Kelsey Mikula, a 27-year-old entrepreneur, has successfully transformed her side hustle of reselling thrifted items into a full-time career. In an impressive financial achievement, Mikula managed to pay off approximately $80,000 in student loan debt within just three years. Her journey into reselling began during her childhood, when she would go couponing with her grandmother.
Mikula now dedicates herself to strategically sourcing and selling clothing and other items online. Spending around $1,800 on inventory, she lists items on platforms like Poshmark and eBay, ensuring they are priced for profit. Her meticulous approach has resulted in a net profit of about $12,000 per month.
The burgeoning interest in sustainability and the convenience of online shopping have played crucial roles in her success. Mikula capitalizes on the growing demand for secondhand shopping by selecting items that are likely to sell for a profit. She often checks the selling prices on eBay before making purchase decisions and is content to pay others to help source items.
Mikula's reselling story has gained traction on TikTok, where she shares insights and encourages others to explore reselling. She emphasizes the potential of starting small by taking stock of personal belongings.
"I know you have stuff lying around in your closet that you can find. Health and beauty items sell really well. Go through your own personal belongings and get started," Mikula advises.
Her transition from working an administrative job at a hospital to thriving as a full-time reseller underscores the financial viability of this venture.
"I was making more money reselling thrifting items and selling them online for profit than I was working an administration job at a hospital," she remarks.
Mikula's process involves photographing items and posting them online, providing convenience for those unwilling to thrift themselves.
"I get a lot of comments of people almost sticking up for resellers saying that 'I don't want to go thrifting to find this item. So, I'm happy to pay somebody else to find the item for me,'" she shares.
