Episode 27

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0:00:03 > 0:00:05You haven't got anything I can recycle, have you?

0:00:07 > 0:00:11- How do you make money for nothing? - Wow, look at that!

0:00:11 > 0:00:14The answer could be hiding in over 20 million tonnes

0:00:14 > 0:00:18of household waste thrown out by us every year.

0:00:18 > 0:00:21Don't get rid of it too quickly. This stuff looks amazing.

0:00:21 > 0:00:26That's why entrepreneur Sarah Moore wants to get her hands on things

0:00:26 > 0:00:28before they hit the skip.

0:00:31 > 0:00:34I'm a passionate maker, buyer and user of old stuff

0:00:34 > 0:00:37and I've turned that passion into a money-making business.

0:00:37 > 0:00:41I make new stuff out of old stuff and I sell it for a profit.

0:00:41 > 0:00:45And with some of the country's elite designers and makers...

0:00:45 > 0:00:49- I don't know what to say.- Did you drag it here behind the truck?

0:00:49 > 0:00:55- ..she can transform her finds into desirable...- It's enormous!

0:00:55 > 0:00:58- ..valuable...- Isn't that fantastic?

0:00:58 > 0:01:02..and, hopefully, saleable items.

0:01:02 > 0:01:04It's just given me goose bumps.

0:01:04 > 0:01:08If Sarah is successful, then she can hand the profits back

0:01:08 > 0:01:10to the very people who had no idea

0:01:10 > 0:01:14there was cash to be made from their trash.

0:01:14 > 0:01:16Thank you very much! Marvellous!

0:01:26 > 0:01:30Welcome to Walsall Recycling Centre near Birmingham.

0:01:32 > 0:01:36When it comes to filling skips, this place is fast and furious.

0:01:38 > 0:01:44Sarah's on a mission to turn your trash into hard cash.

0:01:44 > 0:01:47It's like the floodgates have opened cos people are pouring in here,

0:01:47 > 0:01:49but I just need to find those little bits

0:01:49 > 0:01:51that I know are going to float a profit.

0:01:53 > 0:01:57But before you zip down to your local tip, be warned -

0:01:57 > 0:02:00Sarah has special permission to seek out three items

0:02:00 > 0:02:05that she can rejuvenate, repurpose and sell on for a profit.

0:02:07 > 0:02:10First to pique Sarah's interest is Jenny.

0:02:10 > 0:02:13But has she a car full of possibilities?

0:02:14 > 0:02:18- Are you having a clearout? - Just a little.- Are you on the move?

0:02:18 > 0:02:22- No, we're just having a big sort-out.- OK.- All the rubbish.

0:02:22 > 0:02:25Looks like you've got some interesting bits and pieces.

0:02:25 > 0:02:27We've got some bits and pieces there, yes.

0:02:27 > 0:02:30Where's it all come from then? Is it the garage?

0:02:30 > 0:02:34- Attic, one bedroom, one junk room and that's it.- OK.

0:02:34 > 0:02:37Do you think there's anything here we might be able to recycle?

0:02:37 > 0:02:41I don't know. I don't know what we got - all sorts of bits and pieces.

0:02:41 > 0:02:43These are quite cute, aren't they?

0:02:43 > 0:02:46- Yeah, they're great.- A pair of them.

0:02:46 > 0:02:49Do you know when they were last used?

0:02:51 > 0:02:53- Probably 12, 18 months ago.- OK.

0:02:53 > 0:02:56Cos we stick them on the top of the cupboard

0:02:56 > 0:03:00- when we're watching telly in bed. - Oh, OK.- It's the easy way to do it.

0:03:00 > 0:03:02Have you still got the bits for them?

0:03:02 > 0:03:05- I don't know. It's amongst this lot, if we have.- OK.

0:03:05 > 0:03:09Um, they've got a kind of retro appeal, haven't they?

0:03:09 > 0:03:11- They have, haven't they? - I quite like those.

0:03:11 > 0:03:14I'm just wondering if there's anything else in here

0:03:14 > 0:03:16that might go with them.

0:03:16 > 0:03:19- Can I have a quick rummage? - Don't know - have a rummage.- Fab.

0:03:21 > 0:03:25- Might keep that.- You carry on. You know what you're after. I don't.

0:03:25 > 0:03:28- You never know what you can do with stuff like this.- No.

0:03:28 > 0:03:31- It looks quite interesting. - You never know.

0:03:32 > 0:03:34I think that might be my lot.

0:03:34 > 0:03:38If I can make anything out of that, shall I give you a shout?

0:03:38 > 0:03:43- You do that.- Fantastic! Thank you ever so much.- It's rubbish to me.

0:03:43 > 0:03:47And to the rest of us, Jenny, and to the rest of us.

0:03:47 > 0:03:49I'm absolutely gobsmacked she wanted it,

0:03:49 > 0:03:51but if she can use it, then fine.

0:03:51 > 0:03:55I couldn't think what she might do with it, but there you go.

0:03:56 > 0:03:59This is certainly a random selection of stuff,

0:03:59 > 0:04:01but these TVs are just so cute.

0:04:01 > 0:04:04Everybody else has got, like, 52-inch ones

0:04:04 > 0:04:06and these ones are about 5 inches.

0:04:06 > 0:04:08I think they've got a personality all of their own

0:04:08 > 0:04:12and I know somebody who just loves this type of thing.

0:04:12 > 0:04:16I must say, it's a relief to hear you say that, Sarah.

0:04:17 > 0:04:21Introducing Mark Haig, robo-chap.

0:04:21 > 0:04:24Mark uses his years of engineering know-how

0:04:24 > 0:04:29to create one-of-a-kind bespoke robots from just about anything.

0:04:29 > 0:04:31My dad was a clock repairer

0:04:31 > 0:04:34and I would sit in front of a three-bar electric fire,

0:04:34 > 0:04:38as a seven-year-old kid, and I'd get some bits of clocks from my dad,

0:04:38 > 0:04:41get bits of Meccano and I'd make some kind of mad robot.

0:04:41 > 0:04:45And 40 years later, I'm still doing the same stuff.

0:04:45 > 0:04:48To make these mechanical marvels come to life,

0:04:48 > 0:04:51each one even comes with its own back story.

0:04:51 > 0:04:54I can create these fun stories that go with the robots

0:04:54 > 0:04:57and the combination of having this interesting story

0:04:57 > 0:05:02that goes with it makes for a really unique object.

0:05:04 > 0:05:09And if anyone can make something unique with all this, it's Mark.

0:05:17 > 0:05:21Righty-ho, that's one off the list and two to go.

0:05:21 > 0:05:24And, while some items are well protected...

0:05:24 > 0:05:27- Anything in there for me? No? - DOG BARKS

0:05:27 > 0:05:30..others are not protected enough.

0:05:30 > 0:05:32SARAH PLAYS THE VIOLIN

0:05:32 > 0:05:35I've never played a violin before, can you tell?

0:05:35 > 0:05:37Yes, we can tell.

