Shopping at Emmaus
Second hand furniture and homewares
At most Emmaus shops, you will find a wide range of furniture including sofas, chairs, dining tables, wardrobes, chests of drawers and electrical goods such as stereos, TVs, kitchen utensils, and lamps. Many shops also sell larger kitchen appliances and white goods: fridges, freezers, cookers etc. If it's smaller items you're looking for, you'll find a huge selection of bric-a-brac, crockery, glassware, collectables, records, pictures, books and much more. We often have great vintage and retro items!
Get an idea of what Emmaus shops sell and what Emmaus Communities do on the Emmaus UK Pinterest page. Why not follow us?
Or visit the Emmaus shops gallery or see a video tour of an Emmaus shop (via Youtube).
Unique handmade and upcycled items
If you're looking for something really special, many Communities are now "upcycling" in their workshops. They make unique items from materials that would otherwise be thrown away, helping Community residents develop new skills to boot. The Union Jack Chair and painted storage chest are two examples shown below.
Delivery, prices and opening times
Most Emmaus shops will deliver large items to your home, as long as you live within a certain area. There is usually a small charge for this service, depending on the distance.
Emmaus Communities need to support themselves financially through their business, so goods for sale are usually priced at a level that will enable the Community to do this. However, Emmaus is also committed to helping people on low incomes, so most Emmaus shops will give a substantial discount to people who could not otherwise afford to pay for items. You may require some documentation eg proof of receiving Benefits, to qualify for this.
Emmaus shops are usually open 5 or 6 days a week; most are closed on Sundays. For more details on opening times, delivery or discounts, contact your nearest Emmaus shop.
Helping us help others
When you shop at Emmaus, you are helping people who have been homeless and unemployed to get back on their feet. By selling items that they have collected from the public, the formerly homeless men and women who live in Emmaus Communities support themselves financially and any surplus is used to help others in need. Companions also learn new skills and regain their self-respect through working to support themselves and the Community.
The money raised in the shop also enables the Community to help others in need, which is a key part of the Emmaus ethos. As Jason, who was homeless until he joined Emmaus, says:
"We work to support ourselves and our Community but we also do things to help other local charities. It is important to us here at the Community that we don’t just sit back and get given stuff, but actually work to make a difference to our lives and the lives of other people who are less fortunate than ourselves."
When you buy second-hand at Emmaus, you're also saving the environment by reducing the amount of waste going to landfill sites and saving the energy and materials that would be used to make something new.
