Charity shops have never been more popular, with people shunning fast fashion in their droves. But what about fast furniture?
Sustainability is at the top of a lot of people's agendas when it comes to dressing, travelling, eating, and now, decorating. Social media is awash with amateur upcyclers revamping old pieces for the 21st Century to save money and make their interiors stand out from the crowd.
Walking into the St Joseph's Hospice Furniture Shop & Warehouse on Walton Vale, the first thing that struck me is that the place is huge. The charity moved into the unit almost three months ago after a fire destroyed their former site on Warbreck Moor in 2021.
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St Joseph's Hospice was founded in Thornton in 1974 and cares for about 200 patients and their families every year. It has ten shops in Liverpool and Sefton, although the site on Walton Vale is the only one dedicated solely to furniture.
The knick-knacks on offer really make this charity shop stand apart. It doesn't feel like a charity shop at all, I felt like I was at an antiques fair.
More and more people are taking risks and becoming more daring with interiors, and this was a treasure trove. A vintage sewing box for £45 and a hot pink chaise lounge for £95 were real standout pieces.
What caught my eye was the impressive selection of vintage tea sets from Japan, including hand-painted collections and a gorgeous 53-piece bone China set for £110. The price may be steep, but it was in mint condition - if I had any clue about antiques, Fiona Bruce would have been getting a call.
On the cheaper, and more practical, end of the scale were photo frames starting at £1.50, brass candelabras for as little £10 and an adorable brass penguin ornament for a fiver. These would be perfect for adding a little personality to the home without going overboard on your credit card.
More outlandish things for sale from days gone by included a vintage typewriter, someone's beloved teddy bear and even a Farrah Fawcett doll in her original box.
Among the antiques, everyday products are up for grabs, including office chairs from £40, desks, and solid, hardwood wardrobes starting at £55. There was also an impressive selection of white goods, such as fridge freezers, washing machines televisions and toasters looking for a new home.
Everything was in excellent condition, with many of the white goods already having 'sold' signs. Items such as these will save you hundreds if you're looking to upgrade on a budget.
The shop is also an upcyclers dream. Sprucing up pre-loved furniture is a huge trend at the moment, with social media sites awash with people sanding down old chests of draws and giving them modern designs.
The shop had a huge selection of solid wooden console tables, sideboards and coffee tables waiting for a new lease of life. There are even fire surrounds to be claimed, as well bed frames and mirrors.
Jo Rigby-Clare, head of retail at St. Joseph’s Hospice, said each shop "has its very own identity". She added: "Charity shops are becoming increasingly popular. With prices going up everywhere, people are really feeling the squeeze on their finances and many have been turning to charity shops for clothes, but also for toys, games, books, shoes, and accessories.
"But it is furniture where we have seen the biggest growth. And there are environmental reasons behind this too. As a society, we are becoming more aware of our impact on the environment and the importance of reusing and recycling what we no longer want or need, rather than throwing it away."
Jo also encouraged people to donate, and that if they have something the charity can sell they'll collect it for free.
She added: "The money we raise through our charity shops makes a huge difference to the hospice because it costs over £8,750 every day to provide high quality end of life care to our patients and support for their families, and we only receive a small portion of this from the NHS.
"For the rest, about two-thirds, we have to fundraise. Our charity shops generate around £250k of income for the hospice every year so this is a very significant amount."
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