From £40 Bundle to £2,500 Monthly Income
Scarlet Nation, a 23-year-old student from Dorset, has turned a £40 vintage clothing bundle into a business generating up to £2,500 per month while working part-time hours. The venture allows her to travel, see friends, and pay off debts incurred during her university studies.
Struggling to cover rent and basic expenses after leaving home for university, Scarlet discovered a Facebook Marketplace listing for 120 vintage clothing items priced at £40. She sold a single dress for £10 more than the entire bundle cost, earning £2,000 within seven days while retaining most of the stock.
Rapid Growth and Financial Freedom
Scarlet now operates a full-time reselling business that pays off her debts and provides flexibility. “I make a full-time wage doing part-time hours,” she said. “I felt unsure about how I was going to continue affording rent and food as student finance didn't cover it. I was in debt from paying bills during my previous year at university – but I managed to pay this off within a month from reselling.”
She added: “I feel so much lighter and free as I'm earning a decent wage while studying. I'm able to be flexible and see my friends and travel whenever I want without restrictions.”
Business Model and Sourcing
Scarlet sources stock primarily through bundles on Facebook Marketplace and Fleek, a vintage wholesale platform. Her inventory includes brands like Jane Norman, Charlotte Russe, Superdry, and Billabong, focusing on trendy vintage categories such as crochet, low-waisted shorts, and accessories.
She explained: “Accessories do so much better in summer. And colours really matter. I use bundles to scale more efficiently and access higher-value stock. For example, I've bought four bundles and in my latest one, I spent £100 on 20 items. The returns came quickly – I made my entire investment back from just three items, as they sold for £40 each.”
Balancing Business with University
While studying for a business and finance degree, Scarlet dedicates 20 hours per week to the physical aspects of reselling (washing, photographing, packaging, posting) and 8 hours to admin (listings, customer messages, sourcing). During exam periods, this drops to 10 hours weekly.
She noted: “I've been balancing university exams at the same time and I'm doing really well. I think reselling has helped me mentally, financially and educationally. Doing my own taxes and running a business has given me real life practice for what I study.”
Social Media and Community Impact
Scarlet shares her reselling successes and “flips” on TikTok, inspiring friends to start their own ventures on Vinted. She plans to continue after graduation and is considering writing her dissertation on women with side hustles.
“My friends at university have started to sell their own clothes on Vinted because of me. A few of them have looked into reselling and I've given them tips. We're all drowning in exams at the moment, but they hope to start in the summer,” she said.
One highlight was a Christmas trip to London funded entirely by her reselling income. “We stayed in a small cottage and fully embraced the festive atmosphere. And it was all on my tab. My boyfriend had very kindly paid for our trips before this, so it was nice to be able to treat him,” she added.
Future Plans
Scarlet aims to expand her business after graduation, leveraging her university knowledge. “I honestly don't think I'd have been able to grow it to this point without what I've learned so far. It makes me really excited to see what I can achieve if I'm able to take it on full-time after I graduate,” she concluded.
