On Wednesday 25 April, luxury upcycler Zoe Pocock won first place on BBC 1’s Flipping Profit by selling a restored piece of second-hand furniture sourced from local homelessness charity Emmaus Cambridge for £595.
Zoe, who runs upcycling business ‘Muck N Brass’, battled it out with antiques auctioneer Charles Hanson and trader Linda Lambert to rummage through Cambridge’s antique shops, flea markets and second-hand shops in the hope of finding items that they could make the most money from for BBC Children in Need.
After 15 years working in the fashion and beauty industry, Zoe turned her love of design and passion for upcycling into Muck N Brass and now creates unique and original pieces from her workshop in Brockley, South East London.
For Flipping Profit, the designer chose a second-hand vintage sideboard costing £75 from Emmaus Cambridge and restored it into a pop-art graffiti masterpiece featuring prints of Winston Churchill and Queen Victoria. The total cost of the piece and restoration came to £199.60, with the finished sideboard selling for £595, making a profit of £395.40.
Zoe Pocock, Muck N Brass, said:
“Emmaus came to my mind straight away while filming in Cambridge for Flipping Profit. I’m a big fan and, as I deliver most of my pieces myself, I’m able to visit a lot of the Emmaus shops on my road trips – I never fail to find vintage furniture, pictures or ornaments which I regularly upcycle for my online store.”
Emmaus Cambridge currently supports 34 formerly homeless companions by offering more than just a roof over their head. Companions are provided with a home for as long as needed, as well as meaningful work, training and support to help them rebuild their lives. Companions work full time at the charity’s second-hand shop in Landbeach selling furniture, clothing and household goods.
The charity also have a dedicated team of companions who are trained in upcycling to give worn and damaged donated furniture a new lease of life. The income generated through the shop goes straight back into the community and enables companions to develop skills, rebuild their self-respect and help others in greater need than themselves.
Diane Docherty, Chief Executive, at Emmaus Cambridge, said:
“Zoe is so talented and we were delighted that she chose her item for Flipping Profit from our second-hand charity shop. Upcycling is a huge part of our community as it gives our companions a chance to learn new skills and a sense of satisfaction knowing that they have restored an old and worn item into a masterpiece. Seeing Zoe’s final sideboard just goes to show all of the hard work and dedication that upcyclers, whether professional or amateur, put into the transformation to turn an unwanted item into something brilliant.”
To find out more about Emmaus Cambridge and its second-hand charity shop, visit Green End, Landbeach, Cambridge, CB25 9FD. To find out more about Zoe Pocock, Muck N Brass, visit mucknbrass.com.