0:00:06 > 0:00:08How do you make money for nothing?
0:00:11 > 0:00:16The answer could be hiding in the 20 million tonnes of household waste
0:00:16 > 0:00:17we throw out every year.
0:00:17 > 0:00:20Sorry to bother you. Before you throw that away,
0:00:20 > 0:00:22- is there any chance I can have a quick chat to you about it?- Sure.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25That's why entrepreneur, Sarah Moore,
0:00:25 > 0:00:28wants to get her hands on things before they hit the skip.
0:00:30 > 0:00:34I am a passionate buyer, maker and user of old stuff,
0:00:34 > 0:00:38and I've turned that passion into a moneymaking business.
0:00:38 > 0:00:41I turn old stuff into new stuff and sell it for a profit.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43Sarah's ready to sift through
0:00:43 > 0:00:46as many boots and bin bags as she needs to...
0:00:46 > 0:00:50Look at that absolute box of joy. These are just fantastic.
0:00:50 > 0:00:53..in her search for tip treasure.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56We've got to be able to make something out of that, haven't we?
0:00:58 > 0:01:00And with some of the country's elite designers and makers...
0:01:00 > 0:01:03- I've got a little something for you. - Yeah, I thought you might.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05Ohhh! This is a hard one.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09..she can transform her finds into desirable...
0:01:09 > 0:01:10Oh, my word!
0:01:10 > 0:01:12..beautiful...
0:01:12 > 0:01:13Oosh!
0:01:13 > 0:01:15..valuable...
0:01:15 > 0:01:16Cha-ching!
0:01:16 > 0:01:18..and hopefully saleable items.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22Well, I love this, so I would really like to have it.
0:01:23 > 0:01:26If Sarah is successful, then she can hand the profits back
0:01:26 > 0:01:28to the very people who had no idea
0:01:28 > 0:01:31there was cash to be made from their trash.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34That is incredible, isn't it?
0:01:48 > 0:01:52Today, we're the Witley Recycling Centre near Guildford...
0:01:54 > 0:01:58..where 800 tonnes of waste is dumped by Surrey locals every month.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01I have no idea what I'm going to find here today.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04It might be a chair in despair or a toy with no joy,
0:02:04 > 0:02:08but whatever it is, I'm hoping to find something amazing
0:02:08 > 0:02:10and make some money for nothing.
0:02:12 > 0:02:16Award-winning interior designer Sarah is here looking for
0:02:16 > 0:02:19three items which can be saved rather than slung,
0:02:19 > 0:02:23and turned into something new and desirable once again.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25Just never know what's going to come in.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29Could be a Rembrandt any minute now. A Lowry.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33It's more likely to be a Renault or a Land Rover, I think, Sarah.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36Still, all we need are items which, with a little TLC
0:02:36 > 0:02:40lavished upon them, could reflect a profit for their owners.
0:02:40 > 0:02:43And Sarah's spotted something interesting
0:02:43 > 0:02:46weighing down the back of Shane's car.
0:02:46 > 0:02:48- Hi, I'm really sorry to bother you. - Hello.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50I'm just looking at people's rubbish today
0:02:50 > 0:02:53and what they're throwing away and just having a chat about it.
0:02:53 > 0:02:54- OK.- Manhole...
0:02:54 > 0:02:57We've had a new patio laid
0:02:57 > 0:02:59and the builders left some of the old patio covers.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02- Wow.- So it was left to me to throw them away.- Hmm.
0:03:02 > 0:03:06Well, we're looking at things we can recycle and make into other things,
0:03:06 > 0:03:08and I know that they are not probably the daintiest thing
0:03:08 > 0:03:11- I'm going to see all day. - Yeah, they weigh a tonne.
0:03:11 > 0:03:12And they're quite old.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16Is there any chance I could take them, rather than you putting them in the tip?
0:03:16 > 0:03:18- I'd love you to. - How many have you got - two?
0:03:18 > 0:03:21- Got three.- Three? I'm going to get somebody to help me.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24The provenance of these old manhole covers is important.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Having come from Shane's patio,
0:03:26 > 0:03:29Sarah is planning to turn them into...well, something.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31You'd never think it, would you, but looking at them,
0:03:31 > 0:03:34the moment you see them and that lovely crisscross pattern,
0:03:34 > 0:03:36geometric stuff's really in at the moment.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39That's going to make a fantastic garden table. Or something.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42There's some scrap weight there, isn't there?
0:03:42 > 0:03:44Whatever she does make, it'll last a long time.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47There's a lot of steel there. They weigh a ton, so...
0:03:47 > 0:03:49I look forward to seeing it.
0:03:49 > 0:03:54If Sarah hadn't seen the potential in these manhole covers,
0:03:54 > 0:03:56it could've been money down the drain.
0:03:56 > 0:03:59There's money to be made out of these drain covers
0:03:59 > 0:04:01and I'm going to go for it in a big way.
0:04:02 > 0:04:06I didn't think Sarah would be quite so into heavy metal,
0:04:06 > 0:04:09but, fortunately, she knows a man who is.
0:04:11 > 0:04:12Headphones.
0:04:12 > 0:04:14Rob Shaer has years of experience
0:04:14 > 0:04:19bending, shaping, grinding
0:04:19 > 0:04:21and welding metal.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25Years, years of experience...
0:04:25 > 0:04:28and know-how - tips of the trade, so to speak.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32Graduating from art school, his work is now regularly in demand
0:04:32 > 0:04:35by architects and artists, and Rob has turned his hand
0:04:35 > 0:04:39to making everything from church bells to climbing frames.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42He has no idea what Sarah's going to bring in today,
0:04:42 > 0:04:44but he definitely knows what he'd like.
0:04:44 > 0:04:48An old-fashioned, copper, hot-water boiler, like a really big one.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51Five foot by 500.
0:04:51 > 0:04:55You know, nice and substantial, like a torpedo. A copper torpedo.
0:04:55 > 0:04:56That's what I want.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00Hopefully, Rob will be able to redirect that passion for plumbing
0:05:00 > 0:05:03towards Sarah's dingy drainage.
0:05:08 > 0:05:10I was only looking!
0:05:10 > 0:05:11Just as well, Sarah.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14Of course, once items reach the skip,
0:05:14 > 0:05:15they can no longer be retrieved.
0:05:15 > 0:05:21All I'm seeing is bush, bush, grass, tree...
0:05:21 > 0:05:24Not much stuff I can recycle.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28Sometimes, it's difficult to see the wood for the trees.
0:05:30 > 0:05:35Janet and her partner, Chris, are helping Janet's mum move house
0:05:35 > 0:05:36and have surplus items
0:05:36 > 0:05:39which are not making the transition from old to new.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43It's really grotty stuff today,
0:05:43 > 0:05:45because it has just come from the loft.
0:05:45 > 0:05:46Oh, really? Well, you never know!
