0:00:06 > 0:00:09How 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 > 0:00:19Sorry to bother you, before you throw that away,
0:00:19 > 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 wants to get her hands
0:00:25 > 0:00:28on things before they hit the skip.
0:00:29 > 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 > 0:00:42I turn old stuff into new stuff and sell it for a profit.
0:00:42 > 0:00:44Sarah's ready to sift through as many boots
0:00:44 > 0:00:46and bin bags as she needs to...
0:00:46 > 0:00:51Look at that, absolute box of joy, these are just fantastic.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53..in her search for tip treasure.
0:00:53 > 0:00:56Got to be able to make something out of that, haven't we?
0:00:57 > 0:01:01And with some of the country's elite designers and makers...
0:01:01 > 0:01:04- I've got a little something for you. - Yeah, I thought you might.
0:01:04 > 0:01:05Oh, this is a hard one.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09..she can transform her finds into desirable...
0:01:09 > 0:01:11It worked.
0:01:11 > 0:01:13..beautiful...
0:01:13 > 0:01:15valuable...
0:01:15 > 0:01:16Cha-ching!
0:01:16 > 0:01:19..and hopefully saleable items.
0:01:19 > 0:01:21Well, 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 > 0:01:31to the very people who had no idea there was cash to be made
0:01:31 > 0:01:32from their trash.
0:01:32 > 0:01:34That is incredible, isn't it?
0:01:49 > 0:01:53Today, Sarah is the Bredbury Recycling Centre in Stockport,
0:01:53 > 0:01:59where up to 500 people a day turn up to chuck out their unwanted items.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03That is, if Sarah doesn't intercept them first.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05It's really embarrassing being caught
0:02:05 > 0:02:07looking in people's cars all the time.
0:02:07 > 0:02:10I've got to do it, cos they might have something good in there.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14Remember, Sarah has got special permission to rummage about today,
0:02:14 > 0:02:17so don't go pestering people at your local dump or you could be
0:02:17 > 0:02:19the one getting thrown out, all right?
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Would it be OK to have a look through your rubbish, would you mind?
0:02:22 > 0:02:24- Is that...- Not at all. - Really?- Yeah, sure.
0:02:24 > 0:02:28Sarah is searching for three-pieces which, reworked and sold,
0:02:28 > 0:02:32will hopefully produce a pay-out for the people dumping them.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35- You look like you're having a good clear out.- Oh, well.
0:02:35 > 0:02:37Sarah always has high hopes.
0:02:37 > 0:02:40I get really excited. Every time somebody pulls up,
0:02:40 > 0:02:42I think, "There might be a Rembrandt."
0:02:42 > 0:02:45Don't think there's going to be a Rembrandt in there, I checked.
0:02:45 > 0:02:47But you never know.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51And it's clear people have cottoned on to what she's up to.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53She's a rubbish burglar. Yes.
0:02:53 > 0:02:57But the contents of John's boot could mean all that prowling
0:02:57 > 0:02:58is about to pay off.
0:02:58 > 0:03:02I was just looking in the back and seeing some older pieces in here.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04Yes. Some of it is...
0:03:04 > 0:03:07My mother passed away recently, so we're cleaning the house out.
0:03:07 > 0:03:08- OK, OK.- If some of the...
0:03:08 > 0:03:11It's got that sort of time-warp look to it, hasn't it?
0:03:11 > 0:03:14- I've got some old 78s in here, if you want them.- Oh, really?
0:03:14 > 0:03:16I was just looking at the case, actually.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20- So these weren't yours then? - No, these were my father-in-law's.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23Oh, wow. They're fantastic!
0:03:23 > 0:03:25Yeah, I would definitely like to have a look at them.
0:03:25 > 0:03:30I really like the case as well. And you've got a sewing machine as well?
0:03:30 > 0:03:32They are normally really heavy, aren't they?
0:03:32 > 0:03:33I'll get them out of the way.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36Do you know how to...
0:03:36 > 0:03:40Oh, wow, look! That's almost like brand-new, isn't it?
0:03:40 > 0:03:41Wow, look. I absolutely love that,
0:03:41 > 0:03:43look at that badge and stuff on there.
0:03:43 > 0:03:46There's something about that that's just so appealing.
0:03:46 > 0:03:48I think the little badges and all the bits of it...
0:03:48 > 0:03:50They don't make it like that now, do they?
0:03:50 > 0:03:54You haven't got anything else hidden in the trunk? No other old stuff?
0:03:54 > 0:03:56No, I don't think so.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58All right, Sarah, don't get greedy.
0:03:58 > 0:04:01We're just clearing mainly from my house, out of my shed,
0:04:01 > 0:04:04which I'm clearing out for a new shed.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07But the sewing machine looks as though it's never been used.
0:04:07 > 0:04:11And, as Sarah pays homage to the humble sewing machine...
0:04:11 > 0:04:13Oh, look, it's even got its own instruction manual!
0:04:13 > 0:04:16..John keeps unpacking his trunk
0:04:16 > 0:04:19and brings her something with even more potential.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21My word!
0:04:21 > 0:04:25- I forgot I brought this.- That's amazing! So original Bakelite...
0:04:25 > 0:04:27- Yes.- Whose was that?
0:04:27 > 0:04:30I used to be on the removals and somebody gave it to me
0:04:30 > 0:04:31about 30 years ago.
0:04:31 > 0:04:36That is the most fabulous thing I've seen here. I absolutely love it.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40Apparently, if they're working, they're worth about...
0:04:40 > 0:04:44£150, but it's got a bit messy, so I couldn't be bothered.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47I'm going to turn this into something fabulous, I tell you,
0:04:47 > 0:04:49this is so exciting.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52Bakelite is an early type of plastic
0:04:52 > 0:04:56and radios like John's are collectible pieces of social history
0:04:56 > 0:05:00from a time when the radio was the focal point of the home.
0:05:00 > 0:05:03I love it. You've made my day.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05That is tip gold.
0:05:05 > 0:05:08- Thank you so much, it's brilliant. - OK, see you, bye.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11(Look at that!)
0:05:13 > 0:05:17So John's radio trumps the sewing machine and the old 78s
0:05:17 > 0:05:21to become Sarah's first item.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24She's got someone in mind who's sure to take it
0:05:24 > 0:05:27from the pits to the Ritz and make some money for John.
