- The history of Oxfam shops
- Donate to Oxfam shops
- Sustainable, second hand homeware
- Second Hand September
- Oxfam's Guide to Sustainable Shopping
The history of Oxfam shops
Take a look at our interactive timeline for more insight into Oxfam’s retail history.
Oxfam's retail history
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First temporary shop
A temporary gift shop is set up by volunteers in an Oxford department store. It runs for 11 days and raises over £3,000 for starving people in occupied Greece.
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First permanent shop
Our first permanent shop on Broad Street, Oxford, starts trading in December 1947.
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First Oxfam book department opens
The first Oxfam book department opens in the cellar of our Guildford shop. Today we’re the biggest secondhand bookseller in Europe.
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Oxfam launches the Toy Appeal
Oxfam launches the Toy Appeal to drive toy donations to Oxfam shops. We still welcome toy donations today.
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Oxfam drives gift donations to shops for Christmas
Bring Oxfam a Christmas gift to sell in this shop
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Nearly New Fashion Show launch
Oxfam's Nearly New Fashion Show launch poster encourages second hand clothing
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25 years of Fair Trade
Oxfam celebrated 25 years of Fair Trade
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Launch of Cafédirect
Oxfam and other charities launch Cafédirect – the first coffee to carry the Fairtrade mark – giving thousands of farmers a way to sell their produce at fair prices.
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50 years of Oxfam working for a Fairer World
Oxfam Celebrates 50 years of Oxfam working for a Fairer World
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First Oxfam Festival Shop
The first Oxfam Festival Shop opens at Glastonbury. Our shops can now be found at the UK’s major festivals all summer long.
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Oxfam advertises its Fair Trade foods
Oxfam advertises its Fair Trade foods offering which is still going strong today
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Oxfam's clothes code campaign
Oxfam's clothes code campaign calls for retailers to adopt a basic code of rights for those working in the clothing industry.
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Oxfam encourages men to get behind second hand clothing
With this 90s poster appeal
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Oxfam Unwrapped launch
It's the millennium when Oxfam launches Oxfam Unwrapped for the first time. Unwrapped gifts are still available to buy today
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Secondhand September
Oxfam's ‘Secondhand September’ washing line at Glastonbury Festival 2019. Oxfam launched its Second-hand September campaign at Glastonbury festival by asking people to pledge to say no to new items of clothing for one month.
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Oxfam Superstore opens
The Oxfam Superstore opens in Oxford. It's filled with one-of-a-kind finds, handcrafted gifts, homeware and more, both donated and from our own Sourced by Oxfam range. It's even home to a café inside an Oxfam water tank!
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The Oldham Oxfam Shop turns 50
The Oldham Oxfam Shop was opened by three women in 1971. Volunteers remain at the heart of Oxfam's shops, making a huge contribution to our work, helping people build better lives around the world.