When Glen Zubia graduated from college in 2010, his student loans, car loan and credit card debt added up to a daunting $50,000.
Working as a graphic designer, Zubia could barely cover his minimum monthly payment, so he decided to it was time to try earning a little money on the side.
Discovering the world of resale
He started going to thrift stores, garage sales and discount stores like Ross and T.J. Maxx to hunt for items he could resell for a profit online.
And it turned out he was really good at it. How good? In May 2017 alone he pulled in more than $5,000 for his Amazon resale items!
He shares his successes on his Instagram account, Hustler Hacks.
And within a year of starting his “side job,” Zubia’s bargain-hunting hobby brought in more money than his full-time job.
How Did He Do It?
How did he do it? Zubia now runs a YouTube channel called Hustler Hacks. On his channel he shares tips, secrets and haul videos.
Recently he shared some of his reselling tips with Clark.com. Here are a few highlights for people looking to emulate his success!
Focus On What You Know
Zubia’s main focus is brand-name sneakers, which he finds at Ross for deeply discounted prices and resells on eBay.
Sneakers are lucrative, but they also happen to be a personal interest (or maybe “obsession” is a better word) for Zubia, so he’s familiar with the market and is able to quickly assess which shoes will sell and for how much.
Keep this in mind if you’re looking to start an online reselling business. Focusing on products you know you will give you an edge.
Shop Everywhere
Zubia hits up Ross most often. However, he’s basically always on the lookout for a resellable bargain wherever he might find one.
This could mean garage sales, thrift stores, Marshalls, T.J. Maxx and even pawn shops.
Outlet stores are one of his most popular shop stops. He scored a major deal on a pair of Nike shoes at one location.
He found this $4 video game at a pawn shop and resold it online for $42.
Zubia also loves a good flea market. He considers flea markets an awesome place to find quality resale items or lost collectible treasures.
Shop Often
Zubia hits up Ross as many as three to four times a week because new products are being delivered all the time, and he always wants to get first dibs.
Turnover at discount stores is so frequent, it pays off to check back often.
His Success? Paying Off All Of His Debt
Using these strategies, and selling his finds on eBay, Amazon and Craigslist, Zubia eliminated all of his debt in five years, and just bought a house. Amazing, right?
While not everyone will be as successful as Zubia, it’s definitely worth a try to put his reselling tips to the test and see if you can bring in a little extra cash.
You can also take inspiration from Kat Tretina, who makes between $500 and $800 a month reselling thrift-store items, according to an essay she wrote for The Penny Hoarder.
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Tretina learned through trial and error that items with cashmere in them would sell easily, as well as name-brand jeans.
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