Egypt’s first charity thrift shop opens amidst widening gap between rich and poor
Why It Matters
Egypt has a deep-rooted cultural stigma against buying second-hand clothing and goods. However, recent economic realities mean that a new charity thrift shop has proved more popular than expected.
By Faten Sobhi, Egab
On a bustling street in Cairo’s upscale Heliopolis neighbourhood, surrounded by coffee shops, luxury boutiques, and investment firm offices, Mersal Shop stands out.
Egypt’s first-ever charity thrift store’s presence in this affluent part of the capital reflects shifting cultural and economic realities in the Arab world’s most populous nation.
Over the past decade, Egypt has endured a series of local currency devaluations, including a sharp one in 2022 that halved the value of the Egyptian pound.
Like in Canada and other Western nations, inflation rates have soared, impacting most of Egypt’s 104 million people, most profoundly on the middle class.
Once comfortable and able to indulge in global brands, their purchasing powers eroded, and many found themselves unable to afford even basic essentials.
As such, they are finding ways to navigate these economic challenges, like adjusting their dietary habits to save money, cutting down on travel and leisure, and overcoming the culture’s deep-rooted stigma of buying second-hand items.
“Economic conditions have pushed some groups, who were accustomed to buying specific brands, to look for more affordable alternatives,” store manager Ahmed Abdel Sattar said.
From these conditions, his shop was born, and its doors opened in August 2024.
It was an immediate hit: its inventory was intended to last several months, but it was sold out within one month of its launch, said Abdel Sattar.
The reputation of the shop’s founder and parent organization was also key to its success.
The shop is run by Mersal Foundation for Charitable and Developmental Work, a grassroots NGO dedicated to bridging healthcare inequities by supporting underserved communities.
Since its founding a decade ago, Mersal has garnered global recognition for its innovative and wide-reaching impact. In January, its founder, Heba Rashed, raised more than £E $91,000 (CAD $133,100) in a 48-hour auction, even offering her own £3 mug for sale to provide critical medical equipment needed in war-torn Gaza.
“Since the foundation’s inception, we’ve received in-kind donations, which I would auction off on my personal Facebook page” to raise funds, said Rashed.
The idea of setting up a charity shop in Egypt emerged during Rashed’s time as a master’s student at UK’s Oxford University.
Inspired by the efficiency of charity shops, common in England, and capitalizing on the economic circumstances spurring behavioural and cultural shifts, Rashed introduced the concept to Egyptians.
Explanating how it works
At first glance, the store’s display window draws curiosity: high-quality imported furniture is placed side-by-side with professional cameras, branded bottles of perfume, children’s toys, and designer attire.
However, the price tags catch the eyes of passersby unfamiliar with the concept of second-hand items.
According to Rashed, explaining the concept is the toughest challenge.
“In Egypt, the prevailing belief is that in-kind donations are directly delivered to patients and those in need. Selling them is perceived as exploitation.
“This required significant effort to explain that for patients in need, medicines or covering treatment costs are more critical than an expensive perfume bottle or watch,” she said.
Since Mersal Foundation relies solely on social media for publicity to ensure all donations are channelled to its medical projects without the high cost of advertising, this explanation is offered via Facebook.
Once at the store, its staff thoroughly explain to customers how the shop works.
Jacqueline Nabih, a therapeutic nutritionist, stumbled on the shop while returning home from her clinic in Old Cairo. Drawn in by the diverse display, she emerged from the shop with several sports shoes for herself and the family.
Unfamiliar with charity shops, she noted how the staff were “more focused on delivering the message than on selling, clearly distinguishing between used and new items, as well as original or counterfeit brands.”
But even after the detailed explanation, another challenge arises.
Rashed noted that some visitors feel embarrassed buying second-hand goods, particularly clothing.
Karima Bakr, the shop’s sales manager, said that customers often focus on the new items, shying away from buying used ones that make up about 70 percent of the shop’s display.
