A tour of the shop revealed some beautifully restored furniture from classic to "shabby chic", showcasing the variety of skills held by the volunteers.
Much of the furniture is completely stripped and rebuilt, with springs replaced, wood renewed and mechanical parts made good again.
"This is all incredibly good value for money," says Sue, "Because you're getting some fantastic, solid furniture.
"One of the things we've aimed for is the niche market of people who really appreciate good furniture but they haven't got the time to do it up themselves."
There's a small workshop at the back but volunteers will often take furniture home to work on. There's not a lot of space.
All the furniture is donated.
"It's a mixture," says Sue. "Sometimes it's from people who are clearing out and they want to get rid of it. Other times it's people who have had it in the family for generations and their children don't want it."
They want it to go to a charitable cause that realises its value.
"We're encouraging people to recycle the real, old wood," she says. The showroom features items in oak, rimu and other solid timbers, and not a lot of particle board.
The shop has been going for more than a year now.
"It was the brainchild of Simon Aitken, who managed the Cancer Society at the time," says Sue. "He took me on to bring it into existence.
"Then I looked out for amazing people who could come on board and do the work, because without the people we can't operate," she says.
Finding volunteers is one of the major challenges. At the moment they're operating with seven volunteers and they need more. Another upholsterer is especially needed.
"Some people underestimate what they can offer," says Robert. "There are aspects of restoring that just about anybody can do, like sanding or surfacing. People can soon learn how to put on hinges or handles on drawers."
Any skills are welcome, including people who know how to use a sewing machine.
Sue says even after a year of advertising there are so many people who have never heard of the shop or don't know where it is. There is a shop window in Victoria Ave that has furniture on display and points to the shop's location.
"We're getting a lot of business from people who have come to Whanganui from out-of-town ... they can't believe our prices ... but we're still trying to let Whanganui know we're here."
Alden Heppleston began as a volunteer driver for the Cancer Society and now also volunteers at the furniture shop.
"We're just pursuing Sue's grand idea, really," he says.
"And you've done a fantastic job," says Sue. "We started with nothing, literally nothing. An empty building and no tools."
The shop is celebrating an anniversary week from Monday, May 8 to Friday May 12, during which three items each day will be reduced in price by 50 per cent.
"It's to say thank you to our regulars and to encourage others to come and have a look," says Sue.
The shop is open Monday, Thursday and Friday from 9am-4pm, Tuesday and Wednesday 10am-1pm.