0:05:46 > 0:05:49Did you mention "grotty old stuff"?
0:05:49 > 0:05:52Well, you weren't far wrong in the case of that old case.
0:05:52 > 0:05:54It hasn't got the heirlooms in it, has it?
0:05:54 > 0:05:57Without heirlooms inside, I think it's fair to say
0:05:57 > 0:06:00that case has seen the last of its travels.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02But, hidden away on the back seat of the pick-up
0:06:02 > 0:06:05is something with much more potential mileage.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09- Oh, they're really sweet. - Told you.- Two of those?
0:06:09 > 0:06:12- Yeah, they're quite nice. - They're really... They're so retro.
0:06:12 > 0:06:13- They're quite sweet, actually. - They are.
0:06:13 > 0:06:16It's just finding things that have got that old-fashioned look.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20Anything mid-century is really collectable, and people are loving having it in their houses.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22OK, that's good. Yeah, no problem.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25If you don't mind, I would love to add them to our collection from you.
0:06:25 > 0:06:26- OK. Yeah.- I'm going to stand here
0:06:26 > 0:06:29and see what else you've got, because you never know.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33- Have this sponge!- Hmm, tempting, but maybe not today, thanks.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35How cool are they?
0:06:35 > 0:06:39- If it's all right, I'm going to take them down here, out of your way. - Yeah, sure.- Thank you.
0:06:39 > 0:06:42Looks like it's easy to get carried away round about here.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45You'd better stay there and look at what else is coming up.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48I'm going to look after these, but there could be more exciting things.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51It's not always the case that people don't see the value.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53Sometimes, it's just a question of time.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56You just think, "Right, it's going, it's going to go, it's going to go."
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Someone else might have the time and effort to think,
0:06:59 > 0:07:01"Oh, I know what I can do that, I'll save it." You know?
0:07:01 > 0:07:04But, at some point, you've just got to think to yourself,
0:07:04 > 0:07:06"No, it's got to go, out." That's it.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12So, how cool are these two? I absolutely love their styling.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15They are bang on 1960, don't you think?
0:07:15 > 0:07:18I think we could stitch something fabby over here
0:07:18 > 0:07:20and really sort out these seats.
0:07:20 > 0:07:23And I think I'm going to be sitting on a fortune.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27So, item two today has the potential to be double money,
0:07:27 > 0:07:31in the shape of these two gorgeous 1950s chairs.
0:07:31 > 0:07:36And Sarah has just the man in mind to help bring them bang up-to-date.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44Jay Blades is a builder turned philosophy graduate
0:07:44 > 0:07:46turned furniture restorer.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50Jay has his finger on the pulse of modern design interiors,
0:07:50 > 0:07:53reworking the very best of British craftsmanship
0:07:53 > 0:07:55and bringing it into the 21st century.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01I've always had a passion for the kind of heritage
0:08:01 > 0:08:04that the British designers have produced over the years.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07Traditionalists would love to keep it as it is.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09But to be reintroduced into the market,
0:08:09 > 0:08:12I like to just add a bit of colour and add something a bit quirky.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14I really enjoy adding my bit
0:08:14 > 0:08:17and not necessarily worrying about other people's reactions.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20It's more about, do I like it? If I like it, then it's good.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23Never knowing what Sarah will turn up with,
0:08:23 > 0:08:26Jay often flies by the seat of his pants
0:08:26 > 0:08:28when dealing with her dump finds.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32The good news is, today, he has two to choose from.
0:08:32 > 0:08:33Seats, that is.
0:08:36 > 0:08:41With only one item to find, Sarah is searching Witley once more.
0:08:42 > 0:08:46SHE MOUTHS
0:08:46 > 0:08:48Rubbish it may be,
0:08:48 > 0:08:52but luckily Sarah has spotted Chris with something much more suitable.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54Er, I've got to stop you.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56So, whose is that and why are you throwing it away and...?
0:08:56 > 0:09:00I don't know, I think it's just been in the house for a long time.
0:09:00 > 0:09:02No reason, really, why it's been there.
0:09:02 > 0:09:05- And you're just not using it...? - Just not using it, yeah.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07And I think it's for, like,
0:09:07 > 0:09:08to put your suit on or something.
0:09:08 > 0:09:09Yeah, it's really cool.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11Maybe have your cuff links here or something.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13I love it cos nobody has pieces of furniture
0:09:13 > 0:09:15that just do one thing any more, do they?
0:09:15 > 0:09:18- No, definitely not. - I really like the styling on it.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21It's really cool. We're looking for things we might be able
0:09:21 > 0:09:23- to sell to people or repurpose or redo.- Definitely, yeah.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26Is that something you might be able to share with us?
0:09:26 > 0:09:28- You can have it, if that's what you want.- Yeah?
0:09:28 > 0:09:30I'm not sure if I'll be able to use it,
0:09:30 > 0:09:33but just to have the option to do it. Do you know what it is?
0:09:33 > 0:09:35It's the bits on the bottom, the fact it's got
0:09:35 > 0:09:38such lovely casters and stuff, I just think maybe there's...
0:09:38 > 0:09:41- there's hope for it yet. - Maybe, yeah. Could be revived.- Yeah.
0:09:41 > 0:09:45- Well, that's fab. Thanks ever so much for sharing it.- You're very welcome.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48Have to find something to do with it now. Look at that, that's brilliant.
0:09:48 > 0:09:50- Good luck.- Thank you ever so much.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53I am sure you've got something up your sleeve, Sarah.
0:09:53 > 0:09:56Just been sitting in my house, not doing anything.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58I thought, you know, might give it to someone else
0:09:58 > 0:10:00or put it to recycling,
0:10:00 > 0:10:03where it could actually be used for something decent, you know?
0:10:05 > 0:10:07How cool is that?
0:10:07 > 0:10:09Nobody has a bespoke piece of furniture
0:10:09 > 0:10:11just for holding their suit these days, do they?
0:10:11 > 0:10:14And I can't really see what else I'll be able to do with it,
0:10:14 > 0:10:17but I just don't think it needs to go in the tip at the moment.
0:10:17 > 0:10:18Don't worry, Sarah.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20If you HANG around long enough,
0:10:20 > 0:10:23I'm sure something SUITABLE will spring to mind.
0:10:25 > 0:10:27So, three items found.
0:10:27 > 0:10:31Rob will be fortunate enough to tackle the manhole covers,
0:10:31 > 0:10:34Jay, the two 1950s-flavoured chairs,
0:10:34 > 0:10:37and Sarah will take care of the suit stand.
0:10:37 > 0:10:41It's been a fantastic day here today and I've met great people,
0:10:41 > 0:10:44but I've been making all sorts of promises
0:10:44 > 0:10:47about what I'm going to do with their rubbish.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51I've got my work cut out, but I can't wait to get started
0:10:51 > 0:10:53to turn their trash into cash.
