BUYING and selling second-hand clothes can be a lucrative side hustle if you’ve got a knack for spotting designer bargains.
One savvy mum has become so good at finding and flogging charity shop treasures, she’s turned her shopping habit into an extra income stream worth up to £5,000 a month.
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Business owner Beccy Dickson, 45, tracks down high-end clothing from popular brands at charity shops and then sells them for a profit on sites like Vinted.
She juggles her second-hand side gig alongside running her company Branded Bio, which supplies living green walls and backdrops for events.
Beccy, who lives in Sevenoaks, Kent with her kids, Amelia, 17, Lucas, 13, and Riley, seven, told Sun Money: “Flipping preloved items for profit has become one of my favourite hustles.
“Vinted is a goldmine if you know how to work it.
“So long as you’re prepared to put the effort in, it’s easier than you think.”
The busy entrepreneur has made thousands of pounds out of buying items on the cheap – and selling them on.
Sometimes she flogs a few hundred items a month.
“It’s amazing what you can find with a bit of patience and a good eye for quality,” she said.
“Charity shops are packed with hidden gems just waiting to be discovered.
“I now bring in anywhere between £500 and £5,000 a month reselling mainly designer clothes and accessories, but also other bits and pieces, too.”
One standout purchase for Beccy was a red Hugo Boss suit – worth £450 when new – which she picked up for just £20.
She was able to sell this for £85.
But how does she know what to buy – and what will net her a profit?
Beccy has a keen eye for designer brands at bargain prices.
Over the years, she has honed her skills at picking pieces that will sell well.
“Recent purchases include a Reiss suit jacket – worth £160 when new – which I got for £7 in a local charity shop,” she said.
“I sold this for £45.
“Then there were the Diesel jeans, worth £140 new. I paid just £10 for these and then sold them on for £50.
“A further win was a Hobbs dress priced at just £10 which I sold for £25.
“Bought new, this would have cost £150.”
How to start your own business
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- One of the biggest barriers aspiring entrepreneurs and business owners face is a lack of confidence. You must believe in your idea — even more than that, be the one boring your friends to death about it.
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If you’re looking to bring in the big money each month, a clever approach is to build up knowledge of a particular designer brand, she said.
Beccy is a big fan of Religion clothing and accessories.
“I bought a vintage Religion dress – which was new with tags – for £12, and then sold this on Vinted for £55,” she said.
“To buy new it would have cost £120.”
On another occasion, she picked up a Religion jumpsuit at a charity shop for £8 and sold it for £35.
Bought new, this would have cost around £90.
“I also sold a Religion skirt for £25, having paid just £5 for it,” she said.
“And I got £30 for a Religion handbag, having shelled out just £4.
“Bought new, these would have cost around £70 and £80, respectively.”
Another brand which Beccy loves is Barbour.
“I picked up a Barbour wax jacket for £25 and sold it for £80,” she said.
“New, this would come with a £250 price tag.
“I nabbed a Barbour waxed backpack, worth £120, for just £8, and then sold it on for £40.”
Beccy has also developed a forte for flipping footwear.
“I spied some Steve Madden over-the-knee boots in a charity shop priced at £20 and sold these on Vinted for £55.
“Bought new, these would have cost £120.”
Beccy also did well selling a pair of boots from punk brand, Dolls Kill, for £60, having nabbed them for £15.
These would have cost £120 if she’d purchased them new.
She said: “Lesser-known brands such as Dolls Kill can end up selling very well, though they can be harder to track down in the first place.”
Over the years, the charity shop pro has developed a knack for picking up jewellery that she can sell on at a profit.
“I paid just £3 for a beautiful silver and amber ring, which I sold on Vinted for £20.” she said.
“I reckon it would have cost around £60 new.”
At another thrift store, she spied a gold chain priced at £20 and got £70 for it on Vinted.
She added: “One of my favourite finds was a set-of-three Pandora charms priced at £10.
“I sold the set on for £45.”
Designer shades can also be a winner.
“I recently picked up a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses for £15,” she said.
“These would have cost around £150 new, but I managed to sell them for £60.”
Beccy attributes much of her success to the fact she doesn’t limit herself to clothing.
“While designer items are great, don’t overlook quirky vintage pieces and home décor.”
“Some of my best flips – like the retro wall clock I bought for £10 and sold for £35 – were total surprises.
“You need to go in with an open mind.
“The dopamine hit comes from the unexpected.”
Another surprise win for Beccy was a set of books, vintage Penguin Classics, which she sold for £25, having paid just £5.
She said: “What I’ve learned is that it pays to check out charity shops in affluent areas for designer finds and also charity shops in smaller towns for hidden gems.”
Top tips for ‘flipping’ on Vinted
One of the key pieces of advice that Beccy has for other charity shop fanatics hoping to profit from their purchases, is knowing how to get the best price on Vinted.
She said: “List the things you want to flip during peak activity times – such as evenings and weekends – for better visibility.”
Spend a little time to get your listing just right and it will reap rewards, according to Beccy.
“Use natural lighting, clean backgrounds, and relevant keywords such as ‘vintage,’ to attract buyers,” she said.
“Remember seasonal items sell faster, such as boots in winter. Time your listings wisely.”
Take the time to build buyer relationships.
“Thank individuals who leave good reviews and let them know when you list similar items,” she said.
“Repeat customers can be a great source of steady sales.”
Another tactic that Beccy swears by is getting the kids involved.
“They can help take photos and list items,” she said.
“It’s a fun way to teach entrepreneurial skills and they can also help spot trendy items.
“My son is now the Vinted expert in our house.”
Be both patient – and persistent.
Beccy added: “Not everything sells immediately and that’s okay.
“Relist items regularly, tweak descriptions and adjust prices if needed.
“Persistence pays off.
Remember to give some thought to how you package items.
“Deliver a great ‘unboxing’ experience with eco-friendly packaging and a ‘thank-you’ note,” said the sustainability pro.
“Happy buyers leave glowing reviews and often become repeat customers.”
While the extra cash is a big help to the Dickson family, Beccy also enjoys doing her bit for the environment by helping other fashion lovers to buy second-hand instead of new.
Plus it benefits the charities behind the shops that she visits.
“It’s about embracing sustainability and the joy of finding treasures.
“If you’re thinking about giving it a try, go with the process and enjoy the thrill of the hunt.”
How to bag a bargain
SUN Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to find a cut-price item and bag a bargain…
Sign up to loyalty schemes of the brands that you regularly shop with.
Big names regularly offer discounts or special lower prices for members, among other perks.
Sales are when you can pick up a real steal.
Retailers usually have periodic promotions that tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout and shop when these deals are on.
Sign up to mailing lists and you’ll also be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too.
When buying online, always do a search for money off codes or vouchers that you can use vouchercodes.co.uk and myvouchercodes.co.uk are just two sites that round up promotions by retailer.
Scanner apps are useful to have on your phone. Trolley.co.uk app has a scanner that you can use to compare prices on branded items when out shopping.
Bargain hunters can also use B&M’s scanner in the app to find discounts in-store before staff have marked them out.
And always check if you can get cashback before paying which in effect means you’ll get some of your money back or a discount on the item.