0:05:37 > 0:05:40Could Martin and Annette have something more palatable

0:05:40 > 0:05:44in their trailer? Something to bag Sarah some cash, perhaps.

0:05:44 > 0:05:47I can see clouds of woodworm dust coming out of that.

0:05:47 > 0:05:49What are you throwing away?

0:05:49 > 0:05:53Er, it's basically wood chippings from an old shed

0:05:53 > 0:05:57- that's been stored for probably 30 years.- OK.

0:05:57 > 0:05:59- So...- Not yours then?- It's not mine.

0:05:59 > 0:06:03- No, we bought the house and now, we're clearing the shed out.- OK.

0:06:03 > 0:06:06There is definitely something active in your shed, isn't there?

0:06:06 > 0:06:09There is, yeah. It's good firewood, if anybody wanted it for firewood

0:06:09 > 0:06:14but, other than that, for us, it's got no use and, er, it's in the tip.

0:06:14 > 0:06:16What about the bags though?

0:06:16 > 0:06:18I don't know where he's got those from, to be quite honest.

0:06:18 > 0:06:22"Michigan beans" - that doesn't sound like Birmingham, does it?

0:06:22 > 0:06:24Well, odd though it might seem,

0:06:24 > 0:06:28those dusty old sacks - because they've got

0:06:28 > 0:06:32that original writing on them, people love that kind of thing.

0:06:32 > 0:06:35- Yeah.- So, amongst all the stuff that's coming out,

0:06:35 > 0:06:37those would be quite interesting to see if I could salvage them

0:06:37 > 0:06:41- and make something out of them. - Yeah, you're more than welcome,

0:06:41 > 0:06:44because all I was going to do was put them in the skip anyway.

0:06:44 > 0:06:47OK, well, I'm going to fold those up and say thank you very much.

0:06:47 > 0:06:51- You're welcome.- Put those in my little pile of treasures.

0:06:51 > 0:06:55Little pile of treasures? Let's not get ahead of ourselves, Sarah.

0:06:55 > 0:06:59If I can do something with them - I'm not sure what it will be -

0:06:59 > 0:07:02can I come and see you at your house and show you what I've done?

0:07:02 > 0:07:03- Yeah.- Yeah.- No problem at all.

0:07:03 > 0:07:07We're surprised that Sarah wanted the sacks.

0:07:07 > 0:07:10I mean, they're interesting enough with the terminology on them

0:07:10 > 0:07:13and that, but what she's going to do with them, who knows?

0:07:13 > 0:07:15A sack's a sack, isn't it?

0:07:15 > 0:07:19You're not wrong there, Martin. A sack is, indeed, a sack.

0:07:19 > 0:07:22I keep asking myself, "Why did I save these?"

0:07:22 > 0:07:26They are moth-eaten, they are dirty, they are well past their best.

0:07:26 > 0:07:30But there is one redeeming feature. It's the typography.

0:07:30 > 0:07:32It's American,

0:07:32 > 0:07:36this fantastic really strong circle with all the writing on it.

0:07:36 > 0:07:38It's all about beans.

0:07:38 > 0:07:40There's something about it that is just fantastic.

0:07:40 > 0:07:42And, luckily for us,

0:07:42 > 0:07:46Sarah knows a guy who would almost certainly agree with her.

0:07:48 > 0:07:52If you want a bag, then go and see Neil Wragg.

0:07:54 > 0:07:57Neil is a whizz with a sewing machine.

0:07:57 > 0:08:01His mission is to rescue tough and rugged materials

0:08:01 > 0:08:03otherwise headed for the skip.

0:08:05 > 0:08:10Neil turns them into high-end holdalls that will last a lifetime.

0:08:12 > 0:08:14These days, there's too much going into landfill.

0:08:14 > 0:08:17We've got a finite amount of space where we can bury stuff

0:08:17 > 0:08:20so, if I can prevent it from going into landfill

0:08:20 > 0:08:23and make something beautiful from it, that's the plan.

0:08:24 > 0:08:27Most of the bags I make are from old sofas.

0:08:27 > 0:08:30It could be old army tents or scout tents.

0:08:30 > 0:08:34If I can get a needle through it, then I can turn it into a bag,

0:08:34 > 0:08:37and a bag that looks like it would cost

0:08:37 > 0:08:39hundreds or thousands of pounds from the high street.

0:08:39 > 0:08:42With all the holes in these bags,

0:08:42 > 0:08:45getting a needle through them will not be difficult.

0:08:45 > 0:08:49Making them worth something is a different story altogether.

0:08:56 > 0:09:00Two items loaded into the Money For Nothing van.

0:09:00 > 0:09:05Now it's time for Sarah to search for her own pound-making project.

0:09:05 > 0:09:09Maybe. It depends how old it is though. So, 1950s stuff.

0:09:11 > 0:09:14Isn't he friendly? Right, buddy, you'd better get in there.

0:09:14 > 0:09:16I've got some work to do.

0:09:16 > 0:09:18Yes, you do, Sarah, and, hopefully,

0:09:18 > 0:09:22it will be Barry's furniture that piques your interest.

0:09:22 > 0:09:27- Hiya.- Hiya.- They're nice. Are they going that way?

0:09:27 > 0:09:30- Well, that's the intention, yes. - Where have they come from?

0:09:30 > 0:09:33We're basically clearing out a relative's house.

0:09:33 > 0:09:36- She passed away recently.- Oh, no, I'm sorry to hear that.- That's OK.

0:09:36 > 0:09:38They are lovely. They don't appeal to you?

0:09:38 > 0:09:41- They wouldn't fit into your house? - We've got too much rubbish as it is.

0:09:41 > 0:09:43I really like things like this.

0:09:43 > 0:09:47- I think they're far too nice to end up in there.- It is a shame.

0:09:47 > 0:09:51But if it's not your house... Oh, look at that, look.

0:09:53 > 0:09:57- So, these, probably bought in the 1950s?- I would say that, yeah.

0:09:57 > 0:10:01These are a cracking pair of chairs. If you didn't mind me taking them,

0:10:01 > 0:10:04- rather than ending up in there, I'd be really pleased.- Please do.

0:10:04 > 0:10:07- It seems a such a shame to throw them.- And what about that?

0:10:07 > 0:10:10Did that have those lovely spider plants or something in it?

0:10:10 > 0:10:13- Yes, full of spider plants. - Yes, it's just such a classic look.

0:10:13 > 0:10:15As a little group - a pair of retro chairs

0:10:15 > 0:10:17and a lovely little plant stand -

0:10:17 > 0:10:20they're the kind of thing that people love, this retro look.

0:10:20 > 0:10:23- That's right.- Particularly those sort of 1950 legs.

0:10:23 > 0:10:26- Can I take them away? - Please do.- Fantastic!

0:10:26 > 0:10:27Can I keep in touch as well,

0:10:27 > 0:10:29because I'd love to be able to show you

0:10:29 > 0:10:31- what happened to them and where they go to?- Yes.

0:10:31 > 0:10:34- Would that be all right? - That would be fine, yes.- Fantastic!

0:10:34 > 0:10:40Well done, Sarah - two chairs and a plant stand. Good luck with that.

