Ideas and how to set them up
Painted furniture upcycling
Transforming chests of drawers, sideboards, tables and chairs with chalk-style, mineral and other water-based paints, brushed or rollered on. Water-based paints and finishes only: no solvent paints and no spray guns using solvents. A steady supply of auction and charity shop finds means you always have the next piece ready to start.
- Layout
- A prep area for cleaning and sanding near the shutter, a painting area on dust sheets in the middle, and a drying zone at the back where pieces will not be knocked. Keep paints on a shelf with lids on. Label each piece with its customer or sale status so nothing gets sold or painted by mistake.
- Good to know
- Use a dust extractor or vacuum with your sander and sweep up daily. Very old furniture may have lead paint, so read the HSE guidance before sanding anything you are unsure about.
Reupholstery workshop
Re-covering dining chairs, footstools, headboards and occasional chairs with webbing, hessian, wadding and fabric using hand tools and a staple gun. Customers can drop off and collect at the unit. Keeping customers' chairs out of your home also looks more professional.
- Layout
- A sturdy padded work trestle in the centre, fabric rolls on a wall rack, tools on a pegboard, and a shelf for customers' pieces labelled with name and job. Keep fabric samples near the door for consultations.
- Good to know
- Fabric, webbing and wadding are low-risk materials. Ask us before bringing in large quantities of foam or spray adhesives.
Furniture repair and restoration
Regluing loose joints, replacing drawer runners, patching veneer, fixing handles and refreshing finishes on antique and everyday furniture. Small repairs for local customers can be a steady trade alongside upcycling. Restoration work often comes through word of mouth once people know where to find you.
- Layout
- A solid workbench with a vice and clamps, timber offcuts and spare hardware in labelled drawers, and a finishing bench kept as dust-free as you can. Store customers' items under covers. Keep a box of salvaged handles, hinges and knobs: they are often the hardest parts to match.
- Good to know
- Choose water-based glues, stains and lacquers. Ask us before using any solvent-based product, even in small amounts.
Reclaimed wood and pallet furniture
Building benches, shelves, coffee tables, planters and headboards from reclaimed timber, scaffold boards and pallets. Wood is a low-risk material, and a roller shutter makes long boards easy to bring in. Commissions for made-to-measure pieces are a good way to fill quiet weeks.
- Layout
- Timber stored flat on a wall rack sorted by length, a cutting station with a mitre saw and dust collection, and an assembly bench. Keep finished pieces wrapped near the shutter for delivery.
- Good to know
- Check reclaimed timber for nails and screws before cutting. Clear offcuts and sawdust regularly, and never leave a pile of shavings by a heater.
Upcycled furniture showroom by appointment
Show finished pieces to buyers by appointment, photograph stock for online listings and run the business from the upstairs room with a window. Customers can view and collect at the unit. Viewings by appointment work well alongside selling through online marketplaces.
- Layout
- Finished, styled pieces on the ground floor arranged like a small room, a photo corner with a plain backdrop and good lights, and the office upstairs for admin and calls. Keep work in progress separate from stock for sale. Change the room set every few weeks so returning buyers always see something new.
- Good to know
- The ground floor is windowless, so add warm lamps to show pieces at their best. Good photos sell upcycled furniture as much as the piece itself.
Small homeware and mirror upcycling
Revamping mirrors, picture frames, lamps, trays, stools and bedside tables that sell well online and at craft fairs. Small pieces mean you can work in a compact unit and sell in volume. These pieces also make good stock for markets and gift fairs.
- Layout
- Benches along two walls, one for prep and one for painting, a drying rack for small items, and boxed stock on shelving. A packing table helps if you post pieces to online buyers.
- Good to know
- If you rewire lamps for sale, have them checked by a qualified electrician. Selling electrical goods comes with safety responsibilities, so check the official guidance before you start.
Why our units suit furniture upcycling
- Wood, fabric, hand tools and water-based paints are low-risk, which fits our rules. Solvent spraying and solvent-based finishes are not allowed.
- Roller-shutter units make it easy to bring in a wardrobe or a sideboard, and the 300 sq ft two-storey unit gives you an upstairs area with a window for admin, small pieces or photography.
- You can receive customers at the unit to view finished pieces or drop off furniture for repair, and use the address on your Google Business Profile. Clear wood dust regularly and keep the area around heaters and sockets free of shavings and rags.
- Lighting, standard single-phase electricity and Wi-Fi are already connected in every unit (there is no three-phase power), with 24-hour access, free CCTV app access covering the entrance and the area outside the units, and shared facilities.
Not allowed in our units
Nothing that melts or heats combustible materials such as waxes, plastics, resins or oils, no flammable liquids or gases in bulk, and no car storage. Low-risk materials such as wood, paper, card, fabric and dry goods are fine. Every business use needs our approval first.
Start-up checklist
- Decide which unit suits your stock, machines and how you will load and unload.
- Message us with what your business does, so we can approve the use before you commit.
- Register your business with HMRC as a sole trader or limited company if you have not already.
- Speak to an insurance broker about public liability, contents and stock cover, and employers' liability if you have staff.
- Ask us whether business rates apply, and check Small Business Rate Relief on GOV.UK.
- Plan your layout: shelving up the walls, benches near sockets, and a clear route to the door.
- Arrange one month's rent, the deposit, photo ID and a Direct Debit mandate for move-in day.
Questions
Can I spray-paint furniture in the unit?
No solvent spraying. Water-based paints, stains and finishes applied by brush, roller or cloth are fine. Solvent-based paints and chemicals in bulk are not allowed unless we have agreed it in writing.
Is there space to dry painted furniture?
Yes, if you plan for it. Keep a drying zone at the back of the unit away from the door. For bigger pieces or more stock, the 180 sq ft roller-shutter unit or the 300 sq ft two-storey unit give you more room.
Can I run power tools such as sanders and saws?
Benchtop and hand-held power tools for wood are generally fine on standard single-phase electricity. Use dust extraction and tell us what you plan to use when you enquire. Our guide to setting up a small workshop has more tips.
What is included in the rent?
Lighting, electricity and Wi-Fi are already connected in every unit. Electricity usage is charged separately at the supplier rate, with no markup. Tenants get 24-hour access, free CCTV app access covering the entrance and the area outside the units, and shared facilities: a tea and coffee room, toilets and water.
Can I use the address on my Google Business Profile?
Yes. Tenants can use The Old Rock Factory, Keswick Road, Blackpool FY1 5PB as their business address on Google, so customers can find you without you putting your home address online.
Is there three-phase power?
No. Every unit has standard single-phase electricity, the same as a normal plug socket. Choose machines and tools that run on single-phase power.
What can't I do in a unit?
We do not allow anything that melts or heats combustible materials such as waxes, plastics, resins or oils, flammable liquids or gases in bulk, or car storage. Low-risk materials such as wood, paper, card, fabric and dry goods are fine. Every business use needs our approval.
Prices are subject to availability. Minimum rental term: one month, then one month’s notice to leave. Swap to a bigger or smaller unit any time, subject to availability. Electricity usage is charged separately at the supplier rate, with no markup. This guide is general information, not legal, insurance or tax advice.
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