, Exhibition and Awards is the flagship annual gathering for the UK charity retail sector. Official CRA materials describe it as “the charity retail event of the year,” combining a two-day conference programme, an exhibition, and the Charity Retail Awards. The event is designed for practical sector learning and commercial engagement, with delegates exploring new ideas, listening to expert speakers, and meeting suppliers that support charity shops and wider charity retail operations.
From a B2B perspective, the event is important because it concentrates decision-makers from charity shops, multi-site charity retailers, and sector service providers in one place. It is relevant for organizations selling retail technology, stock management, payments, ecommerce, logistics, waste management, shop equipment, merchandising, and professional services into the charity retail ecosystem. The event also has strong buyer-signaling value because attendees are likely to include operational leaders, procurement stakeholders, retail heads, and partnership-oriented buyers seeking solutions to improve trading performance and efficiency.
1. Who Attends: Buyers / Attendees
| Buyer / Attendee Segment | Typical Organizations | Buying Role or Influence | Relevance to Exhibitors / Suppliers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charity retail leadership | National charities, charity retail chains, hospice retail teams | Sets strategy, approves investment, selects suppliers | High-value audience for multi-site solutions and service contracts |
| Retail operations managers | Charity shop networks, regional retail operations | Influences store standards, systems, staffing, and process change | Strong fit for POS, store equipment, workflow, and productivity tools |
| Procurement and sourcing teams | Large charities, umbrella charities, trading subsidiaries | Supplies sourcing, vendor selection, pricing and contract negotiation | Relevant for vendors with repeatable, multi-site service models |
| Ecommerce and sales leaders | Charities with online shops, resale platforms, omnichannel teams | Drives online trading, platform selection, and merchandising strategy | High relevance for ecommerce, listing tools, and digital enablement |
| Finance and commercial managers | Charity retail HQ teams, trading directors | Evaluates ROI, margin improvement, and cost control | Good target for business cases tied to efficiency and revenue |
| Sustainability / waste / circularity leaders | Charity retail operations with reuse and waste reduction goals | Influences disposal, recycling, and sustainability initiatives | Relevant for waste management, recycling, and carbon-reduction offers |
| IT / digital transformation leaders | Charity HQs, trading arms, digital commerce teams | Owns platform decisions, integrations, cyber and data tools | Strong fit for software, payments, CRM, analytics, and security vendors |
| Volunteer and people managers | Charity shop networks, workforce support teams | Influences staffing, training, scheduling, and retention | Useful for HR, training, scheduling, and volunteer-support solutions |
2. Event Location and Attendee Geographic Origin
| Geographic Area | Likely Attendee Origin | Buyer Concentration | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Host city: Newport | Local and South Wales attendees | Medium | Convenient for regional charity shop networks and suppliers based in Wales |
| Host region: Wales | Charity retailers across Wales and border counties | Medium | Likely strong representation from regional operations and charity HQs |
| Nearby business hubs | Bristol, Cardiff, Birmingham, South West England | Medium-high | Accessible by road and rail for UK delegates and exhibitors |
| National reach | UK-wide charity retailers, suppliers, and partners | High | CRA is a UK sector body; national attendance is likely |
| International reach | Limited international buyer presence | Low-medium | Possible but not central to the event’s core audience |
| Key trade corridor | England-Wales charity retail and service corridor | Medium-high | Useful for suppliers targeting multi-site charities operating across the UK |
3. Audience Reach
| Reach Level | Assessment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| National | Primary classification | The event is run by a UK sector association and is positioned as the main annual charity retail gathering. |
4. Sample Buyer Companies and Websites
| Buyer Company / Organization | Buyer Type | Why It Is Relevant | Website | Best Job Titles to Target | Evidence Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charity Retail Association | Sector body / buyer influence hub | Organizer and ecosystem influencer for charity retail solutions | charityretail.org.uk | CEO, Events Director, Membership Director, Partnerships Manager | Confirmed Government / Procurement Organization |
| British Heart Foundation | Charity retailer | Large charity shop operator; likely need for shop tech, logistics, and trading tools | bhf.org.uk | Retail Director, Head of Trading, Procurement Manager, Operations Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Cancer Research UK | Charity retailer | Large charity retail network with commercial and operational buying needs | cancerresearchuk.org | Retail Operations Director, Trading Manager, Category Manager, Ecommerce Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Oxfam | Charity retailer | Multi-channel charity retail and reuse operations | oxfam.org.uk | Retail Director, Supply Chain Manager, Ecommerce Manager, Sustainability Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Marie Curie | Charity retailer | Charity shop estate with fundraising and trading operations | mariecurie.org.uk | Head of Retail, Trading Manager, Procurement Lead, Operations Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Sue