0:10:40 > 0:10:42What are Barry's thoughts?

0:10:42 > 0:10:46I suspect that Sarah will probably renovate them now,

0:10:46 > 0:10:49cos they're worth a little bit of attention, especially the planter.

0:10:49 > 0:10:52That's quite a classic little item, that is,

0:10:52 > 0:10:54and the chairs are very nice as well.

0:10:54 > 0:10:58Have you noticed these chairs are Ercol?

0:10:58 > 0:11:00These are British-made, stylish, collectible.

0:11:00 > 0:11:04There are heaps of people out there who absolutely love this furniture

0:11:04 > 0:11:08and, grouped together with this '50s plant stand, they look fantastic.

0:11:08 > 0:11:11There you have it. Three items found.

0:11:13 > 0:11:18Mark will get switched on with Jenny's mini TVs and bits.

0:11:18 > 0:11:22Neil will grapple with Martin's printed sacks.

0:11:22 > 0:11:27And Sarah will tackle Barry's chairs and plant stand.

0:11:27 > 0:11:29They might have wanted to bin it, but I want to bling it.

0:11:29 > 0:11:32Now's the time to turn those diamonds in the rough

0:11:32 > 0:11:34into money-making gems.

0:11:44 > 0:11:48Manchester, hailed for its industrial past.

0:11:48 > 0:11:51It is now becoming a thriving hub

0:11:51 > 0:11:54for furniture designers and digital artists,

0:11:54 > 0:11:58as well as many others from the creative industries.

0:11:58 > 0:12:01One such gentleman is Mark,

0:12:01 > 0:12:04who's waiting patiently for Sarah's challenge.

0:12:04 > 0:12:07I'm looking forward to Sarah coming down to my studio.

0:12:07 > 0:12:09Hopefully, it's something metallic that I can work with,

0:12:09 > 0:12:12but I'm prepared to work with whatever she gives me.

0:12:12 > 0:12:14Glad to hear you say that, Mark.

0:12:16 > 0:12:18Well, I've picked up some random stuff at the recycling centre

0:12:18 > 0:12:22in the past, but this lot has to take the biscuit.

0:12:22 > 0:12:25I've brought it to Mark and I'm hoping he's going to recycle this

0:12:25 > 0:12:27into a robot with attitude.

0:12:28 > 0:12:32- Mark?- Hello.- Hi.- Hello, Sarah, how are you?- I'm really well.

0:12:32 > 0:12:34- How you doing? - I'm very well, thank you.

0:12:34 > 0:12:37- What have you brought me this time? - I saw these and, obviously,

0:12:37 > 0:12:40- I immediately thought of you. - Hmm, that's nice.

0:12:40 > 0:12:43- It is nice, isn't it?- I like that. That's like a laser gun.- It is.

0:12:43 > 0:12:47Actually, it was these little bad boys that made me think...

0:12:47 > 0:12:50I just thought they look like little space men, like helmets.

0:12:50 > 0:12:53- Definitely.- So, I thought if anybody can do anything with them,

0:12:53 > 0:12:56it's going to be you. What do you reckon?

0:12:56 > 0:12:59Yeah, I reckon I can build with those. I'm looking on the back.

0:12:59 > 0:13:02- It's got a video input on the back. - Right, that's a good thing then?

0:13:02 > 0:13:04It's a good thing. Um...

0:13:06 > 0:13:10- That one hasn't.- OK.- So, I don't know what I'd do with that one.

0:13:10 > 0:13:13I could make something with it, but this is my preference.

0:13:13 > 0:13:15OK, well, let's pop that one down there.

0:13:15 > 0:13:18When I saw them, I thought they had a bit of attitude.

0:13:18 > 0:13:21I was thinking maybe some punk styling or something like that.

0:13:21 > 0:13:24But I bought you these other bits in case they're useful.

0:13:24 > 0:13:26Put them in the bin, add them to the stash, if not,

0:13:26 > 0:13:29but there's definitely something about these little bits...

0:13:29 > 0:13:33- They looked quite cool in the... - Like that?- Yeah.

0:13:33 > 0:13:36- I think something like that might work.- OK, I like that.

0:13:36 > 0:13:40But it's totally up to you because I know you are the robot master.

0:13:42 > 0:13:44Robot master he may be, Sarah,

0:13:44 > 0:13:47but what happens when the robots take over

0:13:47 > 0:13:49and Mark becomes their slave?

0:13:49 > 0:13:51Right, no more coffee for me today.

0:13:51 > 0:13:54Any little surprises or shall I wait till I come back?

0:13:54 > 0:13:55I think you should wait.

0:13:55 > 0:13:58I think there's something else I might be able to do with it

0:13:58 > 0:14:01to make it a bit more interesting, but leave it with me.

0:14:01 > 0:14:03Hit me with a ballpark budget then.

0:14:03 > 0:14:04What kind of price are we looking at

0:14:04 > 0:14:08to make that an all-singing, all-dancing new robot?

0:14:08 > 0:14:13- Well, he's going to end up being sort of that kind of size.- OK.

0:14:13 > 0:14:16- So, he's going to be quite a big fellow. About 150 quid?- OK.

0:14:16 > 0:14:18Something like that. 160 quid?

0:14:18 > 0:14:21Yeah, I'd say that budget's absolutely fine. I love the '80s,

0:14:21 > 0:14:25so as much '80s singing and dancing, and that would be fantastic.

0:14:25 > 0:14:28- OK.- Thank you so much. - No problem.- Bye-bye.- OK, bye now.

0:14:29 > 0:14:31Well, Mark's channelling the 1980s.

0:14:31 > 0:14:33I've always loved a bit of Dire Straits,

0:14:33 > 0:14:35maybe a bit of Money For Nothing.

0:14:35 > 0:14:37I can see that robot is going to be right on track.

0:14:37 > 0:14:40It's going to be an interesting one. It's working with plastic,

0:14:40 > 0:14:42which isn't the perfect thing that I like to work with,

0:14:42 > 0:14:44but I've got some nice ideas for it in my head

0:14:44 > 0:14:47so, fingers crossed, it should go well.

0:14:47 > 0:14:49I have complete faith in you, sir.

0:14:52 > 0:14:55Mark has a budget of £150

0:14:55 > 0:15:00to create an '80s-themed robot from this tray of bits and bobs.

0:15:00 > 0:15:04Am I excited about this one? AS ROBOT: Affirmative!

0:15:10 > 0:15:14Marlow, Buckinghamshire - a town with a rich history,

0:15:14 > 0:15:16going back 1,000 years.

0:15:16 > 0:15:20Around 30 miles west of central London,

0:15:20 > 0:15:24its ideal location on the River Thames makes it home

0:15:24 > 0:15:29to one of Britain's premier rowing clubs, producing Olympic oarsmen,

0:15:29 > 0:15:31like Sir Steve Redgrave.

0:15:32 > 0:15:35But are Sarah's printed sacks going to seem

0:15:35 > 0:15:38like an Olympian task for Neil?

0:15:40 > 0:15:42Always looking forward to new challenges.

