Enhancing Charity Retail: Brandon Trust's Success with Wil-U Solutions

Previously, we shared how Wil U helped Brandon Trust enhance its charity retail operations. A year later, we are excited to showcase how our solutions continue to drive positive change. This time, we focus on how our expertise supports their enterprises and streamlines operations to maximise their impact.

Brandon Trust operates a dynamic multi-enterprise model, creating more opportunities for the people they support. Their high-street shops are at the core of their operations, each with a distinctive boutique style that sets them apart.

Building Confidence in Retail

Take Richard, for example, a sales assistant at their North Street shop in Bristol. When he first started, he found the tills intimidating and worried about keeping up. But before long, he mastered the system and now takes great pride in his work. He could not resist sharing a bit of friendly competition, as his shop recently outperformed another Brandon Trust location, Cotham Hill, in both sales and Gift Aid contributions.

This friendly competition shows how hands-on the staff are with their EPOS, navigating it perfectly through their customised screen, which makes making a sale inclusive for everyone of all abilities.

Beyond Retail: Supporting Cafés and Social Enterprises

Wil U’s impact does not stop at retail. Our solutions are also making a difference in Brandon Trust’s cafés, like the one at Grimsbury Farm.

As Petra Littlefair, Retail Enterprise Manager, in our previous success story, explains:
"Having such a great and easy-to-use charity EPOS system in our shops and cafés has transformed the experience for people with learning disabilities and autism. Whether they are volunteers, trainees, or staff, using a till and serving customers in busy environments builds their confidence, independence, and employment skills."

Their farm café provides a supportive working environment where individuals can develop transferable work and personal skills, helping them prepare for future employment. By seamlessly integrating solutions across its enterprises, Brandon Trust empowers individuals and strengthens its social impact—one transaction at a time. This approach also allows staff to work flexibly across different enterprises, gaining valuable, lifelong, transferable skills.

How effective is it in generating income for Brandon Trust?

Brandon Trust joined the Wil-U family in 2022, and before they did, they were using a very traditional till – yes, it was easy to navigate and did exactly what it needed to, but it limited their sales reporting and Gift Aid opportunities. In the last three years, they have grown in income exponentially, Petra explains, “Every year we set ourselves ambitious but achievable targets and we have smashed them year on year! 

The system provides reliable data and reporting at the click of a button and in real-time. This has improved the performance of our shops and cafes massively. It has also allowed us to measure our social impact within Brandon and across the communities we serve and support.”

From building confidence on the shop floor to developing transferable skills in café settings, Wil-U’s solutions are helping Brandon Trust deliver on its mission—empowering individuals and driving real, measurable impact in the communities they serve.

We're proud to be part of Brandon Trust’s journey and can’t wait to see what we’ll achieve together next. If you're ready to take your charity retail operations to the next level, get in touch with us today and discover what being part of the Wil-U family could mean for you.