0:05:30 > 0:05:34Trot on Mark Phillips, also known as Horse.
0:05:34 > 0:05:37Electronic super brain Horse was chief engineer
0:05:37 > 0:05:42for a world-renowned audio recording company for over a decade.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46He's now taken his love for restoring vintage sound equipment
0:05:46 > 0:05:48and made it into a business.
0:05:49 > 0:05:52I enjoyed refurbishing vintage equipment.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55It's always a shame to see stuff like that go to waste.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59I think it's great giving a second life to something that would have
0:05:59 > 0:06:02essentially just been smashed up, thrown in the rubbish.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05So, yeah, it's definitely a job and a passion.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08Something tells me Horse is in for a treat
0:06:08 > 0:06:11with John's Bakelite radio.
0:06:14 > 0:06:19So, it's one item saved from the skip and two more to find.
0:06:19 > 0:06:23Loads of people here, I don't know which end to go to first.
0:06:23 > 0:06:26I'm going up this way to see if there's anything coming in.
0:06:26 > 0:06:31Oh, man, I can't tell if Sarah is coming or going anymore.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34As long as she doesn't go, that's the main thing.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37Come on, you, get back to work!
0:06:37 > 0:06:41There's still loads of 'tired' old stuff coming in.
0:06:41 > 0:06:44So that's a nasty bicycle tyre habit you've got going on.
0:06:44 > 0:06:49- The middle-aged men in Lycra brigade. - No. I'm not one of them.- You're not?
0:06:49 > 0:06:51No, Lycra?! You having a laugh.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54- You'll be shaving your legs soon. - Not a chance.- Really?- Not a chance.
0:06:55 > 0:06:58It's a slippery slope you know, Lycra.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01Less Lycra banter, lass, and more searching for item two, please.
0:07:03 > 0:07:05Hang on, what's this?
0:07:05 > 0:07:08Sarah is swooping in on Peter.
0:07:08 > 0:07:11- I'm just wondering if I could talk to you about your rubbish.- Yes.
0:07:11 > 0:07:14- Are you clearing something out? - We're clearing the garden out.- OK.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17- I'm just looking at your table, do you mind if I...?- Sure.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21- It's been outside, has it? - Yeah, it's got weather-beaten.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24It came from my friend's house.
0:07:24 > 0:07:29- His mum and dad had it, so it's quite old.- It's got that 1970s feel.
0:07:29 > 0:07:32- Can I take it away and see if I can make something out of it?- Yes.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35- Yes, you can use it.- Fab, OK. - I'm glad you can use it.
0:07:36 > 0:07:40What a find! There's a big market for retro furniture.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45Well, when it's not covered in mould, that is.
0:07:45 > 0:07:48So, saw the legs of this sticking out of the back of someone's car
0:07:48 > 0:07:49and it's screaming Ercol,
0:07:49 > 0:07:53they're 1960s-1970s British furniture makers.
0:07:53 > 0:07:58It's got a sticker on here that you can see. The original one.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00The good news is, that Ercol is collectable.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03The bad news is somebody has left this out in the garden
0:08:03 > 0:08:06and it's in really poor condition on the top.
0:08:06 > 0:08:09If this can be reconditioned and brought back to life,
0:08:09 > 0:08:12I think that maybe £100 profit.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15100 quid! What do you think, Peter?
0:08:15 > 0:08:18- I don't think she'll make much. - We'll see about that.
0:08:18 > 0:08:23And with Peter's mouldy Ercol, that makes two items ready to renovate.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26The table is going to take a lot of work,
0:08:26 > 0:08:28but Sarah knows exactly where to take it.
0:08:32 > 0:08:36Jay Blades is a builder turned philosophy graduate
0:08:36 > 0:08:38turned furniture restorer.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42Jay has his finger on the pulse of modern design interiors.
0:08:42 > 0:08:47He loves reworking the very best of original British craftsmanship
0:08:47 > 0:08:50and bringing it bang into the 21st century.
0:08:50 > 0:08:55I've always had a passion for the kind of heritage that
0:08:55 > 0:08:57the British designers have produced over the years.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00Traditionalists would love to keep it as it is
0:09:00 > 0:09:02but to be reintroduced into the market,
0:09:02 > 0:09:05I like to add a bit colour and something a bit quirky.
0:09:05 > 0:09:07I really enjoying adding my bit
0:09:07 > 0:09:10and not necessarily worrying about other people's reactions.
0:09:10 > 0:09:13It's more about, do I like it? If I like it, then it's good.
0:09:13 > 0:09:18The '60s table Sarah is bringing Jay sounds right up his street.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22But he hasn't yet clapped eyes on the state of it.
0:09:26 > 0:09:29So Sarah has two items with Horse and Jay's names on them,
0:09:29 > 0:09:33but what about Sarah's own designer talents?
0:09:33 > 0:09:37She needs to find something she can put her stamp on.
0:09:37 > 0:09:38Here you go.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41Why don't you ask Ian what he's chucking?
0:09:41 > 0:09:42- Excuse me?- Yep.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45Sorry to bother you, I'm just here today looking at what people are throwing away.
0:09:45 > 0:09:48Any chance I could have a chat with you about your rubbish?
0:09:48 > 0:09:51Just general rubbish that's been accumulating in the garage
0:09:51 > 0:09:56for a while. Just time to get rid of it.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59I was just looking at your suitcase and was wondering
0:09:59 > 0:10:01- if I could have a closer look at it? - Absolutely.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03Do you know where it came from?
0:10:03 > 0:10:05Yeah, it's my case from when I was a kid.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07It's been sitting around at home for ages.
0:10:07 > 0:10:09I would love to have a chance to take that away
0:10:09 > 0:10:12and give it another life or use it again.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14I would love to see something like that happen to it.
0:10:14 > 0:10:16I'm sorry I stamped on it before.
0:10:16 > 0:10:18I broke the hinge to get it in.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21I'll be able to sort that out, that won't be a problem.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25I think it's got a lovely shape and these details...
0:10:25 > 0:10:29and the fact it had a previous life I think would be great to incorporate
0:10:29 > 0:10:33into a new something so that's fantastic, thank you ever so much.
