Reducing, Recycling and Repurposing with New Business, The Old Barn

A fantastic new shop has opened near Shawfair, offering upcycled, restored and recycled furniture and homeware. Sustainability is at the heart of The Old Barn’s business and is what drives the owner, Sarah Brown.

Sarah created The Old Barn to help redirect house clearance furniture from landfill and give them a second life. With a passion for upcycling and restoring furniture, Sarah wanted to provide a place for people to buy these items, upcycle their own furniture, learn new skills and ensure previous unloved items could go on to be appreciated and loved in a new home.

Reduce, Recycle, Repurpose

Everything The Old Barn stocks and sells is pre-loved, upcycled or made using recycled waste items. From refurbishing a chest of drawers or chairs to  beautiful blankets made from waste plastic, Sarah ensures each item is given a new lease of life so it can be enjoyed for many years to come.

Being located next to the furniture removal company that Sarah works with means she is never short of supplies for unique upcycling projects. Pre-loved stock is regularly added and beautifully restored pieces are all sold in her fantastic shop.

The Old Barn have also committed to the Midlothian Business Green Pledge showing continued dedication to being a sustainable business and helping Midlothian and Scotland on the journey to Net Zero.

Workshops and Learning Opportunities at The Old Barn

Alongside the shop, The Old Barn also host a range of workshops and classes each month, all taught by experienced artists and craftspeople. From crocheting and needle felting to lampshade making and woodworking, there’s something for all ages, levels and abilities. These workshops focus on sustainability, upcycling and use recycled materials as far as possible, staying true to the ethos of The Old Barn.

Business Support

Sarah contacted Business Gateway Midlothian Start-up Adviser, Ali Wood, at the beginning of her business journey. Sarah said ‘Ali provided the support and advice I needed when starting my business. He helped me with my financial planning, the structure of my business and the legal processes I needed to have in place for operating my own business. He was a great sounding board and allowed me piece of mind that there was someone on the end of the phone who could answer my questions.’

The Old Barn’s Future Plans

With Sarah’s talent for upcycling, she’s hoping to run regular classes for those who are interested. More workshops are in the pipeline, as are plans to be a stockist of upcycling supplies, so that those who catch the buzz can easily access the tools and expertise needed for their project.

If you’re keen to find out more, visit the brilliant Old Barn or take part in one of the many workshops, check out The Old Barns website for all the details>>