0:15:42 > 0:15:44Wouldn't be here if it wasn't fun

0:15:44 > 0:15:46doing something that was out of your comfort zone.

0:15:46 > 0:15:51So, slightly nervous to see what bizarre thing she's going to bring.

0:15:53 > 0:15:57Here I am in super-smart quintessentially English Marlow

0:15:57 > 0:16:00with an absolute load of old rubbish.

0:16:00 > 0:16:02I know Neil's got a sense of humour.

0:16:02 > 0:16:05I just hope he finds something to laugh about with this lot.

0:16:10 > 0:16:13- Hiya.- Hi, Sarah, how are you?- I'm really well, how are you?- Excellent.

0:16:13 > 0:16:15- I'm very nervous.- Are you? - Yes.- Why?

0:16:15 > 0:16:17I don't know what you've got in your hands.

0:16:17 > 0:16:19- I'm hiding it, it's that bad. - Oh, no!

0:16:19 > 0:16:22So, what are you hiding behind your back, Sarah?

0:16:22 > 0:16:28- What do we have?- Hi...- Hi, well, they're sacks. We've got sacks.

0:16:28 > 0:16:31They've got a lovely print on them and they are covered in...

0:16:31 > 0:16:34- I haven't touched them at all. They are tip-fresh.- Yeah.

0:16:34 > 0:16:38And they are covered in cobwebs.

0:16:38 > 0:16:40But they have got beautiful print on them.

0:16:40 > 0:16:42Where do we think they've come from?

0:16:42 > 0:16:45These have been used as wood store for 30 years.

0:16:45 > 0:16:48And before that, they came from Michigan.

0:16:48 > 0:16:51Yeah, they are virtually unusable.

0:16:51 > 0:16:55- There's probably enough here to make...- Oh, no, look at that.

0:16:56 > 0:16:59- Do you like it?- Yeah.

0:16:59 > 0:17:03We've got "Michigan Casserole and Michigan Navy Beans".

0:17:03 > 0:17:08- They look great. It's an ordinary sack otherwise, isn't it?- Yeah.

0:17:08 > 0:17:12It's a very standard sack, but with the logos, they're lovely.

0:17:14 > 0:17:16I must say Neil's enthusiasm for the old sacks

0:17:16 > 0:17:19is putting my mind at ease

0:17:19 > 0:17:23and getting me excited about what he'll do with them.

0:17:23 > 0:17:26You could just keep things really low cost on this.

0:17:26 > 0:17:30Keep it simple and just make them into simple shopping bags,

0:17:30 > 0:17:34adding a lining to it, leather strap, you know.

0:17:34 > 0:17:36It doesn't add any extra time to do this,

0:17:36 > 0:17:38but you've got something that...

0:17:38 > 0:17:40There's not going to be any more of these on the planet.

0:17:40 > 0:17:42That sounds great. There's three there

0:17:42 > 0:17:45that look like they might work. That one is shoddy.

0:17:45 > 0:17:49- Yeah, maybe not.- And that one - maybe some of it.- That one's fine.

0:17:49 > 0:17:52So, if we're looking at potentially four bags here,

0:17:52 > 0:17:56what kind of money do you want me to leave you with as a whole

0:17:56 > 0:17:59for transforming that into four, or whichever way you want to price it?

0:17:59 > 0:18:02Well, if I'm going to make something very simple,

0:18:02 > 0:18:06- a simple shopping bag, you're looking at a tenner each.- Perfect.

0:18:06 > 0:18:08I tell you what, I'll give you 50 quid

0:18:08 > 0:18:10- and see what you can do with the offcuts.- OK.

0:18:10 > 0:18:13- You'll think of something. - Yes, OK. Thank you.

0:18:16 > 0:18:19A sack's a sack and they're standard sacks,

0:18:19 > 0:18:22but the fact that she's found something that is utterly unique

0:18:22 > 0:18:25is very exciting, because the logo's really cool.

0:18:25 > 0:18:28So, it is something that not many people are going to own.

0:18:28 > 0:18:31Four people, possibly, on the planet.

0:18:31 > 0:18:33There are not many people as enthusiastic

0:18:33 > 0:18:35and creative as Neil Wragg.

0:18:35 > 0:18:38He seems like he's going to take up the challenge with relish

0:18:38 > 0:18:41and I cannot wait to see what he does with those old sacks.

0:18:43 > 0:18:45But with a budget of just £50,

0:18:45 > 0:18:48will they be strong enough to deliver the goods?

0:18:57 > 0:19:02In beautiful Sussex, Sarah is about to begin her own challenge

0:19:02 > 0:19:06and she's happy to be working on a furniture favourite.

0:19:06 > 0:19:09Always lovely when Ercol shows up at the recycling centre.

0:19:09 > 0:19:11It's a sweet pair of chairs here,

0:19:11 > 0:19:15and this plant stand is oozing 1960s.

0:19:15 > 0:19:17But I want to make these really sing.

0:19:17 > 0:19:19I thought loads of colour on them

0:19:19 > 0:19:21and, perhaps, turning this plant stand

0:19:21 > 0:19:24into something slightly more useful, as well as being beautiful.

0:19:24 > 0:19:26First things - they need a really good cleanup.

0:19:30 > 0:19:33Ercol dates back to the 1920s,

0:19:33 > 0:19:37and it was established in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.

0:19:37 > 0:19:41The company's ability to perfect steam-bending their woods

0:19:41 > 0:19:44took them into mass production.

0:19:45 > 0:19:47Their furniture became a hit in post-war Britain.

0:19:47 > 0:19:51You can't beat a lovely bit of British-made Ercol.

0:19:51 > 0:19:56Fantastic legs, beech frame on the seat and really stylish,

0:19:56 > 0:19:58so, if I can paint them and get rid of this tired old

0:19:58 > 0:20:02orange-looking varnish, I think they'll look really smart.

0:20:02 > 0:20:04I'll be the judge of that, Sarah.

0:20:04 > 0:20:08Scrubbing done, time for some painting.

0:20:08 > 0:20:11I've got some lovely colours here and I think I'm just going to paint

0:20:11 > 0:20:14each individual element a different colour and see how it turns out.

0:20:14 > 0:20:18My plan is to paint it, rub it down a bit so it smoothes it

0:20:18 > 0:20:21and makes it look really soft, and then lacquer the whole lot,

0:20:21 > 0:20:23so it's got a sort of semi-gloss to it.

0:20:24 > 0:20:26I like that bit best.

0:20:33 > 0:20:36To get the best result when painting Ercol,

0:20:36 > 0:20:40treat it very gently for around 30 days after completion.

0:20:43 > 0:20:46This is because paint doesn't reach its hardest point till then.

0:20:48 > 0:20:50I love colours together.

0:20:50 > 0:20:54I love pinks, I love greens. I love them to be bright and fresh.

0:20:54 > 0:20:56I like natural, beautiful, mossy colours.

0:20:56 > 0:20:57But, most of all,

0:20:57 > 0:21:01I love stuff that makes you really happy when you look at it.