0:10:59 > 0:11:04Walthamstow was home to the British film studio in the early 20th century,
0:11:04 > 0:11:08where Broad West Film Company made many films in the silent era.
0:11:09 > 0:11:14These days, there's nothing silent about the Black Horse workshop,
0:11:14 > 0:11:18where Rob Shaer specialises in turning brutal into beautiful.
0:11:18 > 0:11:21I never have any idea what Sarah's going to bring in.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24It's always a bit of challenge, always a bit of a head scratch.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26What would I like Sarah to bring in?
0:11:26 > 0:11:28Something a little bit ugly, a bit brutal.
0:11:28 > 0:11:29Look at those little beauties.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33Something I could beautify, pimp up.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35I think I'm going to get Rob out here.
0:11:35 > 0:11:37These things are really heavy-duty.
0:11:37 > 0:11:39Come with me. Come and see what I've got.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41No need to look so worried, Rob.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43It'll be something perfectly normal.
0:11:43 > 0:11:46So these... just a little bit unusual.
0:11:46 > 0:11:47Ready?
0:11:47 > 0:11:49Da-da!
0:11:50 > 0:11:53Come in, what do you reckon? Yeah, completely random.
0:11:53 > 0:11:56As usual, completely off the shelf. Completely off your trolley.
0:11:56 > 0:11:59They're heavy-duty, there's loads of metal there.
0:11:59 > 0:12:01- There are three of them and three covers.- OK.
0:12:01 > 0:12:05I was thinking maybe we can make some kind of amazing desk out of them,
0:12:05 > 0:12:07- stitch them all together, or... - Could do, could do.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09- A shelving unit?- Ooh!- Or...
0:12:09 > 0:12:11They're very macho. They're very macho.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14Maybe we could make a nice little delicate...
0:12:14 > 0:12:17- Maybe a little vanity unit?- I like the idea of turning it on its head.
0:12:17 > 0:12:21That would be so cool, to put this into a girl's space.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25Cos nothing says feminine like an enormous slab of old rusty iron.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28Go on, impress me - how are you going to do that?
0:12:28 > 0:12:32- Powder coating, maybe a very, very light pastelly colour.- Oh, my word!
0:12:32 > 0:12:33Keep the shape.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36And something quite fine on the bottom, then, to support it?
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Let's get the weight hovering above the ground. You know, hairpin legs.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42Are we just talking about a table? Have we got a mirror at the back?
0:12:42 > 0:12:44What kind of thing are we looking at?
0:12:47 > 0:12:49So, a mirror frame. I'm looking at lighting in here.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52An LED, like, strip, going round the inside.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55That really takes it up a level and just puts it in a different bracket.
0:12:55 > 0:12:58- Different price bracket? - Different price bracket.
0:12:58 > 0:13:00You know me, I've always got an eye on the cash!
0:13:00 > 0:13:03It's all very well having an eye on the cash at this point,
0:13:03 > 0:13:08but this project won't be a success until we get our hands on some.
0:13:08 > 0:13:10Talk to me about the money.
0:13:10 > 0:13:13In terms of powder coating costs, what are we, 100 quid, 150?
0:13:13 > 0:13:16100, 120 quid, you know, to get them powder coated.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18- OK, and what about legs? - I think about 50 quid.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22- And then the mirrors? - 50, 75, for three mirrors. Yeah.
0:13:22 > 0:13:26Roughly, materials-wise, we're in the 400 quid ballpark, then?
0:13:26 > 0:13:28I would say about that, yeah.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31On top of that £400 for materials,
0:13:31 > 0:13:35Rob's expertise and time will cost a further £600 -
0:13:35 > 0:13:38transforming there three manky manhole covers
0:13:38 > 0:13:42into three makeover vanity tables.
0:13:42 > 0:13:46Well, the van is a lot lighter, but I've just committed
0:13:46 > 0:13:50to spending £1,000 on three very old manhole covers.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53I don't know if I'll make any money on this one
0:13:53 > 0:13:55but it's going to be interesting.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58Really, what I want to do is transfer a very masculine
0:13:58 > 0:14:01piece of material, very masculine object, a heavy bit of steel,
0:14:01 > 0:14:07cast, and I want to try and make it kind of light and feminine.
0:14:07 > 0:14:10That's the challenge, really.
0:14:11 > 0:14:16So, Sarah's committed to £1,000 of costs to transform three
0:14:16 > 0:14:21masculine manhole covers into three feminine freestanding vanity units.
0:14:21 > 0:14:24What could possibly go wrong?
0:14:27 > 0:14:30Wolverhampton is a city in the heart of the Black Country,
0:14:30 > 0:14:34whose city motto, "Out of darkness cometh light",
0:14:34 > 0:14:36seems appropriate for Sarah's quest
0:14:36 > 0:14:39to make money from others' cast-offs.
0:14:39 > 0:14:43She's here today to seek the help of furniture rejuvenator, Jay Blades.
0:14:43 > 0:14:46I tend to like to work with stuff that is real wood.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48Pre-1970s is my kind of flavour.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52It's going to be rather interesting cos I don't know what Sarah's actually going to give me.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55Normally, when she brings stuff down, it's weird and wonderful.
0:14:55 > 0:14:58Jay is a retro-modern craftsman
0:14:58 > 0:15:01who specialises in reviving ageing furniture.
0:15:01 > 0:15:04- Hello, hello.- Hello, how are we doing?- Yeah, really well.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06What have you got, what have you got today?
0:15:06 > 0:15:10I think I've got you a couple of crackers here but I'm not quite sure.
0:15:10 > 0:15:15OK, OK. They look interesting. They do look really, really interesting.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19Are they...I didn't know if they were too new, too...
0:15:19 > 0:15:22utility to be collectable
0:15:22 > 0:15:25or interesting because I haven't found out anything about them.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28Utility, yes. Not too new. These are...these are beautiful.
0:15:28 > 0:15:30In my eyes, these are modern-day antiques,
0:15:30 > 0:15:33so these are stuff that, things that you should not do too much to.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36You shouldn't, like, plaster it with gloss
0:15:36 > 0:15:40or you shouldn't rub it down so you get rid of the wood.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Personally I think you should just lift it
0:15:42 > 0:15:44a little bit more than what it is now.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47Do you have any ideas of what sort of fabric
0:15:47 > 0:15:49we might be able to put onto the seat covers?
0:15:49 > 0:15:53The fabric that I think is going into someone's house...
0:15:53 > 0:15:57I believe it has to be a velvet. Luckily I've got something here.
0:15:57 > 0:15:59Ah, perfect.
0:15:59 > 0:16:01Wow. I would never have picked a colour like that.
