twenty second Oct 2025
Studying Time: 6 minutes
For those who’re trying to enhance your money however you take pleasure in purchasing somewhat an excessive amount of, we’d simply have the right answer for you: flipping thrift objects.
We recognize that flea markets and charity outlets will not be precisely as glamorous as London’s Oxford Road, but the purchasing expertise may be much more rewarding while you discover the right items. All it takes is an eye fixed for good manufacturers and somewhat entrepreneurial aptitude and you may make some nice revenue on the resale worth of every merchandise.
Earlier than You Begin Flipping Thrift Objects
Earlier than you begin shopping for thrift merchandise there are some things it is best to take into account. Firstly, examine on web sites like eBay to see what worth the same merchandise sells in that situation. This fashion you possibly can determine whether or not it’s worthwhile shopping for it within the first place. Examine the place you possibly can promote it, too: you may have the ability to make additional cash going to a second-hand seller 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; it will solely expend 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 determine if you wish to ship internationally – tariffs like these imposed by Trump in america might affect whether or not somebody will purchase an merchandise or pay for it to move customs.
Probably the most troublesome components of flipping thrift objects is discovering the best objects which have a powerful demand. That can assist you out with this, we’ve created a brief listing with among the most worthwhile thrift items:
Collectable objects
Be it an outdated branded toy that’s not manufactured or a limited-edition comedian e book, there’ll all the time be a marketplace for collectible objects.
In some circumstances, passionate collectors are keen to pay massive 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 It doesn’t should be very outdated, both – consider restricted version themed Monopoly video games, for instance. The rarer an merchandise is, the extra precious. So long as you do your homework on a few of these classes, you may have the ability to make some large bucks
Designer Manufacturers
Though not all the time a straightforward discover, designer objects are most certainly to promote rapidly and for good income, notably if present in pristine situations.
With regards to aspirational existence, there’s a enormous demand for pre-owned objects that present a sure standing or belonging to a bunch. So, should you discover any sort of designer bag or apparel that has a good situation or may be improved, it should most certainly be price buying.
Excessive-end designer baggage equivalent to Chanel, Hermes or Dior is likely to be troublesome to search out, however be looking out additionally for mid-range designer objects, equivalent to Kate Spade or Kurt Geiger.
It’s also possible to get some nice steals on present or last-season designer manufacturers from retailers like The Outnet. For those who can retailer them safely for just a few years, these might recognize in worth. One thing instantly ‘final season’ drops in value – however then demand can rise once more over time.
Books
With regards to books, apart from the collectable first editions, there are two major sorts that it’s price conserving an eye fixed out for – common e book units and college textbooks. The Harry Potter, Starvation Video games or Lord of the Rings e book units promote on eBay for round £50 relying on the situation. Additionally attempt to discover a cut price value on one of many basic and timeless e book units, like Little Home on the Prairie, they could be a nice funding.
Though most college textbooks replace their editions annually, most modifications are solely minor, whereas the construction and major content material keep the identical. Whereas lecturers use the most recent editions, they usually encourage college students to purchase the older variations resulting from their smaller costs and virtually equivalent content material. Nonetheless, even second-hand textbooks can promote for £30 a chunk relying on the version.
Sports activities Gear
When individuals take up a sport, it usually seems like breaking the financial institution. {Most professional} sports activities tools is sort 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 may be re-used, you could discover loads of keen patrons for pre-loved sports activities tools. You’ll be able to even promote it in units – a soccer, trainers, and uniform for instance – ultimate for brand new sports activities lovers. These may be nice objects to promote, simply be sure that the footwear and garments don’t have disagreeable smells that can’t be faraway from a wash.
Do not forget that security package equivalent to helmets shouldn’t be purchased or offered second-hand, even when they appear alright on the surface. It is because they might have been in an accident or dropped, inflicting inner or micro harm to the merchandise.
Cookware
Many charity outlets promote cooking tools. Have a superb 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, may be purchased from thrift outlets for a fiver and offered on web sites like eBay for £20-£30. Classic retro designs are more and more common, 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 completely different parts. Or, you possibly can restore them your self and promote as an entire product. All of it is dependent upon your ability stage and time availability.
Begin by wanting round the home! All of us have outdated telephones or damaged tech we’ve stashed in a drawer someplace. Ensure you 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 shocked how a lot these can fetch! A pristine, working-order Nintendo 64 might simply fetch you upwards of £50, extra you probably have video games, too. Different tech, like Tremendous 8 camcorders, can be picked up for subsequent to nothing and offered to collectors for a LOT.
Furnishings
Among the furnishings from thrift outlets are made out of high-quality supplies and a few may even be classed as classic items. With these objects, you possibly can simply attempt to resell them as they’re as a result of there are lots of people that refuse to pay massive quantities of cash for brand new furnishings.
For extra primary furnishings items, in case you are a artistic particular person and luxuriate in DIY tasks, you will get inspiration from platforms like Pinterest and redesign all the piece. That new and distinctive merchandise may be the precise lacking aspect for somebody’s room, and so they is likely to be keen to pay lots of for it!
Find out how to Flip for Money
Whenever you’ve determined what you wish to flip, it’s time to get began! Trawl your native charity outlets – and on-line outlets like Oxfam – to search out bargains. Generally, you’ll want to return to the identical store just a few occasions earlier than you discover a gem.
Go to automotive boot gross sales, antiques gala’s, and flea markets, too. Right here, you possibly can haggle on the value much more so be able to go in on a low supply and negotiate to an agreed value. By no means really feel swayed to pay greater than you suppose one thing is price – 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 pictures: use pure mild wherever doable, or for smaller objects arrange your individual mild field. The distinction between a superb and a median photograph is mirrored within the ultimate value you get!
Take into account upcycling
Some objects, like furnishings or garments, want greater than a primary clear up. Nonetheless, that is the place the true income may be made! Flip one thing into one other – equivalent 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 possibly can 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 wish to view a product then attempt to knock the value down. Don’t allow them to waste your time: lay out the situation of the merchandise and the phrases of the sale (equivalent to ‘purchaser should accumulate’) within the product description.
Promote your objects
Whenever you’ve acquired just a few objects to promote, take into account making a model for your self. This may enable you market your objects throughout social media channels and on-line. You’ll be able to even create your individual 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
For those who’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.