0:21:01 > 0:21:06Yeah, like a very colourful picture of me, for example. I get it.

0:21:06 > 0:21:09You can update Ercol with colour and it looks really good.

0:21:09 > 0:21:12It's not everybody's cup of tea, cos some people like it really pure,

0:21:12 > 0:21:15just as it came off the factory line.

0:21:15 > 0:21:17But, for me, if it sells it and it makes it look lovely,

0:21:17 > 0:21:19then I'm happy to paint it.

0:21:20 > 0:21:23I've got a bit of experimenting to do,

0:21:23 > 0:21:25but I think this will probably work.

0:21:27 > 0:21:29What do you reckon? A bit of that next?

0:21:29 > 0:21:33Probably best I leave the colour choices to you, Sarah.

0:21:35 > 0:21:37It's as good as any.

0:21:37 > 0:21:41Sarah has spent £10 so far on materials

0:21:41 > 0:21:45and, hopefully, this colourful approach is the bright idea

0:21:45 > 0:21:47that will help us turn a profit.

0:21:52 > 0:21:56While Sarah cracks on, it's time to head to Manchester,

0:21:56 > 0:22:02where Mark has begun the process which will, hopefully, introduce

0:22:02 > 0:22:04a new character to the world.

0:22:04 > 0:22:09So, I normally work by putting my parts down on the table,

0:22:09 > 0:22:13seeing how it looks as a sort of two-dimensional sculpture.

0:22:14 > 0:22:171980s kind of feel of a body.

0:22:19 > 0:22:24Some arms. Something like that, just to get a feel.

0:22:24 > 0:22:27And some legs, something like that.

0:22:28 > 0:22:31But, to be honest with you, as I'm looking at it,

0:22:31 > 0:22:33I'm not really feeling it as a sculpture.

0:22:33 > 0:22:37It doesn't really appeal to me. So, I'm going to go against Sarah,

0:22:37 > 0:22:41which I might get into trouble for, and I'm going to change the design.

0:22:41 > 0:22:44I've got to do what I feel, so that's what I'm going to do.

0:22:44 > 0:22:46Mark, we trust you. Go for it.

0:22:51 > 0:22:54Even though the TV is '80s plastic,

0:22:54 > 0:22:59Mark believes that a steampunk theme is the way forward.

0:22:59 > 0:23:03Steampunk is a term that originated from science fiction novels.

0:23:03 > 0:23:08It takes its inspiration from the Industrial Revolution,

0:23:08 > 0:23:11Victorian Britain and the American Wild West.

0:23:11 > 0:23:15I've got various wooden boxes around and things.

0:23:16 > 0:23:18Somewhere around here, I've got...

0:23:20 > 0:23:25..something that is... the right size.

0:23:25 > 0:23:28It's already got that kind of steampunk feel to it,

0:23:28 > 0:23:32with the dark wood, but actually, I'm going to dress it as well,

0:23:32 > 0:23:34so there'll be dials on there and knobs

0:23:34 > 0:23:36and sort of steampunk dressings on there.

0:23:36 > 0:23:38At the moment, I'm just getting it to scale.

0:23:38 > 0:23:42Which is where the fun part of the process really kicks in.

0:23:44 > 0:23:47I'm just going to go to my leg collection.

0:23:47 > 0:23:52A leg collection - every robot maker's dream.

0:23:52 > 0:23:55I'm feeling that a lot more. It's looking a lot nicer.

0:23:55 > 0:23:58As a scale, I'm quite happy with that.

0:23:58 > 0:24:01Once Mark is happy with the scale,

0:24:01 > 0:24:03it's a case of layering on parts

0:24:03 > 0:24:06from his treasure trove of bits and pieces

0:24:06 > 0:24:09to help give the robot character.

0:24:09 > 0:24:10I'm going to put the legs on.

0:24:10 > 0:24:13That entails drilling through the tin on here.

0:24:15 > 0:24:18I'm ambidextrous, which always comes in useful

0:24:18 > 0:24:21- when you're building robots. - Very handy.

0:24:23 > 0:24:25HE GRUNTS WITH EFFORT

0:24:25 > 0:24:28Looks like we've got ourselves half a robot,

0:24:28 > 0:24:31so I'm going to have a look in my arm collection

0:24:31 > 0:24:33and see if I can find something else.

0:24:33 > 0:24:37Arm collection - also very handy.

0:24:38 > 0:24:42Maybe they have a kind of steampunk feel to them.

0:24:52 > 0:24:56And just temporarily, I'm going to put the head on the robot,

0:24:56 > 0:25:00just to see where we're up to as a sculpture.

0:25:02 > 0:25:06Yeah, it needs a neck, but it's getting there.

0:25:06 > 0:25:09It's looking something like what I was expecting it to look like.

0:25:09 > 0:25:14I like this steampunk look. Might even give it a try myself.

0:25:23 > 0:25:26Over in Marlow, Buckinghamshire,

0:25:26 > 0:25:31Neil Wragg is about to begin the task of producing bags for life

0:25:31 > 0:25:34from old sacks that had no future at all.

0:25:34 > 0:25:37It's a lovely looking logo, although they are obviously old,

0:25:37 > 0:25:39which adds to their charm.

0:25:39 > 0:25:43So, I'm going to have to do something to maybe reinforce,

0:25:43 > 0:25:49to avoid these holes, the fraying bits, and make a bag

0:25:49 > 0:25:52that is going to stand the test of time, as well as look nice.

0:25:54 > 0:25:57Good plan, Neil. Let's do this.

0:25:57 > 0:26:00We're going to use these old curtains

0:26:00 > 0:26:02to line the inside of the bag.

0:26:04 > 0:26:08Neil has decided to use curtains as the lining material,

0:26:08 > 0:26:11as it is soft but strong fabric that will not tear,

0:26:11 > 0:26:17and has the Brucey bonus of feeling nice to the touch. Excellent!

0:26:18 > 0:26:21Relatively simple, just sewing the two right sides together,

0:26:21 > 0:26:23and then I'll turn them inside out

0:26:23 > 0:26:26and that way, we've got no raw edges, it's nice and neat.

0:26:26 > 0:26:29A very simple bag that will look quite different

0:26:29 > 0:26:32to any other bag for life you get.

0:26:36 > 0:26:39Right, I think this is ready for another iron.

0:26:42 > 0:26:46Well, the combination of the old grotty sacks and the pretty curtains

0:26:46 > 0:26:48is going to look pretty good, I think.

0:26:48 > 0:26:51I'm going to have to take your word for that, Neil.

0:26:51 > 0:26:54Right, we've got the sack, we've got the lining now.

0:26:54 > 0:26:59We're going to stitch it inside out to make the bag

0:26:59 > 0:27:01and then just attach some handles.

0:27:02 > 0:27:05Neil is wonderfully reassuring,

0:27:05 > 0:27:08but will these frayed old bags play their part

0:27:08 > 0:27:10in becoming easy on the eye

0:27:10 > 0:27:13and strong enough to make Sarah a profit?

