ONCE seen as second-best, secondhand clothes are now huge business – and the preferred choice among fashion-conscious shoppers.
Worldwide sales of pre-loved garments rocketed by 18 per cent last year to £156billion and are forecast to hit around £280billion by 2028.
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But while searching out bargains among the piles of used gear allows shoppers to spend less on their togs, and feel they are doing their bit to save the planet, there can be pitfalls.
The UK-based Anti-Counter-feiting Group (ACG) estimates that £13billion worth of fake retail items are imported into the UK each year.
The most common of these include supposedly high-end clothes, as well as shoes, bags and beauty products.
Although buying imitation goods may seem like a pretty harmless way to look good for less money, ACG director Phil Lewis cautions: “The counterfeit goods trade is now closely linked with the illicit trades in people, drugs, weapons, modern-day slavery and corruption.”
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Many people also believe they are buying the real deal, only to later discover that their item is bogus and worth a fraction of what they paid.
So fashion platforms are now hiring verification experts to check designer gear items are genuine before they are shown the green flag and put up for sale.
Rare watches and art
There are more than 2,000 working in the UK, for sites including Vinted, eBay, Vestiaire Collective and StockX.
They must be experts in their field, able to stay one step ahead of the counterfeiters.
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Last year alone, the StockX team stopped nearly £80million worth of potentially fraudulent trades involving 325,000 items.
Kessia Kusters, Senior People Experience Manager for StockX, says: “Without authentication, customers can be subjected to fraud, a lack of quality control, bad user experiences and inconsistent pricing.
I’ve made almost £1.5k on Vinted in 30 days – my top tips to sell loads & why you need to treat it like a second job
“The great thing about a job in verification is that you can turn your passion for sneakers into a progressive career, and you get to work with some of the rarest and most valuable shoes out there.”
Dejvis Veizaj is a sneaker verification expert for StockX and she landed the job while working in a supermarket but trading trainers as a side hustle.
Londoner Dejvis, 23, said: “I’ve had a passion for sneakers from an early age.
“One day, I misclicked on the StockX app and ended up on the careers page. I saw that they were hiring, and thought being a verification expert sounded perfect for me.
“Each day we receive sneakers sent in by sellers, and inspect them. We look for signs of use, defects or other reasons that could result in them not passing our verification process.
“If they make it through, we move them to Outbound, where they’re packed up for the customer who is purchasing. I love that I’m working with and learning something new about my passion every day.
“I’ve also had the opportunity to be a part of some amazing sneaker events across the UK and even overseas.”
And while many verifiers work for resale platforms, others are employed by independent authentification services offering extra reassurance on the most expensive luxury items.
Salaries start at around £30,000 but can be much higher in specialist markets such as those for rare watches and art, and there are opportunities to work worldwide.
To be successful, you need to show extreme attention to detail and keep learning the latest techniques in your field, and more experienced authenticators will also be expected to train new recruits in the latest specialist techniques.
Find out more at:
- jobs.ebayinc.com/us/en/jobs-in-united-kingdom
- careers.stockx.com/jobs
- jobs.lever.co/vestiairecollective
How to ace it as ‘expert’
HERE are five top tips if you want to make it as a verification expert . . .
- Whatever your area of interest, take the time to educate yourself about different brands, models and features.
- You do not need specific qualifications to be a verification expert as you will receive detailed training, but you should have a love for sought-after fashion.
- Attention to detail is vital. You will be reviewing elements such as a product’s stitching or the quality of the box, so you need a good eye to catch any discrepancies.
- Most verifiers work independently but in tough cases you can call on the knowledge of your colleagues, so effective communication skills are important.
- Build your career. You can either work your way up the verification ranks or move into related roles such as brand protection, marketing or training.
JOBSPOT
CAR dealership Vertu Motors has more than 400 open vacancies including vehicle technicians as well as car parts apprenticeships.
See jobs.vertucareers.com.
AT WORK AFTER CANCER
KING Charles returned to public duties this week for the first time since being diagnosed with cancer in February.
He is not alone, as nearly one in two people will develop cancer in their lifetimes.
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Bertrand Stern-Gillet, CEO at workplace wellness service Health Assured, says: “Returning to work following treatment for cancer can be daunting, so it’s vital to have support in place to help.”
Here, he shares his advice for what employers need to do.
1. Cancer is classed as a disability under the Equality Act 2010, which means there are certain protections in place from the moment of diagnosis until the end of a person’s life, even when they have completed treatment and are clear of the disease. Failing to put the right measures in place could land you in an employment tribunal.
2. Employers must offer the right support to employees at this difficult time, as the last thing anyone wants to have to worry about, on top of everything they’re already dealing with, is job security.
3. Hold a return-to-work meeting to find out what the staff member is, and is not, able to do.
Identify any adjustments to their role or working environment that need to be made, and update them on any changes that have happened in the business while they have been absent.
4. Some forms of cancer treatment can leave people more vulnerable to infection, so make sure this is thought about before they return to work.
5. Review your existing policies and procedures to ensure they are fit for purpose and put any health and safety adjustments in place.
If there are any changes that need to be made, ensure you consult with the employee.
6. As well as the gruelling physical effects, the mental toll cancer takes on people should not be underestimated. Well-being support during this time is beneficial for all parties.
7. Don’t assume what someone needs. Everyone will have a different diagnosis, prognosis and way of coping. So talk to your employee and find out what will be most helpful for them.
TECH-HELP HUBS
TELECOM giant Vodafone is recruiting IT experts to help small businesses who are struggling with their tech.
The company is setting up a network of more than 300 franchises across the UK to help the thousands of SMEs who don’t have in-house IT.
Known as Vodafone Business IT Hubs, experienced professionals will be at hand to provide a one-stop shop for tech support.
Miryem Salah, chief data officer and head of Vodafone Business IT Hubs, said: “We can offer the technical skills and local knowledge to build a successful business that supports the local SME community.”
Apply at vodafone.co.uk/business/it-hubs/franchise.
JOBSPOT
PUB chain Greene King has more than 100 jobs for chefs, bar staff, kitchen managers and waiting staff. Apply now at jobs.greeneking.co.uk.
FOUR-DAY TWEAK
QUALITY inspectors, security officers and HR assistants are the jobs you can go for which are most likely to offer a four-day working week.
New research from CV builder site StandOutCV found one in 100 jobs nationwide now offers the “condensed” week.
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The average salary for it is £37,142, far higher than the average national salary of£34,900, suggesting four-day working is more common in senior roles which are better paid.
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However, compared to a full five-day week, those in condensed roles earned on average 3.3 per cent less.
A spokesman for the CV firm said: “For some it will be a price they’re willing to pay.”
