A savvy shopper has revealed how she turned a tiny charity shop purchase into a massive profit, after buying a handbag for £3.50 and selling it for £400 on the popular online marketplace Vinted.
The Thrift Shop Discovery That Paid Off
Kat Lambert, a 37-year-old from Bolton, made the incredible find at her local Bolton Hospice charity shop. She had popped in for a quick look after visiting a car boot sale. With a trained eye developed from watching hours of authentication videos, Kat immediately recognised the bag as a genuine, rare vintage piece from the luxury brand Fendi.
"I could tell it was genuine straight away," Kat explained. After a thorough clean, she listed the bag on Vinted, using a strategic title packed with keywords she knew would attract buyers searching for specific items.
The Secret to a Quick and Lucrative Sale
Kat's listing strategy proved to be a masterstroke. She included terms like 'rare', 'vintage', and '90s Bratz' to tap into popular searches on the platform. The results were almost instantaneous.
"It’s funny, because I got an offer for £300 within about two minutes of the listing and I was tempted to take it," she said. "But I decided not to, as I knew its worth. 10 minutes later, I got an offer for £100 more." She ultimately accepted the £400 offer, netting a staggering profit of £396.50.
Turning Expertise into a Side Business
This isn't Kat's first valuable find. Her charity shop hauls have previously included vintage Mulberry bags and Hermes scarves. Her success has been driven by dedicated research to learn what authentic, desirable items to look for.
Now, she is using her expertise to help others, particularly stay-at-home parents looking to earn extra income. She has created a specialised guide teaching people how to build a lucrative side gig through reselling.
Kat's biggest tip for online sellers focuses on the power of keywords. "The brand name and colour description isn’t enough," she advises. "Learn what to look for. It changes everything." Her story, shared in a clip that has amassed 17,000 views, shows that with a little knowledge and strategy, anyone can uncover hidden treasure in their local charity shop.
