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A £1 teddy bear, along with bracelets, sequins and ribbons, has helped a duo of upcyclers win Jersey's answer to Bargain Hunt.
Every Friday, Express presents a selection of online and offline exhibitions, performances, workshops, events and other historic, creative and delicious content to help islanders get their weekly dose of culture.
Here’s this week’s offering…
A team from the Potting Shed at Ransoms has won the inaugural Great Acorn Reuse Bargain Hunt.
Helen Bourke and Kay Mallet, whose team was named ‘Ready Sheddy Go’, bought items worth £93 and made £324, with their biggest profit coming from a £1 bear, which they raffled to bring in £60.
They also customised items, including a denim jacket which they embroidered with sequins and ribbons, which sold for more than three times its buying price, and cut up a £4 necklace to make bracelets which sold for £23.
“We really enjoyed the challenge, and we’d recommend it to anyone,” Helen said. “And we had a lot of support from our lovely customers at the Potting Shed.”
Helen and Kay beat 12 other teams in the inaugural competition which aimed to raise funds to provide work and training opportunities to individuals with a disability or long-term health condition.
Each of the teams were given half an hour in Acorn Reuse Shop on 25 June to find items up to the value of £100. They then had four weeks to make as much money as possible however they liked, by upcycling, auctioning or just reselling.
Bobby Dazzler awards, created by the Acorn Woodshack, were also given out to teams from Magellan Consultancy, Investec and KPMG.
Pictured: Kate Langlois of Magellan Maximisers upcycled a £10 chair that went on to sell for £100.
Magellan Maximisers did some “seriously good upcycling”, according to the team at Acorn. One of the items they upcycled was a chair, which they bought for £10 and sold for £100 – a 900% profit. They also added value by pairing plants with a copper pan and a teapot.
Collins and Scott Antique Experts from Investec received a Bobby Dazzler award for their strategy in lining up a buyer before the event. They made £150 by selling their items in one job lot to someone for their new home.
The KPMG team subtly changed four pictures, making them more vibrant or interesting, including one with a UFO, making a total of £30 from their £2 initial purchase.
Acorn gave distributed a ‘Del Boy’ prize to Park Recruitment for their enthusiasm in entering three teams. They closed the office for the morning, and stayed at Acorn well beyond breakfast.
“We loved how everyone came up with something different,” Acorn’s Fundraising Manager Caroline Spencer said. “The ideas have been amazing and showed such creativity and enthusiasm. We hope to make this an annual event as it’s been great fun.
“Some people wanted to hold bigger events in order to sell their items but were hampered by covid. They will continue to upcycle and sell beyond the competition’s deadline. Some businesses have kindly matched what their teams made, and once all sales have been completed, we will be in a position to say how much was raised overall.”
Pictured: The Kings of Swing will be playing at Hamptonne on 5 August.
Jersey Heritage has planned a series of ‘Summer Night Sessions’ to enable islanders to experience local heritage sites in a “completely different light” every Thursday between 19:00 and 21:00.
The Kings of Swing will be playing at Hamptonne on 5 August, while DJs Colin Moore and Craig Alder will be giving Ibiza sunset vibes at Mont Orgueil Castle on 19 August.
The Jersey Youth Performing Arts will be closing the Summer Nights Sessions on 26 August with a production of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at Hamptonne Country Life Museum.
Another session will take place on 12 August at La Hougue Bie with artists to be confirmed.
The National Trust Jersey is continuing its exploration of Georgian times as part of its celebrations for the tenth anniversary of the Georgian House at 16 New Street.
This month, islanders and visitors can learn about Georgian fine arts, fashion and entertainment every Thursdays and Fridays between 10:00 and 16:00.
From sack-back gowns to the polonaise, polished silver tea pots to exquisite fans, they will get to immerse themselves in the opulence of the 18th century.
With lots of activities for children, including dressing up clothes and the Trust’s brand new Gorgeous Georgian activity pack.
On Tuesday 3 August, between 18:00 and 20:00, the Journeaux family and their servants will be hosting an atmospheric theatrical tour of 16 New Street by candlelight.
Oddsocks will be performing William Shakespeare’s ‘The Comedy of Errors’ at Milbrook Park between Monday 2 August and Wednesday 11 August.
The “funny and frolicking theatrical adventure” presented on an open-air stage should please the whole family.
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