Welcome to the inaugural Second Best newsletter! A gargantuan thank you to each and every one of you for subscribing. I’ve never had such a thrill pressing send on an email.
The fact you’ve signed up to receive this implies that you like shopping second-hand already (or at least the idea of it) so it’s likely I’m preaching to the choir here, but I thought it’d be nice to start off by setting the scene. So, in no particular order, here are six reasons I love second-hand and why I think you should too…
You’ll find one-of-a-kind pieces
Whether you're browsing a carefully curated collection or rummaging in a charity shop, when ‘that something’ catches your eye it instantly feels more special because it's not sat on a shelf with a dozen other identical versions, and (usually) your mate can't just go online and order the same one. Ok chances are it's not actually a one-off, but often the likelihood of seeing that exact same piece again is slim. Even with the power of the internet. Who else is haunted by a camera roll of things you walked away from, or deliberated over for so long that someone else got there first?
I think sourcing second-hand is the ultimate expression of personal taste and individual flair. Sometimes it's hard to explain why we're drawn to certain pieces, particularly when faced with such a varied assortment. But the result is surely a much more unique home (or wardrobe) that houses a more personal, diverse, eclectic, and often wonderfully random collection of second-hand finds.
2. It's cost effective
It's always difficult to talk about money. Budgets can differ hugely from one person to another, as does the very subjective idea of what's 'affordable'. Of course, depending on where you go, you can spend an absolute fortune on second-hand things. We once detoured to Tetbury on our way down to Bath because I'd read it was a good spot for antiques. My initial optimisim was quickly shattered. Even though most of the shops looked more like art galleries, I was still floored by the - how can I put this nicely - stratospheric prices. Sheepishly we got back in the car and drove on.
Although I love that second-hand pieces come with a history, I won't lie, my main motivation is that I can get something of good quality (that will last a long time), for a fraction of what I could spend if I bought it new. I am an unashamed bargain hunter and this newsletter will always err on what I deem to be the lower end of the scale when it comes to price points. I love that something doesn't have to be expensive to be meaningful or beautiful, or treasured.
3. It's sustainable
No, sourcing second-hand isn't going to save the planet, but rehoming an existing piece instead of buying something new will go a small way to reducing our consumption footprint. Plus, I like to think of every second-hand purchase as a small f*** you to the agents of mass production. Before I buy anything new, nine times out of ten I always look to see if I can get it second-hand somewhere first. Books, clothes, shoes, fabric, furniture or more recently a rucksack for travelling. And genuinely, most of the time, I find it.
4. It teaches us patience (and to think outside the box)
Buying second-hand isn't about convenience. It's not about buying the first version of whatever it is you're looking for, with next-day delivery to boot. It's about waiting, patiently, to find that perfect piece or waiting for that perfect piece to find you (just make sure you’re ready with a tape measure).
It's about being mindful, keeping an eye out, taking the time to look beyond Google's suggested ads. Yes, sometimes it's about eBay alerts and endlessly searching and scrolling until you find what it is, or something close to what it is that you're looking for.But when you get there, you can be sure that waiting made finally finding it all the more sweeter.
5. The thrill of the hunt
Ok, if you're anything like me and you enjoy the rummage (I know for a lot of people it's their worst nightmare, but if you do) is there a better feeling than unearthing a gem from amongst the piles of miscellaneous objects. No there is not. Cue the dopamine hit, the inevitable smug satisfaction, the sense of fortuity and often the utter astonishment that someone else hadn't picked it up first.
5. The history
There's the tangible history, the wear and tear - we like to call it character. It might not be for everyone, but personally I love those signs of age, the visible scars and imperfections that tell me something has been well-used and well-loved.
Then there's the historical purpose, the reason it was designed in the first place, which more often than not gets lost over time. A nursing chair, an old printer's tray, a butcher's block - these days we purchase things simply because we like them at face value; their design, their form and functionality, but often we don't know or don't think to find out what the objects that inhabit our homes might once have been used for.
And finally, there's the personal history that you can inherit alongside the object itself. Either when it's from a family member or when you purchase it directly from the previous owner and they share a bit about its past - conversations that always make the purchase that bit more special, more personal. (And yes, I regularly tear up at The Repair Shop in case you were wondering). There's the set of old pans we bought off someone on Facebook Marketplace, which turned out to have been a wedding present of her mother's, originally purchased from Harrods of all places. Or the wall plate bought at a car boot sale that had hung on the wall of the owner's canal boat for 25 years.
Even the tiniest nugget of information or nostalgic recollection can turn something from an aesthetically pleasing ‘lucky find’, into a piece of living history.
If you liked reading this newsletter and have a minute, please do share it on your socials so that others can find it and enjoy it too. This post is free and can be accessed by everyone on Substack by sharing the link.
Until next time!