0:16:01 > 0:16:04So, I would probably leave the top.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07Clean that up so it brings it back to life,
0:16:07 > 0:16:09but add a really luxurious velvet
0:16:09 > 0:16:13that once you sit on there it just feels to die for.
0:16:13 > 0:16:16The other thing I would add, just a little bit of a twist, would be
0:16:16 > 0:16:20to put wallpaper underneath the seat.
0:16:20 > 0:16:23That's quirky to have something like that underneath where,
0:16:23 > 0:16:25you know, not many people see it, it's a little surprise, isn't it?
0:16:25 > 0:16:28Yeah, a little surprise and a little talking point as well.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31I think they'll look fabulous, but you've got to tell me...
0:16:31 > 0:16:33- What about the money? - I knew that was going to come.
0:16:33 > 0:16:39Well, basically, the money, I could do the cleaning and wallpaper
0:16:39 > 0:16:43and also putting the fabric on top for £50 for the two of them.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46- How does that sound to you? - That sounds like good deal.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48Hopefully not too much work for you
0:16:48 > 0:16:50and think we could make some profit on that.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52So, that, I think that's just where I want to be,
0:16:52 > 0:16:55- that's excellent, thank you. - So, that's a deal?- That's a deal.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58- All right. I'd best get to work then.- Brilliant.- OK.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02I'm really pleased with how that went, those chairs are going
0:17:02 > 0:17:04to get the update they deserve
0:17:04 > 0:17:06and I might make a little bit of money out of it.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10This is going to look so good that I would even have these in my house.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13Anything I tend to work on, I love so much
0:17:13 > 0:17:17that I would have it myself, but these should sell as well...
0:17:17 > 0:17:19with what I'm about to do to them as well.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26Jay's plan to simply update rather than renovate
0:17:26 > 0:17:29could provide Sarah with a bumper profit.
0:17:29 > 0:17:32So, £50 in total for the transformation
0:17:32 > 0:17:36of these two glamour chairs - seems like a proper bargain to me.
0:17:42 > 0:17:44Sarah is in London with the suit stand
0:17:44 > 0:17:48and is pursuing a more direct approach to selling this item.
0:17:49 > 0:17:53So, I've come to Portobello Market to see if my trusty suit stand
0:17:53 > 0:17:55can find a home. It's just the right kind of place.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57There are heaps of antique shops around here.
0:17:57 > 0:18:00It would be really cool to get above 50 quid for this
0:18:00 > 0:18:03but if somebody offers me a pink note, I'm going to take it.
0:18:03 > 0:18:07The suit stand is an odd item in that it's a perfectly good
0:18:07 > 0:18:11and useful piece of furniture, it's just become unloved.
0:18:11 > 0:18:15Sarah recognised that to make a profit, the only work required
0:18:15 > 0:18:21is some fancy footwork in order to find the suit stand a new home.
0:18:21 > 0:18:22That's a no.
0:18:25 > 0:18:27- Another no.- Easier said than done.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29- Hiya.- Hello.
0:18:29 > 0:18:31- It's very cool what's going on in here.- Yep.
0:18:31 > 0:18:32Really nice.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36Are these all vintage clothes that you're selling or a mixture?
0:18:36 > 0:18:38- No, it's all new.- Is it? - Yeah.- It look fantastic.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42It looks really classic. Um, I've got a little proposition for you.
0:18:42 > 0:18:46- Go on.- I am looking to find a buyer for this today.- Right.
0:18:46 > 0:18:49It's something that somebody was going to throw away
0:18:49 > 0:18:51and I'm trying to find a new home for it and hopefully raise
0:18:51 > 0:18:54a bit of money for the person who was chucking it away.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56So, this one I think was the classic kind of butler's thing
0:18:56 > 0:18:59- that people had in their houses when they couldn't afford a butler.- OK.
0:18:59 > 0:19:03So, just a suit stand. It's got somewhere to put shoes, somewhere for trousers.
0:19:03 > 0:19:06- I was thinking that if I could get 60 quid for it...- Right.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08..I think it would be cool to go in a place like this.
0:19:08 > 0:19:11Do you fancy, um, do you fancy buying it, then?
0:19:11 > 0:19:14I think we could maybe negotiate, but, you know...
0:19:14 > 0:19:18OK, I'm happy to negotiate because this is something that somebody thought didn't have any value
0:19:18 > 0:19:21but if you think it's got, shall we say, 50 quid?
0:19:22 > 0:19:27Despite Sarah's best efforts, £50 proved to be a bit too rich
0:19:27 > 0:19:30and a suitable compromise couldn't be found.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32If you change your mind...
0:19:32 > 0:19:35- OK.- I'll leave you some details, you can maybe give me a shout.- Lovely.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37- OK, thanks ever so much, thanks for your time.- Goodbye.- Bye-bye.
0:19:37 > 0:19:39So, a bit more shoe leather required
0:19:39 > 0:19:44if Sarah's going to gain a dividend from that old suit stand then.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47These are the manhole covers.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50I want to see how easy it is to drill this, could be cast-iron,
0:19:50 > 0:19:55so, depending when it was cast, it could be a real nightmare to drill.
0:19:55 > 0:20:00So, the legs are going to sit something like that, I think.
0:20:00 > 0:20:01Yeah, what am I going to do?
0:20:01 > 0:20:04It's a bit of an ugly duckling, but, uh...
0:20:04 > 0:20:08we'll make it into a beautiful swan. I think that's why I quite like it.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14Starting to make the legs, Rob uses brute strength to bend
0:20:14 > 0:20:19each iron bar to the correct angle, making the legs feminine and dainty.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22Suitable for any girl's bedroom, I think we said!
0:20:22 > 0:20:25I reckon it's time...
0:20:25 > 0:20:29to see what we've got. I must remember which way round it goes.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35I think it's fair to say there's a bit of imagination required
0:20:35 > 0:20:38before you can see these slabs of old cast-iron
0:20:38 > 0:20:42taking pride of place in any girl's bedroom.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45But what we are seeing is very likely to be a world's first.
0:20:45 > 0:20:49No-one else would think to turn these into a vanity table.
0:20:49 > 0:20:52Originally I was going to have it coming out the back here,
0:20:52 > 0:20:53so like a couple of arms,
0:20:53 > 0:20:57but I think it just makes the whole thing a little bit too wobbly.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02As it is, it's wobbly anyway so we'll have to sort that out.
0:21:05 > 0:21:06See, that's quite nice. That's...
0:21:06 > 0:21:09If I can weld it on there, that would be brilliant.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12It's not certain at this point that the mirror frame can be
0:21:12 > 0:21:16welded to the base, due to the nature of the cast-iron.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19The only way to find out is to do a test weld.
0:21:19 > 0:21:22If this cracks now, then I'll know I can't actually do any welding.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26I'll have to, like, make... OK. So...I mean...
