Women In Need Society

Name

Women In Need Society

Legal name

Women In Need Society (WINS) of Calgary

Website

https://winsyyc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Donation, Consignment & Resale Coordination (HSAFAFAG)

Keywords

• Charity thrift retail
• Community support programs
• Employment training services
• Social enterprise operations
• Secondhand goods sales

Headquarters

HQ city

Calgary

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices15 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Thrift Store Sales: WINS operates seven WINS Thrift Stores and the More Store selling donated clothing, furniture, household items, and accessories. Revenue from these retail operations is reinvested into community programs and services supporting women and families in Calgary.
2. Donated Goods Revenue: Revenue generated from selling donated goods at WINS Thrift Stores and the More Store directly funds community programs and services.
3. Donations and Fundraising: WINS receives monetary donations from individuals and organizations including monthly giving, legacy bequests, securities donations, car donations, and event fundraising. These donations support programs and services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Women In Need Society (WINS) operates a Calgary-based charitable social enterprise that combines thrift retail with community programs. Revenue from seven WINS Thrift Stores and the More Store (bulk thrifting) is reinvested into community support programs, employment training (Retail Ready, Warehouse Ready), and basic needs assistance for women and families in need.

Product overview

Women In Need Society (WINS) is a Calgary-based charitable organization operating a social enterprise model that combines seven WINS Thrift Stores, the More Store (bulk bin thrift shopping), and a Donation Centre. Revenue from these retail operations funds community support programs and services. The organization provides: Community Resource Hubs offering Basic Needs Support, Goal Support, Child and Youth Supports, Skill Building, and Social Supports; employment training through Retail Ready and Warehouse Ready programs; and House to Home furniture/household assistance for families in transition. This integrated approach enables WINS to support women and families from immediate crisis needs through employment preparation and long-term stability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Retail Ready: A 6-week training program designed to help individuals gain the necessary skills and knowledge to be successful in the retail industry, offering a holistic approach focusing on career preparation and life-management skills.
• Warehouse Ready
• More Store
• Community Resource Hubs
• House to Home

Products and services

• WINS Thrift Stores Seven thrift stores located throughout Calgary offering affordable clothing, furniture, household items, and accessories. Proceeds from sales directly fund WINS community programs and services.
• The More Store A bulk thrifting store operating on a bin system where customers purchase second-hand clothing and home accessories at competitive tiered pricing starting at $1 or less.
• Community Resource Hubs Five community hubs located in housing complexes throughout Calgary providing barrier-free access to essential programs and services including Basic Needs Support, Goal Support, Child and Youth Supports, Skill Building, and Social Supports.
• House to Home Program providing essential household items, furniture, and clothing to help people transform their homes into healthy environments. Supports women and families experiencing financial difficulty, those transitioning into housing, newcomers to Canada, and those in crisis.
• Retail Ready A 6-week employment training program helping individuals gain retail industry skills including merchandising, customer service, and Point of Sale (POS) system operation, with classroom instruction and on-the-job store experience.
• Warehouse Ready A 6-week training program helping individuals gain education and experience for warehouse employment, including WHMIS certification, forklift operation, and pallet jack training with hands-on experience at WINS Donation Centre.
• Donation Centre Central facility that accepts, sorts, and distributes donated goods. Houses the Warehouse Ready Program and the More Store bulk thrifting operation.
• Gateway Program A collaboration among organizations to better serve newcomers to Alberta, streamlining intake processes and referring clients to best-fit community services to help them settle.

Quantifiable outcome

• 87% of Retail Ready and Warehouse Ready graduates employed within 90 days
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and legacy.