0:27:25 > 0:27:27In Sussex, Sarah is hard at work,

0:27:27 > 0:27:32putting the finishing touches to the chairs and the plant stand.

0:27:32 > 0:27:34I've got some really fine copper sheet here

0:27:34 > 0:27:37and I want put some little caps on the end of the front two legs,

0:27:37 > 0:27:40just to make them look really beautiful.

0:27:41 > 0:27:45Any enhancement in the beauty department is always welcome.

0:27:47 > 0:27:49When Sarah found this trio,

0:27:49 > 0:27:53they each possessed a one-way ticket to Dumpsville.

0:27:53 > 0:27:55But not any more!

0:28:06 > 0:28:09The two chairs are now colour-tastic,

0:28:09 > 0:28:12with variations of blue leading the way.

0:28:13 > 0:28:16Copper sheets round off the spectacle,

0:28:16 > 0:28:20as well as linking it with the contrasting copper spray

0:28:20 > 0:28:22covering the plant stand.

0:28:23 > 0:28:25Good job, Sarah.

0:28:25 > 0:28:27I reckon these blues are working really well together.

0:28:27 > 0:28:30I'm a big blue fan and I think getting rid

0:28:30 > 0:28:34of those softer, babyish colours has really sharpened these up.

0:28:34 > 0:28:36Now we've got a plant stand and a pair of chairs.

0:28:36 > 0:28:38I think they can either be sold all together

0:28:38 > 0:28:40or, perhaps, just the pair of chairs separately.

0:28:40 > 0:28:44But time now to get these out there, see who wants them.

0:28:49 > 0:28:52Sarah first caught sight of this lot

0:28:52 > 0:28:56as Barry was about to consign them for eternity to the skip.

0:28:56 > 0:28:59I really like things like this and I think they're far too nice

0:28:59 > 0:29:01- to end up in there. - It is a shame, yes.

0:29:01 > 0:29:03A shame indeed.

0:29:03 > 0:29:06Until of course, our Sarah saw their potential

0:29:06 > 0:29:12and, with a colourful flick of the wrist, it didn't take long for Sarah

0:29:12 > 0:29:15to tempt some buyers from her varied client base.

0:29:15 > 0:29:17The two chairs sold to The Packhouse,

0:29:17 > 0:29:20a vintage and antiques store in Surrey.

0:29:20 > 0:29:25And the plant stand was bought by River from Sixth Link,

0:29:25 > 0:29:28a vintage and retro retailer in Shropshire.

0:29:28 > 0:29:30I think I've got a client in mind for this one.

0:29:30 > 0:29:33A friend who I used to go to school with, she's just opened up

0:29:33 > 0:29:36a florist in Ireland and I think this piece is going straight to her.

0:29:37 > 0:29:41Now Sarah is on route to Barry's to hand over some cash.

0:29:49 > 0:29:52- Hiya, Barry.- Hello, how are you doing?- I'm really well.

0:29:52 > 0:29:55- Lovely to see you again. - Nice to meet you again.- And you.

0:29:55 > 0:29:58Now, you were being a really helpful relative when I last saw you.

0:29:58 > 0:30:00- That's right, yes. - Did you wonder what might happen

0:30:00 > 0:30:03when I took away your old Ercol chairs and your plant stand?

0:30:03 > 0:30:06I'm still actually wondering what's going to happen to them.

0:30:06 > 0:30:08Well, I thought they were lovely.

0:30:08 > 0:30:10They were really stylish and were something I worked on.

0:30:10 > 0:30:13I've got some pictures here to show you what I've done with them.

0:30:13 > 0:30:14- Are you ready for this?- Yes.

0:30:14 > 0:30:17- Your chairs and your plant stand now look like that.- Oh, wow!

0:30:17 > 0:30:20Wow, that's really, er...stunning!

0:30:20 > 0:30:23Basically, I've given them a fresh, new look,

0:30:23 > 0:30:25some copper tips to their legs,

0:30:25 > 0:30:29and I've planted up the plant stand so it looks decorative.

0:30:29 > 0:30:30- What do you think to that? - Brilliant.

0:30:30 > 0:30:33That's actually more than I anticipated.

0:30:33 > 0:30:37- I have managed to sell them and I've got here £115 for you.- Wow.

0:30:37 > 0:30:41Oh, thank you very much. That's actually... I'm stunned. Thank you.

0:30:41 > 0:30:44What might you do with £115 that you weren't expecting?

0:30:44 > 0:30:47We've got a holiday coming up, so it will probably go towards that.

0:30:47 > 0:30:50That's fantastic. I loved working on your chairs.

0:30:50 > 0:30:52I hope you have a great time on holiday. Really good to catch up.

0:30:52 > 0:30:55- Thank you very much.- My pleasure. Bye-bye.- Thank you. Bye.

0:30:57 > 0:31:02Sarah spent £10 working her magic on the chairs and plant stand.

0:31:02 > 0:31:06They were all sold for £125,

0:31:06 > 0:31:11with the £115 profit going towards a holiday for Barry.

0:31:16 > 0:31:19In Manchester, Mark is giving his robot

0:31:19 > 0:31:21a once-over before Sarah arrives.

0:31:21 > 0:31:23Although it's not exactly what we discussed,

0:31:23 > 0:31:25I hope she still likes it. It's quite a beast

0:31:25 > 0:31:28but he's quite handsome, so, yeah, I hope she likes it.

0:31:29 > 0:31:32I'm back in Manchester to find what kind of magic

0:31:32 > 0:31:34Mark has been able to work on my skip bits.

0:31:34 > 0:31:36I'm hoping to meet a lovely new robot.

0:31:38 > 0:31:42When Sarah picked up this little basket of rubbish,

0:31:42 > 0:31:45she hoped that Mark could turn it into something unique.

0:31:52 > 0:31:55And Mark certainly has delivered.

0:31:55 > 0:31:57Feet made from lampshades,

0:31:57 > 0:32:01arms made from cooking utensils from the 1940s,

0:32:01 > 0:32:04rubber from a car suspension -

0:32:04 > 0:32:07all put together with imagination and skill,

0:32:07 > 0:32:11resulting not just in a robot, but in a personality.

0:32:12 > 0:32:15I wonder what the little guy's called.

0:32:15 > 0:32:17Hi, Mark. Oh, wow!

0:32:17 > 0:32:22- How are you?- I'm fine, thank you. This is Smurf Tickler.

0:32:22 > 0:32:24Smurf Tickler, my friends,

0:32:24 > 0:32:29is a robot who tickles little blue Smurfs, and I kind of like him.

0:32:29 > 0:32:33I love Smurf Tickler. He's amazing. Look at that!

0:32:33 > 0:32:38- Originally, I built him with...on this wooden box.- Right.

0:32:38 > 0:32:40But it was too thin.

0:32:40 > 0:32:44The head's quite wide, so depth-wise, it didn't work.

0:32:44 > 0:32:48So, I found this baking tray and it was exactly the right size.

0:32:48 > 0:32:52I love the way you combine things, so it looks completely appropriate.

0:32:52 > 0:32:54They feel like they're all of an era.