0:21:28 > 0:21:30I think what Rob's trying to say is that
0:21:30 > 0:21:32if the welding is unsuccessful,
0:21:32 > 0:21:35that means an alternative way of fastening together the tables
0:21:35 > 0:21:40would be required, and that has time and budget implications.
0:21:41 > 0:21:46I'm just going to go for it. And then...if it breaks, it breaks.
0:21:46 > 0:21:47I think!
0:21:48 > 0:21:51Not the...not the best strategy
0:21:51 > 0:21:56but...against the clock a little bit here, so...
0:21:59 > 0:22:01Ooh, horrible.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05The worst-case scenario would be that the extreme heat
0:22:05 > 0:22:10from the arc welder that Rob's using will cause the frame to crack.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13Doesn't weld. Doesn't like welding.
0:22:13 > 0:22:16Normally you could weld this to itself, you know,
0:22:16 > 0:22:22or a similar-type metal. It's just snapped from the line it was welded.
0:22:22 > 0:22:26That's not such good news. Looks like a plan B is required.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29Just let that cool down and then I'll, uh...think about
0:22:29 > 0:22:30what I'm going to do.
0:22:32 > 0:22:35Since Sarah's dropped these off,
0:22:35 > 0:22:39the thoughts that I had was to just keep it nice and simple
0:22:39 > 0:22:45and just put a velvet, a lovely deep purple velvet, on the seat.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49But, sleeping on it, I want to introduce some colour
0:22:49 > 0:22:51and this is the frame I would love to paint.
0:22:51 > 0:22:56I would love to give that a nice green against the purple.
0:22:57 > 0:23:02So, if I can get that there, because that works well with that,
0:23:02 > 0:23:06I have to have...add just a little bit of "ooh" to it.
0:23:06 > 0:23:09"Ooh!" That will be a technical term then?
0:23:09 > 0:23:11I would say, for me, this is not a big task, but normally
0:23:11 > 0:23:15when you think it's not a big task, then it shows itself to be big task.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18So, personally speaking, this is a job
0:23:18 > 0:23:20I'm just going to get stuck into
0:23:20 > 0:23:23and if there's problems, I'll overcome those problems in due time.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25You never know with old furniture.
0:23:25 > 0:23:28I don't know where it's been, what kind of life it's had,
0:23:28 > 0:23:31what someone's done to it. It might have had an easy life.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33Imagine that, one previous owner.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35That would be cool.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38If you don't have a jar
0:23:38 > 0:23:41to put all the screws and bits and bobs in there,
0:23:41 > 0:23:46the best bet is to get masking tape, stick them all down.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53Right on the piece of tape that's supposed to be a one.
0:23:53 > 0:23:58And then, on the bottom of the chair you put a one as well...
0:23:58 > 0:23:59so you know which one...
0:23:59 > 0:24:02especially if you're working with two chairs that are identical.
0:24:02 > 0:24:07Matching the old fixings back to the chairs from which they came
0:24:07 > 0:24:10makes putting them back together again so much easier.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14I want this to go a kind of minty green,
0:24:14 > 0:24:17but I've got a green, a darker green primer...
0:24:19 > 0:24:22..and then get ready to rock and roll.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30It's just going to give the purple a lift,
0:24:30 > 0:24:31it's going to give the chair a lift,
0:24:31 > 0:24:35it's just going to make everything look fresh and new,
0:24:35 > 0:24:37even though it's not new.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40A 60-year-old chair, um, giving it a face-lift.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45Or, in modern terms, a little bit of botox.
0:24:45 > 0:24:46That's we're doing.
0:24:46 > 0:24:48Botox may seem an odd analogy,
0:24:48 > 0:24:52but, of course, we are hoping to reverse the signs of ageing
0:24:52 > 0:24:54and bring these chairs bang up to date.
0:24:57 > 0:24:59Previously, in Portobello Market,
0:24:59 > 0:25:02the suit stand remained stranded with Sarah,
0:25:02 > 0:25:07but never one to give up, a change of location may be what's required.
0:25:07 > 0:25:11So, me and my special friend have come all the way from Notting Hill
0:25:11 > 0:25:14to Brick Lane to see if we can make a sale here.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18Brick Lane can be found in East London,
0:25:18 > 0:25:22in the borough of Tower Hamlets and is famous for its curry houses.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26Let's hope that suit stand will be able
0:25:26 > 0:25:30to CURRY some favour, eventually.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32I've been to lots of shops round here
0:25:32 > 0:25:34and I have met a man called Michael in this one,
0:25:34 > 0:25:38who is interested in my Italian bespoke designer suit stand.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40He's not very keen on the camera,
0:25:40 > 0:25:43so I'm just going to pop in to see if I can persuade him to come out.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51Guess what, Michael, it's your lucky day - we're back.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55Sarah's success is measured in sales
0:25:55 > 0:26:00and she always seeks out the best opportunities to maximise profits,
0:26:00 > 0:26:04hosting regularly her own furniture and clothing sales from home...
0:26:04 > 0:26:05Just sold the sofa.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09..advertising and selling online...
0:26:11 > 0:26:13Get that online.
0:26:13 > 0:26:17..or meeting commercial buyers in person to sell direct.
0:26:17 > 0:26:19Seeing this is really refreshing
0:26:19 > 0:26:21and it's good and people are going to want more of it.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24It's going to grow, this thing, I think, that you're doing.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28With opportunities galore in the things we throw out,
0:26:28 > 0:26:31Sarah's always looking to make money for nothing.
0:26:35 > 0:26:37The suit stand salvaged from Chris...
0:26:37 > 0:26:39- You're just not using it? - No, just not using it, yeah.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41I think it's for someone...
0:26:41 > 0:26:43I think it's, like, to put your suit on or something.
0:26:43 > 0:26:44Yeah, it's really cool.
0:26:44 > 0:26:49..has covered some miles searching for an elusive new home.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51It'd be really cool to get above 50 quid for this,
0:26:51 > 0:26:54but if somebody offers me a pink note, I'm going to take it.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59Sarah made a sale and the only question remaining is...
0:26:59 > 0:27:01did she get a pink note?
0:27:04 > 0:27:08Sarah is back in Witley to tell Chris what became of his suit stand.
0:27:12 > 0:27:15- Hi, Chris, nice to see you again. - Nice to see you again.- Thank you.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19- I've got a few things to show you about your suit stand.- Oh, yeah?
0:27:19 > 0:27:22- Sounds good, come in. - Lovely, thank you.
0:27:23 > 0:27:26So we decided it was probably the kind of thing that would fit well
0:27:26 > 0:27:28- into a shop as a shop display piece. - Oh, really?
