St Giles Hospice is a registered charity offering specialist palliative and end of life care, free of charge, for people living with terminal illnesses, as well as providing support for their loved ones and carers.
In 2022, St Giles partnered with Wil-U, and this collaboration has helped to transform their retail strategy. After signing, their Retail and IT team installed Wil-U’s EPOS and Digital Gift Aid tablets, successfully setting them up in 21 shops the same day, all thanks to the support of Wil-U’s dedicated service delivery team. The 21 stores were fully live and trading by midday the following day.
This partnership has developed into a close collaboration between St Giles and Wil-U, with both working together to create solutions that help other charities achieve their retail goals. From budget reports and stock tracking to marketing preferences and thank-you emails, these solutions have played a key role in St Giles’ ongoing retail success.
The Retail team at St Giles is a regular presence at our quarterly Wil-U Family meetings, where they actively provide feedback and suggest improvements to help enhance the platform.
Nicola Brannen-Mott, Deputy Head of Retail at St Giles Hospice, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our long‑standing relationship with Wil‑U and would like to thank them for their continued support as a key service provider helping to ensure our shop tills run smoothly and effectively.
“Our shops are truly at the heart of our communities, and every item sold, and every donation received, directly supports our patients and their families during some of the most challenging times of their lives.”
Having St Giles as a customer from the outset has been crucial to Wil-U’s growth. Wil-U’s EPOS and Digital Gift Aid solutions were designed with charities in mind, and having a charity like St Giles on board early allowed Wil-U to refine its solutions based on real-world charity retail needs.
One of the standout features benefiting St Giles’ retail operation is their Lottery, with between 700 and 900 lottery tickets sold in their network of shops every week. It has become a key source of income, with over 22,000 players a week, and a goal of reaching 25,000 lottery players in the next three years. Last year alone, their lottery raised over £800,000, directly supporting vital care for local people, and their loved ones.
During 2024-25, their 23 shops raised £428,018 and sold over 800,000 pre-loved items. Looking ahead, St Giles aims to raise £1 million annually through its retail operations.
St Giles is committed to expanding and refurbishing their shops, with 26 shops now open, as of April 2026, and their additional online eBay store. They have some exciting and innovative plans for the coming year to grow their income
By continuing to tailor our solutions to the unique needs of charity retail, we are committed to empowering organisations to increase their fundraising potential, streamline operations, and make a lasting impact on their communities. As the Wil-U Family grows, it remains dedicated to fostering collaborations that drive real change for charities nationwide.