0:32:54 > 0:32:57There's something really cool about him. Was he tricky?

0:32:57 > 0:32:59He was tricky to build, yeah.

0:33:01 > 0:33:04He may have been tricky to build,

0:33:04 > 0:33:08but that hasn't stopped Mark from including a little surprise.

0:33:08 > 0:33:12- There's a media player inside there, so he does something.- OK.- He talks.

0:33:12 > 0:33:15- Does he?- Yes. If I press "Play". - OK.

0:33:15 > 0:33:17- ROBOT:- Hello, what's your name?

0:33:17 > 0:33:22- My name's Sarah. Hi.- That's a nice name. Mine's Smurf Tickler.

0:33:22 > 0:33:24- Where do you come from? - Just near Chichester.

0:33:24 > 0:33:29- What do you like about where you come from?- The green fields, mainly.

0:33:29 > 0:33:31- That's wonderful. - That is just so funny.

0:33:31 > 0:33:34What a lovely idea to add that element to it.

0:33:34 > 0:33:36Will the person who buys it be able

0:33:36 > 0:33:39to programme their own stuff onto it? Is that possible?

0:33:39 > 0:33:43- There's a media player inside there and it's driven by a USB stick.- OK.

0:33:43 > 0:33:46So, you can put anything on that USB stick

0:33:46 > 0:33:48and it will show it on there

0:33:48 > 0:33:50and it will play the audio out the speaker as well.

0:33:50 > 0:33:52I have to hand it to Mark.

0:33:52 > 0:33:56Not only has he delivered a unique robot

0:33:56 > 0:34:00but, by adding the opportunity for an owner to project photos,

0:34:00 > 0:34:02videos and messages on his little face,

0:34:02 > 0:34:06he has made it contemporary and, in turn,

0:34:06 > 0:34:09much more attractive to potential buyers.

0:34:09 > 0:34:14- That's wonderful.- AS ROBOT: I completely agree. It is wonderful.

0:34:14 > 0:34:17He looks fantastic and to have all that functionality is amazing.

0:34:17 > 0:34:22I left 150 quid, I think we chatted about. How's that worked out?

0:34:22 > 0:34:24Yeah, I'm happy with that.

0:34:24 > 0:34:26Thank you so much for taking on the small screen

0:34:26 > 0:34:28because what you've created is truly one-off.

0:34:28 > 0:34:31AS ROBOT: I'm with you, Sarah. Wonderfully original.

0:34:31 > 0:34:33IN USUAL VOICE: All right, I'll stop now.

0:34:33 > 0:34:36Well, Mark has done a fantastic job. I love Smurf Tickler.

0:34:36 > 0:34:38I wonder who's going to buy him.

0:34:41 > 0:34:45At Walsall Recycling Centre, the little tray of TVs and junk

0:34:45 > 0:34:50belonged to Jenny, who found Sarah's approach quite unexpected.

0:34:50 > 0:34:52I'm absolutely gobsmacked she wanted it

0:34:52 > 0:34:54but, if she can use it, then fine.

0:34:54 > 0:34:57I couldn't think what she might do with it, but there you go.

0:34:57 > 0:34:59Neither could I, Jenny.

0:35:00 > 0:35:06But then Mark added his imagination and this fabulous bot was born.

0:35:09 > 0:35:12Sarah made the robot available online

0:35:12 > 0:35:16and it wasn't long before it was bought by a private collector.

0:35:17 > 0:35:20They grow up so fast.

0:35:20 > 0:35:24And now it's left to Sarah to visit Jenny in Burntwood, Staffordshire,

0:35:24 > 0:35:29to let her know what happened to her little tray of TVs and junk.

0:35:30 > 0:35:33- Hello.- Hello, there. Nice to see you again.- You all right?

0:35:33 > 0:35:37- I'm very well, how are you?- Not so bad, thanks.- Chilly.- Just a little.

0:35:37 > 0:35:41- Did you wonder what I might do with your old TVs?- Well, yeah.

0:35:41 > 0:35:44I thought, "What on earth is she going to do with those?"

0:35:44 > 0:35:47I took it to a guy in Manchester and I've got some pictures

0:35:47 > 0:35:49- to show you what he did. - What's he done with them?

0:35:49 > 0:35:52- I hope you've got a sense of humour. - Oh, yeah!

0:35:52 > 0:35:56OK, your TV now looks like this.

0:35:56 > 0:35:58- JENNY LAUGHS - I love it!

0:35:58 > 0:36:02- Oh, yeah!- Do you recognise it? - Yeah, I love it.

0:36:02 > 0:36:10So, your TV has been completely remade into a talking robot.

0:36:10 > 0:36:12What do you think to that?

0:36:12 > 0:36:15I think when the grandchildren see that,

0:36:15 > 0:36:17they're going to laugh their heads off.

0:36:17 > 0:36:20Well, I took some pictures of him and shared him over social media

0:36:20 > 0:36:23- to see if anybody else fancied the look of him.- Wonderful.

0:36:23 > 0:36:26- And he's made you a little bit of profit.- Oh, wonderful!

0:36:26 > 0:36:32- He has turned the old TV into a £50 profit.- Oh, thank you very much!

0:36:32 > 0:36:37That is welcome. Well, what am I going to do with that, I wonder?

0:36:37 > 0:36:40Yeah, go on then, tell me. What might you do with 50 quid?

0:36:40 > 0:36:42Well, I've got to take it to my brother

0:36:42 > 0:36:44and see what he wants to do with it, cos the telly was his.

0:36:44 > 0:36:48Oh, well, I hope he finds a good use for it.

0:36:48 > 0:36:52- It was a funny project to work on. - I bet it was! I bet it was!

0:36:53 > 0:36:57Mark charged £150 to build the robot.

0:36:58 > 0:37:01Sarah sold him for £200,

0:37:01 > 0:37:04with the £50 profit going to Jenny.

0:37:14 > 0:37:19In Marlow, Neil has finished transforming the old sacks.

0:37:19 > 0:37:21I'm looking forward to Sarah's arrival.

0:37:21 > 0:37:27I think I've done what she's after. I think she's going to be pleased.

0:37:27 > 0:37:30I think, from turning something that was quite grotty

0:37:30 > 0:37:33into something that is far more high-street.

0:37:34 > 0:37:37I always get so excited when I come to see Neil

0:37:37 > 0:37:39because he is a brilliant bag maker

0:37:39 > 0:37:42and I'm hoping those sad sacks that I left are now full of beans.

0:37:42 > 0:37:48Sarah was asking a lot of Neil when she dropped off these old sacks.

0:37:54 > 0:37:58I have to admit, this is impressive.

0:37:58 > 0:38:03Neil has taken these old factory sacks - frayed, full of holes,

0:38:03 > 0:38:07ready to be dumped - and transformed them,

0:38:07 > 0:38:10not only into bags, but bags for life.

0:38:10 > 0:38:14Curtains give it a soft yet durable lining,

0:38:14 > 0:38:18pieces of sofa leather add more strength to the handles,

0:38:18 > 0:38:22and a layer of protective glaze adds more strength and shine,

0:38:22 > 0:38:27which brings it all together. Very impressive indeed.