• Gateway Partners (Centre for Newcomers, La Cite Des Rocheuses, Calgary Local Immigration Partnership, Immigrant Services Calgary, The Immigrant Education Society, United Way of Calgary and Area, University of Calgary Faculty of Social Work)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGateway is a collaboration among organizations to better serve and support newcomers to Alberta. WINS participates in the Gateway Partner Advisory Council (GPAC) and Gateway Executive Committee (GEC) alongside multiple immigrant-serving agencies, educational institutions, and community organizations. The partnership streamlines intake processes and refers clients to best-fit services to help newcomers achieve their economic, social, and civic potential.
• Gateway Partner Advisory Council (GPAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGPAC provides advice, input and feedback on strategies, options, and analytical framework in the development and execution of Gateway. Partners include Centre for Newcomers (CFN), La Cite Des Rocheuses, Calgary Local Immigration Partnership (CLIP), Immigrant Services Calgary (ISC), The Immigrant Education Society (TIES), United Way of Calgary and Area, and University of Calgary Faculty of Social Work.
• Canadian Women's FoundationminorOthersWINS acknowledges Canadian Women's Foundation as a special thanks partner on the More Store page. The Canadian Women's Foundation supports gender-based violence prevention initiatives including the Signal for Help resource.
• Bow Valley CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWINS partnered with Bow Valley College to open its first thrift store on a post-secondary campus at Bow Valley College's south campus. The store is managed and operated by business students as part of a work-integrated learning program, with proceeds supporting qualified students with free clothing, furniture, and housewares through WINS' house-to-home program.
• Inter-Faith Furniture Society (Legacy Partnership)legacyStrategic or Co-development PartnerFor years, WINS and Calgary's Inter-Faith Furniture Society worked together with one common mission to serve those in need. When Inter-Faith Furniture Society permanently ended operations in 2023, their Board members donated their store's inventory of furniture, household items, trucks, and equipment along with a monetary donation to support WINS in continuing its work on behalf of both charities.
• The Junk MovementminorOthersThe Junk Movement is a family-owned business in Calgary that offers professional collection services for a fee for WINS donations. They provide community-orientated junk removal services promoting sustainability and community engagement.
• BE&P ServicesminorOthersBE&P Services is a local family-owned and operated company that merges passion for recycling and sustainability with community impact, offering professional collection services for WINS donations.
• MoovezminorOthersMoovez is a Calgary-based business transforming the local moving and delivery industry with affordable, reliable, and convenient services, offering professional collection services for WINS donations.
• Charity Intelligence CanadaminorOthersWINS is recognized by Charity Intelligence Canada, an independent organization that evaluates Canadian charities for transparency, impact, and financial stewardship. WINS is highlighted as a charity with high marks in financial efficiency and demonstrated social impact.
• Giant TigerminorOthersGiant Tiger sponsors birthday gifts for the WINS Community Birthday Party program in June and July.
• ATCO EnergyminorOthersATCO Energy is the official energy supplier of WINS, providing electricity and natural gas services to the organization.
• Sponsor EnergyminorOthersSponsor Energy provides electricity and natural gas to socially conscious consumers in Alberta. For each new customer who selects WINS as their charity of choice, Sponsor Energy donates $50 per sign up to WINS.
• Donate A CarminorOthersDonate A Car facilitates vehicle donations to WINS, handling the entire donation process including free towing in many areas across Canada and providing tax-deductible receipts to donors.
• Skip the DepotminorOthersSkip the Depot allows donors to turn recyclables into financial support for WINS programs and services.
• Superior VacuumsminorOthersSuperior Vacuums cleans and repairs donated vacuums that are then given to families in need through the House to Home program.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Dress for Success Worldwide: Dress for Success operates a clothing-donation-based model providing professional attire and employment support to women in need, with a similar mission overlap to WINS' House to Home and employment services. Both target women transitioning from crisis to economic stability.

Direct peers

• YWCA Calgary: YWCA Calgary provides housing, employment, and support services for women and families, overlapping directly with WINS' primary beneficiary segment. Both are Calgary-based nonprofits serving women experiencing poverty, family violence, and housing instability.
• Value Village: Value Village is a for-profit thrift retail chain that competes directly with WINS for shoppers and donated goods in the Canadian market. While for-profit, it operates in the same donation-driven resale category and constrains WINS' pricing and volume potential.
• Habitat for Humanity ReStores (Canada): Habitat ReStores are nonprofit home goods and furniture resale stores whose revenue funds housing programs, structurally analogous to WINS' thrift-store-funds-mission model. Both rely on donated goods and convert retail revenue into community impact.
• Salvation Army Thrift Stores (Canada): Salvation Army operates a charity thrift retail network that funds community and social service programs, very similar to WINS' model. Both monetize donated goods through retail to support charitable programming, and both serve vulnerable populations across Canadian cities.
• Goodwill Industries of Alberta: Goodwill operates a nonprofit thrift retail and employment training model directly comparable to WINS, with revenue from thrift stores funding job training programs for people facing barriers to employment. Both organizations combine paid retail operations with workforce development services.
• Mustard Seed (Calgary): Mustard Seed is a Calgary-based nonprofit serving people experiencing poverty and homelessness, operating similar community resource programming and basic needs distribution. Both organizations serve overlapping vulnerable populations in Calgary through social service delivery.

Regional players

• Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter: Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter serves women and families fleeing family violence, the same underlying population WINS was founded to support. Both organizations receive referrals through the same partner agency ecosystem in Calgary and coordinate on client needs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/winsyyc
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFze5NK4fCZKhvVlFu1Y8_Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/womeninneedsociety
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/women-in-need-society-wins-
• Instagraminstagram.com/winsyyc
• TikToktiktok.com/@thriftshopwins

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Women In Need Society