0:10:33 > 0:10:34Right. You're welcome.
0:10:36 > 0:10:38Don't think that's ever been out of the country.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42I think it was when I was a kid or a teenager.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46It's been on family holidays in the UK.
0:10:46 > 0:10:51I think when I was a student as well, it was one of the cases
0:10:51 > 0:10:54I took to polytechnic with me
0:10:54 > 0:10:57so, it's not really had that special a life!
0:10:57 > 0:11:02I just really like the look of this case, it's just so 1960s.
0:11:02 > 0:11:05It's got some lovely lining on the inside.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08I really don't know what I can do with it, but it would be nice
0:11:08 > 0:11:10to be able to think I can send it on another journey.
0:11:12 > 0:11:16Sarah's three-piece treasure hunt is complete.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19The radio will be switched on by Horse.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23The retro coffee table is going to furniture maker Jay,
0:11:23 > 0:11:27and the tatty old suitcase may have lost its sentimental value,
0:11:27 > 0:11:31but Sarah is confident she can restore its cash value.
0:11:33 > 0:11:35I've saved three fabulous pieces here today
0:11:35 > 0:11:39and I'm going to make lots of money from them, I hope.
0:11:46 > 0:11:50Sarah's next stop is Manchester where the cultural scene is
0:11:50 > 0:11:54buzzing with a task force of talented designers and artists.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57Riding high on the city's wave of creativity is
0:11:57 > 0:12:00electronics restorer, Horse,
0:12:00 > 0:12:03he'll be working on the knackered old radio.
0:12:03 > 0:12:06But he doesn't know what's coming.
0:12:06 > 0:12:10Sarah is going to bring me a piece of, essentially, rubbish.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13So I'm going to have fun seeing if I can make it beautiful again,
0:12:13 > 0:12:16make it functional again, depending on what it is
0:12:16 > 0:12:18and what kind of condition it is, I suppose.
0:12:20 > 0:12:21- Hiya, how are you?- Hiya!
0:12:21 > 0:12:24- Good, yeah, very good.- I've got a little something to show you.
0:12:24 > 0:12:25Brilliant, let's have a look.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31- So I'm hoping this is your kind of thing.- Brilliant.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34- What do you reckon? - Yes, pretty much exactly.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37The only thing I'm worried about is my radio is
0:12:37 > 0:12:39actually in a bit of a state.
0:12:39 > 0:12:40It's not as bad as it looks.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43It's quite reassuring that that still works and I think this one...
0:12:43 > 0:12:46- Yeah.- I think I've broken it!
0:12:46 > 0:12:48Oops! Butterfingers.
0:12:48 > 0:12:52Remember, you're supposed to be ADDING value, Sarah.
0:12:52 > 0:12:56It would be really nice to think that sound could come out of it again.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00I was wondering if that means it's an accessory for somebody's phone
0:13:00 > 0:13:04or just a radio. But possibly something a bit cool.
0:13:04 > 0:13:08Yeah, the ideal application would probably be a universal,
0:13:08 > 0:13:10- kind of small, powered speaker. - That sounds fab.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14So basically it's going to be something that somebody can
0:13:14 > 0:13:17- listen to their music through with their phone or laptop?- Yes.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19Yeah, you can plug essentially anything into it.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22You can probably use some of the existing components.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24I'm going to use valves in it as well.
0:13:24 > 0:13:26They still make them for certain applications,
0:13:26 > 0:13:31mainly guitar amplifiers and high-end audio hi-fi equipment.
0:13:31 > 0:13:38- They just have a specific warm sound to them.- That looks really cool.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40I just love that as it is. That's stunning.
0:13:40 > 0:13:45Shame those valves are going to be hidden away inside, really.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49Now, Horse really knows his onions when it comes to modifying
0:13:49 > 0:13:52vintage technology to accept modern gadgetry.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56He'll make sure that smartphones and laptops with mini jack
0:13:56 > 0:14:01sockets can be plugged into this old valve-powered speaker.
0:14:01 > 0:14:02Who'd have thought it?!
0:14:02 > 0:14:05Hopefully will be a beautiful object,
0:14:05 > 0:14:07that is functional and will sound really nice,
0:14:07 > 0:14:09and it's completely unique.
0:14:09 > 0:14:14Horse will target a higher-end clientele with his finish on the radio.
0:14:14 > 0:14:16But how much will he charge?
0:14:16 > 0:14:20You might be looking at sort of like, £300 or so...?
0:14:20 > 0:14:23- On that basis I reckon full steam ahead, let's go for it.- Brilliant.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28I think that radio is in really safe hands.
0:14:28 > 0:14:33It's going to sound amazing, and I think I might make as much as £100 from it.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36Sarah's confident - but is Horse on the same wavelength?
0:14:36 > 0:14:39I think it's definitely doable, it's in good enough condition.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41I am looking forward to the challenge. Yeah.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43It's going to be great.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48With a bit of Horse-power,
0:14:48 > 0:14:51the old radio could pump up the volume and the profit.
0:14:53 > 0:14:58Horse's expertise and materials would cost around £300.
0:14:58 > 0:15:02So, Sarah will depend on that high-spec finish to make any money.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10Sarah's next stop is within the metropolitan borough
0:15:10 > 0:15:11of the West Midlands, Wolverhampton.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18And tucked away in the disused Berry Street factories
0:15:18 > 0:15:21is woodwork wizard Jay.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26Sarah's about to surprise him with the mouldy Ercol table.
0:15:28 > 0:15:32But it just might be too weather-beaten for Jay to work with.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36All I know is she's got something from the tip that someone was throwing away,
0:15:36 > 0:15:40and then she wants me to be able to turn it into something that's going to make money.
0:15:41 > 0:15:43Could be anything with Sarah.
0:15:43 > 0:15:47But hopefully she'll bring me something that isn't chipboard.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50Real wood is what I'm after.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52- Hi, Jay!- Hi, how you doing?
0:15:52 > 0:15:56- Yeah, I'm doing really well. How are things?- Very good.
0:15:56 > 0:15:57What have you got today?
0:15:57 > 0:16:00Oh, wow. A table.
0:16:00 > 0:16:02- This is the good side... - This is the good side. OK.
0:16:02 > 0:16:07- This is the not-so-good side.- Wow.
