By James Cartledge,SWNSEmmaDunn Emma Dunn
Copyright birminghammail
A mum has walked away from her “demanding” £43k teaching career to become a vintage reseller – and now brings in more each month flogging pre-loved garments on Vinted and eBay. Jess Morton, 27, spent six years working in a primary school but began finding the role “unmanageable” and felt she couldn’t give her “full self” to her family due to exhaustion. The mother-of-three discovered her passion for reselling when she put her old size 24 garments up for sale on Vinted after losing eight stone. READ MORE: Face of every parent’s worst nightmare who snatched and sexually abused girl, 5 She has now generated £30,000 in just ten months – averaging £3,000-a-month – and said she was equalling her teaching salary every month while having cash left over to reinvest in her venture. She started by selling unwanted garments donated by friends and relatives, before buying and reselling vintage pieces from charity shops. It was a side venture until she started pulling in £1,500 monthly, which made her realise it could work financially as a full-time pursuit, prompting her to leave teaching in May. Jess, from Selby, North Yorkshire, said: “It got to the point where it [teaching] became unmanageable with the family. I started reselling my old clothes and realised how much I enjoyed it. “I’m earning enough to cover my old wage and have enough for stock as well.” Jess had been contemplating a career change after returning to her primary school teaching position following the birth of her son, now four. She wasn’t certain what direction to take but was losing her enthusiasm for the profession. Jess – who lives with her husband, 40, a policeman – said: “It was very tiring. It was demanding. “I wasn’t my full self with my family. With the current education system there was always more to do but never anything taken away. “The reason I became a teacher is because I enjoy working with children. The admin of the workload takes that away. “It dilutes the reason you became a teacher.” Jess started decluttering her wardrobe in October 2024. The mother – who also has a 14 year old daughter and son, 12 – posted and flogged her garments on Vinted, earning £600 during her first month. Jess said: “My old clothing absolutely flew out. I harassed my family to see if they had any clothing I could sell. “I ransacked our house.” Jess ventured onto eBay, Depop and Whatnot – purchasing items from charity shops and flogging them via the platforms – in December. The side venture flourished and Jess saw the monetary benefits from her reselling enterprise. She said: “Some months I was making £1,000 to £1,500 a month. “At that point I thought maybe I could make it into a job that could sustain us.” At Easter she faced a crucial choice – teachers typically must submit their resignation by May if they plan to depart at the end of the school year. She opted to take the plunge and has been reselling full-time since July. Jess now buys bundles from wholesalers – setting aside £500 to £700 monthly – and flogs items such as Y2K jeans for between £18 to £25 and retro Nike and Adidas gear from £25 to £40. She said: “I really enjoy selling Y2K. It’s having a big moment. Being 37, I remember wearing it all the first time around. “The fun part is adapting to what’s in fashion.” This month she has raked in £4,300 in just 16 days – most of which she will plough back into the venture. But the payoff for her also lies in gaining more time back to spend with her family. She said: “It’s nice having that flexibility. “You decide the working hours. It’s nice that I’ll be able to take my son to school in the morning and pick him up. “I used to start work at half seven and most days I’d not leave until gone five.” She posts her advice on TikTok @jess. vintage.revivals and has a group chat with other resellers so they can support each other. She was operating out of her dining room but has now secured a unit. Jess said: “It’s very exciting.” 1. Start Small & Build Confidence. Don’t splash out straight away. Begin with 10–20 pieces (even from your own wardrobe) to understand how platforms operate before splashing cash on stock. 2. Know What Sells. Trends are crucial. Y2K denim, branded sportswear, puffers, and distinctive vintage pieces often shift faster and for better prices than generic items. 3. Focus on Quality Over Quantity It’s far better to maintain 20 strong listings that actually shift rather than 100 low-value pieces gathering dust. Premium items boost your average sale price and profit margins considerably. 4. Photos Sell Items. Sharp, well-lit photographs make all the difference. Natural lighting or an inexpensive lightbox setup works brilliantly. Include front and back shots, close-ups of labels and details, plus any imperfections. 5. Be Honest in Descriptions. Highlight any flaws, provide precise measurements, and describe the fit accurately. Purchasers detest nasty surprises, and transparency cultivates loyal customers. 6. Learn Each Platform’s Strengths. Vinted → Rapid turnover, Gen Z/Y2K styles perform exceptionally well. Depop → Curated, style-conscious buyers willing to pay premium prices for distinctive pieces. eBay → Broader audience, excellent for branded sportswear and international customers. Whatnot → Ideal for high-volume selling or hosting themed live events. 7. Consistency Is Key. List daily (or batch upload and release gradually). Algorithms favour regular activity. Even five fresh or relisted items daily can enhance visibility significantly. 8. Track Your Numbers. Monitor your cost of goods, average selling price, and profit margins closely. It’s surprisingly easy to assume you’re profitable when you’re not. Basic spreadsheets suffice initially. 9. Build a Brand, Not Just Listings. Consider beyond the garments themselves. Employ consistent titles, hashtags, and styling so customers recognise your shop’s distinctive “vibe” – whether that’s Y2K, vintage sportswear, or streetwear. 10. Patience Pays Off Not all items shift immediately. Some goods are snapped up within hours, others linger for weeks. Don’t fret if things aren’t moving – keep listing, keep learning, and momentum will gather.