0:27:28 > 0:27:30A really nice guy in a vintage shop
0:27:30 > 0:27:33and he has all sorts of things in his shop.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35He specialises in vintage clothing and accessories
0:27:35 > 0:27:37and that kind of stuff.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39He immediately said, "Oh, I really like that,"
0:27:39 > 0:27:40so I did a bit of bartering
0:27:40 > 0:27:44and I tried really hard to get some real sales stuff behind it,
0:27:44 > 0:27:46but, actually, in the end, I got £25 for it.
0:27:46 > 0:27:48Right, that's better than nothing.
0:27:48 > 0:27:52- It is and that £25 I've got here and that's for you.- Oh, wow.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55- It was really good fun. - Thank you very much.- My pleasure.
0:27:55 > 0:27:58It's not 1 million, but I don't know what you'd do with 25 quid.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00Put it into the daily shop or something like that.
0:28:00 > 0:28:02I'll find somewhere for it.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05- Anyway, it was lovely to have met you again.- You too, thank you very much.
0:28:05 > 0:28:07I'll be at the tip, no doubt, sometime soon.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09- See you again!- See you again!
0:28:09 > 0:28:11- Thanks ever so much. Bye, Chris.- See you, bye.
0:28:13 > 0:28:17Sarah sold the suit stand for 25 quid, which is all profit.
0:28:20 > 0:28:23I didn't think that the coat hanger would have any sort of value to it.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25It looked old and abused,
0:28:25 > 0:28:29so I'm shocked there was any money made out of it, to be honest.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34Rob has managed to manhandle the manhole covers
0:28:34 > 0:28:38into what can at best be called butch-beautiful vanity tables,
0:28:38 > 0:28:41but it's not been a project without problems.
0:28:41 > 0:28:45Everything that's been put together, apart from the actual frame,
0:28:45 > 0:28:47has been bolted or just placed,
0:28:47 > 0:28:50so we've drilled the backing for the mirror,
0:28:50 > 0:28:53the support here has been bolted on.
0:28:53 > 0:28:57Um...nothing has been welded, except for the base.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00The inability of the cast iron to take a weld
0:29:00 > 0:29:03has caused no end of problems.
0:29:03 > 0:29:07This has meant that the project has taken much longer than anticipated.
0:29:07 > 0:29:10We were going to utilise the recess here...
0:29:12 > 0:29:16..on the drain cover for lighting. Now, I had to work within the budget
0:29:16 > 0:29:20and to be honest, it went way over budget with the lighting,
0:29:20 > 0:29:23so the next stage, if there is any next stage,
0:29:23 > 0:29:26is to talk to Sarah and see what she thinks about it.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30This restriction on both time and costs has also meant
0:29:30 > 0:29:32that some of the final finish
0:29:32 > 0:29:35is a little more temporary than Rob would like.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40It's the manhole makeover moment and I'm here to see
0:29:40 > 0:29:44if Rob has managed to turn those three dirty bits of drainage
0:29:44 > 0:29:46into three fabulous vanity units.
0:29:46 > 0:29:50When Sarah managed to save these manhole covers,
0:29:50 > 0:29:53they were destined to become molten metal.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57Now, they are unrecognisable as dirty drainage,
0:29:57 > 0:29:59and are just a tiny step away
0:29:59 > 0:30:02from being magnificent mirrored vanity units.
0:30:05 > 0:30:09- Hi!- Sarah, how are you doing?- Really well, how are you?- Not too bad.
0:30:09 > 0:30:11- Come in.- It's quiet here - it's never quiet here.
0:30:17 > 0:30:19Oh, relief!
0:30:21 > 0:30:22Oh!
0:30:22 > 0:30:23Really cool!
0:30:24 > 0:30:28- That is amazing. I think the bases... - Even the broken one I quite like.
0:30:28 > 0:30:30OK, you've done well there.
0:30:30 > 0:30:32I'm a bit worried about this, though - what's that?
0:30:32 > 0:30:35The original plan was, because of the lighting, I wanted it suspended.
0:30:35 > 0:30:37- OK.- So there would have been a bar across there.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39You would've seen daylight round here,
0:30:39 > 0:30:41- you'd have lighting, that was the idea.- OK.
0:30:41 > 0:30:42Now we don't have that.
0:30:42 > 0:30:45OK, in terms of finish, I'm not sure...
0:30:45 > 0:30:47You don't like that kind of crusty finish?
0:30:47 > 0:30:49- SHE CHUCKLES - What about a bit of white in there?
0:30:49 > 0:30:52Cos the other alternative is to get a new mirror cut
0:30:52 > 0:30:54so it actually fits the frame.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58But I think we've got to do one thing or another,
0:30:58 > 0:31:01cos this gap here is going to cause a problem.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04Is it possible to see it spun the other way?
0:31:04 > 0:31:05That's it.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10I'm just wondering, if we were to sell these...
0:31:11 > 0:31:13..if they go against a wall...
0:31:13 > 0:31:15they'll have to go against a wall, won't they?
0:31:15 > 0:31:17This weight has got to be anchored against a wall
0:31:17 > 0:31:18- in some way, hasn't it?- Yeah.
0:31:18 > 0:31:21- If we could have brackets on here that get screwed to the wall...- Yeah.
0:31:21 > 0:31:26I think you are 99% there in terms of making these look fantastic.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29As a trio, they're really impressive as you walk in
0:31:29 > 0:31:33and the colour that you've chosen, I had this idea about the sage green
0:31:33 > 0:31:36and you've picked it up and I think it's lovely.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40- They're really impressive together. - Yeah?- Yeah.- I think so, yeah.
0:31:40 > 0:31:42I hate to walk in and be critical,
0:31:42 > 0:31:44but I think you've got maybe 5% more
0:31:44 > 0:31:47- just to get them completely finished.- Sure.
0:31:48 > 0:31:52Being just slightly rough around the edges is enough
0:31:52 > 0:31:54to make a profit improbable,
0:31:54 > 0:31:57especially if there's insufficient left to bling them up
0:31:57 > 0:32:00with the LED lighting, as originally planned.
0:32:03 > 0:32:08How are we doing on the budget? I think we had £1,000 for the three.
0:32:08 > 0:32:09We're up to budget on that, yeah?
0:32:09 > 0:32:10OK.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13I think that all three together, the finish,
0:32:13 > 0:32:15the really lovely legs you put on them
0:32:15 > 0:32:17and the detail of that is cracking.
0:32:17 > 0:32:19It's just pushing that last bit.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21Give me a shout when they're ready to collect
0:32:21 > 0:32:24and then I think we'll have something that's really saleable
0:32:24 > 0:32:27and really stylish, cos I think they are so close to being perfect.
0:32:27 > 0:32:29Thank you very much.
0:32:31 > 0:32:35- He'll be so pleased to see the back of me! Take care!- Bye!- Bye!