0:38:27 > 0:38:31- Hiya.- Hi, Sarah, come on in.- Thanks. How you doing?- I'm very well.

0:38:31 > 0:38:36- So, how...?- Here we go. - No!- You've got four old bean sacks.

0:38:36 > 0:38:38And they're still old bean sacks.

0:38:38 > 0:38:41- They are old bean sacks but they're beautiful!- Good.

0:38:41 > 0:38:44I thought they'd be scrappy, I have to say, after what I left you.

0:38:44 > 0:38:47I so nearly passed these by, so...

0:38:47 > 0:38:49- They are lovely, aren't they? - They're still bean sacks.

0:38:49 > 0:38:52They've still got holes, they're still a bit fraying,

0:38:52 > 0:38:55but they've now got a lining from an old curtain,

0:38:55 > 0:38:58they've got leather handles, they've got brass fittings.

0:38:58 > 0:39:01- I think they look quite nice now. - You are amazing!

0:39:02 > 0:39:06I'm with you, Sarah. Great job, Neil.

0:39:06 > 0:39:10And they scream "reused", don't they?

0:39:10 > 0:39:13So, I think you should be really proud of yourself. They're lovely.

0:39:13 > 0:39:15It does show what you can reuse.

0:39:16 > 0:39:18You said it, Neil.

0:39:18 > 0:39:22Not only that, he managed to stick to the £50 budget.

0:39:24 > 0:39:26It was straightforward.

0:39:26 > 0:39:30Sewing-wise, it was just a couple of lines of sewing here and there

0:39:30 > 0:39:34- and you've got four shopping bags. - I think they're brilliant!

0:39:34 > 0:39:37Love the colour choices. I think you've done really well there.

0:39:37 > 0:39:42- For a 40-year-old tech, not bad. - Brilliant! Thanks.

0:39:42 > 0:39:46- I shall take those away. - Go shopping.

0:39:46 > 0:39:49- Absolutely love shopping. - Go and get your turnips.

0:39:50 > 0:39:52Look what he's done!

0:39:52 > 0:39:57He's literally snatched style from the jaws of a skip. What great work!

0:39:59 > 0:40:00I think that went rather well.

0:40:00 > 0:40:03From a bunch of old bean sacks that stayed looking, essentially,

0:40:03 > 0:40:06like a bunch of old bean sacks, she seemed very pleased.

0:40:06 > 0:40:08As Punch, like the rest of us.

0:40:12 > 0:40:15The old sacks belonged to Martin and Annette,

0:40:15 > 0:40:19who weren't quite sure what to make of Sarah's approach.

0:40:19 > 0:40:21We're surprised that Sarah wanted the sacks.

0:40:21 > 0:40:24I mean, they're interesting enough with the terminology on them

0:40:24 > 0:40:27and that, but what she's going to do with them, who knows?

0:40:27 > 0:40:30What she did was bring them along to Neil,

0:40:30 > 0:40:36who got out his trusty sewing machine and, voila, job done.

0:40:37 > 0:40:39The bags were snapped up by Nick

0:40:39 > 0:40:43from online retailer Smithers of Stamford.

0:40:43 > 0:40:45According to Neil, these are bags for life,

0:40:45 > 0:40:48and I don't think we're going to have any problem shifting these.

0:40:48 > 0:40:50I think ladies are going to love them.

0:40:50 > 0:40:54And now it's left to Sarah to hand over the profit.

0:41:00 > 0:41:04- Hi, there.- Hello.- Hi, Annette, how are you doing?- I'm great, thank you.

0:41:04 > 0:41:06I was hoping to catch up with you and Martin,

0:41:06 > 0:41:09but Martin's away at the moment, isn't he?

0:41:09 > 0:41:10He's away at sea, off Aberdeen.

0:41:10 > 0:41:13What did you think when some strange woman came up and said,

0:41:13 > 0:41:17"I want to take away those woodworm-filled dirty sacks?"

0:41:17 > 0:41:20Well, I thought you were absolutely crazy.

0:41:20 > 0:41:23I've got some pictures to show you here. Do they look familiar there?

0:41:23 > 0:41:25- Oh, they do, yes. - So, I think, in the end,

0:41:25 > 0:41:29- we managed to salvage four of the ones that were full of wood.- Yeah.

0:41:29 > 0:41:32And here are your sacks now.

0:41:32 > 0:41:34Oh, wow!

0:41:34 > 0:41:40- They are remodelled as shopping bags.- Ah, that's a very good idea!

0:41:40 > 0:41:43So, that's what he did with them. What do you reckon to that?

0:41:43 > 0:41:44I think that's fantastic.

0:41:44 > 0:41:47We had no idea what on earth he would do with them,

0:41:47 > 0:41:50but that looks... At least that was something

0:41:50 > 0:41:54that was going straight in the tip and is now useful.

0:41:54 > 0:41:57It is really useful and I'm surprised to say, actually,

0:41:57 > 0:41:59I got some money to hand over to you as well.

0:41:59 > 0:42:01I'm surprised as well, I'm very surprised!

0:42:01 > 0:42:04- Look what I've got for you. I have got...- Wow!

0:42:04 > 0:42:07- I've got £70 here for you for your old bags.- Oh, that's fabulous!

0:42:07 > 0:42:12- That's brilliant. Thank you very much.- What might you do with £70?

0:42:12 > 0:42:14Well, I'll put it towards...

0:42:14 > 0:42:16I'm going to have my kitchen refurbished,

0:42:16 > 0:42:19- so it will go towards that. - Fantastic.

0:42:19 > 0:42:22Well, who'd have thought it? It was really good to catch up.

0:42:22 > 0:42:24I hope Martin approves of what we did with them.

0:42:24 > 0:42:27- I'm sure he will, I'm sure he will. - Brilliant. Lovely to see you again.

0:42:27 > 0:42:30- Thank you very much. - Thank you so much, bye-bye.- OK, bye.

0:42:33 > 0:42:37I absolutely love that, because that was a genuine surprise for Annette.

0:42:37 > 0:42:40She had no idea that those old sacks were actually moneybags.

0:42:42 > 0:42:45Neil charged £50 for the makeover.

0:42:45 > 0:42:48The bags were bought for £120,

0:42:48 > 0:42:51leaving a handsome £70 profit

0:42:51 > 0:42:55to go towards Martin and Annette's new kitchen.

0:42:58 > 0:43:02Sarah salvaged three items that were destined for the dump.

0:43:02 > 0:43:06Mark worked wonders making our robot.

0:43:06 > 0:43:10Neil bagged our respect with the printed sacks.

0:43:10 > 0:43:15And Sarah splashed colour on the chairs and the plant stand.

0:43:15 > 0:43:17Sometimes, it's a challenge trying to make money for nothing

0:43:17 > 0:43:21out of random tip items, but Mark and Neil did a fantastic job.

0:43:21 > 0:43:23They had an eclectic collection to start with

0:43:23 > 0:43:25and they really nailed it.