Lou’s side hustle started as a lockdown hobby; however, he has been able to generate thousands of pounds of income each month on top of his main job.
The team at Narchie – the homeware social marketplace app – explained the “secrets of the side hustle” as Lou shared his journey in hopes to inspire others to do the same.
Currently, Lou works nine to five Monday to Friday at a large format print studio, printing vinyl and graphics for art galleries, exhibitions, and shop fronts, and spends his spare time running his homeware business.
Lou had always had an interest in furniture design and architecture, specifically classic post-modern and vintage design, and so he took the plunge and decided to set up his own online shop selling vintage homeware and furniture.
When Lou first began, he had to start with a limited budget. He said: “I started sourcing pieces that were cheap so I could refurbish them and make them look brand new.
“With the help of the internet, I was able to teach myself how to refurbish pieces, de rust metal and chrome, and order replacement parts.
“As the pieces I was buying were a lot cheaper than the market value, I was also able to sell them at an affordable price to my customers which has always been important to me – opening up the world of design furniture to people that may not necessarily have the funds to invest in such expensive pieces.”
Over the last couple of years, Lou has been able to perfect his craft and work on himself.
The business has allowed him to do things he would have never expected, such as source pieces for celebrities.
Lou sources homeware and furniture from everywhere and anywhere he can, including shopping online, auction houses and markets.
His biggest sale to date has been a Roga Style Sofa Set, which he sold for over £3,000. His best month has seen him make £5,000.
For any aspiring resellers out there, Lou suggests they should “start small, test the waters and see how it goes”.
As everything is to do with aesthetics these days, he explained the importance of finding a style that works for everyone.
He continued: “When it comes to sourcing, my approach is personal, I mainly select items that I like and would have in my own home. I usually tend to try and look for things that are bright and colourful, and that I wouldn’t necessarily come across day-to-day.
“I also like to have a variety of pieces at different price points to ensure that they are accessible to everyone.”
Lou started selling his products on Instagram but then moved to Narchie. He explained the app gave him another platform and helped increase the business and his number of sales. Making hundreds on Narchie alone so far, Lou said he enjoys the ease of selling and discovery on the app.