0:16:07 > 0:16:09OK. It's been outside, obviously...
0:16:09 > 0:16:12Yeah, I think the guys who dropped it off said that they had been
0:16:12 > 0:16:17- storing their plants on it in the garden.- That'll put it in that state.
0:16:17 > 0:16:18It's beautiful.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21Even though it's in the state that it's in I really like it.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25I really do like it. I've seen many Ercol tables but I've never seen one with this kind of
0:16:25 > 0:16:29round oblong kind of shape to it.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32Ercol was a prominent British furniture manufacturer
0:16:32 > 0:16:35dating back to the 1920s.
0:16:35 > 0:16:40Its mass-produced furnishings found a ready market in post-war Britain.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43But now, vintage enthusiasts will pay through the nose
0:16:43 > 0:16:45for well-preserved pieces.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48Alas, this one's on its last legs.
0:16:51 > 0:16:55The only bit I'm concerned about is here, where the plant pot has been there for quite a while.
0:16:55 > 0:16:58But if you bear with me two minutes I'll just get this machine on...
0:16:59 > 0:17:01I love a machine!
0:17:04 > 0:17:06Everybody has better toys than I do -
0:17:06 > 0:17:09everywhere I go, everybody has got these really cool things,
0:17:09 > 0:17:12I end up doing everything by hand, takes me ages.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25The only thing I'm concerned about now is the red.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30- Oh, dear...- Worst-case scenario is that we rub it down
0:17:30 > 0:17:34and that stain has gone straight through to the piece of furniture.
0:17:34 > 0:17:36Then what we will more than likely have to do is
0:17:36 > 0:17:39I would say paint it because no-one will want that kind of colour.
0:17:39 > 0:17:42So, ideally we'd like to have a surface on the top that is
0:17:42 > 0:17:46- blonde and beautiful, but the chances are we might have to paint it.- Yes.
0:17:46 > 0:17:48OK. I'm happy with that.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51What we probably need to think about is, you know, what
0:17:51 > 0:17:55kind of money do you think we'd sell it for, and is it worth taking it on?
0:17:55 > 0:18:00I could charge £75 to £100, it depends on what is being done.
0:18:00 > 0:18:05- That's definitely a deal!- OK. Cool. - You always talk my kind of money, I love doing deals with you.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07You look like you've got your work cut out, I'll leave you to it.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09Take care!
0:18:09 > 0:18:11Jay absolutely loves Ercol, and I think whatever he does
0:18:11 > 0:18:14to the top or the legs it's going to look fantastic.
0:18:14 > 0:18:16I'm just excited to be working on Ercol.
0:18:16 > 0:18:18This is something that someone was going to throw away,
0:18:18 > 0:18:19totally discarded it.
0:18:19 > 0:18:22Put it in the garden, put some plant pots on it,
0:18:22 > 0:18:24and allowed the weather to do what it's doing
0:18:24 > 0:18:27and the table never gave up - it never gave up on life.
0:18:27 > 0:18:31So all I can do is just make it look...
0:18:31 > 0:18:36not as great as Ercol did back in the 1950s, or 1960s I should say,
0:18:36 > 0:18:39but make it look as good as I can make it look.
0:18:39 > 0:18:43Jay can always make Sarah smile when it comes to money.
0:18:43 > 0:18:4775 to 100 quid? What could go wrong?
0:18:54 > 0:18:59So - two items with the potential to make some cash.
0:18:59 > 0:19:00Sarah's on a roll,
0:19:00 > 0:19:04but now it's time for her to put her money where her mouth is.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07Back at her barn,
0:19:07 > 0:19:09she's hoping to transform
0:19:09 > 0:19:12Ian's battered baggage into something profitable.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17Well, this poor old suitcase has definitely seen better days.
0:19:17 > 0:19:20It's in a right state.
0:19:20 > 0:19:23It's been taped up, it's never going to have been
0:19:23 > 0:19:26a valuable object, and it's certainly not worth much at the moment.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30But I'm hoping that I can make it look just beautiful.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32They work, just...
0:19:34 > 0:19:36Oh, it's quite tough to get it open.
0:19:36 > 0:19:41My plan is to paste some pretty fabric all the way over it -
0:19:41 > 0:19:44probably not very big pieces, so I can use scraps of it,
0:19:44 > 0:19:48and just patchwork the surface of it so it just looks bright and pretty
0:19:48 > 0:19:49and you don't see any of this black.
0:19:49 > 0:19:51Maybe I can get a price tag of...
0:19:51 > 0:19:53£50, £60 on it?
0:19:53 > 0:19:57Sarah starts by giving it a gentle rubdown -
0:19:57 > 0:19:59being careful not to get it too wet.
0:20:04 > 0:20:07RUSTLING Oh, dear. That didn't sound good.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11I'm loath to take the paper out,
0:20:11 > 0:20:14once I take the paper out I've got a world more work.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17But I think I might just have to take out the loose bits.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26You can see how it's made, it literally is made of cardboard...
0:20:26 > 0:20:29Cardboard suitcases were a lighter
0:20:29 > 0:20:33and cheaper alternative to heavy leather or robust wool luggage,
0:20:33 > 0:20:36becoming popular in the 1920s
0:20:36 > 0:20:39with the rapid expansion in automobile travel.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43I really like the fact that it says "American Home Magazine Selection."
0:20:43 > 0:20:46I might try and put that as part of the design.
0:20:46 > 0:20:51Cardboard may have been a more convenient material for the day,
0:20:51 > 0:20:53but it wasn't built to last.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57I've just got to get this roughly in position here.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00So it's just the main thing is to keep the fabric really taut.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02When you're getting the wrinkles out
0:21:02 > 0:21:05you can feel them really clearly when you've got them
0:21:05 > 0:21:08so you just need to work the fabric, stretching it...
0:21:08 > 0:21:12Sarah's glued the fabric with a simple PVA glue,
0:21:12 > 0:21:15and once she's smoothed out the wrinkles
0:21:15 > 0:21:18she can work out the details round the locks.
0:21:18 > 0:21:22You can see where just round the edge of the fastenings on the case
0:21:22 > 0:21:24I've stretched the material round,
0:21:24 > 0:21:27and if you just push it in really neatly around it
0:21:27 > 0:21:29you can give yourself a template to cut round.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32I always trim slightly inside the line,
0:21:32 > 0:21:36and then you can just run the fabric right up to the edge.
