Harrogate’s Remade in Britain acquires online eco retailer Nigel’s Eco Store

Harrogate-based Remade in Britain, the UK’s first upcycling marketplace, has acquired online eco retailer Nigel’s Eco Store.

Remade in Britain and its sister company Eco Stores Direct, the eco heating specialist, acquired Nigel’s Eco Store for an undisclosed sum as part of its long-term growth plans.

Launched in November 2014, Remade in Britain is the first dedicated retail platform for businesses repurposing some of the 280m tonnes of waste produced each year in the UK, turning unwanted products into new items and features nearly 3,000 products from more than 300 upcycling retailers selling furniture, clothing, interiors, accessories and gifts.

Following a period of rapid growth, this past August Remade in Britain relocated to a much larger office space, almost 7,000 sq ft, which it currently shares with Eco Stores Direct.

Nigel’s Eco Store is the largest independent online eco retailer and averages around half a million visitors and two million page views a year, selling a range of eco products, including the adopt-a-beehive kit - where customers can buy shares in a beehive and receive freshly-produced honey from their share.

Other products include the rechargeable cork bottle light, which transforms empty drinks bottles into lamps, bamboo socks and the waterpebble – a device which helps conserve water and money by telling you when it’s time to get out of the shower.

A growing number of UK companies are tapping into the consumer trend for upcycled products, which is estimated to account for five to 40% of the UK’s £3bn craft industry.

Celebrity upcycler Max McMurdo, star of Kirstie Allsopp’s Fill Your House for Free and founder of eco design business, reestore, retails his products on Remade in Britain.

He said: “This new venture between Remade in Britain and Nigel’s Eco Stores underlines just how important eco products are becoming and the changing habits of consumers in embracing unique, handmade pieces rather than mass produced items.”

Donna Fenn, founder of Remade in Britain, added: “Nigel’s Eco Stores is renowned for being an innovative, groundbreaking site in championing the green movement and we’re delighted to be taking this next step, giving our retailers a huge audience and selling a range of unusual and innovative environmentally-friendly products that really complement our upcycling values.

“For a company that has only been operating for a year, we’ve had a fantastic time, with a partnership with Grand Designs Live and a host of other vintage and craft fairs. We’ve seen retailer and product numbers continue to rise and have established a great online community of upcyclers, sharing tips, events and supplies. We can’t wait to see what our new venture brings.”