A typical day
I run a second-hand fashion website selling
everything from McQueen bags to Miu Miu pumps. I got the idea at Uni when
friends asked how I always had the latest designer bag – it was because I’d
sold the previous one to fund it! The site’s called Fashion Bloodhound – I
started it in March last year. Most days I’m based at the office in Bath but,
if I’m not, I’m constantly on my BlackBerry – whenever something sells, I hear
a ping!
“I
have to be very disciplined not to keep it all myself!”
“I start work at 8am. A big part of my day
is meeting people with pieces to sell. If they live nearby, I visit them to
check out their pieces; otherwise we send a courier. Anybody can sell with us
but we won’t handle anything that isn’t in excellent condition.
“Back at the office I check out the items.
Any cleaning or repairing gets added to the seller’s fees. We agree a final fee
with the seller that includes our mark-up. I’m the only full-time person – my
sister and our technical manager work part-time, and two fashion students write
for the blog. Once we’ve written product descriptions, the item goes on the
website – it’s very straightforward.
“Buyers have to act fast if they see
something they want- once it’s gone, it’s gone. There’s a very quick turnaround
– we’ve never had a Mulberry bag that hasn’t sold the day it’s gone on the
website. Sometimes we Tweet or send out Facebook requests for population items
people are requesting (like YSL rings, which are big sellers).
“I usually bring my own lunch and eat at my
desk. If I have time, I’ll squeeze in a blow-dry too. Polished hair is my one
indulgence.
“All our items are packaged in Fashion
Bloodhound tissue, boxes and bags. Second-hand doesn’t have to mean
second-rate. Our courier comes at 5pm so everyone gets their items the next day
– we know people don’t want to wait.
All
our items are packaged in Fashion Bloodhound tissue, boxes and bags
“I usually work 12-hour days, seven days a
week, and get home exhausted. Last thing at night, I’ll often tweet a pic of an
item I’ve collected earlier and loads of people will say, ‘I need it!’ before
it’s even on the site!”
The good
“I never get that Sunday-night feeling, and
I meet so many amazing people. Since we’re a small team, we’re not restricted
to one specific role either – I love that flexibility.”
The bad
“I’m constantly thinking about work and
haven’t taken a holiday in years – I’ve invested everything into the business.
Being around fashion all day can be a nightmare too – I have to be incredibly
disciplined and business-minded not to keep it all myself!”
Still interested?
Qualifications: “Experience is key. Working
as an assistant buyer for a shop in my uni holidays helped me learn what
customers want. I studied business at uni, which means I can do my own accounts
too”
Salary: “We made a profit in our first year
but don’t expect to become a millionaire overnight – running your own business
is financially unpredictable!”
Key skills: “You have to be level-headed
and committed. It’s never plain sailing, so prepare to work beyond 9am – 5pm”
