**Charity Left Dismayed as Branded T-shirt Appears in TK Maxx Without Permission at Inflated Price**
A small Cardiff-based animal welfare charity has been left feeling saddened and perplexed after discovering that one of its branded T-shirts had surfaced for sale in high street chain TK Maxx, offered at a price more than double what the non-profit charges—and without their consent.
The Rescue Hotel, which raises vital funds for Cardiff Dogs Home, was alarmed to find its distinctive black T-shirt displayed on a TK Maxx rack, selling for £39.99. The shirt, which the charity sells directly for £15 to support their work with homeless dogs, was labelled by the retailer as being “reduced” from a recommended retail price (RRP) of £65. This eye-watering 166% mark-up has added insult to injury for the small group of volunteers who manage the charity’s operation.
Photographs posted to social media show the T-shirt being pitched as a designer bargain, a move that has left the charity both bemused and frustrated. Many supporters of the Rescue Hotel were quick to express concern online, questioning not only the accuracy of the inflated RRP, but also how the shirt had ended up on sale without permission.
“We’re not sure whether to be flattered or furious,” the charity wrote in a candid statement on its Facebook page. “Our team consists of just five unpaid volunteers, fitting this work around our full-time jobs. Every shirt we design, package, and send out is to help the vulnerable dogs of Cardiff. We sell it for £15—but in TK Maxx, it’s £39.99, with an RRP of £65. How did this happen?”
Among many questions raised, the Rescue Hotel sought clarity on whether TK Maxx may have sourced the shirt legitimately or otherwise. “Is TK Maxx copying our design? Did they buy shirts from us and stick on a huge mark-up? Or is this a second-hand shirt somehow resold as new?” the group asked, hoping for clear answers from the retailer.
Transparency on product sourcing is an ongoing conversation on the high street. Information on the TK Maxx website states that their stock is sourced from a variety of vendors, including cancelled department store orders, surplus manufactured stock, and even from vendors seeking to clear merchandise. The site claims these methods are used to offer customers savings on brand-name products, but such practices can sometimes result in confusion or controversy for smaller brands and charities.
The episode has struck a nerve with the Rescue Hotel’s volunteers. “We pour sweat and tears into this charity,” they explained, highlighting the taxing conditions under which they store and distribute merchandise—currently from a shipping container in sweltering summer heat. “Every single penny we make from selling our merchandise goes directly to the dogs in our care. Seeing our shirt in TK Maxx, without explanation, is simply disheartening.”
Neither the source of the shirts found at TK Maxx nor the justification for the increased price tag has yet been clarified by the retailer. The charity has voiced hopes for dialogue, appealing to TK Maxx to shed light on how the product came to be on their shelves and at such an inflated price.
At the time of writing, Wales Online had reached out to TK Maxx for comment, but no public statement had been released. The incident raises broader concerns for small charities over supply chain transparency and the risks of losing control over carefully curated fundraising products.
For now, The Rescue Hotel continues its work under challenging circumstances, motivated by the mission to help Cardiff’s homeless dogs. Yet this episode remains a sobering reminder of the complications small organisations can face in today’s complex retail environment, where even their best efforts to do good can unintentionally be undermined.