0:32:35 > 0:32:37Clearly, when attempting to make a profit,
0:32:37 > 0:32:40costs have to be tightly controlled
0:32:40 > 0:32:44and if just a little more of Rob's time invested at this stage
0:32:44 > 0:32:47means they can be sold for a much higher price,
0:32:47 > 0:32:49it will all be worth it in the end.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53Well, Rob has certainly transformed those manhole covers
0:32:53 > 0:32:56and I feel really picky, because the colour on them is really good
0:32:56 > 0:32:59and the legs are a really good detail,
0:32:59 > 0:33:02but I just need that 5% extra finesse,
0:33:02 > 0:33:04because they need to look a million dollars.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07I need to be able to sell them at a profit
0:33:07 > 0:33:09and for that, they've got to be bang on.
0:33:09 > 0:33:11All I'm going to do is put some hooks in the back here,
0:33:11 > 0:33:13raise the mirror
0:33:13 > 0:33:15and I'm going to tighten up the brackets,
0:33:15 > 0:33:19give them a good crank-up to make sure the whole thing's quite steady,
0:33:19 > 0:33:20er...
0:33:21 > 0:33:23..and give Sarah what she wants.
0:33:26 > 0:33:30Back in Witley, Sarah spotted something distinctly masculine
0:33:30 > 0:33:32in the back of Shane's car.
0:33:32 > 0:33:34Manhole?
0:33:34 > 0:33:35We've had a new patio laid
0:33:35 > 0:33:39and the builders left some of the old patio covers.
0:33:39 > 0:33:43Rob, on the other hand, was able to spot the feminine potential.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45Maybe we can make a nice, delicate touch -
0:33:45 > 0:33:48make it, maybe, a little vanity unit?
0:33:48 > 0:33:50With the budget rapidly running out,
0:33:50 > 0:33:56the cast-iron makeover required just one small push to prove its mettle.
0:33:56 > 0:33:58I hate to walk in and be critical,
0:33:58 > 0:34:00but I think you've got maybe 5% more,
0:34:00 > 0:34:02- just to get them completely finished. - Sure.
0:34:02 > 0:34:07Rob has taken these three dank, dirty drainage covers
0:34:07 > 0:34:10and with a few necessary strong-arm tactics,
0:34:10 > 0:34:15has transformed them into make-up/touch-up vanity units.
0:34:15 > 0:34:18Rob's final finishing touches have created
0:34:18 > 0:34:20just what Sarah was looking for
0:34:20 > 0:34:23and with those details taken care of,
0:34:23 > 0:34:26making these into a premium product,
0:34:26 > 0:34:29these unique units have been snapped up as stock
0:34:29 > 0:34:32for a prestigious London outlet.
0:34:32 > 0:34:36And, most importantly, for a premium price.
0:34:36 > 0:34:40Sarah has returned to Witley to surprise Shane with pictures
0:34:40 > 0:34:44of what his cast iron manhole covers have become
0:34:44 > 0:34:46and to hand over some profit.
0:34:48 > 0:34:51- Hi, there, hello. CHILDREN:- Hello. - Hello!- Hi, there.
0:34:51 > 0:34:53- Shane, how are you doing? - Nice to see you.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56- Hello, there. I'm Sarah.- Vicky. - Hi, there, how do you do?
0:34:56 > 0:34:58Do you know what Daddy took to the tip?
0:34:58 > 0:35:00- Um, the drain covers.- Yeah.
0:35:00 > 0:35:04- And I have to say, I got a little bit enthusiastic about them.- OK!
0:35:04 > 0:35:06We're intrigued.
0:35:06 > 0:35:08Well, I took them to London
0:35:08 > 0:35:10and there is this fantastic place in Walthamstow
0:35:10 > 0:35:13which is an open studio and there's a guy there called Rob
0:35:13 > 0:35:15who's a technician who runs it
0:35:15 > 0:35:16and he came up with the idea
0:35:16 > 0:35:19that they're very chunky, masculine things -
0:35:19 > 0:35:21we should turn them completely on their head
0:35:21 > 0:35:23and turn them into vanity tables.
0:35:23 > 0:35:24- OK.- Cool.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27I've actually got some pictures to show you.
0:35:27 > 0:35:29They turned out... ALL: Wow!
0:35:29 > 0:35:31- ..we made three of them.- Brilliant.
0:35:31 > 0:35:33- He really went to town... VICKY:- That's really cool!
0:35:33 > 0:35:35Do you like them? CHILDREN: Yeah!
0:35:35 > 0:35:39When they're all together, they look great and somebody has bought them.
0:35:40 > 0:35:44Unfortunately, £1,000 to spend on them, to convert them,
0:35:44 > 0:35:47was quite a lot of money to spend,
0:35:47 > 0:35:51but we did manage to sell them at a profit.
0:35:51 > 0:35:54- I'm impressed. - I've got a wad of money here.
0:35:54 > 0:35:57I want to know just how much you think might be...
0:35:57 > 0:35:58- How much profit?- Nice!
0:35:58 > 0:36:00Well, there's £500 here
0:36:00 > 0:36:03and I'm really pleased to say that's all yours.
0:36:03 > 0:36:07- So I don't know who gets that. Maybe it was Daddy.- Calm down, you two.
0:36:07 > 0:36:11- We'll split it. - He was the one that took them? Split it, that's a good thing.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14- Maybe give it to Mummy, she looks after things like that.- Gladly.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17- The keeper of the cash. - Goodness gracious.
0:36:20 > 0:36:24The three manhole covers cost £1,000 to transform,
0:36:24 > 0:36:27but with the sale of a grand and a half,
0:36:27 > 0:36:31Sarah has made a profit of £500 for Shane and his family.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37Do you have any idea what you might do with it?
0:36:37 > 0:36:41Your timing is very good, we are leaving early in the morning
0:36:41 > 0:36:44to go to France for our summer holiday,
0:36:44 > 0:36:50so I'm sure that these guys will find something good to do with it.
0:36:50 > 0:36:52Or we'll buy some very nice wine.
0:36:52 > 0:36:56Lovely to see you, and have a really good time.
0:36:56 > 0:36:59- Bye, guys, really nice to see you. - Bye.- Bye-bye. Thank you.
0:37:03 > 0:37:05Back in Wolverhampton,
0:37:05 > 0:37:09those tired old 1950s chairs were left in the capable hands
0:37:09 > 0:37:12of Jay Blades, who has transformed them
0:37:12 > 0:37:16with a flash of inspiration, a lick of paint
0:37:16 > 0:37:18and some purple velvet covers.
0:37:18 > 0:37:22Simple job that to a certain extent turned out a bit fiddly,
0:37:22 > 0:37:25especially this bit here.
0:37:25 > 0:37:29The original trim that was on there was made of plastic,
0:37:29 > 0:37:32just totally broke up, so I couldn't put it back together again.
0:37:32 > 0:37:37I think there's a touch of femininity with masculinity in there
0:37:37 > 0:37:39as well, so I think these will appeal to
0:37:39 > 0:37:43a lot of people, but Sarah might not like them or she might like them.
