Force Charity Shop

4 Oct 2013

One of the questions I am most asked is "where do I get my stock" . So I thought I would give you a peak into one of my favourite treasure hunting shops is the Force charity shop in Heavitree.
I mentioned them last week as they are always winning national awards for the amount of money they bring into the charity. Unilike many charity shops these days who have jumped greedily onto the band wagon because of the vintage trend, Force (mostly) don't charge extortionate amounts for their items. Consequently the stock turns over very quickly, the customers always have something new to look at and are happy with the cost, and the shop gets lots and lots of lovely cash.
Sorry about the quality of the photos I was trying to take pictures on my phone without anybody either seeing or having their picture taken.

As you enter the shop you have the till and the ladies, mens and childrens clothes section. Always lots of great bargains and most of the clothes are sold for a flat rate of £3 unless deemed "special". All items are always in great condition, nothing is smelly, rarely anything wrong with them. All clean and ironed before put out on display. I recently purchased a brand new pair of boots (with next label for £69 still on the bottom) for £6 !!

Up the step and turn left you have the childrens toy and book room. Lots of lovely clean toys on sale and often many collectable items. Childrens books on sale for 20p each.

Out the door, turn left and you have walls lined with nic nacs, picture frames, toiletries, vases and more

Into a long room filled from floor to ceiling with shelves full of crockery, ornaments, pictures, music section, teapots and more.

This is where I get most of my plates from. All the plates stacked on the floor are just 10p each, bowls usually 50p. You won't find anything on these shelves over £3.

The room at the end (sorry didn't get a photo ) is full of bedding, cushions, haberdashery, buttons, fabric, knitting patterns and more.

back up and off to the right, outside into the "lean to" is where small pieces of furniture, garden wares, picnic bits, plastic homewares, flowerpots and the 10p cups and saucers are kept.

Looks like somebody beat me to it on this day. Not much to choose from.

This is what I found that day. The brown cups and saucers out of the 10p box are Wedgewood.

So there you have it. I missed out the main book room and the front display room which contains all the big pieces of furniture. Sorry, but as you can see its a real treasure trove. I love it.

Linking up with Liz at MagpieMonday

Ralph Lauren Denimware Thrifty Find!

Today I had possibly my best ever thrifty find !
A complete 20 piece dinner set of beautiful Ralph Lauren denimware for just £2 !
Yes, £2 !!! 10p per piece to be precise.
My favourite charity shop has a policy of selling its plates, bowls, cups and saucers for 10p each. Their reasoning is they have so much stock donated it allows them to turn it over quickly and make a good profit. and what a profit they make ! Consistently voted the top Force charity shop in the country, they have won many, many awards for the funds they bring into the charity.
Most of their stock is very reasonably priced, although they are quite canny and do their research. They have experts in all areas and compare most donations on Ebay and the like before they put it on the shop floor. Most of the high value stock goes off to auction and sometimes I will see an overpriced item in the shop because they deem it "current", but in the main it is a treasure trove of bargains.
It has become harder to find good stock, but if you have the eye and your timing is right you might just find a real gem like I did today.
Discontinued in 1997 the Denimware range was part of a collection called The Kate Reversed collection. I believe from the 1980's and much collected today.

I adore the dark blue colour which closely resembles dark blue denim.

Linking up for the first time in a long while with the wonderful Liz at magpieMonday

Build your contacts

Although I am relatively "new" to vintage selling, I have already made several really useful contacts with people who are able to source stock for me. One of the most enjoyable parts of my job is finding and buying stock. I can't though, be at every bootsale or charity shop. Timing (and luck) plays a big part.
One of my first contacts (and best) was a man called Paul I met whilst selling at Exeter cattle market. He was on the stall next to me and was selling off the contents of his grandma's house for silly prices. I was unable to checkout his stall when we first set up because both of us were inundated with customers and I couldn't leave my stall. I huffed and puffed as I saw fantastic bargains flying off his stall. When things calmed down we struck up a conversation. He commented that I seemed to know what I was doing and I told him what I did for a living. He then told me he had loads of stuff to still clear from his gran's home including several Fortnum and Mason's wicker hampers. His brother sends them every year to the family and when all the food is gone the hampers just gather dust in the garage.

Did I want them ?
Did I want them ! Is water wet ???
We agreed a price and true to his word he delivered 3 immaculate hampers the next day. Result.
So imagine how excited I was when he called me last week and told me he didn't get a F&M hamper this christmas but a Harrods one instead. Would I like to see it ? It wasn't normal wicker though, but a dark seagrass with dark brown leather embossed lid. Sounds fantastic, and it is ! I took a peek on the Harrods website and much smaller hampers are selling for £150-£200 !!
I paid a bit more than normal for this one but think it is worth every penny.

A great size, it would look perfect in a modern living room, especially one with brown leather sofas. Use it for storage, as a foot rest, small occasional table, toy box. Lots and lots of uses with a stylish look.

A bit out of focus, but this is the inside of the lid. The hamper will be available for sale soon on my shop page .

I have several other people who regularly contact me with treasure they have for sale, all of whom I have met out and about on my travels. From the beautiful French girl who was in Devon on holiday and who now sources French homewares for me, to the lady of a certain age who has a house full of beautiful vintage china and homewares from the 1930s, 40s, 50s.

Don't be afraid to strike up conversations with people. You never know what it will lead to.

New website and blog

11 Sept 2012

After a long Summer of not getting much work done and even less blogging, I have finally got around to sorting my new website and blog out.

I would love for you to continue following me as I thrift, relove and paint my way through life.

I have lots of ideas for the future and am really excited with how my little business is moving along, please come along with me for the ride. It means the world to me to see comments from the people who take the time to write them.

Hope to see you soon at www.thewhiteapproach.com
Karen xx

Busy, busy, busy

11 Jul 2012

It seems an age since I last blogged. It's a combination of things, a little bit of lost mojo but mainly down to spending time concentrating on what makes the money. I also have a few exciting projects in the pipeline, including a new combined online shop and blog, renting shared space in TWO new local Vintage shops and more. So life is pretty busy at the moment.

My reloved furniture is being really well received, selling most pieces as I put them up for sale either on facebook or at Topsham each Friday.

Here are a selction of recently completed items, hope you like them.