The history of Oxfam shops
Take a look at our interactive timeline for more insight into Oxfam’s retail history.
Oxfam's retail history
-
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.
-
First permanent shop
Our first permanent shop on Broad Street, Oxford, starts trading in December 1947.
-
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.
-
Oxfam launches the Toy Appeal
Oxfam launches the Toy Appeal to drive toy donations to Oxfam shops. We still welcome toy donations today.
-
Oxfam drives gift donations to shops for Christmas
Bring Oxfam a Christmas gift to sell in this shop
-
Nearly New Fashion Show launch
Oxfam's Nearly New Fashion Show launch poster encourages second hand clothing
-
25 years of Fair Trade
Oxfam celebrated 25 years of Fair Trade
-
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.
-
50 years of Oxfam working for a Fairer World
Oxfam Celebrates 50 years of Oxfam working for a Fairer World
-
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.
-
Oxfam advertises its Fair Trade foods
Oxfam advertises its Fair Trade foods offering which is still going strong today
-
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.
-
Oxfam encourages men to get behind second hand clothing
With this 90s poster appeal
-
Oxfam Unwrapped launch
It's the millennium when Oxfam launches Oxfam Unwrapped for the first time. Unwrapped gifts are still available to buy today
-
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.
-
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!
-
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.