Joe Mitty

Who was Joe Mitty?

Joseph Sidney Mitty MBE was a British salesman and the man who turned the first Oxfam gift shop into a national retail network of shops selling second hand clothing and other goods. This network put Oxfam on the high street map and has contributed substantially to Oxfam's income as well as presence in the public eye over the years. It was also an inspiration for many charities to follow Oxfam's lead.

Mitty, who worked for Oxfam for 33 years, earned the nickname of "salesman of the angels" and there are now, as of 2007, over 700 Oxfam shops throughout the UK.