0:21:36 > 0:21:39I'm going to stick that in as close as I can...
0:21:39 > 0:21:41and then when it's all dry I shall just get a craft knife
0:21:41 > 0:21:43and trim off those little extra bits there.
0:21:43 > 0:21:47I think that is a great start.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51Just a little bit more covering to do before it looks absolutely perfect,
0:21:51 > 0:21:53but I'm really pleased with that.
0:21:53 > 0:21:55I think that's well on its way to making some money.
0:21:58 > 0:22:03Sarah's scraps and glue should only set her back about a fiver.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06So, if she can sell it for more than that, she's on to a winner.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15At Horse's workshop in Manchester,
0:22:15 > 0:22:21some electronic surgery is about to be performed on the old radio.
0:22:21 > 0:22:23Look away if you're squeamish!
0:22:24 > 0:22:28So, to start with, I'm going to dismantle it
0:22:28 > 0:22:31and then I'll just put in a very simple circuit with some new valves.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35I've got to put in a new mains transformer,
0:22:35 > 0:22:38cos it was potentially lethal.
0:22:38 > 0:22:41You definitely need to be careful, you certainly shouldn't just plug it in until
0:22:41 > 0:22:43somebody qualified's had a look at it.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46One memorable time
0:22:46 > 0:22:49I got a shock, and then punched myself in the face
0:22:49 > 0:22:52pulling my hand back, so yeah, I'm quite careful these days.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55Ouch! And double ouch.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58Definitely don't try this one at home, folks.
0:23:02 > 0:23:07This was a valve radio. I'm going to make it a valve-powered speaker.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09I'm sure there'd be purists going insane at this.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12It's not like they're rare, so it's fine.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24This is just the chassis, so what we need to do with this
0:23:24 > 0:23:29is clean it up and then put the bits back in that I'm going to be using,
0:23:29 > 0:23:33and then start building the circuit around that.
0:23:35 > 0:23:37The case needs some serious cosmetic work too,
0:23:37 > 0:23:39and that's Horse's biggest challenge.
0:23:39 > 0:23:41What you can do is
0:23:41 > 0:23:44use what's called wet and dry paper,
0:23:44 > 0:23:47which is an abrasive, bit like sandpaper.
0:23:47 > 0:23:50You can start off with quite a coarse grit,
0:23:50 > 0:23:54and then you move to a finer grade, and kind of keep doing this...
0:23:54 > 0:23:56It can be quite rewarding, cos it's quite nice to get
0:23:56 > 0:24:00the scratches out but, yeah, it's pretty...
0:24:00 > 0:24:01It can be pretty laborious,
0:24:01 > 0:24:03especially when they're as scratched as this one.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07It's lost its sheen a little, so
0:24:07 > 0:24:11I use this special Bakelite polishing paste,
0:24:11 > 0:24:15and this sort of takes a thin layer off
0:24:15 > 0:24:17and buffs it up to a nice shine.
0:24:17 > 0:24:22If Horse can get the balance of shiny, new usable, traditional,
0:24:22 > 0:24:27old object right, and up the value to over £300,
0:24:27 > 0:24:30this radio is on course to make a tidy profit.
0:24:30 > 0:24:34It's nice to have a finished product that actually sounds good,
0:24:34 > 0:24:38and is usable and means that you can kind of have
0:24:38 > 0:24:42such a nice-looking object that's useful again.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46All's tickety-boo in Manchester, then.
0:24:50 > 0:24:53Back in Wolverhampton,
0:24:53 > 0:24:56Jay is sanding down the Ercol table top
0:24:56 > 0:24:59to determine if the stains can be removed
0:24:59 > 0:25:02so he can keep the natural colour of the wood.
0:25:08 > 0:25:10And it's bad news.
0:25:11 > 0:25:13It's stained all the way through,
0:25:13 > 0:25:16so it's sad that we have to paint an Ercol
0:25:16 > 0:25:18and I really don't like doing that.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20Kind of disappointed.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23If you were to paint this white to kind of blend it in to a room,
0:25:23 > 0:25:27what you might have a problem with is this stain that's already here
0:25:27 > 0:25:30might start to bleed through to the actual top,
0:25:30 > 0:25:32so getting the red and the green out and also the black
0:25:32 > 0:25:36is virtually impossible, because I don't know what that red is.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39It could be wine, it could be anything,
0:25:39 > 0:25:42but if we put a good primer on this, it should be OK.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44The legs are going to be the wood colour,
0:25:44 > 0:25:48but once I've sanded down the problem legs that have the stain...
0:25:49 > 0:25:52..then I'll be able to tell if we can keep the legs
0:25:52 > 0:25:54as neutral as possible.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57I have to sand all of this, all of this.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00I have to especially sand that leg.
0:26:00 > 0:26:01That's one of the main...
0:26:01 > 0:26:06That also determines what the design is going to be like in the end.
0:26:10 > 0:26:12So, the top didn't pass the test.
0:26:12 > 0:26:16If Jay can't sand the stains out of the ends of the legs,
0:26:16 > 0:26:18they too will be destined for a paint job.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25So, Jay, what's the verdict?
0:26:26 > 0:26:28It's very rare you catch me doing this,
0:26:28 > 0:26:33but, um, I think it's going to have to all be painted.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36What a shame.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39We could do light blue on top,
0:26:39 > 0:26:42black legs and light blue underneath.
0:26:43 > 0:26:46So light blue all along there
0:26:46 > 0:26:48and black legs, light blue top,
0:26:48 > 0:26:53so then it will lift the top of it and just make it look light,
0:26:53 > 0:26:56cos it's quite a big table, quite a big coffee table
0:26:56 > 0:26:59and you don't want it to be too imposing into someone's house.
0:26:59 > 0:27:03You want it to be quite uplifting and I think...
0:27:03 > 0:27:06I think that's the design.
