I’m a stay-at-home-mum but make £20K a month selling people’s cast offs – my hubby’s even quit his job to help me
A COUPLE have been able to make themselves a whopping £20,000 per month by selling second-hand clothing online.
What was once a side hustle for Zoe Cavanagh and her husband Joe has now become their full time-job.
Both aged 29, the couple actually started selling odd bits and bobs online years ago, but back then it was just a hobby.
In June this year, they decided it was time to level up to something bigger.
And by October 2024, the parents‘ earnings were so high that Joe was able to quit his job as a manager at a self-storage facility to help his wife with their new business.
But how did they do it? Here, Zoe and Joe share their tips for others.
“We have been reselling on and off for around 15 years, as a side hustle,” Zoe, who lives in Solihul, Birmingham, told Absolutely Business.
“[In the beginning], most of the time, we [just] made ends meet and had some extra money for Christmas,” Zoe, who lives in Solihul, Birmingham said.
“Joe’s first big resale was actually when he was around 16 and was doing voluntary work in a charity shop and found a duffle bag filled with boxed N64 and SNES games.
“He managed to buy them for 50p each and made a good profit, which at that age felt huge.
“[When we started reselling regularly], it didn’t take long to come to the realisation that we wanted to do this full time.
“[But] we were lacking a platform where we were able to move through volume.”
So, what changed?
The couple discovered the online social marketplace, Whatnot, where people can sell anything from trainers to sports cards, second-hand clothes to luxury handbags.
They used the platform’s live auctions to boost their usual sales and were blown away by the earnings.
And the ‘Frugal Family’ haven’t looked back since.
Zoe said: “It is always an absolute buzz when you see a particular item sell for a great profit, especially when you’ve got a shelf full of them.
“Our first live auction was in June and by the end of July we had generated just over £10,000 in sales.
“Moving forward to November, we sold over £25,000 worth of items.
“It is great fun and the community of buyers and sellers are absolutely amazing.
“But it is hard work, there are a lot of things that go on off camera to make everything continue ticking over.
“We find the majority of our items from people who know people.
Side hustles in numbers
Based on new research from Finder, an estimated 22.8 million Brits are using side hustles to top up their income.
Among those aged 18-23, 68 percent have a side hustle in 2024.
Those aged 24-42 aren’t far behind, with 65 per cent having an additional source of income.
Side hustles are less popular among older generations, with 40 percent of those aged 43-54 having one.
Whereas 23 percent of people aged 55-73 and just 7 per cent of those aged 74 and over are earning extra cash this way.
“Bargains can be found on Facebook Marketplace, car boot sales, wholesale websites and platforms to source directly from overseas.
“It takes a lot of time and effort finding reliable suppliers.”
Now, the pair have a 1,500 sq ft unit where they keep all of their stock, stream and pack orders from.
Zoe said: “We firmly believe that anything can be profitable providing the price is right!
“We modelled our business on small margins and high volume and learnt this from the beginning of our journey when we attempted to sell more high-ticket items.
“People love a bargain, so if you can source your items at a cheap price, Whatnot offers the ability to sell huge volumes.
“For example, we had around 5,200 total views during a seven-hour stream last week.
“This converted to over 500 items sold.
“We [also] often sell in boxes or bundles almost like a wholesale lot to other resellers or even regular customers who want a bargain box of clothing in their size!”
The transition into launching their own reselling business was helped by the fact Zoe was a stay-at-home mum when they started out.
The pair have a young son and an eight-year-old daughter, which makes their home life very busy.
It can be tough working around them during the week, but we make it work
Zoe Cavanagh
But after just two months on Whatnot, their reselling profits matched their previous income.
Both Zoe and Joe ensure they take each weekend off from selling items so they can spend time with their children.
Zoe said: “It can be tough working around them during the week, but we make it work.
“Family life is great and the income allows us to live comfortably.
“Most importantly, [we’re] without financial stress and worrying about affording the necessities we have previously had to experience.
“Our eldest child, who is eight, likes to help out occasionally and earn herself some extra pocket money.
“We feel that encouraging and displaying hard work will benefit her in the future and equip her with the skills and mind-set to achieve whatever she wants.
“We want to set an example to our children and show them that hard work pays off.”
In 2025, the couple are looking at potentially expanding their business and looking into additional ventures to help them build their brand.
TOP TIPS TO GET STARTED
To help others replicate their success, the couple have shared their top tips.
Firstly, it is crucial to research trends to figure out what products are in high demand.
Secondly, building a presence on social media is also essential as it can help to kick-start sales.
Zoe said: “We always advise people to just relax, be yourself and have fun.
“Take time to engage in a chat, connect with people – the sales will follow.
“We feel it is also important to be organised and have a system in place that allows you to monitor your progress and growth.
“Finally, I would say that it is important to have fun and enjoy what you are doing.
“We always allow any venture to begin as a hobby and the transition to earning a living will occur naturally if you remain consistent.”