View the VIBE Toronto
  • Cool Vibes
    • Cool Vibes
    • Gift Guides
    • Eats+Drinks
    • Travel+Hotels
    • Health+Fitness
    • Style+Beauty
    • Life+Culture
    • Dating+Relationships
    • Events+Nightlife
    • Cannabis
  • Best in The 6ix
    • Best in The 6ix
    • Restaurants
    • Hotels
    • Things to do
    • Coffee Shops
    • Spas + Beauty
    • Barbershops
    • Retail
  • City Life
    • City Life
    • Pride
    • #TTCLife
    • #BossLife
    • #DatingLife
    • Seen+Heard
    • COVID-19
    • Quarantine Chronicles
    • Submit a Q.C. Post
  • Going Down
    • Today
    • This Week
    • This Month
    • Submit an Event
SPACES Yorkville
Join In
6K Likes
12K Followers
22K Followers
150 Followers
  • Masthead
  • Send Us A Tip
  • Advertise
Subscribe
View the VIBE Toronto
View the VIBE Toronto View the VIBE Toronto
  • Cool Vibes
    • Cool Vibes
    • Gift Guides
    • Eats+Drinks
    • Travel+Hotels
    • Health+Fitness
    • Style+Beauty
    • Life+Culture
    • Dating+Relationships
    • Events+Nightlife
    • Cannabis
  • Best in The 6ix
    • Best in The 6ix
    • Restaurants
    • Hotels
    • Things to do
    • Coffee Shops
    • Spas + Beauty
    • Barbershops
    • Retail
  • City Life
    • City Life
    • Pride
    • #TTCLife
    • #BossLife
    • #DatingLife
    • Seen+Heard
    • COVID-19
    • Quarantine Chronicles
    • Submit a Q.C. Post
  • Going Down
    • Today
    • This Week
    • This Month
    • Submit an Event
  • City Life

Quarantine Chronicles: Student Turns Her Side-Hustle into a Full-time Gig Thanks to COVID

  • June 11, 2020
  • Guest Submission
Total
28
Shares
28
0
0
0
0
0

On June 4, 2019, I took my first step in pursuing my dream side hustle, by joining Poshmark. For those who might not know, Poshmark is an online community where anyone can resell their clothes, shoes, accessories, and home goods, sometimes in only a matter of 60-seconds. I found out about the platform five years ago and patiently waited for it to come to Canada. During this time, I made sure to do my research to ensure that when it was my time to sell, I was ready for it. Poshmark ended up launching in Canada this time last year.

For as long as I can remember, I have been following other thrifters on Instagram, where I was introduced to reselling clothes online. I have been reselling my clothes since high school, using platforms such as Ebay, Instagram and Facebook Marketplace. Throughout my entire school career, I considered myself to be a part-time clothing seller.

The COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted my life, as I’m sure it did for many others. I was in my final year of university. It still doesn’t feel real that it ended the way it did. I was disappointed knowing I was going to finish school online, missing out on all the year-end celebrations my friends and I had been looking forward to. I decided to make the best out of my situation, meaning, if I finished school as quickly as I could, I could turn my side hustle into a full-time hustle. Having this to fall back on and provide me with income during the pandemic has been a huge stress relief, and as of March 2020, I have been selling full-time on Poshmark.

The fear of the pandemic mixed with being a new grad was scary for me. It’s hard enough trying to find a job after university, but with the pandemic pushing the unemployment rate up to 13% and the job market being weaker than ever, it was hard not to feel discouraged. I went to Laurentian University for business and graduated with a BBA. Having a background in business and a passion for clothes, I was ready to take on the role of a young entrepreneur. I feel proud to note, since joining Poshmark in 2019 as a part-time seller, I have earned $24,500. Within the first month of being a full-time seller, I made $4,600 after the cost of goods, fees, shipping supplies, and taxes.

I started selling my clothes because I had so many clothes that I was no longer wearing. One thing I love about reselling clothes online is my ability to provide buyers with quality products at a fraction of the retail price. I also get super curious to see where all my packages go and who I’m able to connect with around Canada. I have sent items to every province and territory in Canada, including my hometown, Riverview, NB (pinch me)!

In light of everything that has been going on in the world, the pandemic has definitely increased business for me – and I’m extremely grateful. I sold a little over 300 items in the month of April, where I would typically sell about 50-100 items. I have not been sourcing inventory locally for the last two months, but found other ways to buy products. Along with that, I now spend a lot more time sharing my own, and other people’s closets. I also list a lot more than I used to, which mostly include new items, items I’ve had sitting in the back of my closet, as well as re-listing stale inventory.

 

One of the hardest things about this pandemic is finding connection. I’ve been so lucky to have my online Poshmark community, where we are able to connect through themed parties and coordinated events. One of my favourite events are Posh N Sips, which are local events coordinated by sellers to get together and connect. The presence of the online community has been so important, as we like to support each other and stay creative together.

As an entrepreneur, the biggest lessons I have learned through selling online is that you have to separate emotions from business. I care a lot about what I do and what I sell and sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in prices or negative feedback. I am learning to be extremely detail oriented and as long as I am not losing money, I can’t operate on regret of “I could have made more”.

As our world continues to rapidly change, and we all adjust to a more remote lifestyle, I will continue to build my online business. Being an entrepreneur means working hard for what you want, and the results make it worth doing. I can’t be certain what the future looks like, but the pandemic has taught me that I can build a business from wherever I am and create my “new normal”, and that to me, is reassuring.

