Agent Lisney has been retained by Oxfam to double the charity's presence in edge-of-prime and secondary shopping streets in the Republic and Northern Ireland.

Oxfam already has a substantial presence in Dublin, Belfast and 27 provincial towns, and is seeking to double its presence in provincial centres over the next few years. It is looking to expand into a further 42 provincial towns and to increase its profile in Dublin and Belfast.

Lisney is circulating retail landlords throughout Ireland seeking well-placed shops - usually of between 1,000 and 2,000 sq ft of retail accommodation - with additional storage. The typical location is on a prime provincial retail street or on secondary city streets.

Oxfam has been diversifying and adding to its retail lines, which have grown from secondhand clothing and goods to include gifts and trade goods. Coffees, teas, chocolate, rice and ethnic arts and crafts are also on the list, and the charity will continue to sell bric-a-brac and second-hand clothing.

Lisney says that charity shops have traditionally displayed little activity in the property market. However, Oxfam is setting a trend by acquiring outlets to boost its portfolio.

Lisney's Helen Brennan said Oxfam is seeking increased high street visibility and has recently bolstered its profile with an innovative image-change. "As property consultants for Oxfam we have been briefed to identify a number of locations throughout Ireland and an increase in market activity is anticipated," she said.

The effects of this strategy are more likely to be seen in the Northern Ireland retail market, where competition is intense.

Seventeen of Oxfam's 35 outlets are north of the border, and the charity plans to open new outlets each year throughout Ireland. It requires standard accommodation and smaller sites for outlets such as bookshops, along with larger premises such as warehouses suitable for furniture retailing.