Chloe Lovett, 25, from Sheerness, Kent, has turned her Vinted side hustle into a full-time career, earning up to £400 daily and on track to make £100,000 by the end of the year. Just under a year ago, she was working a minimum wage job at a local spa, selling old clothes on the resale app for extra cash.
From Side Hustle to Full-Time Business
'I was using Vinted just for a bit of money on the side,' she explained. 'I had done it on and off for a few years but always got busy with other stuff. But in September I just decided to give it my all and see where it takes me.'
Chloe credits helping her partner, Jake, with his marketing agency for giving her transferable skills to start the business. Initially, Jake drove her to collect bags of clothes from people's houses, and she sold them from home. When space ran out and Jake could no longer drive her, she found a location for drop-offs.
Opening a Physical Store
In May, Chloe opened her first in-person location, 'Lovett Or List It', in a former council building near her home. The store features rails of secondhand clothing organised by colour and size, and quickly took off.
'I am fully booked six days a week,' she said. 'It is honestly so busy. I didn't think it would take off like this.'
She buys unwanted clothes from customers by weight before reselling them online and in store. Other resellers purchase items her clientele aren't interested in, ensuring no wasted stock.
'Because it is pre-loved, it is all one-off pieces,' said the 25-year-old. 'People come in weekly just to see what I have got new in.'
Her favourite items are classic staples that can be worn for years over fast fashion trends. 'It's crazy what people have and what people don't wear. It's a lot of stuff that they had bought in the sale. They picked it up because psychologically they thought they were getting a saving even if they didn't like the item or know where to wear it.'
Income and Future Plans
Despite the shop's popularity, most of Chloe's income comes from Vinted sales. She also launched a standalone website last week. Currently, she is the only employee, though her Jagdterrier, Dolly, has become a favourite with customers.
'When my dog is not in here, every single person who comes in asks where the dog is,' she joked. 'She gets paid in treats!'
Chloe admits she is 'learning along the way' and has struggled with 'imposter syndrome'. 'I thought that no one knew who I was or what I was doing,' she explained. 'It obviously went crazy. Now the money is coming in, but I am really stingy; I won't go out and spend it.'
Her dream is to move to a commercial industrial unit in six months and hire more staff. 'Loads of people were saying that I should get someone in, but I enjoy doing every aspect myself,' she said. 'Give it six months, and I will definitely need someone to help me, but I just really enjoy my own company.'
Overall, Chloe feels she 'definitely made the right choice' taking the plunge with her business, adding: 'I love working on my own and doing what I want to do.'
