Charity shops and second hand shops are not quite like other retail stores. You sell an extremely diverse range of stock, and you likely get fresh donations every day, all of which will need sorting and cleaning before it reaches the shop floor. This means that you will probably have huge amounts of stock onsite at any one time. This could attract thieves, and it could even present a fire risk.

Plus, charity shops in particular are more likely to be staffed by volunteers than by paid employees. You have a duty of care to anyone who works at your shop, but a standard retail insurance policy may not provide the same cover for volunteers as it would for paid staff.

Only a dedicated charity shop or second hand shop insurance policy will give you the specialist cover you need for the unique risks you face.

• A customer, delivery driver, contractor, or other member of the public could slip or trip while visiting your shop.
• A member of staff, or a volunteer, could injure themselves while working for you.
• Your stock could be lost or damaged due to fire, flood, or theft.
• Vandalism, burglary, fire, or a flood could cause extensive damage, forcing you to temporarily close your shop.

We can work with you to build a tailored, bespoke policy to cover you for your specific risks. This can include:

• Public Liability Insurance – If a customer or other member of the public ever injures themselves while visiting your shop, this can cover any legal fees or compensation payments that may arise.
• Employer’s Liability Insurance – This will cover your employees or volunteers for any on-the-job accidents or injuries. If you employ any staff, then you have a legal duty to get employer’s liability insurance. This can also help you meet your legal duty of care to your volunteers.
• Stock Insurance – This will cover any stock you store onsite for loss or damage from fire, flood, theft, and other risks.
• Cash Insurance – This can cover any cash you store on your premises, along with cash while it is in transit to the bank.
• Buildings and Contents Cover – This can cover your shop premises, along with any furniture, fixtures, or fittings, for loss or damage.
• Business Interruption Insurance – If an incident such as a fire, a flood, or a break-in ever forces you to temporarily close your shop, business interruption insurance can cover your overheads while repairs take place.

The cost of second hand and charity shop insurance will depend on a number of factors, including:

• The size of your shop.
• Your location.
• Whether you hire paid staff or unpaid volunteers.
• The level of cover you choose.

At James Hallam, we can help you find the specialist bespoke cover you need for your charity shop or second hand shop.