I’ve made £5k selling old tat found at car boot sales – including a 30p Mulberry handbag that I sold for £360
A MUM has racked in £5,000 reselling her car boot sale finds on Vinted and Facebook Marketplace.
Her second-hand haul included a designer Mulberry bag worth £360 that she picked up for 30p.
Emily Zervakis, 38, started her side hustle after clearing out clothes from her home and making £350 in profit selling them online.
After seeing how easy it was to make some cash from reselling, she decided to reinvest the £350 buying clothing from car boot sales and charity shops.
As well as her Mulberry bag, Emily found a Jellycat plush toy for £1.50, which she resold for £75.
Over the last 10 months she has spend £2,500 and made £5,000 – which she has reinvested back into her side hustle.
“It’s great fun. I love going charity shopping. It’s my happy place,” said the East Sussex native.
“I’ve always loved second-hand. You can find the most unique pieces.”
The jewellery business owner said she still has “tonnes of stock to sell.”
Emily grew up going to car boot sales with her mum and the money they made would go towards their family holidays.
She decided to have a clear out in January 2024 and sold on the clothes and furniture on Vinted and Facebook Marketplace.
“I was just selling stuff around the house, I made £350 between January and February,” she revealed.
“I thought ‘I’m going to see if I can grow this’.”
Emily started spending time hunting through charity shops, jumble sales, car boot sales, and Vinted to see what she could find.
At first she picked out the cheapest items to work out what would sell on and gradually saw her profits grow.
“Now I look for expensive labels – I can tell by the feel,” Emily explained.
“I look for Joseph Ribkoff. Mountain T-shirts sell well, I get them at the boot sale and they sell for £25 to £30 each.”
UKs biggest & best car boots
1. Arminghall Car Boot Sale, Norfolk
Arminghall is one of the largest car boot sales in Norfolk, attracting thousands of visitors every week. It offers a vast array of goods, from antiques and collectibles to fresh produce and clothing.
2. Bristol and Bath Car Boot Sale, Somerset
Held at the Bath Racecourse, this car boot sale is known for its size and variety. It’s a must-visit for bargain hunters and those looking for unique items.
3. The Giant Shepton Mallet Flea & Collectors Market, Somerset
Located at the Bath and West Showground, this market is held several times a year and is one of the largest in the country. It features a mix of traditional car boot stalls and antique dealers.
4. Denham Giant Car Boot Sale, Buckinghamshire
Denham is one of the largest car boot sales in the South East, offering a wide range of items from household goods to vintage treasures. It’s a popular spot for both buyers and sellers.
5. Wimbledon Car Boot Sale, London
Held every Saturday and Sunday, the Wimbledon Car Boot Sale is one of London’s most famous. It attracts a diverse crowd and offers an eclectic mix of items.
6. Chiswick Car Boot Sale, London
Known for its friendly atmosphere and high-quality goods, the Chiswick Car Boot Sale is a favourite among Londoners. It’s held on the first Sunday of every month.
7. Chelford Car Boot Sale, Cheshire
One of the North West’s largest car boot sales, Chelford offers a huge selection of items. It’s a great place to find everything from garden tools to vintage clothing.
8. York Racecourse Car Boot Sale, Yorkshire
This car boot sale is held at the York Racecourse and is one of the largest in the region. It features hundreds of stalls and attracts a large number of visitors.
9. Belfast Car Boot Sale, Northern Ireland
Located at the King’s Hall Complex, this car boot sale is the biggest in Northern Ireland. It offers a wide range of goods and is a great place to find a bargain.
10. Edinburgh Corn Exchange Car Boot Sale, Scotland
One of Scotland’s largest indoor car boot sales, it’s held every Sunday and offers a vast array of items. It’s perfect for those looking to shop in a weather-proof environment.
She described how she pays particular attention to “unique, niche items.”
Some of her favourite finds include a set of three football T-shirts, which she purchased for £7 each before going on to sell them for £20 a shirt.
She found an Alexander Wang bag in a charity shop for £3 and is selling it for £110.
“I’ve found so many awesome bits,” Emily said.
“I go to boot sales and get clothes for 80p and sell them for £8 to £10.
“It’s small wins and big wins.”
Emily sells her finds on across Vinted, eBay, and Depop and makes sure she is constantly listing.
She has had to rearrange her living room to make space for all her stock.
“I list items while watching telly,” Emily said.
“You need to be consistent, you need to list daily.”
Emily is also challenging herself to take £3 and make it into £1,000 – and is so far at £600.
She wants to inspire others to show you can easily make some extra cash from buying cheap, old clothes and reselling them.
“At the minute, I’m just reinvesting to make it into some kind of sustainable business,” Emily said.
“Eventually it will pay me.”
Emily said her husband, Kacan, 40, a designer, is super supportive of her new side hustle and their two boys – aged eight and four – love finding out how much she makes from each sale.
“They are learning about it as well,” she explained.
“I just love finding stuff. It’s bringing old clothing to life again. I just love it.”
Emily's reselling tips
- Start small at a car boot sale and rummage through a pile of clothes and spend £10 on items from places such as Next and M&S – “you’ll see it grow.”
- List consistently.
- Take good photos and write a good description.
- Look for unique items.
- Check what similar items are selling for on eBay and Vinted.