twenty second Oct 2025
Studying Time: 6 minutes
In the event you’re seeking to improve your money however you take pleasure in procuring slightly an excessive amount of, we’d simply have the proper resolution for you: flipping thrift objects.
We recognize that flea markets and charity retailers aren’t precisely as glamorous as London’s Oxford Road, but the procuring expertise will be much more rewarding whenever you discover the proper items. All it takes is an eye fixed for good manufacturers and slightly entrepreneurial aptitude and you can also make some nice revenue on the resale worth of every merchandise.
Earlier than You Begin Flipping Thrift Gadgets
Earlier than you begin shopping for thrift merchandise there are some things you need to think about. Firstly, examine on web sites like eBay to see what worth an identical merchandise sells in that situation. This manner you’ll be able to resolve whether or not it’s worthwhile shopping for it within the first place. Test the place you’ll be able to promote it, too: you may be capable to make more money going to a second-hand supplier like CEX as an alternative of making an attempt to promote privately or on marketplaces.
Secondly, examine for irremovable marks or delicate supplies that require dry cleansing; this may solely deplete extra of your income. Lastly, work out any extra bills of that product together with transport charges and what platforms to make use of for reselling it. Keep in mind to resolve if you wish to ship internationally – tariffs like these imposed by Trump in the USA may affect whether or not somebody will purchase an merchandise or pay for it to move customs.
Probably the most tough components of flipping thrift objects is discovering the precise objects which have a powerful demand. That can assist you out with this, we’ve created a brief listing with a few of the most worthwhile thrift items:
Collectable objects
Be it an outdated branded toy that’s not manufactured or a limited-edition comedian ebook, there’ll at all times be a marketplace for collectible objects.
In some circumstances, passionate collectors are prepared to pay giant quantities of cash for a particular merchandise. Different collectables to look out for embrace uncommon vinyl data, like Beatle’s 1968 White Album or classic board video games. It doesn’t need to be very outdated, both – consider restricted version themed Monopoly video games, for instance. The rarer an merchandise is, the extra priceless. So long as you do your homework on a few of these classes, you may be capable to make some massive bucks
Designer Manufacturers
Though not at all times a simple discover, designer objects are most definitely to promote rapidly and for good income, significantly if present in pristine circumstances.
On the subject of aspirational existence, there’s a big demand for pre-owned objects that present a sure standing or belonging to a gaggle. So, when you discover any kind of designer bag or apparel that has a good situation or will be improved, it is going to most definitely be value buying.
Excessive-end designer baggage comparable to Chanel, Hermes or Dior is perhaps tough to search out, however be looking out additionally for mid-range designer objects, comparable to Kate Spade or Kurt Geiger.
You may also get some nice steals on present or last-season designer manufacturers from shops like The Outnet. In the event you can retailer them safely for a number of years, these may recognize in worth. One thing instantly ‘final season’ drops in value – however then demand can rise once more over time.
Books
On the subject of books, aside from the collectable first editions, there are two foremost varieties that it’s value preserving an eye fixed out for – in style ebook units and college textbooks. The Harry Potter, Starvation Video games or Lord of the Rings ebook units promote on eBay for round £50 relying on the situation. Additionally attempt to discover a discount value on one of many basic and timeless ebook units, like Little Home on the Prairie, they could be a nice funding.
Though most college textbooks replace their editions every year, most adjustments are solely minor, whereas the construction and foremost content material keep the identical. Whereas lecturers use the most recent editions, they typically encourage college students to purchase the older variations resulting from their smaller costs and nearly equivalent content material. Nevertheless, even second-hand textbooks can promote for £30 a bit relying on the version.
Sports activities Gear
When folks take up a sport, it typically seems like breaking the financial institution. {Most professional} sports activities tools is kind of costly. For instance, a brand new pair of Latin dance footwear for ladies sells for over £100 in shops!
So long as the merchandise is in good situation and will be re-used, you could discover lots of keen consumers for pre-loved sports activities tools. You may even promote it in units – a soccer, trainers, and uniform for instance – very best for brand spanking new sports activities fanatics. These will be nice objects to promote, simply guarantee that the footwear and garments don’t have disagreeable smells that can’t be faraway from a wash.