If I could offer one piece of advice to anyone who is struggling as a new grad or feeling unsure during this global pandemic, it’s this: there is no time like the present to put your passion or side-hustle to the test. Find a mentor, write down your idea and get to work!

Katie Maclellan
Full-time seller on Poshmark

Total
28
Shares
Like 28
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Like 0
Share 0
Share 0
Related Topics
  • coronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • COVID19
  • Poshmark
  • Quarantine Chronicles
Avatar
Guest Submission

Previous Article
Mental Health Resources for the Black Community
  • Style+Beauty

Canadian Designer George Sully Launches Black Designers of Canada

  • June 10, 2020
  • Revathy Rajan
View Post
Next Article
  • Cool Vibes

Covenant House calls to Stay In + Sleep Out in support of the city’s vulnerable youth

  • June 11, 2020
  • Revathy Rajan
View Post
You May Also Like
Buying a Condo
View Post
  • City Life

What to Expect When Making an Offer

  • Heather Hadden
  • April 13, 2021
condos in hotels
View Post
  • City Life

Top 6 in the 6ix: Condos in Hotels

  • James Milonas
  • April 12, 2021
View Post
  • City Life

Homebuyers, Some Relief Is Coming

  • Heather Hadden
  • April 8, 2021
Toronto's Justin Wu Director and International Photographer View the VIBE
View Post
  • #BossLife
  • People

Justin Wu: Making His Mark in the Film Industry—One Scene at a Time

  • Steven Branco
  • April 6, 2021
View Post
  • City Life

Lockdown 3.0: A Rundown of the Change—Are Patios the Problem, or Our Government?

  • VIBE Team
  • April 2, 2021
View Post
  • City Life

The Former Site Of Honest Ed’s Is Turning Into Mirvish Village Park

  • Sydnee Condon
  • April 2, 2021
View Post
  • City Life

Staying Neutral by Design

  • Sascha Lafleur
  • March 23, 2021
View Post
  • City Life

To Buy, or Not to Buy, for the View

  • James Milonas
  • March 23, 2021
APRIL FEATURE

Justin Wu: Making His Mark in the Film Industry—One Scene at a Time. #VIBEfeatures

about
READ NOW
Trending Posts
  • 1
    • Eats+Drinks
    Get a Taste of Real Canadian Cuisine at This Leslieville Indigenous Restaurant
    • Sydnee Condon
  • Toronto Pho Restaurant Uber Eats Scam Refund Requests 2
    • Cool Vibes
    • Eats+Drinks
    Local Restaurant Calls Out Rising Uber Eats Refund Requests Scam
    • VIBE Team
  • 3
    • Eats+Drinks
    Check Out Toronto’s New Year-Round Street Eats Market
    • Sydnee Condon
  • Toronto's Justin Wu Director and International Photographer View the VIBE 4
    • #BossLife
    • People
    Justin Wu: Making His Mark in the Film Industry—One Scene at a Time
    • Steven Branco
SPACES Yorkville
ADVERTISE WITH US
Learn about our
partnership opportunities.

Inquire Now

 

LATEST NEWS
SPACES Yorkville
GOING DOWN:
« April 2021 » loading...
M T W T F S S
29
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
Thu 15

Gaming conference by Aristocrat-slots.com

March 30 @ 8:00 am - June 1 @ 5:00 pm
Thu 15

Canadian Tire’s Spring on Bastedo

April 10 @ 8:00 am - April 17 @ 8:00 pm
Thu 15

Scotiabank Contact Photography Exhibition: “ALTERITY” BRENDAN MEADOWS

April 15 @ 12:00 pm - May 15 @ 6:00 pm

Subscribe to The Weekly VIBE Newsletter

View the VIBE
View the VIBE, partially owned, and operated by STAMINA Group Inc., launched in 2010 as a video restaurant and spa guide, later evolving into a recognized digital Toronto-lifestyle authority, producing fun, edgy and informational editorial content. Establishing itself as a voice for restaurant reviews, trending stories, and excellent vibe videos.
Learn More
Partner Network

Divine.ca, Canada’s Bilingual Online

Women’s Lifestyle Magazine.

WanderEater.com, leading those wandering aimlessly for food.

@ImagesofCanada, showcasing the beauty that Canada has to offer.

Part of the STAMINA Group
of brands.

Learn More

Navigation
  • Cool Vibes
    • Cool Vibes
    • Gift Guides
    • Eats+Drinks
    • Travel+Hotels
    • Health+Fitness
    • Style+Beauty
    • Life+Culture
    • Dating+Relationships
    • Events+Nightlife
    • Cannabis
  • Best in The 6ix
    • Best in The 6ix
    • Restaurants
    • Hotels
    • Things to do
    • Coffee Shops
    • Spas + Beauty
    • Barbershops
    • Retail
  • City Life
    • City Life
    • Pride
    • #TTCLife
    • #BossLife
    • #DatingLife
    • Seen+Heard
    • COVID-19
    • Quarantine Chronicles
    • Submit a Q.C. Post
  • Going Down
    • Today
    • This Week
    • This Month
    • Submit an Event
View the VIBE Toronto
  • Contact
  • Masthead
  • Subscribe
  • Send us a Tip
  • Legal
  • © 2020, STAMINA Group
The leading VIBE authority of The 6ix - Online Lifestyle Magazine

Input your search keywords and press Enter.