0:27:06 > 0:27:09That would be how I think it would look best.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12Well, it's a shame to cover up that lovely wood,
0:27:12 > 0:27:15but if it can still be sold for more than 100 quid,
0:27:15 > 0:27:18then he can paint polka-dots on it for all I care.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29Back in Sussex, Sarah's nearing the end of her own restoration project.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37Basically, I've covered the whole of this case
0:27:37 > 0:27:39in a new layer of fabric on the outside.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43I've carefully cut round the things that are on here already.
0:27:43 > 0:27:45Tricky to get it done perfectly,
0:27:45 > 0:27:49but the overall effect of it I think is really pretty.
0:27:49 > 0:27:51That should make it saleable.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54So I was hoping for 50 quid, but I don't know,
0:27:54 > 0:27:58I might make it an even higher price.
0:27:58 > 0:27:59What do you reckon? 60?
0:27:59 > 0:28:0170?
0:28:03 > 0:28:08Before, this was a battered old cardboard suitcase,
0:28:08 > 0:28:12but now, after some careful graft, a bit of glue and some off-cuts,
0:28:12 > 0:28:15it's transformed into luxurious luggage.
0:28:16 > 0:28:20- You wouldn't lose it at the airport, would you?- Time to hook a buyer.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25I'm not sure I want to part with it.
0:28:28 > 0:28:33I'm tweaking the photograph so it looks absolutely the best it can.
0:28:33 > 0:28:35I think that's singing out now, don't you?
0:28:40 > 0:28:43Sarah's success is measured in sales
0:28:43 > 0:28:48and she always seeks out the best ways to maximise profits,
0:28:48 > 0:28:51hosting her own clothing and furniture sales in her barn...
0:28:51 > 0:28:53Just sold the sofa.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56..advertising and selling online...
0:28:57 > 0:29:00..or selling directly to specialist shops.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04With opportunities galore in the things we throw out,
0:29:04 > 0:29:08Sarah's always looking to make money for nothing.
0:29:12 > 0:29:16So Ian's old suitcase has been on one heck of a journey...
0:29:16 > 0:29:18I was just looking at your suitcase.
0:29:18 > 0:29:22..picked up by Sarah just as it was sailing over the edge of the tip.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25I shall cherish it and make something amazing out of it.
0:29:25 > 0:29:27I'm sorry I stamped on it beforehand,
0:29:27 > 0:29:30cos I broke the hinge to be able to get it in.
0:29:30 > 0:29:33It's now transformed into something saleable.
0:29:35 > 0:29:40Now, Sarah's back in Stockport to show Ian what she's done to the case
0:29:40 > 0:29:41and to hand over the cash.
0:29:41 > 0:29:43That is, if it sold.
0:29:48 > 0:29:52- Hi, there! Hi, Ian!- Hi! Nice to meet you again.- Nice to see you.
0:29:52 > 0:29:56- Much nicer than where we last met. - Yes, indeed, indeed!
0:29:56 > 0:29:58Well, since we last met, I took your case
0:29:58 > 0:30:01and it actually turned out to be a project that I worked on
0:30:01 > 0:30:03and I had a lot of fun with it.
0:30:03 > 0:30:07Am I right in thinking it was just yours, it had one careful owner?
0:30:07 > 0:30:11- Well, I don't know about careful, but one owner, yes.- Lovely.
0:30:11 > 0:30:15- In the end, I actually made it look like that.- Wow!
0:30:15 > 0:30:20I used lots of scraps of fabric that I had left over from other projects
0:30:20 > 0:30:23- and pasted all over. - I think that's amazing!
0:30:23 > 0:30:25It had a very battered cover to it,
0:30:25 > 0:30:28so I was wondering what you were going to do with that.
0:30:28 > 0:30:31I'm actually quite pleased that you've made it into a case
0:30:31 > 0:30:33that could still be used as a case.
0:30:33 > 0:30:36I shared it online and there was quite a lot of interest in it.
0:30:36 > 0:30:42- Wonderful.- And because it only cost £5 to renovate,
0:30:42 > 0:30:45- there was a bit of profit from it. - Right.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47I sold it to somebody who has a vintage shop
0:30:47 > 0:30:51- who wants to use it as a display piece for her window.- Oh, wonderful.
0:30:51 > 0:30:53And it turns out that in the end,
0:30:53 > 0:30:56- she paid £85 for it.- Oh, that's...!
0:30:56 > 0:31:02- That's amazing!- So, Ian, for you, £80 for your old suitcase.
0:31:02 > 0:31:03That... That is incredible.
0:31:03 > 0:31:05Thank you very much.
0:31:05 > 0:31:07It was going to be thrown away, as far as I was concerned,
0:31:07 > 0:31:08so thank you very much.
0:31:10 > 0:31:15Sarah sold the suitcase online for 85 quid.
0:31:15 > 0:31:20Take off a fiver for materials and Ian's walking away £80 richer.
0:31:20 > 0:31:22But what are his plans for the money?
0:31:22 > 0:31:25I think, really, to me, it's all about memories.
0:31:25 > 0:31:30The case is an old case and memories of holidays with it,
0:31:30 > 0:31:31so I think I'd like the money
0:31:31 > 0:31:34to go to a society that deals with memories,
0:31:34 > 0:31:38something like one of the Alzheimer's-related charities.
0:31:44 > 0:31:48So, the money's in the bag for the suitcase, so to speak.
0:31:50 > 0:31:55And in Manchester, how's Horse getting on with the radio refurb?
0:31:56 > 0:31:58I finished it a couple of days ago.
0:31:58 > 0:32:00Yeah, I'm pretty pleased with the way it sounds.
0:32:00 > 0:32:03It's valve, it's true to the original design,
0:32:03 > 0:32:05so, yeah, I hope Sarah likes it.
0:32:07 > 0:32:13Before, this vintage radio had sat in dusty silence for over 30 years.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18Now, Horse has sympathetically repurposed it
0:32:18 > 0:32:21as a universal speaker for today's music-playing devices.
0:32:23 > 0:32:27It's perfect for someone with an eye for funky functionality
0:32:27 > 0:32:30and an ear for the rich tones of yesterday,
0:32:30 > 0:32:32as Sarah's about to find out.
0:32:34 > 0:32:36- Hello!- Hello, how are you doing? - Brilliant.
0:32:36 > 0:32:38Have you got something to show me?
0:32:38 > 0:32:40- Yes, let's go and have a look at the radio.- Oh, fantastic.
