WALKINGinto her local charity shop, Sarah Beighton headed straight for the homeware section.
She was looking for some cheap crockery for a BBQ she was throwing, when a tall blue vase in the 50p bargain bin suddenly caught her eye.
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“It was so unusual - heavy blue glass with bobbles running along the outside,” says Sarah, 52. “It felt so nice in my hands, and I thought it would be good for co*cktails at the BBQ, so I handed over my 50p and bought it.
"I had no idea it was a rare collectible that would sell at auction for a whopping £1.1k - the record sale of the day.
“People think you can’t find gems in charity shops any more - but that’s not true. Since then, I’ve made thousands which has helped pay for holidays, car repairs and dinners out.”
Top charity shop tips for bagging a bargain
Ross Dutton has been a manager for Crisis's charity shops for four years and currently runs the charity's Finsbury Park shop in London.
Choose your area - As a rule of thumb, the posher the area, the better quality the clothes that are donated.
Don't hang around - If you see something you like, buy it, as it'll likely be gone when you come back
Look out for cut-off labels - Some of your favourite high street stores will have deals with local charity shops to donate stock that isn't sold during theirown sales. Often part of the deal is that they need to cut the labels off the clothes.
Stay at home - While some charities have their own site, likeOxfamandCrisis. many also sell from dedicatedeBaystores, such asBritish Heart FoundationandScope. You won't get the range of bargains that you would get in a physical store, but if you're looking for something specific it may be worth checking online too.
A carer who lives in Selby, North Yorkshire, with her son, Joe, 18, and daughters Isabella, 13, and 12-year-old Jemma, Sarah has been using charity shops for years.
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“I’m a single mum and money is always tight,” she says. “The cost of living crisis means I try to save whenever I can, so I buy clothes, books and household items second-hand, and only buy new if the charity shop doesn’t have it.”
“I used my blue vase glass for my summer BBQ and throughout the holidays. It’s extra tall and heavy so the drink stays cold for longer. It was my go to glass for a long lasting summer co*cktail.
“I loved it because it was heavy and didn’t fall over when I popped it on the grass in summer. I never realised it wasn’t just a vase glass but a hidden treasure.
In September 2021, three months after buying it, Sarah was clearing through her cupboards for items to sell on eBay, when the vase caught her eye.
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“I have an uncle who is an antiques dealer, and I’d sometimes send him pictures of things I was planning to sell online in case they were worth anything - though I’d never had anything valuable before. A friend suggested the specialist auction house. I suddenly had a weird feeling about the vase and decided to give ita go.”
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“I was stunned when I discovered the value of Whitefriars pieces.I thought it was a dream. I never thought I’d find treasure in tat. I felt like Indiana Jones when he discovered a rare gem or statue!”
Sarah carefully wrapped her 50p find in a box and took it to Spicers, an online auction site in Goole, which her uncle recommended.
“The Spicers expert wasn't sure if it was a Whitefriars vase or a copy but agreed to list it in the auction catalogue as ‘in the style of Whitefriars’. He said collectors would be able to know if it was actually an original.”
The auction house also agreed to list a Shelley six-piece tea service, which Sarah had paid £3 in another charity shop which she’d bought for a summer tea party.
When I checked online and saw the vase had sold for £1.1k, I rang the auction team and asked them if the sale price was a typo
Sarah Beighton
“I had two silver Tiffany items including a keyring and a pen I had been given as a gift years ago but I never used them. The auction house said Tiffany's silver did well, so I listed them as well.”
Sarah’s items went under the hammer in February 2022 - and her success shocked even the most hardened of auctioneers.
“When I checked online and saw the vase had sold for £1.1k, I rang the auction team and asked them if the sale price was a typo. I thought it must be a mistake - how had I turned 50p into that?
“They said Whitefriars collectors had gone crazy for the vase, recognising it as an original. It was the star sale of the day, making the biggest profit.”
Sarah made another £95 from the sale of her two Tiffany items at the same auction, while the £3 Shelley tea service sold for £60.
I put it through the dishwasher so many times without even thinking.
Sarah Beighton
In total Sarah’s gift and charity shop finds sold for £1,260. She paid a flat fee of £12 to sell via the auction house, meaning her profit was an incredible £1244.50.
“It was money from nothing - I was absolutely stunned,” she says.
“I used it to buy a new exhaust to get my car back on the road and towards a summer holiday for the kids, so it made a massive difference for us.
“When I bought the vase it was put in a plastic bag and could have broken on the way home from the charity shop.
“I put it through the dishwasher so many timeswithout even thinking.
I could have easily smashed it or left it out on the lawn accidentally. I would have missed out on a windfall.
Sarah Beighton
“I could have easily smashedit or left it out on the lawn accidentally. I would have missed out on a windfall.
“I’ve always loved vintage crockery and clothing. That love has served me well.
“I do check labels or imprints on crockery. It could be a very plain object but if it feels expensive or looks unusual I’ll buy it and research the item.
That’s how Sarah bought other diner sets, jewellery items and glassware to take back to the auction house.
“Nine months ago I found a vintage Sadler Bone China teapot with a distinctive blue and gold decoration. I paid £3 for it in a charity shop. When I got home, I opened it and found the original paperwork inside. It’s going to be listed for £600,” she says.
I loved it because it was heavy and didn’t fall over when I popped it on the grass in summer. I never realised it wasn’t just a vase glass but a hidden treasure.
Sarah Beighton
Sarah is also listing a Vera Wang jacket she paid one quid for on eBay and a Karen Millen leopard-print coat £5 from a charity shop which she expects to make more than £120 .
“My coat is excellent quality. I have compared prices online and if I wait I know I will get at least £120. The key is I will wait until winter and use eBay or a selling site for designer clothes.
“I also have a Wedgwood dinner service I picked up at a charity shop for £5. I hope to sell it for over £100 as research shows that’s what they are going for,” she says.
The secret to her success? Sarah says it’s buying items she likes, rather than buying simply to sell on and make a profit.
“I use all the items I buy. I used the Sadler tea pot and the Wedgewood dinner set because I wanted to experience the joy of trying them out. You just have to be careful.
I have seen people moaning on Facebookabout people who sell on charity shop items... I am sure some people will troll me.
Sarah Beighton
"I bought them to use. Selling them comes when I finish with them. At the end of every six months, I clear out and decide what to sell via an auction house, what to get appraised, and what I can flog myself on Vinted,” she says.
“Many people forget they have valuable items. People pass away and relatives don't recognise the value of things. The items end up in charity shops for treasure hunters like me. It’s why every time I go into a charity shop or a car boot sale I know I may find hidden treasure,” she says.
Sarah says she knows some people will criticise her for turning such a huge profit on charity shop items.
“I have seen people moaning on Facebookabout people who sell on charity shop items.
"I am sure some people will troll me. I always donate old clothes and items back to the stores. Charity shops are part of the recycling upcycling market.
The way I see it, I’ve bought for the price they asked for, so I don’t owe the charity shops any extra money.
Sarah Beighton
“Many charity shops haveexperts who check stop before they put it out on shelves. If they find an item of value they will take it to auction.
I love that I can buy the item fair and square, use it and then sell it at auction. It’s like I am re-discovering it after other people forget it ever existed.
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“The way I see it, I’ve bought for the price they asked for, so I don’t owe the charity shops any extra money. I also make sure to donate my old clothes and items, so I’m giving something back that way too.
“My advice to anyone looking to make money finding their own charity-shop finds is be patient and persistent - there are treasures there. You just have to look…”
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