Our literature review shows the research each group member has done, using expert analysis to combine all of our project recommendations. The review discusses the following: business structure of a non-profit, donation guidelines and process, inventory management, and optimizing store layout.

 

Business structure of a non-profit

Experts suggest that nonprofit organizations should strategically select their distribution channels based on ease of access and scale of the organization. When talking about various rules nonprofits should attempt to follow, Teich Pam states that “One important rule is to have one person in charge of donation requests. If you have several shops and several managers, the left hand definitely does not know what the right hand is doing regarding donations” (p. 1). Teich also explains how it is important to have all donation requests done in writing, or at least to be logged in some manner, helping track inventory much easier. Similarly, Massey agrees that for receiving donations, there need to be clear guidelines and rules for both the donor and the accepting organization, saying, “It is necessary for the institution to have specific guidelines in place before receiving such materials. It is normal to have a contract available that explains all of the aspects of the giving and receiving” (p.1). She also talks about how it’s necessary for smaller organizations accepting donations to have some sort of system in place that tracks all items and allows potential customers to view them visually, whether it be in public or with images. What stands out from both sources is that both of these authors see the need even for smaller organizations to have clear professional organization. Whether it be through tracking inventory or monitoring who can or cannot oversee donation requests, having things done in a written manner makes everything easier for both donors, customers, and employees themselves.

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Experts on non-profit strategies believe heavily in the importance of having clear leadership and management for the organization to be successful. Effective management should have the capability to contextualize events and therefore develop proper structure based on assessed conditions. Gilkes (2021) explained this idea, saying, "“If managers accurately perceive environmental conditions and build capabilities, they can improve the likelihood of organizational success." (p. 2). It's important for management to be able to assess their own circumstances and form a structure strictly for their organization based upon that, as attempting to parrot others in this aspect will not work due to how different each organization's circumstances are. Wanza (2024) agrees on the importance of leadership at the top level of a non-profit, saying, "When executives/leaders are the primary influencers of behavior, values, and performance at a non-profit, it is imperative to ensure that they focus on communication, relationship development, capacity building, and open dialogue." Both of these writers see the importance of leadership at the top level for non-profits, Wanza from the perspective of leadership and communication and Gilkes from the perspective of management needing to understand their own circumstances and act accordingly when structuring their business.

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Donation Guidelines and Processes

Experts on donation processes agree that there needs to be a program and steady progress for accepting donations. Having set guidelines or programs allows for an easier process when taking in donations. According to students and professors, Jade et al. from the International Journal of Advanced Research in Science, Communication, and Technology (IJARSCT), "By combining technology, transparency, and user-friendliness, it empowers donors, supports beneficiaries, and enhances the overall charitable ecosystem" (Jade et al., 2023, p. 62), creating a technology platform could possibly be a beneficial solution. Jade et al. explains how a technology system that maintains donation data will allow there to be a clear understanding for both the donor and recipient of the donations. A staff writer for Consumer Search agrees that online transparency between the donor and the donation sites is important: "A quick online search using terms like ‘shelters accepting clothing donations near me’ or ‘clothing donation centers can yield helpful results. Websites such as VolunteerMatch or Idealist often list organizations in need of support." (2024, Writerhired, the writer discusses how a donation system is important for clear communication with donors, and the writer also addresses the donors and the proper techniques for donating. The authors in both articles support proper donation techniques, and online platforms insist on creating a clear transparency with the donators and donation sites. The authors emphasize the importance of having donation sites but acknowledge the possible issues when there is no communication happening between the donators and donation sites.
 

Proper Donation Processes and Donation Practices

Experts on proper donation processes illustrate the importance of promoting proper donation practices to donors. Guidelines or providing extra information on how the donation site wants donations sent to them creates transparency between the recipient and donor. The Salvation Army website agrees that providing answers to questions that donors ask avoids further donation confusion". Q: What can I donate to the Salvation Army Thrift Store, and what isn’t allowed? A: These vary from location to location, so please visit The Salvation Army Donation Center in your area for their policies. In general, Salvation Army Thrift Stores will accept gently used items (The Salvation Army Thrift Stores). The writer emphasizes having these pre-inserted questions on the site, which assists donors in knowing what they can or cannot donate so when the donation time comes forth, the process is much simpler. Thrift Cart agrees with setting clear guidelines when it comes to donations. Having these guidelines eases tensions and later confusions. "Setting clear rules on what donors can and can’t give is an effective strategy to control the quantity and quality of your store’s donations. By putting some responsibility on your donors, you ensure your staff receives suitable, high-quality items, streamlining the sorting process" (ThriftCart). Having information regarding donation guidelines will create a simpler process and set clear boundaries between the donor and recipient. The authors in both articles agree that there need to be clear guidelines for what items can and cannot be donated and how they will be donated. They also agree that this strategy reduces conflicts and issues because there is information regarding the donation guidelines accessible.