“Other customers focus solely on the quality of the commodity and its affordability, given the current high prices,” she noted.
High quality only
The Egyptian pound is trading for 50 pounds a dollar, down from 7.9 pounds in 2015. Controversial economic decisions, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and regional wars impacting key sources of greenback are collectively straining the country’s coffers, prompting the government to cut subsidies and float the currency in bids to get more lending.
In public, Egypt’s middle class uses dark humour to criticize prices that “rise every minute,” but more discreetly, households are undergoing significant shifts to cope.
Dr. Rashad Abdo, an economic expert and head of the Egyptian Forum for Economic and Strategic Studies, noted that purchasing pre-used items is “inevitable” as citizens search for alternatives.
“Even the middle and upper-middle classes have had to forgo necessities and basics, turning to secondhand markets to maintain their sense of style,” he said.
This marks a shift from old cultural habits, where markets for secondhand products were targeted to the poor,” he added.
Large markets for secondhand goods were common in villages or working-class urban centers, like the bustling secondhand markets in Al-Wikala and Al-Moski, said Dr. Saeed Sadek, a professor of political sociology.
“But the primary audience for such markets have been the poor. Recently, the demand for used items has grown, fueled by a rise in poverty rates.”
To help households in higher socioeconomic classes transition to buying secondhand items, the Mersal Shops team pays extra attention to the quality of the commodities they sell.
“After receiving a donation request, a Mersal representative collects the items, and at one of our seven branches across the country, specialists inspect and, if necessary, repair the donations.
“We even authenticate branded items by contacting their manufacturers to verify their originality,” explained Abdel Sattar.
Some Egyptian companies contribute a portion of their high-quality products to the shop, he added.
Unsellable items never make it to the shop; they are either gifted to patients or included in Mersal’s monthly free exhibition for patients.
To ensure the quality and sustainability of goods, Rashed said they’re forming several partnerships and collaborations with major local companies, brands, and stores to donate a portion of their products to Mersal Shop.
“All returns from sales go directly into the foundation’s account to fund activities, such as medical expenses and procedures,” Rashed explains.
“The store’s financial returns are substantial and contribute significantly to the foundation’s projects,” she said, but would not say how much.
Mersal offers a slew of services to support patients and their families.
This includes incubators and relevant medical care for premature babies, a pediatric hospital providing treatment for free, an oncology section, emergency medical services, and accommodation for patients seeking medical care in regions far from home.
Reviews have been positive
Nabih, the therapeutic nutritionist, praised her first experience at the charity shop but did point out some areas for improvement.
“I bought these for less than half their price,” Nabih said but advised that the pricing be reconsidered.
“Some valuable items are sold for less than they are worth, and sometimes the opposite happens,” she said.
She also suggested a bigger store “in which products are categorized based on their condition” for an easier shopping experience for customers unfamiliar with the concept.
Customer Heba Fathy, 43, was familiar with the shop after following the work of Mersal Foundation for years.
“It’s really impressive the diversity and quality of products the shop sells and the competitive prices they’re sold at,” she said.
Among the displayed items was a Kipling handbag, priced initially at £E 8,000 (CAD $228) but sold at £E 6,500 (CAD $185), a Home brand mixer that is sold for £E 5,500 (CND $156), down from the original price of £E 6,700 (CND $191), a new IKEA table, originally priced at £E 1,600 (CND $45), is sold for £E 1,209 (CND $34), and a pair of Sketchers sneakers, originally priced at £E 5,600 (CND $160), is now offered at £E 3,400 (CND $97).
However, while these prices are a bargain for middle-class customers, they remain well above the budgets of a considerable portion of Egyptian society, where the average weekly income is around £E 1,251 (CND $35).
Rashed, proud of people’s engagement with the idea, hopes to set up several other shops in Cairo and beyond. She is confident that more charity shops in Egypt will benefit all those involved.
This piece was published in collaboration with Egab.
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