Keep in mind that security package comparable to helmets shouldn’t be purchased or offered second-hand, even when they give the impression of being alright on the skin. It is because they might have been in an accident or dropped, inflicting inside or micro injury to the merchandise.
Cookware
Many charity retailers promote cooking tools. Have an excellent rummage and do your analysis – you’ll discover issues like iron pans, Pyrex, Le Cruset or perhaps a uncommon classic pottery discover will fetch a fairly penny!
Forged iron cookware, for instance, will be purchased from thrift retailers for a fiver and offered on web sites like eBay for £20-£30. Classic retro designs are more and more in style, too – and infrequently find yourself in charity store piles.
Previous Tech
One other class which may haven’t crossed your thoughts is outdated tech tools – outdated laptops, iPads, iPods, outdated play station consoles, and so forth.
You’ve acquired two selections right here: purchase damaged objects and break them up, to promote for the totally different parts. Or, you’ll be able to restore them your self and promote as a whole product. All of it is determined by your talent stage and time availability.
Begin by trying round the home! All of us have outdated telephones or damaged tech we’ve stashed in a drawer someplace. Be sure to wipe any laborious drives and put issues again to manufacturing unit settings earlier than promoting.
Classic video games consoles
Search for classic computer systems and video games consoles, too. You’ll be stunned how a lot these can fetch! A pristine, working-order Nintendo 64 may simply fetch you upwards of £50, extra you probably have video games, too. Different tech, like Tremendous 8 camcorders, will also be picked up for subsequent to nothing and offered to collectors for a LOT.
Furnishings
A number of the furnishings from thrift retailers are made out of high-quality supplies and a few may even be classed as classic items. With these objects, you’ll be able to simply attempt to resell them as they’re as a result of there are lots of people that refuse to pay giant quantities of cash for brand spanking new furnishings.
For extra primary furnishings items, in case you are a inventive particular person and luxuriate in DIY tasks, you will get inspiration from platforms like Pinterest and redesign your complete piece. That new and distinctive merchandise will be the precise lacking factor for somebody’s room, and so they is perhaps prepared to pay lots of for it!
Tips on how to Flip for Money
If you’ve determined what you need to flip, it’s time to get began! Trawl your native charity retailers – and on-line retailers like Oxfam – to search out bargains. Typically, you’ll want to return to the identical store a number of occasions earlier than you discover a gem.
Go to automobile boot gross sales, antiques gala’s, and flea markets, too. Right here, you’ll be able to haggle on the worth much more so be able to go in on a low provide and negotiate to an agreed value. By no means really feel swayed to pay greater than you assume one thing is value – be able to stroll away!
Put together your merchandise on the market
Clear the merchandise up – you may must make minor repairs, too. Take nice images: use pure gentle wherever potential, or for smaller objects arrange your personal gentle field. The distinction between an excellent and a mean picture is mirrored within the last value you get!
Think about upcycling
Some objects, like furnishings or garments, want greater than a primary clear up. Nevertheless, that is the place the actual income will be made! Flip one thing into one other – comparable to an outdated and damaged chest of drawers right into a backyard planter, or a big outdated shirt right into a costume. This will increase the attraction and means you’ll be able to cost much more for it, too.
Set clear phrases
Whether or not you’re promoting on eBay, native Fb teams, the NextDoor app, or Gumtree, set out the situation of the merchandise very clearly. Be sincere! You’ll come throughout ‘tyre kickers’ who need to view a product then attempt to knock the worth down. Don’t allow them to waste your time: lay out the situation of the merchandise and the phrases of the sale (comparable to ‘purchaser should gather’) within the product description.
Promote your objects
If you’ve acquired a number of objects to promote, think about making a model for your self. This can assist you to market your objects throughout social media channels and on-line. You may even create your personal web site utilizing one thing like Wix or WordPress if you wish to flip this interest right into a full-time profession!
Register with HMRC
In the event you’re making constant revenue from flipping thrift objects, this counts as a enterprise. Anybody incomes over £1,000 a 12 months from hobbies like this should register as self-employed with HMRC and file a Self Evaluation tax return by January thirty first yearly.