Ryder | Charity retailer | Retail network with shop operations, stock movement, and trading needs | sueryder.org | Retail Director, Shop Operations Manager, Buying Manager, Logistics Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| The Salvation Army Trading Company | Charity retailer / trading arm | Trading-led charity retail organization with operational purchasing needs | satcol.org | Trading Director, Head of Retail, Procurement Manager, Finance Director | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Barnardo’s | Charity retailer | Large charity with retail estate and donor-facing operations | barnardos.org.uk | Retail Manager, Operations Director, Supply Chain Manager, Store Development Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| St Gemma’s Hospice | Charity retailer | Hospice retail operation likely interested in shop revenue optimization | stgemma'shospice.org.uk | Retail Manager, Trading Manager, Shop Operations Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| British Red Cross | Charity retailer / humanitarian charity | Has trading, retail, and supply-chain relevance for sector suppliers | redcross.org.uk | Retail Director, Operations Manager, Procurement Lead, Business Development Manager | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
| Mind | Charity retailer | Charity retail network supporting fundraising and local shop operations | mind.org.uk | Head of Retail, Operations Manager, Ecommerce Manager, Category Lead | Strong Market Fit, Attendance Not Confirmed |
5. Job Profiles, Industries and Event Type
| Priority | Job Title / Function | Department | Seniority Level | Why This Role Matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Head of Retail / Retail Director | Retail Operations | Director / VP | Owns strategy, supplier selection, and multi-site performance |
| 2 | Operations Director / Operations Manager | Operations | Director / Manager | Influences store standards, workflows, and service delivery |
| 3 | Procurement Manager / Sourcing Manager | Procurement | Manager / Director | Controls supplier onboarding, contracts, and pricing |
| 4 | Trading Manager / Trading Director | Commercial / Trading | Manager / Director | Focused on revenue, margin, and retail performance |
| 5 | Ecommerce Manager / Digital Trading Lead | Digital / Ecommerce | Manager / Head | Relevant for online listing, analytics, CRM, and omnichannel tools |
| 6 | Supply Chain Manager / Logistics Manager | Supply Chain | Manager | Important for collections, redistribution, stock flow, and vendor logistics |
| 7 | Sustainability / Waste Manager | Sustainability / Compliance | Manager / Head | Targets waste reduction, recycling, and ESG initiatives |
| 8 | IT Director / Digital Transformation Lead | IT / Digital | Director / Head | Owns software, integration, security, and data modernization |
| Priority | Apollo Industry | Why It Fits the Event | Best Buyer Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Retail | Core industry for charity shop operators and trading teams | Store operations, merchandising, and retail systems |
| 2 | Nonprofit Organization Management | Primary umbrella for charity operators | Leadership, procurement, and stakeholder outreach |
| 3 | Fund-Raising | Retail activity supports income generation | Commercial tools tied to donation and revenue growth |
| 4 | Logistics & Supply Chain | Stock movement, collections, and redistribution are central issues | Transport, warehouse, and stock-flow solutions |
| 5 | Information Technology & Services | Event content and exhibition include technology for retail operations | POS, ecommerce, CRM, analytics, and digital services |
| 6 | Environmental Services | Waste, reuse, and sustainability are relevant to charity retail | Waste management, recycling, and circularity services |
| 7 | Business Supplies & Equipment | Shop fit-out, labels, fixtures, and store consumables are relevant | Merchandising and retail back-office supply categories |
| 8 | Computer Software | Software underpins charity retail operations and online trading | Retail management, payments, ERP, and reporting tools |
| 9 | Financial Services | Card payments, reconciliations, and financial controls matter to shop networks | Payments, banking, and cash handling solutions |
| 10 | Wholesale | Relevant for stock, resale, and distribution partners | Bulk supply and distribution channels |
6. Estimated Attendance
| Metric | Figure | Status | Source / Basis | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estimated total footfall | Not publicly confirmed | Confirmed unavailable | Official event page does not publish a count | Use only as a qualitative lead-generation event |
| Exhibitor count | Not publicly confirmed | Confirmed unavailable | Official page mentions an exhibition but not a count | Sponsor names are publicly listed on the event page |
| Buyer count | Not publicly confirmed | Confirmed unavailable | No public attendee breakdown available | Likely composed of charity retail decision-makers and operators |
| Speaker count | Not publicly confirmed | Confirmed unavailable | Official page indicates speakers but not a public number | Speaker mix supports content-led outreach |
| Sponsor count | At least 5 named sponsors on the official page | Confirmed | Official event page sponsor section | Useful for vendor intelligence and outreach |
| Historical attendance | Not publicly confirmed in the supplied source text | Unavailable | No prior-year count provided in the official text supplied | Recommend treating as a niche, high-intent sector event |
7. Key Focus Areas and Buyer Engagement
| Focus Area | Typical Buyer Need | Buyer Engagement Opportunity | Relevant Supplier Offering |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail operations | Store performance, consistency, and process efficiency | Operational best-practice sessions and demos | Retail management platforms, store tooling, workflow software |
