Teen from Cwmbran makes £100k in vintage clothes business with his nan

A 19-year-old says he has made more than £100,000 after turning his passion for vintage clothing into a thriving business with his nan.

Evan Sellick started the venture as a lockdown project in his nan’s spare bedroom, but has quickly grown so that he needs a warehouse to manage his expanding stock of retro gear and sportswear.

But despite his success, he’s still relying on his grandmother Rosalyn Mackertich, 75, who washes the clothes for £2 a load.

“I saw a YouTube video about reselling clothes bought from car boot sales and charity shops. I found a pair of Ralph Lauren joggers for a tenner, bought them, sold them on Depop for about £30 – from there it was just a rinse and repeat process,” said Evan, from Cwmbran, Torfaen.

Within months of his first sale for his brand Clothing View aged 16, he made a few hundred pounds and caught the entrepreneurial bug before turning it into a booming enterprise.

Evan has now scaled his operations significantly. He now manages a warehouse in Newport, where he stores approximately 1,500 to 2,000 items, including retro jackets and sportswear.

“In the last year, I’ve doubled or even tripled my stock count,” Evan told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast.

“The warehouse only covers about a third of my space, so I’ve got a lot more room to grow,” he added.

He said managing the business has been challenging, particularly in dealing with taxes and customer service.

“Now it’s a business it’s obviously more complicated than just selling some old clothes,” Evan admitted. “Handling all the aspects of a business, from apps to customer service, has been a steep learning curve.

“I think it’s so important to ask for advice. That’s how I started – asking other business owners in the industry for small bits of advice. That’s why I’m always happy to help anyone starting out.”

“I was 16 years old, and I thought, ‘if it fails, it fails’. But I’ve found that there’s always a way to work around things and overcome certain challenges,” he added.

“But you’ve always got to be on your toes and and be ready for anything.”

Despite outgrowing his grandmother’s home, Evan still attributes his success to her.

“She’s great. Although I technically employ her – she’s still the boss,” he said. “It’s great to keep it in the family.”

Looking ahead, Evan is focused on further expansion and helping other young entrepreneurs. “I’m exploring new avenues like live-streaming sales and renting out second-hand clothing,” he said.

“There are many opportunities in this market, and I want to support others who are starting out.”