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Organizing Small Space for Retail

Experts at the Archery Trade Association have broken down how you display and maximize your space for better sales in smaller stores. In the opening of Organize Your Shop for a Positive Customer Experience and Increased Sales, Taylor Walston opens up with the importance of the first impression of your shop for customers. "It’s important to keep your shop clean, sanitary, and comfortable, but it’s just as important to keep your store organized and easy to navigate. The easier your store layout is to follow, the easier it will be for customers to find what they’re looking for." Launchpad Point Retail talks about the importance of it as well. 5 Keys to Creating an Engaging Retail Store Layout is an article that also makes solid points. Their team suggests the importance of allowing customers to dictate the traffic flow. Which will then lead to better sales due to everyone knowing where things are. "It’s important that you arrange your store’s aisles and retail displays with the traffic flow in mind. When laying out your store, put yourself in the customer’s position and ensure that you’re building a comfortable retail experience. In order to do this, you’ll need to understand three key customer behavioral habits." Emphasizing how customers don’t like tight spaces is key for us. Knowing how to use your space is crucial, but keeping in mind the customer does come first. Both articles do a great job of exposing why and how the customer should dictate the way of your store. And how important it is to display items according to your consumer. 

 

Organizing Small Space for Retail

Experts at Lightspeed have written about how your organization matters to consumers and how it impacts your sales. In the opening of 14 Stockroom Organization Ideas and Guidelines to Implement in Your Retail Store, 

Francesca Nicasio, how your retail space is like a headquarters for consumers. "Manage it right, and the stockroom will help you run a tight ship. But if you mismanage it? Your stockroom can leak its chaos out onto the floor of your store." She goes on and provides a list of bulleted ideas on how to maximize your space. ThriftCart has also emphasized the importance of organization in your store, no matter how big or how small. In the beginning of "Creative Ways to Organize a Small Space for Your Thrift Store," there are also great tips from the experts at ThriftCart. "You don’t have to have a large building to open a successful thrift store. With creative store design, you can showcase a wide variety of products, even in a small space." Both expert articles have displayed how you can creatively use your small retail space for the best outcomes; they both focus solely on the ease of your consumers to catch their eye and make them want to be in your store. 

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Organizing Small Space for Retail

Experts at the Archery Trade Association have broken down how you display and maximize your space for better sales in smaller stores. In the opening of Organize Your Shop for a Positive Customer Experience and Increased Sales, Taylor Walston opens up with the importance of the first impression of your shop for customers. "It’s important to keep your shop clean, sanitary, and comfortable, but it’s just as important to keep your store organized and easy to navigate. The easier your store layout is to follow, the easier it will be for customers to find what they’re looking for." Launchpad Point Retail talks about the importance of it as well. 5 Keys to Creating an Engaging Retail Store Layout is an article that also makes solid points. Their team suggests the importance of allowing customers to dictate the traffic flow. Which will then lead to better sales due to everyone knowing where things are. "It’s important that you arrange your store’s aisles and retail displays with the traffic flow in mind. When laying out your store, put yourself in the customer’s position and ensure that you’re building a comfortable retail experience. In order to do this, you’ll need to understand three key customer behavioral habits". Emphasizing how customers don’t like tight spaces is key for us. Knowing how to use your space is crucial, but keeping in mind the customer does come first. Both articles do a great job of exposing why and how the customer should dictate the way of your store. And how important it is to display items according to your consumer. 

 

Improving clothing closet with inventory tools

Keeping track of clothing inventory in a school closet is important as it ensures that students are able to get access to items they need. One tool that helps with this is ApparelMagic, an inventory management system specifically designed for fashion and clothing. It provides inventory management tips and lessons on how to reduce inventory errors and prevent out-of-stock shortages as well. According to ApparelMagic, “Inventory management software for the apparel industry tracks clothing, shoes, jewelry, accessories, and related items as they move between locations,” ensuring that items can be well monitored, preventing shortages. Items used to be kept track of manually, but with the use of modern barcode scanners, employees can keep track of items they receive, pick, or sell. Another helpful resource is Best Practice, written by Tony Wild, an expert in inventory management and supply chain practices, especially for businesses in fashion and retail, emphasizing the importance of efficient inventory tracking systems and inventory control. Tony states, “The techniques described here have enabled many people to manage their inventory so that their customers are happier.” This highlights the importance of adopting effective inventory management tips. By using tools like ApparelMagic and following expert advice from Tony Wild, Hire Attire can manage its inventory better so students can get access to items they need.

 

Improving clothing closet with inventory tools

Effective inventory management is important in the clothing industry to reduce overstock and reduce waste. Kunal Madan, co-founder of Amarra, a global distributor of occasion gowns and dresses, says, “E-commerce is a highly competitive field, and leveraging AI allowed us to optimize how we manage inventory, create content, and interact with our customers.” Kunal has successfully incorporated AI into their clothing company to improve customer experience and efficiency. Since using the AI tool, the company’s overstocking issues have reduced by 40%. Amarra uses AI to study customer reviews, which helps them better understand trends and customer preferences. "This helps us identify emerging trends and opportunities for product improvement, keeping us ahead in the market”. Madan emphasizes the importance of AI in the fashion industry. Similarly, Tobin Moore, a co-founder of Optoro, a technology company that works with retailers to manage and resell their merchandise and has created a software called Optiturn, which “tracks and dispositions inventory as it flows through a warehouse until it reaches consumers.” This software checks the condition of returned items and finds the best ways to resell them. By doing this, stores can prevent overstocking and can also sell off items instead of wasting them.

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The sources and materials that we’ve gathered in this Review of Literature helped form the recommendations we are providing Hire Attire, as well as acting as evidence for why said recommendations are the correct course.