The Croydon Appliance Reuse Centre (ARC) has relocated to St George’s walk in the town centre.

Conscientious customers of the service can buy reconditioned white goods and electrical items at a fraction of their usual cost and can keep green at the same time.

By repairing appliances, PCs and furniture and giving them a new lease of life ARC are also making a significant contribution to the environment by diverting tonnes of material every year from landfill.

General manager, Ray Barwick, said: “Low footfall in our previous location really didn’t meet expectations and the opportunity came up to be in the centre of Croydon so we took it.

“We got the shop and were pleasantly surprised that is was one of the brightest and best kept in the whole arcade, it actually looks like a proper furniture shop.”

The shop has seen a rise in people trying to source ethical products as well as trendy shoppers looking for retro furniture.

The ARC currently holds contracts with Croydon, Sutton, Kingston and Merton councils to collect and refurbish electrical items from their social houses.

Mr Barwick said: “We have around 20 staff, seven of which are trainees we have taken on under the Trainees for Future Jobs scheme who work for us and will hopefully go on to gain further employment.

“Because of the recession, demand for used furniture has gone up as people can’t afford to go out and by new items so we have had a wide variety of people coming to see us.

The shop is located at 40-44 St George’s Walk and is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturdays 9 am to 4 pm.

For more information phone 020 8662 8002 or email info2@arc-croydon.org.uk To read more top environmental news go to greenguardian.co.uk