Mary Portas is my sort of woman and this week she is on a mission – a mission to transform the humble charity shop. And what better way to get to understand the nitty gritty of charity-shop life than to roll up her sleeves, put on a pinny and get stuck in?

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In two series of BBC Two’s Mary, Queen Of Shops, retail guru Mary Portas turned around the fortunes of struggling independent fashion boutiques across the UK. Now Mary’s taking on her toughest challenge yet, turning her steely gaze to a much neglected sector of the fashion market: charity shops.

Mary believes charity shops represent a key part of the future of shopping: a vast number of consumers worry about ethical shopping and the environment and charity shops provide a route to a greener way to shop where everybody wins.

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