Q&A INTERVIEW WITH REHOME Helen Lord
Rehome
Matt Broughton Spoke with the founder of Rehome, Helen Lord, about the company’s rebrand and plans for 2025.
Matt: You’ve rebranded to Rehome (from UKE) – can you tell us a bit about the rebrand and what you’re hoping to achieve as a brand moving forward? Helen: Our rebrand from UKE to Rehome became necessary due to the growth in demand for our services across the whole KBB industry, the business had outgrown the Used Kitchen Exchange name as we were selling appliances, bathrooms, bedrooms etc. We rebranded to be more salient in the eyes of our shoppers and stakeholders, a brand with purpose and positivity. Rehome has given us this.
Whilst rebranding, we used it as an opportunity to scale-up other areas of the business by launching our new website, through Magento Adobe Commerce. This is supported by an ERP system capable of holding 500,000 SKUs. Our user experience has been greatly improved and we now have world class ecommerce capabilities which allows the business to manage a large inventory of ecom sales. Rehome is perfect for helping our industry with end-of-line, ex-display and standing stock whilst reducing cannibalisation through an industry specific platform. Ecommerce is the biggest growth area for Rehome. Much needed by our industry, we are now able to offer a supported environment that is easier for businesses to use than eBay. We are
also able to offer brand protection too, which is why we have been chosen by Miele to be their UK outlet for ex-display showroom stock.
Matt: For those not familiar with Rehome, can you tell us a bit about your company ethos and how you’re saving ex-kbb from heading to landfill. Helen: Our passion is to accelerate sustainability by providing bolt-on services to help our industry to ‘do better’.
Our solutions release cash from ex-display and standing stock which otherwise may remain unsold. Additionally, our trade-in solution for customer pre-owned kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms delivers genuine carbon waste savings, helping our industry to effortlessly embrace Circular Economy thinking. Furthermore, it unlocks much needed cash for the customer, giving them the cash and confidence to invest in their new kitchen, bedroom or bathroom renovation.
Branded as Rehome Plus, this innovative pre-owned referral scheme has been embraced by a large number of forward thinking independent showrooms. Rehome Plus gives showroom customers a hassle free solution for pre-owned kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms, with the joy of cash back, a Which? Trusted
dismantle solution and verified environmental savings. This innovative, free to use service will help to future proof our industry and make a significant contribution to the UK’s Net Zero targets. Since launching, we have saved over 14.5 million tonnes of carbon waste and over 14,000 trees – something worth celebrating.
Matt: You’ve been going for more than ten years now; how has the company changed in that time? Helen: We are a family-run business, established in 2015 by myself and Philip Lord. From just me supporting the entire process, we now have over 35 people working with us and are now recognised as a leading KBB service provider, supporting a large community of businesses and professionals with a range of services that address common challenges. From the days when we first began as Used Kitchen Exchange we are unrecognisable. We have professionalised KBB re-commerce and delivered a fully supported dedicated outlet that is much needed. We are recognised for taking a proactive approach when working within our industry, and we’re proud of our ongoing commitment to helping to future proof our industry.
Matt: How do you see customers’ increasing interest in sustainability shaping the future of the kbb sector? Helen: Over the last 10 years, we have seen a massive shift in consumer awareness and commitment to sustainability. Consider too, when you match this with the cost savings that Rehome offers, the appetite is accelerated. The best example of this is our ongoing partnership with Quooker, selling reconditioned taps which literally fly out the door.
Customers who have been recommended to Rehome through showrooms are very vocal about their desire to not see a pre-loved kitchen go to waste if it doesn’t have to. Again, motivated even more with average cash back of £2,700 and a saving for rip and skip.
I believe that whilst customers will continue to make more informed choices to experience the ‘feel good’ of doing the right thing, sustainability will ultimately be driven by legislation. This is why we are working closely with Government lobbying groups and contributing to White Papers to keep a close eye on these inevitable changes.
16 BKU MARCH 2025
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