Half of Brits would buy pre-owned goods for projects, says Used Kitchen Exchange poll

More than half of UK homeowners (52%) would prefer to buy pre-owned goods when upgrading their homes, with almost three-quarters of those (72%) saying they would do so to save money, and just under a third (32%) citing ethical considerations.

These are the findings of a survey of 2,000 UK homeowners carried out by kitchen reseller Used Kitchen Exchange between June 30 and July 6.

The survey also found that four out of 10 Brits are more likely to consider environmentally-friendly and cost-effective ways to modernise their homes, according to a new survey by kitchen reseller Used Kitchen Exchange.

More than a third of those surveyed (35%) had previously bought pre-owned goods for their homes for environmental reasons.

Used Kitchen Exchange has sold more than 2,500 approved pre-owned and ex-display kitchens since it was founded in 2012. In 2019/20, it revealed that the average paid to a seller was £7,500, which it points out would be “a considerable financial contribution to their new kitchen”.

The company said that the average pre-owned kitchen sale saves between six to eight tonnes of carbon – equivalent to making a family of four carbon-neutral for an entire year.

Helen Lord (pictured), founder of Used Kitchen Exchange, commented: “The market for premium used goods for home renovations is huge and is only going to get bigger. You can see this trend within the retail sector already taking hold with companies such as Selfridges, Primark and Ikea already working on their sustainability journey.

“Despite this growing market, 44% of homeowners are unaware that selling their existing kitchen is an option. This is a huge missed opportunity for renovators.

“For consumers looking to buy a new kitchen, purchasing pre-owned or ex-display is a game-changer. Not only will they be able to make savings of between 50% and 90% on a quality premium kitchen, with the average pre-owned kitchen sale saving between six to eight tonnes of carbon, the environmental saving is equivalent to making a family of four carbon-neutral for an entire year.

“At Used Kitchen Exchange, we provide an end-to-end service for kitchen sellers and buyers. We appreciate that lack of know-how and time can be a barrier, therefore we manage the whole process – from marketing to dismantling and delivering – making the process hassle-free.”

Used Kitchen Exchange also revealed expansion plans and is aiming to recruit 180 new staff and increase turnover from £4 million to £50m by 2025 thanks to a £120,000 government grant.

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