China's first charity shop has opened in Shanghai

Online charity store Shantaowang has just opened China's first physical charity shop, Buy 42, in the peaceful surrounds of Xinzha Lu in Jingan. The store employs disabled staff with proceeds going towards supporting the disabled workforce.

Unlike a charity shop as you may know it, all items for sale are in mint condition, as all the products are brand new and donated by charity organisations and enterprises such as online retail giants Alibaba and Johnny Walker.

Buy 42 sells a wide assortment of products ranging from clothing to children toys, to beauty products and accessories. Generally the items on sale are discounted by 30 to 50 percent of their original retail price – you can get a pair of Jimmy Choo heels for 799RMB (originally priced at 3,400RMB according to Ms Zhao, a full-time employee at Buy 42). And you can rest assured that no fakes or illegally obtained products are sold here.

Adhering to company policy, 50 percent of the employees are people with disabilities. Proceeds from sales go to these staff as well as other disabled workers around China who help the company in other ways such as photo editing for the online store.

Buy 42 1132 Xinzha Lu, near Jiangning Lu, Jingan district (189 3098 8695; shantaowang.com). Open 10am-8.30pm Sun-Thu; 10.30am-9pm Fri and Sat.

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