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I thrifted a pair of Fendi shoes for $12 and now I run a luxury fashion resale company – my top secondhand shopping tips
A free resource helps her restore thrift finds in worn condition
FOR most people, thrifting can be hit-or-miss, but one woman with a sharp eye has turned the hobby into a lucrative business.
After scoring a pair of Fendi shoes for $12, she launched a luxury fashion resale company.
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Marina Lukianov (), the founder of The Luxury Outlet, a secondhand designer handbag market, shared her consignment shopping tips with The U.S. Sun.
Lukianov explained that her career in luxury fashion was purely by chance.
"I actually stumbled upon the luxury industry accidentally," she said.
Like many teenagers at the time, she had been looking to make extra cash by cleaning out items from her closet.
"After graduating high school in 2012, I wanted to make some extra money, so I started selling clothing, shoes, and accessories on Poshmark," she said.
"I would sell my own clothing that I didn’t want anymore, but would also sell my family members’ and friends’ items for commission."
A trip to the thrift store netted her a huge find, which made her realize that secondhand fashion could be lucrative.
"One day, I walked into a thrift store and saw a pair of Fendi shoes for only $12," she said.
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"I was not familiar with any luxury brands at the time. I just figured that maybe I could sell them and make a few bucks.
"These shoes changed my entire life."
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After doing some research, she discovered that she could flip her $12 purchase for $180.
"This was when my mindset shifted in terms of business," Lukianov said.
The experienced bargain shopper divulged two techniques that help her spot a luxury find.
First, she explained that finding a needle in a haystack takes the most valuable resource of all — time.
Valuable thrifting finds revealed
Here are some of the best thrift store finds:
- Tiffany & Co. earrings that sold for $0.34 and are valued at $430
- American Girl doll that sold for $5.99 and is valued at $300
- Bionicle toy that sold for $14.95 and is valued at $18.101
- Gold record plaque for DJ Quik's 1992 album Way 2 Fonky that sold for @20 and is valued at $200
- Rothy's brand Sugared Berry pointed-toe flats that sold for $155 retail and are valued at $250
"Take your time. Thrift stores always have so many items, and it’s really easy to miss something valuable," she said.
"Take time out of your day to visit stores like this because you never know when you will score big."
Another tip helps her dramatically improve her chances of hitting gold.
"Shop near high-income areas. I always check out thrift stores near high-income areas. They always have the best options," she said.
While Lukianov is always keeping an eye out for high-value finds like designer handbags, wallets, belts, and shoes, she explained that the condition of the item is often not a dealbreaker.
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"I primarily look for items that are higher than 5/10 condition," she said.
"Whenever there are small imperfections, it’s easy to watch a YouTube tutorial to possibly fix the items to resell."
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