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How to Use Your Old Kit to Finance Your Latest Gear

Written by Solara Team | Mar 31, 2025 3:15:52 PM

In the live events world, staying ahead means upgrading your gear. That tired old soundboard or last-gen lighting rig might have served you well, but today’s audiences demand cutting-edge experiences—think crisp audio and dazzling LED displays. The problem? New equipment isn’t cheap, and tying up cash in upgrades can stall your next big show. Here’s the good news: your old kit could be the key to financing the latest gear, and at Solara Finance, we’ve got a clever way to make it happen.

The Hidden Value in Your Old Equipment

Event planners and production pros often overlook the worth of their outdated assets. That mixer you’ve outgrown or the staging you replaced might not cut it for your next festival, but it still has value. Maybe it’s worth £2,000, £5,000, or even £10,000 on the secondhand market. Instead of letting it gather dust—or worse, paying to store it—why not turn it into cash to fund what’s next?

How Solara Finance Can Help

At Solara Finance, we specialize in asset finance for the live events space, and we’ve added a twist: we’ll buy your old kit outright. Here’s how it works. Let’s say you’ve got an aging AV setup—speakers, projectors, the works—valued at £8,000. You bring it to us, we assess it, and we purchase it from you. That £8,000 doesn’t just sit in your pocket; it becomes a deposit toward the shiny new gear you’ve been eyeing, like a £25,000 sound system or a £30,000 modular stage. We finance the rest, spreading the balance over flexible terms that match your event cash flow.

Why Sell to Solara?

Sure, you could try selling your old kit on your own—eBay, Craigslist, or industry forums might work. But that takes time, haggling, and no guarantee of a buyer. With Solara, it’s fast and seamless. We know the live events market, so we can quickly value your gear—lighting, rigging, AV, whatever—and cut you a fair deal. No middleman, no waiting. Plus, that cash goes straight toward your upgrade, reducing the amount you need to finance and keeping your monthly payments lower.

Step-by-Step: Turning Old into New

  1. Take Stock: Round up your outdated equipment. Anything from speakers to lighting could qualify.
  2. Reach Out: Contact Solara Finance with details—photos, specs, condition—and we’ll give you a quote.
  3. We Buy: Once agreed, we purchase your kit, handing you cash or applying it as a deposit.
  4. Upgrade: Pick your new gear, and we’ll finance the balance with a plan that fits your event schedule.
  5. Shine On: Set up your upgraded rig and watch your next event steal the show.

The Smart Play

Selling your old kit to Solara isn’t just about decluttering—it’s a strategic move. The live events industry is booming, with IBISWorld reporting a 4.8% growth rate in 2024 alone. Audiences expect more, and top-tier gear delivers. By leveraging what you already own, you cut the upfront cost of staying competitive. Plus, with Solara’s flexible repayments—say, higher in summer festival season, lower in winter—you’re not stuck with rigid bills.

What Can You Sell?

We’re open to most event assets:

  • Audio Gear: Mixers, mics, speakers past their prime.
  • Lighting: Old-school PAR cans or dimmers you’ve replaced.
  • Staging: Rusty risers or platforms you’ve upgraded.
  • AV Extras: Projectors or screens that don’t match today’s HD standards.

If it’s event-related and has resale value, we’ll take a look.

The Bottom Line

Your old kit isn’t dead weight—it’s a ticket to the latest gear. With Solara Finance, you can trade in yesterday’s tools for tomorrow’s triumphs, all while keeping your cash flow intact. Got some equipment collecting dust? Let’s turn it into your next big upgrade. Reach out today, and see how we can help your events shine brighter than ever.