0:37:43 > 0:37:45She'll tell me once she sees them.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48When Sarah collected these two chairs,
0:37:48 > 0:37:51they were looking a little bit dated and unloved.
0:37:51 > 0:37:53Now Jay has transformed them
0:37:53 > 0:37:59into luxurious pieces of furniture, fit to grace any designer home.
0:37:59 > 0:38:00Oh, my word!
0:38:00 > 0:38:03They are amazing.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05I'm absolutely gobsmacked.
0:38:05 > 0:38:10I think now they look like they've been brought into the 21st century.
0:38:10 > 0:38:14Beautiful. What you've done is amazing. Look at that!
0:38:16 > 0:38:17- You are a genius.- I'm trying to be.
0:38:19 > 0:38:23Both of them, rather than having them match up,
0:38:23 > 0:38:26- they are just slightly different. - Quirky. I love it.
0:38:26 > 0:38:29Beautiful, the finish and the quality is amazing.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31You've got three different kind of finishes.
0:38:31 > 0:38:32You've got the velvet,
0:38:32 > 0:38:36you've got a matte painted finish, then you've got the gloss here.
0:38:36 > 0:38:39Normally those won't go well together,
0:38:39 > 0:38:42but when you look at that contrast, they look perfect together.
0:38:42 > 0:38:48You've got dark, light, a semi-dark, but it's more warmer, this colour.
0:38:48 > 0:38:52Did you manage to do them for 50. We didn't discuss this top bit at all.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55No, the top bit I was going to leave it as it was
0:38:55 > 0:38:58but when I put the seat on, covered the seat,
0:38:58 > 0:39:01and then looked at it and the colours weren't matching up
0:39:01 > 0:39:05- so it was just inevitable that I had to do the back.- I love them.
0:39:05 > 0:39:10So they came in... Originally we stated £50 for the two.
0:39:10 > 0:39:14- Now they are £70 for the two.- I think that you have turned something
0:39:14 > 0:39:17really ordinary into a statement piece, they are stunning.
0:39:17 > 0:39:19I'm really pleased.
0:39:19 > 0:39:23The sales potential of these two old chairs is now obvious
0:39:23 > 0:39:28for all to see and Sarah is leaving with high hopes of making some cash.
0:39:28 > 0:39:32These chairs have gone from classic car-boot fodder
0:39:32 > 0:39:36into high-end luxury item, and that's all because of Jay's hard work.
0:39:36 > 0:39:38He put an extra 20 quid on the bill,
0:39:38 > 0:39:40but I think that is money well spent.
0:39:40 > 0:39:41I'm never too sure
0:39:41 > 0:39:45when I actually show people the furniture for the first time
0:39:45 > 0:39:46if they actually get it,
0:39:46 > 0:39:49but Sarah got it, which I'm really chuffed with.
0:39:55 > 0:39:59Back at the tip, Sarah made a beeline for Janet and Chris
0:39:59 > 0:40:01who had a pickup full of potential.
0:40:02 > 0:40:06- These are really sweet. - They are, they're not bad.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09Recognising the 1950s flavour,
0:40:09 > 0:40:14Sarah knew exactly who would relish the opportunity to tackle these two.
0:40:14 > 0:40:17I have to add that little bit of "ooh" to it.
0:40:17 > 0:40:21Jay accepted the challenge, and by changing the covers
0:40:21 > 0:40:23and adding a splash of colour,
0:40:23 > 0:40:26Jay has brought these two 1950s chairs
0:40:26 > 0:40:28straight into the 21st century.
0:40:28 > 0:40:32Sarah invited retro-furniture dealer Martin
0:40:32 > 0:40:36to be the first to view the rejuvenated chairs.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39That's really nice, when someone just does that extra thing,
0:40:39 > 0:40:42it's like a little secret, isn't it?
0:40:42 > 0:40:46Martin loved Jay's chairs and snapped up for his shop,
0:40:46 > 0:40:48The Old Cinema.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53Sarah is back in Witley to show Janet and Chris
0:40:53 > 0:40:57what became of the chairs and to hand over the profit.
0:41:02 > 0:41:06- Hi there.- Hello.- Hi, Chris, how are you doing?- How are you, all right?
0:41:06 > 0:41:11- Really well. Are you coming out too, Janet?- Yes. Hello, how are you?
0:41:11 > 0:41:14I've got a few pictures to show you about the chairs.
0:41:14 > 0:41:16- Do you want to come and have a look? - Yeah, by all means.
0:41:16 > 0:41:20- The chairs that you dropped off, this is how they ended up.- Oh, fantastic.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23- Wow. They look brilliant. - They look brilliant.
0:41:23 > 0:41:28They were really comfortable and this turquoise colour was amazing,
0:41:28 > 0:41:31a very high-end feel to them.
0:41:31 > 0:41:34Yeah, to be honest, the legs look totally different.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37I'm sure they're not, but it's because of the seats and everything,
0:41:37 > 0:41:39it's made the legs stand out.
0:41:39 > 0:41:41So we have managed to sell them at a profit.
0:41:41 > 0:41:43It's not a massive profit,
0:41:43 > 0:41:49- but it is £40 for you for those chairs.- Fantastic.
0:41:49 > 0:41:53I think you're keen on motorbikes and that kind of stuff.
0:41:53 > 0:41:55Yeah, I can always get something for the motorbike
0:41:55 > 0:41:58or I suppose I could give in and take you down the meal...
0:41:58 > 0:42:01or the meal for a pub!
0:42:06 > 0:42:10The two chairs were transformed for the grand cost of £70
0:42:10 > 0:42:13and Sarah sold them for £110,
0:42:13 > 0:42:17leaving Janet and Chris with 40 quid to fight over.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22Two things that would have ended up rubbish have now got a life
0:42:22 > 0:42:26and they can carry on and be used by other people and appreciated
0:42:26 > 0:42:29and we've got some money to spend on the BSA.
0:42:31 > 0:42:34- A meal.- Yeah. That's right, yeah.
0:42:34 > 0:42:38That's yet to be discussed properly, off-camera.
0:42:42 > 0:42:45Sarah has made a profit on all the things she saved from the crusher.
0:42:47 > 0:42:50The suit stand has found a new home in a London shop.
0:42:53 > 0:42:56The iron manhole covers have been transformed
0:42:56 > 0:42:59into three pastel-coloured vanity tables.
0:43:01 > 0:43:05And the two chairs reborn as chic, velvet-clad beauties.
0:43:05 > 0:43:06Phwoar!
0:43:06 > 0:43:09So that is brilliant. That's three things that have been saved
0:43:09 > 0:43:11that might have been lost for ever
0:43:11 > 0:43:12and three people who've now got
0:43:12 > 0:43:15a little bit of extra cash they weren't expecting.