A former Sainsbury’s worker who started selling second-hand bargains has doubled her income – all by hunting down hidden gems in charity shops and car boots.
Emily Derrick used to juggle night shifts while looking after her two children before she started selling items on Vinted as a side hustle.
The 28-year-old made some serious profits early on – snapping up a Buffalo coat for just £2 and selling it for £95.
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The mum from Bristol also scored platform brogues worth over £200 for just a few pounds.
She eventually decided to quit her part-time Sainsbury’s job – where she was earning just £800 a month – in May 2025 to focus full-time on reselling.
Since then, she’s doubled her income, now raking in more than £2,000 a month.
“It was a hobby that got out of hand,” the mum-of-two told What’s The Jam.
“My love of thrifting definitely started from a young age.
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“As soon as I hit teenage years and started selling my own stuff, my mum would buy me really expensive things.
“I would end up selling those things just to get a buzz.
“I loved feeling like I had my own little shop.”
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One of Emily’s best finds so far has been a pair of Gina shoes worth £695.
She bought the heels, which had never been worn, for just £9.99 at a local St Peter’s Hospice.
The mum had them verified by customer services at the store, who confirmed the shoes retailed at £695 when new.
Emily, who also sells on Tilt and eBay, said: “I could tell from the search history that the shoes were worth something.
“They were from 2018 but never worn.
“When I searched them on Google Lens, the only ones that were coming up, you could rent them.
“Whenever you can rent an item, it’s an expensive brand.
“There was one available for £300 in Dubai.
“There was very little amount of info on there but I knew they would be worth something.
“I thought, ‘Right, quick, let’s get to the till!’”
Since August last year, Emily’s made over £11,000 on Vinted alone – all from items picked up at charity shops and car boot sales.
She said: “When I started in August last year, I was doing it part-time while doing a night shift job and loved it.
“I started selling stuff on Vinted and was going to the charity shops every day.
“Working at Sainsbury’s grocery picking wasn’t ideal with the early hours and looking after the kids.”
Her top tips include using Google Lens to research items and not being afraid to go for brands you haven’t heard of, as long as the item looks good quality – often these turn out to be hidden gems.
She added: “If you’re trying to resell, find stuff that works for you.
“It takes a long time to see what works.
“Just try out different brands.
“I did it and now I’ve turned my love of thrifting into a full-time job.”
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