A SAVVY reseller has revealed how she turned her small side hustle into a business bringing in an average of £1,400 a month.
Caroline Evans has made thousands of pounds over the past three years by turning her love of interior design into a business.
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The 50-year-old from Norfolk buys homeware items from places like charity shops, Facebook Marketplace and car boot sales for next to nothing and then resells them for a profit on the Narchie app.
Caroline worked in the fashion industry for more than 25 years as a textile designer and left her £70K a year job back in 2019 after “falling out of love with it”.
When the pandemic hit she thought she would see if she could get some extra cash selling second-hand items on Etsy.
The mum-of-two told The Sun: “I needed to find an outlet for my passion for design and it had to be something that I really enjoyed and I could own myself.
“Something I’ve always done is rummage through charity shops and I love a car boot sale – and I love interiors so it felt like a natural thing to do.”
Keen to ensure she was being sustainable in her business, Caroline made sure to only sell items which she already owned or had picked up from second-hand shops.
Starting with a selection of plates, candlesticks, vintage vases, and various bits and pieces, she initially ended up making around £400.
But ultimately she decided the site wasn’t for her due to the huge size of the marketplace and the business behind it.
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That was when she discovered Narchie and now makes more than £1,000 extra every month, as her husband still works full-time, and she is looking to dedicate more of her time to her blossoming business Collate Curate.
Narchie is an app-based marketplace where sellers can list second-hand homeware and interior items for buyers to browse.
She said: “I’m in a WhatsApp group with the guys who run it, they listen to sellers and help grow the app around our feedback.
“It’s really personable and I find people can find my items more easily too and now it’s definitely turning into a full-time business.
“I hoped it would do well but I didn’t quite believe I’d be able to make a career out of it.”
Through her experience in the design industry, Caroline has a keen eye for interiors and a knack for picking out the best bits at car boots and charity shops.
Among the items she sells on are stools, rattan magazine racks, bar wear, wall plates and artwork.
Some of the biggest value bargains she’s picked up include big decorative plates and candlesticks for £2 and £3 respectively.
She was then able to sell these on for a big profit at £18 and £23.
How to spot the best charity shop and car boot bargains and sell them on
Caroline says one of her top tips for finding the treasure in second-hand shops is to always keep your eyes open.
She said: “Never walk past a charity shop without going inside, there is always something.
“Everyone has their own personal style that others will also like too so pick out bits you would want in your own home and someone else is bound to fancy it too.”
She also said it’s a good idea to have a look under items in often crowded charity shops, as something valuable could be hidden.
Keeping on trend is important too, there is always a new trend to shop for so make sure you pay attention to what’s popular and see what you can find.
Caroline regularly reads interior newsletters and does her research so she can source similar items in a more sustainable way.
She recently picked up a tiled coaster, which she later discovered is from an influential 1960s ceramicist and much more valuable than she thought.
Having a look at what other people are selling and how much for is key too, so you know what your prices should be and what sort of things shoppers are looking for.
When listing on Narchie, she said that having good photos is vital as well as being honest about the item – you don’t want to get any bad reviews that could stop buyers from choosing you in future.
Also, be clear in the description exactly what the item is, how big it is and give as much information as possible so people know exactly what they’re paying for.
Caroline said: “In terms of pricing it’s really important to know your market and do your research.
“Try to find that sweet spot between profit and what people will be willing to pay.”
She also said that if she is selling a rare or sought after item she knows she can afford to increase her price where necessary.
You can get an idea of what sells well – for a good price quickly – on other platforms like eBay and Depop.
Another top tip is to always aim to provide nice packaging, Caroline likes to include a handwritten note too.
“If it’s something you love and you’re passionate about then just keep rolling with it,” she said.
How does the Narchie app work?
Narchie doesn’t charge a fee for sellers to list an item and it’s free to sign up too.
It does charge sellers a 10% fee on the total listing amount, including shipping.
This cost is only deducted once an item has been sold, not before the transaction is complete.
The seller is responsible for arranging postage to the buyer and the buyer pays for the delivery fee which is calculated by the seller.
Once an item has been delivered, buyers and sellers are able to rate and describe their experience with the seller or buyer.
You can then find reviews on users profiles, which helps buyers know whether to shop from them and sellers know if it’s a reliable buyer.
Every seller needs a Stripe account to sell on Narchie.
When a sale goes through the money arrives almost instantly into their Stripe account.
If there is an issue between the buyer and the seller they’re encouraged to resolve it themselves but the Narchie team will assist if necessary.
What to be wary of when starting a reselling side hustle
When buying with a view to resell, there’s no guarantee that you’ll sell the item, or get the price you want.
Of course, there are other similar marketplaces, as well as Narchie, for people looking to make cash selling charity shop or car boot finds on.
You may have to wait some time for the cash if the item doesn’t sell instantly.
And in the worst case, you might be stuck with the item or have to sell at a loss.
Plus, if you aren’t able to spend as much then you may not make as big a profit – although as Caroline finds you can make decent cash from spending just £2.
There are also some things to consider when you choose to sell items online.
For example, some platforms charge sellers a fee or take a commission that can eat into profits.
On Etsy, there is a 16p listing fee, 6.5 % transaction fee, and 4% + 20p payment processing fee to take into account.
Depop doesn’t charge a fee to list an item but you pay a 10% commission on anything you sell.
You can list up to 1,000 items a month on eBay for free.
You’ll pay a commission of 12.8% on what you sell, plus a 30p fee.
It’s also free to list on Facebook Marketplace, and you have to have a Facebook account.
Tax rules around earning extra income
It’s worth remembering that anything you earn with an extra income like this can be taxed.
You can earn up to £1,000 without paying tax thanks to the trading allowance.
The odd jobs you can claim tax-free include money made at car boot sales, online selling or auction, according to HMRC.
It could also include money made from food delivery or by charging other people for using your equipment or tools.
Once you earn more than £1,000 a year, you need to complete a self-assessment tax return and start paying tax on your extra earnings.
How much that is will depend on how much you already earn.
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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