0:32:43 > 0:32:45SARAH GASPS
0:32:46 > 0:32:50- Does it work?- It does, you just have to wait for it to warm up.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53CLASSICAL PIANO MUSIC PLAYS
0:32:53 > 0:32:55Ah, Brahms.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02I've never heard it sound quite so good.
0:33:03 > 0:33:05It's amazing!
0:33:07 > 0:33:09Oh, and it lights up!
0:33:09 > 0:33:11Everything about this - the wood effect and the gold
0:33:11 > 0:33:13and the lights and everything,
0:33:13 > 0:33:15I'm blown away and the sound quality,
0:33:15 > 0:33:19it is markedly different from modern speakers, isn't it?
0:33:19 > 0:33:21- Yeah, definitely. - How do I make it work?
0:33:21 > 0:33:24This is just a standard common or garden mini-jack connection
0:33:24 > 0:33:26and that you can plug into anything
0:33:26 > 0:33:29with a auxiliary output or any line output.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31He's talking technical - I think he means smartphone.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34- Do you mean smartphone thingy? - Exactly.- Yeah, OK.
0:33:34 > 0:33:38It's kind of up to the spec of a brand-new product, basically.
0:33:38 > 0:33:42I love everything about it. I think it looks fantastic.
0:33:43 > 0:33:46Aww, Sarah's gone all warm and fuzzy.
0:33:46 > 0:33:50But stay put, because Horse has added a surprise feature.
0:33:50 > 0:33:52I've also put a quarter-inch jack connection.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55It means that you can plug a guitar into it, basically.
0:33:55 > 0:33:56- So it's an amp as well?- Yeah.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59The way that you make it, it's sort of silly not to, really.
0:33:59 > 0:34:01Come on, then, let's hear it.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04HE PLAYS BLUES GUITAR
0:34:12 > 0:34:14Horse, you're a genius on so many levels.
0:34:14 > 0:34:18I think that that just is the icing on cake.
0:34:18 > 0:34:20That was lovely, wasn't it?
0:34:20 > 0:34:23All right, Sarah, enough of the mellow jamming sesh.
0:34:23 > 0:34:25Let's get down to business.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28Horse came in on budget at £300.
0:34:28 > 0:34:30Now, Sarah needs to get selling.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33Right, so all I need is some of your excellent music connections
0:34:33 > 0:34:37and a nice buyer and then everything will be perfect.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43I am seriously impressed
0:34:43 > 0:34:46with what Horse has managed to do with this radio.
0:34:46 > 0:34:50It was in a really bad state and now you can play your music through it,
0:34:50 > 0:34:52you can play your guitar through it
0:34:52 > 0:34:55and I think I'm going to make some money out of it.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58I think she was generally quite chuffed with it.
0:34:58 > 0:35:03I think the addition of the guitar amp was a last-minute bonus,
0:35:03 > 0:35:06so, yeah, I'm pleased, I'm glad she really likes it.
0:35:09 > 0:35:13This vintage radio was nearly dumped at the tip.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15If it were working it would be worth about £150
0:35:15 > 0:35:17but I couldn't be bothered.
0:35:17 > 0:35:21John was happy for Sarah to take it away for nothing.
0:35:21 > 0:35:25And with the expert attention of electronics engineer Horse...
0:35:25 > 0:35:28Hopefully it will be a beautiful object that is functional
0:35:28 > 0:35:30and will sound really nice.
0:35:30 > 0:35:33..it was turned into a glorious custom-made speaker with
0:35:33 > 0:35:35a contemporary twist.
0:35:37 > 0:35:40And when Nick from online retro furniture store
0:35:40 > 0:35:45Smithers of Stamford took a look and a listen, he bought it.
0:35:45 > 0:35:49- Hope to do some more business with you soon. Take care.- Bye.
0:35:52 > 0:35:56And now Sarah's back in Stockport to show John the radio's
0:35:56 > 0:35:59transformation and hopefully hand over some cash.
0:36:05 > 0:36:08- Hi there, John. How you doing? - Not too bad, thanks.
0:36:08 > 0:36:11- It's a long time since I saw you at the tip.- It is.- How are things?
0:36:11 > 0:36:13- All right.- Lovely. I've just come back
0:36:13 > 0:36:16because I've got a couple of pictures to show you of your old radio.
0:36:16 > 0:36:17All right.
0:36:17 > 0:36:20Did you have any thoughts about it cos it wasn't in great condition
0:36:20 > 0:36:21- when we picked it out.- No.
0:36:21 > 0:36:24It's funny, it came all the way down south to me
0:36:24 > 0:36:29and it turns out the one man who restores and loves working with
0:36:29 > 0:36:33old radios like yours lives about ten minutes down the road from here.
0:36:33 > 0:36:34- From here?- Yeah.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37It's been a big circle and it went to this guy called Horse.
0:36:37 > 0:36:40- Do you want to see what he's done to your radio?- Very interested.
0:36:40 > 0:36:44- He's turned it into its former glory. - Beautiful.
0:36:44 > 0:36:47That is now an amp if you want to play your guitar through it.
0:36:47 > 0:36:50And also if you have a smartphone or something like that you plug
0:36:50 > 0:36:53that in and it plays all of your tunes.
0:36:53 > 0:36:55Got lights in it, as well.
0:36:55 > 0:36:57So when you turn it on all those lovely old stations
0:36:57 > 0:36:59and everything light up.
0:36:59 > 0:37:03- It does look and sound really lovely now.- Unbelievable.
0:37:05 > 0:37:07Can't believe that.
0:37:07 > 0:37:11So the good news is in that condition it did sell
0:37:11 > 0:37:14and I've got some money here to give to you.
0:37:14 > 0:37:19I've got £50 profit from the sale of your radio and so that's for you.
0:37:19 > 0:37:21- Are you sure?- Yeah, definitely.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24- What do you think about that? - Absolutely amazing, really.
0:37:24 > 0:37:26Any ideas what you might do with that?
0:37:26 > 0:37:29- I'm just going to buy a new garden shed.- Are you?
0:37:29 > 0:37:31- To fill up with more radios?- Yeah.
0:37:31 > 0:37:37That's the reason that came out ready to buy a new one.