| Ecommerce and sales tech | Online listing, inventory visibility, and omnichannel trade growth | Product demonstrations and case studies | Ecommerce software, listing tools, CRM, analytics |
| Payments and finance | Fast, secure, and reconciled payment processing | ROI-led outreach to trading and finance leads | Payments, banking, and cash-handling solutions |
| Logistics and collections | Efficient movement of stock and donations | Meet operations and supply-chain teams | Transport, warehousing, routing, and scheduling tools |
| Sustainability and waste | Reuse, recycling, and carbon reduction | ESG and circularity messaging | Waste management, recycling, reuse services |
| Supplier partnerships | Trusted partners who understand the charity retail model | Networking and sponsorship conversations | Managed services, consultancy, and sector-specific solutions |
Lead Quality Assessment
| Factor | Assessment | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Buyer relevance | Very High | The audience is tightly aligned with charity retail, a highly defined buying community. |
| Decision-maker availability | High | Likely to include retail heads, operations leaders, and commercial decision-makers. |
| Data collection potential | Medium | Strong sector relevance, but no public attendee list or attendance count was confirmed in the supplied source. |
| Apollo targeting potential | Very High | Clear ICP alignment across retail, nonprofit, logistics, software, and environmental services. |
| Geographic targeting potential | High | UK-wide reach with especially strong relevance to Wales, England, and multi-site charity operators. |
| Best outreach approach | High-touch, sector-specific | Use concise charity-retail messaging, operational ROI, and practical use cases. |
| Overall lead quality | High | Excellent for B2B attendee list building and supplier targeting in a focused niche market. |
| Best use case | Lead generation and account targeting | Ideal for vendors selling software, services, logistics, payments, and sustainability solutions into charity retail. |
| Limitations / risks | Limited public attendee data | No official attendee list or public participation count was provided in the source text supplied. |
Apollo.io Targeting Recommendation
| Filter Type | Recommended Filters | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Apollo industries | Retail; Nonprofit Organization Management; Fund-Raising; Information Technology & Services; Logistics & Supply Chain; Environmental Services; Business Supplies & Equipment; Computer Software; Financial Services; Wholesale | Covers the core buyer universe for charity retail solutions |
| Departments | Procurement; Operations; Retail; Commercial; IT; Digital; Finance; Sustainability; Supply Chain | Focuses outreach on decision-making teams |
| Seniority | Manager; Director; VP; Head; C-level where available | Prioritizes budget holders and strategic influencers |
| Job titles | Head of Retail, Retail Director, Trading Director, Procurement Manager, Operations Manager, Supply Chain Manager, Ecommerce Manager, IT Director, Sustainability Manager, Finance Director | Targets the most commercially relevant attendee profiles |
| Geography | United Kingdom; Wales; England; Scotland; Northern Ireland | Matches the event’s likely UK-wide reach |
| Employee size | 11–50; 51–200; 201–500; 501–1,000; 1,001–5,000; 5,000+ | Captures both regional charities and large national operators |
| Keywords | charity shop, retail operations, trading, ecommerce, donation, resale, stock management, POS, volunteer, sustainability, waste management, circular economy | Improves precision for sector-specific prospecting |
| Company type | Nonprofit, charitable trading subsidiary, retail chain, multi-site operator | Aligns with the event’s core buyer profile |
Suggested Apollo Search Logic: (Retail OR Nonprofit Organization Management OR Fund-Raising) AND (Head of Retail OR Retail Director OR Operations Director OR Procurement Manager OR Ecommerce Manager OR Supply Chain Manager) AND (charity shop OR trading OR donations OR resale OR stock management OR POS).
Client Fit Review Required
Please share the client website or product/service details. I will review the client offering and identify the highest-fit buyer companies, Apollo industries, seniority levels, departments, and job titles from this event.
Sources & Verification Notes
| Source | Type | What It Verified | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charity Retail Association – Charity Retail Conference, Exhibition and Awards | Official organizer page | Event name, completed 2026 edition reference, venue ICC Wales, Newport, Wales, UK, sponsors, and qualitative event description | Very High |
| ICC Wales | Venue website | Venue identification and geographic placement | High |
| Charity Retail Association main website | Organizer website | Sector positioning, charity retail ecosystem context, and CRA organizational role | Very High |
| CRA events directory | Organizer events listing | Event category context and annual sector-event positioning | High |
| CRA members page | Organizer association listing | Buyer ecosystem and likely attendee universe in charity retail | High |
| CRA “How can my company work with charity retailers?” | Organizer business-development page | Commercial relevance for suppliers and partnership buyers | High |
🎯 Selling to this event's audience? Get a free tailored buyer list
Tell us your work email and our AI instantly builds a buyer list matched to Charity Retail Conference and Exhibition — the best‑fit companies to target, the exact decision‑maker job titles, and the industry filters that fit what you sell.
🔒 Get my buyer details Free · ~20 seconds