Polly has explained the methods she uses to maximise her profits selling old clothes, homeware and cosmetics
A woman who has made £6,000 selling unwanted items on Vinted says there is one secret trick she swears by – and insists it’s the reason she’s been so successful. Polly Arrowsmit joined the second-hand fashion app after realising she had mountains of beauty products, toiletries and homeware that she’d never use.
Just 12 months in, the 58-year-old has already shifted hundreds of items and racked up more than 500 five-star reviews. The seller, who previously ran a project donating thousands of Christmas gifts to vulnerable people, turned to Vinted after downsizing from a three-bed house to a smaller flat.
But while most sellers struggle to shift items when they first sign up, Polly found a way to build trust and boost her sales – and it’s got nothing to do with fancy photos or slashing prices. “There was so much stuff I didn’t need,” said Polly, from London.
“When I popped my stuff into storage I realised I didn’t need it. All it was doing was gathering dust, I wasn’t going to use it.”
After making£6,000 on Vinted, Polly has put together a few golden rules for making sales on the platform. She always uses neat packaging, like metallic padded envelopes and often slips in a small treat such as sweets or product samples to make parcels feel special.
Her biggest tip is to ask every buyer for a review as this builds trust and helps boost future sales. Speed is also key – she posts items quickly, responds to messages fast and accepts or declines offers without delay.
On top of that, she posts regularly to keep up with Vinted’s algorithm, recommending two or three new listings a day instead of uploading everything at once. And it’s worked – in less than a year she’s been recognised as a pro-seller by the platform, shifting everything from bargain books to high-end candles and body oils.
She said: “I realised very quickly that it’s quite difficult to make sales with zero feedback so I priced items competitively and listed books for £1 each. I also answered questions quickly and in detail, proving items were real and not fake.
“I wrote handwritten notes to anyone I’d sold to asking if they would write a review. I would also chase people up in the inbox if they didn’t give me a review, saying it would be really helpful.
“My best-sellers are luxury brands like Neom – the candles, diffusers and body lotions sell within minutes of being listed. I’ve also had huge success with REN body oils. Since the company stopped trading they’ve become really sought-after – I sell them for around £20 each after picking up a box of 40 for just £9 a piece.”
But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. Polly admits she’s clashed with Vinted’s strict rules, with entire batches of her listings deleted when the site decided she was selling too many toiletries and cosmetics.
After repeated setbacks she branched out onto eBay, using cross-listing software to post items more easily. She now makes hundreds of pounds a month on top of her Vinted earnings. Polly says the money she’s made through her side hustle is going straight towards her upcoming move.
After downsizing once already, she’s now planning to relocate to another flat in the same Islington area, and the extra cash from selling her clutter is helping to cover the costs and make the transition smoother.
Polly, who sells under the username @hattie.2011, added: “What started as a way to clear out my cupboards has turned into a proper money-maker – and it’s all helping me move into a fresh new home. I never imagined selling my old clutter would make such a difference – but it’s proved that with the right tricks, anyone can turn it into cash.”