0:37:37 > 0:37:38Fantastic.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40I think that's a great idea that something that came
0:37:40 > 0:37:43out of your old shed is going a little bit towards buying a new one.
0:37:43 > 0:37:44Brilliant.
0:37:47 > 0:37:51Sarah paid Horse £300 for his specialist work on the radio.
0:37:55 > 0:38:00Making £50 for John to put towards his new garden shed.
0:38:00 > 0:38:01Bloomin' marvellous.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06I was astounded really at how good it was.
0:38:06 > 0:38:09I thought of having it renovated myself
0:38:09 > 0:38:13but I don't think it would have come up as it has done.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17I think it's quite amazing what he's done with it.
0:38:17 > 0:38:20It's so satisfying to see an old piece like that radio restored
0:38:20 > 0:38:23to its former glory and sounding amazing.
0:38:23 > 0:38:26I think that £50 might be music to John's ears, too.
0:38:30 > 0:38:35With two out of our three items sold for a profit it's so far, so good.
0:38:35 > 0:38:39But Sarah has got one more pick-up to complete the set.
0:38:39 > 0:38:43Maybe Jay's painted Ercol will leave her feeling blue.
0:38:44 > 0:38:46I think it looks really cool.
0:38:50 > 0:38:53I hope Sarah would like it. I hope she will.
0:38:54 > 0:38:58Evidently she has to sell this on, so if she likes it
0:38:58 > 0:39:00she will be able to sell it more.
0:39:00 > 0:39:02I like it, but I'm not going to be selling it.
0:39:04 > 0:39:06I'm not sure how this is going to go.
0:39:06 > 0:39:09Well, there's only one way to find out. Get her in.
0:39:11 > 0:39:13I love pick-up time.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16I've got an Ercol table in here but I know it had a few problems
0:39:16 > 0:39:20and I'm hoping Jay has managed to turn it around.
0:39:20 > 0:39:23When Sarah picked it up the table was on the brink of being
0:39:23 > 0:39:26lost forever.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29But now it's a fresh, modern gem with a new lease of life.
0:39:37 > 0:39:42- Oh, my word! Look at that!- You like?
0:39:42 > 0:39:44- I love it.- What a relief.
0:39:46 > 0:39:48Can I have a quick look underneath to see what you've done?
0:39:48 > 0:39:53All I've done underneath is painted it black, that's all I've done.
0:39:53 > 0:39:56It's amazing how well the black suits it.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59- It looks like it was made like that. - Yeah.
0:39:59 > 0:40:03It looks like a massive, beautiful blue egg. It's stunning.
0:40:03 > 0:40:04It does look like a blue egg, actually.
0:40:04 > 0:40:06Or blue pebble.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09It looks like a massive blue pebble you'd find on the beach.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12The state it was in when you first brought it in, it's a
0:40:12 > 0:40:16shame to paint Ercol but I couldn't get the stains out.
0:40:16 > 0:40:19I don't think you have to beat yourself up about this.
0:40:19 > 0:40:20This was going in the skip.
0:40:20 > 0:40:23And now it's going into a really smart interior.
0:40:23 > 0:40:26If you think back to how it was when it arrived, it was green,
0:40:26 > 0:40:28it had stains all over it, it was falling apart.
0:40:28 > 0:40:30Yeah.
0:40:30 > 0:40:32You've completely transformed it.
0:40:32 > 0:40:37- This has gone from dustbin to designer. It's brilliant.- Thank you.
0:40:39 > 0:40:42Luckily, Sarah can see the sales potential in funky,
0:40:42 > 0:40:44modern furniture.
0:40:44 > 0:40:48And what's more, it should still make a profit despite being painted.
0:40:49 > 0:40:53He's really nailed it, hasn't he? That table looks fantastic.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55That beautiful blue egg.
0:40:55 > 0:40:58I think I'm definitely going to be able to sell that with a profit.
0:40:58 > 0:40:59I'm glad she's happy.
0:40:59 > 0:41:02She can sell it and then she can give the person that was
0:41:02 > 0:41:06throwing it away the money back and everybody's happy.
0:41:07 > 0:41:09Well, we're not happy yet.
0:41:09 > 0:41:13Jay came in on budget but Sarah still has to find a big
0:41:13 > 0:41:16buyer of blue before we can start jumping for joy.
0:41:21 > 0:41:24Who could have imagined that the Ercol table nearly reached
0:41:24 > 0:41:26the end of its life as a plant pot stand.
0:41:26 > 0:41:29- Just wondering if I could talk to you about your rubbish.- Yeah.
0:41:29 > 0:41:32Sarah saw its potential.
0:41:32 > 0:41:36- It's been outside, has it?- It's got weather-beaten.- Even if Pete didn't.
0:41:38 > 0:41:39Quite old.
0:41:39 > 0:41:44But with the magic touch of Jay it was transformed into a blue beauty.
0:41:47 > 0:41:51Sarah showed it to specialist buyer Martin at her barn.
0:41:51 > 0:41:53He's got a good eye for antique-y,
0:41:53 > 0:41:57vintage-y type stuff to sell on in his trendy London shop.
0:41:57 > 0:41:59It's a retro look. It's a very clean look.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01I love the colour, very saleable.
0:42:02 > 0:42:04And guess what - he bought it.
0:42:05 > 0:42:07Ah, now I can sleep easy.
0:42:24 > 0:42:29So the good news is the Ercol table sold with £100 worth of profit.
0:42:29 > 0:42:32But the bad news is I haven't been able to make contact with
0:42:32 > 0:42:33Peter again and time has run out.
0:42:33 > 0:42:37So this money is going to go to Children in Need.
0:42:37 > 0:42:39Give that girl a gold star
0:42:39 > 0:42:43because Sarah has made a profit on everything she's saved at the tip.
0:42:44 > 0:42:47The cardboard suitcase came up lovely and rosy.
0:42:49 > 0:42:53The vintage radio brought old school and modern technology into harmony.
0:42:56 > 0:43:01And the retro Ercol table is now cool, blue and contemporary.
0:43:05 > 0:43:07There were three things that were saved from the skip that would
0:43:07 > 0:43:09have been lost forever.
0:43:09 > 0:43:11And who knows, maybe next time you're at the tip
0:43:11 > 0:43:15I could be taking your rubbish and turning it into money.