The resale economy has experienced significant growth in recent years, with individuals finding lucrative opportunities by flipping secondhand items. Chris Hatfield, a self-described “fast nickel, not slow dime” seller, exemplifies this trend.

Digging for Treasure

Hatfield, 43, spends five days a week scouring Goodwill bins in Texas with his wife, Stacy. Together, they aim to acquire 150 to 200 pounds of clothes, bags, and other items daily, priced at $1.99 per pound. Stacy employs a strategy Hatfield calls “the claw machine,” grabbing anything that appears promising, while he relies on touch to assess quality.

Livestreaming Sales and Daily Profits

Each night, the couple flips their finds on Whatnot, a livestreaming auction site. While the average sale price is $11.21 per item, selling 150 pieces at a time quickly adds up. “Our typical goal is to make $1,000 profit every day,” Hatfield stated from the Goodwill parking lot.

A Growing Market

According to a report from ThredUp and GlobalData, the US secondhand apparel market is projected to reach $79 billion by 2030, growing four times faster than the retail clothing market. Morning Consult data indicates that nearly half of American consumers have made a secondhand purchase in the last three months.

The Rise of Professional Resellers

This boom has attracted a growing number of professional and semi-professional resellers utilizing platforms like eBay, Depop, and Whatnot. These resellers often add value by repairing items or curating unique selections.

Debate Over Impact

However, critics argue that this activity can lead to price inflation and artificial scarcity in secondhand markets. The debate centers on whether resellers are providing a service by diverting items from landfills or acting as intermediaries that make affordable goods less accessible.

From Pest Control to Full-Time Reselling

Hatfield, a former pest control professional, has been reselling for a decade. He previously livestreamed directly from inside a Goodwill outlet, but logistical challenges at the new location have changed his approach. He estimates that approximately three-quarters of his customer base are other resellers, which he welcomes, as they often promote his brand, Flip the World, on social media.

The History of Secondhand Shopping

Reselling isn’t a new phenomenon. The Salvation Army was founded in 1897, and Goodwill in 1902, as mass production created a surplus of goods. Flea markets gained popularity in the 1920s and 30s, and the term “vintage” emerged mid-century. Thrift stores thrived during the economic challenges of the 1970s and the grunge movement of the 1990s.

A Cyclical Trend

“Periodically, young people think, ‘Oh, wow, this is a really cool resource, why hasn’t anyone thought of this before?’ And they do, they have, and every generation kind of makes it their own,” explains Jennifer Le Zotte, a history professor at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, and author of “From Goodwill to Grunge.”

The Internet and Mass Production Fuel Growth

The internet and the sheer volume of modern mass production have propelled the resale market to new heights. Haley O’Sullivan, vice president of customer experience at Depop, notes that over 100 billion garments are produced annually, double the amount from 2000, creating a vast supply for resellers.

Scaling Reselling Businesses

The number of professional resellers is growing, with small and medium-sized businesses accounting for 70% of eBay’s sales in its largest markets. James Reinhardt, CEO of ThredUp, describes a spectrum of resellers, from full-time professionals to casual sellers.

From Burberry Coats to Full-Time Income

Crystal Maus, a South Dakota mom, started reselling after flipping a Burberry coat donated to a homeless support organization. She now runs a full-time eBay business, listing 350 items weekly and grossing $15,000 to $20,000 per month.

Teaching Others to Resell

Rob and Melissa Stephenson in Florida have transitioned from reselling to teaching others how to do it, offering courses promising to help students earn $100 in seven days. They focus on finding high-profit individual items, utilizing platforms like Facebook Marketplace and eBay.

The Changing Face of Thrifting

The modern secondhand industry reflects global capitalism, with both positive and negative consequences. The ethical considerations range from diverting items from landfills to potentially limiting access to affordable goods for those in need.