Henry Howard and Holly Proud, a teenage duo from Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, have earned over £50,000 by reselling designer clothes, choosing to skip university to avoid student debt. They now save for their first property, working full-time from a 1,000-square-foot unit.
From Pocket Money to Full-Time Business
The couple, who met in June 2022 through mutual friends at secondary school, launched their clothing resale venture in January 2023. Starting with "underpriced items" from charity shops, they flipped branded T-shirts, often doubling their investment. Henry said, "We saw it as a way to get some extra pocket money for going out at first really, we couldn't believe how cheap we could get some of the branded items in charity shops."
They expanded by buying vintage clothing in bulk online through wholesaler Fleek. Henry explained, "As we scaled up our orders, we scaled up the volume we were selling. We started out in Holly's bedroom, then moved into her spare bedroom, then a room in my house, and eventually into her grandparents' annex."
Earning £2,000 a Week
By summer 2023, they were earning about £2,000 monthly. One early success involved buying 50 Carhartt trousers for £400 and selling each pair for £20. Now, they rake in over £2,000 weekly, having banked roughly £50,000 to date. Henry said, "It's been extremely rewarding. I've always believed this was something serious and that we could make it work."
No Regrets About Skipping University
Henry noted that about 95% of his friends went to university, but he and Holly have no regrets. "We're enjoying ourselves, making a decent amount of money, and one of the biggest driving forces for me is that I'm not in debt like many of my peers who went to university," he said. His school encouraged higher education, but his family was supportive.
Managing Health Through Self-Employment
Holly, diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) in 2023, finds self-employment allows her to manage her condition. POTS causes a rapid heart rate upon standing, leading to dizziness. "Day to day, I definitely have to take things at my own pace and sit down more regularly. The heat makes it so much worse too. I don't think I could have gone to university with it," she said.
Standout Flipping Successes
The pair have a knack for spotting bargains. Notable flips include a vintage Valentino suit bought for £10 and sold for £250, an Yves Saint Laurent jacket purchased for £20 and sold for £200, a Juicy Couture handbag bought for £10 and sold for £110, and Frye cowboy boots bought for £15 and sold for £135. Holly said, "I think I'm quite good at knowing what's trending, so we look for that as well as big brands – that's what always works for us."
Passion for Sustainability
Holly is passionate about the environment. "If any of our clothes have holes in them, I sew them up or add patches to make them more unique before we sell them. We rarely buy ourselves anything new now," she said. The pair work seven days a week, treating their venture as both a passion project and a profession.
Future Plans
While they have spent on trips like a jaunt to Copenhagen, their main goal is saving for their first property. Holly added, "We're just excited for the future and what's to come, we want to just keep growing the business!"
