A viral TikTok post turned a modest hospice charity shop into a must-visit destination after a popular artist transformed a secondhand rocking horse into a colorful original work.
The attention brought in new shoppers, boosted sales, and gave a major visibility lift to a U.K. nonprofit that helps fund care for people with life-limiting illnesses, according to the Oxford Mail (via Yahoo).
Here's what to know
In one of her charity shop series videos, contemporary visual artist Sophie Tea bought a £40 ($54) rocking horse from Sobell House Hospice's Bicester location.
She repainted it in her trademark colorful style, and then raffled it off to support the hospice, according to the Oxford Mail.
Tea's social media following is more than 1.3 million.
The boost for the store showed up both online and in person. Sobell House said shoppers spent more than £500 ($677) above the shop's usual daily total due to the increased foot traffic.
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Tea's followers also came by to meet her, enter the raffle, and get items signed, while the video itself topped 2 million views and 254,000 likes at the time of publication.
Charlee White of Sobell House Hospice said staff and volunteers had already been following Tea's charity shop series.
"As soon as they realized she was heading our way, they sprung into action and managed to persuade her to pay us a visit," White recalled.
Thrifting can help families save money on everyday essentials, from clothes to books and furniture, while also offering the thrill of stumbling across unusual or valuable items at steep discounts.
More background
Based at Churchill Hospital in Headington, Sobell House Hospice supports adults with life-limiting illnesses and their families across Oxfordshire.
Its services include home care, an inpatient unit, hospital support, and a Living Well service.
"Our charity shops play a really important role in raising the funds we need to provide hospice care across Oxfordshire," White told the outlet.
"Last year, 1,439 patients were under our care at any one time, so every purchase, donation and fundraising boost helps us continue supporting local people and their families."
Buying secondhand keeps usable goods in circulation longer, reduces waste, and sends money toward causes that strengthen local communities.
In this case, a single thrifted item became both a fundraiser and a spotlight for hospice care.
What can be done?
Secondhand stores and resale outlets often offer affordable basics alongside one-of-a-kind finds, making them useful for both everyday purchases and treasure hunting.
Shopping secondhand can also be a practical way to cut unnecessary spending without sacrificing quality. Furniture, decor, clothing, books, and small household goods are often available for a fraction of retail prices.
If you're new to shopping secondhand, check out our resource on shopping at thrift stores for tips, tricks, and pointers.
White was floored by the impact of Tea's TikTok post.
"We're always looking for new ways to bring people into our shops and raise awareness of what their support makes possible, so having more than two million people see our Bicester store through Sophie's video is very special," she commented.
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