4 minute read
Instagram Secondhand Clothing Seller Plumber
CLEO LANGLEY INSTA SECONDHAND CLOTHING SELLER
OWNER @PRELOVED_THRIFT_
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THRIFTING? I’ve always loved thrifting and clothing! Finding gems at secondhand shops for such a bargain is a special feeling; it truly helped me develop and express my personal style in an affordable way.
DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY When you’re self-employed it’s
SELLING SLOW FASHION
important to create a routine and stick to it. Firstly, I keep my space organised – with lots of stock in such a make-shift space, things can get lost. I then answer any messages I get on Insta about item availability or measurements. I prepare my hair and make-up for the shoot; take photos of the clothing items sourced. I edit and save drafts of the photos on Insta. I also make time to clean, fix and package items. At the end of the day, I post extras on secondhand selling websites such as Yaga, to expand my business.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST? The creativity: I adore styling and giving new life to old clothes! And the feedback from customers – it’s a lovely feeling getting messages about how happy they are with their purchases. I love slow fashion; I haven’t participated in fast fashion for years now and I have to say it feels good. WHAT DON’T YOU LIKE? Some customers can be very frustrating to deal with. Ghosting, rude comments and creepy messages all accompany owning an Instagram store!
WHAT HURDLES HAVE YOU HAD TO OVERCOME? Creating something from scratch. At the beginning I was doing college online as well as running my store and I found it difficult to put my heart into both and still be successful.
WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT? I’ve only been doing this a short while, so it’s hard to pinpoint one highlight. I would say when I started making enough money doing this (what I love) to be able to do it full time.
EXPERIENCE VS FORMAL TRAINING? Many different types of formal training could be useful – business, design – but nothing helps as much as the things you learn along the way.
IS THERE A TYPE OF PERSONALITY BEST SUITED? You have to be able to put yourself out there and communicate well with others. Engaging with different personalities all day every day can be tricky. You must be kind, understanding and patient.
ADVICE FOR NEWCOMERS? Be patient and don’t give up. It’s an ever-growing environment with new thrift stores popping up every day, so you must try to stand out and be different!
KEVIN STANLEY WILSON PLUMBER & OWNER
WILSON PLUMBING
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE PLUMBING? I have an uncle who is a plumber and he is very successful, so the realities hit home for me when I had to make career decisions. The fact that the plumbing industry is a necessity-based business is appealing, as this ensures financial stability and job satisfaction with an international future.
PLUMBING WITH APLOMB
WHAT TRAINING DID YOU UNDERGO? I received institutional training from a regular government facility in the UK and completed my apprenticeship working for various companies. I eventually started working for myself after qualifying and receiving my Trade Diploma. This took the better part of four years to accomplish. There are quicker ways to do a Trade Test these days. The Monster Plumbing college advisor can assist anyone interested see www. plumbingcollege.co.za.
WHAT MAKES A ‘GOOD’ PLUMBER? A keen interest in physical work – be it metal or woodwork, mechanical, construction and so on. The general ‘know-how’ is what instills confidence in clients and efficiency when it comes to doing the actual work to a satisfactory and compliant standard.
DESCRIBE A TYPICAL DAY We rotate between numerous sites, attending to plumbing emergencies. Every job has a new client, a new unique problem that needs solving and presents a new opportunity to gain another lifelong client. People buy from people and your personal ability to communicate, reassure and advise is key.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST? The fact that we know we’ll have work the next day based on great service, solid advice and a keen interest in accommodating our clients’ needs.
EXPERIENCE VERSUS FORMAL TRAINING? In this industry, on-the-job training is far more valuable. ANYTHING YOU DON’T LIKE? The fact that we have to do so much paperwork to track our services and clients! WHAT’S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR CAREER? The opportunity to train up new plumbers. Knowledge should be transferred to the next generation so as to ensure that our great country doesn’t get flooded with non-qualified individuals – this only results in buildings going up with inferior structural work, resulting in major complications for homeowners.
YOUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE? We aim to establish a national company servicing client’s plumbing emergencies. We also hope to, eventually, take over the structural plumbing insurance from all insurers and banks.
ANY ADVICE FOR NEWCOMERS? Spend your first few years gaining as much knowledge as you can from active artisans with a busy workload and adequate exposure. Be eager to work overtime and save money. Don’t make unnecessary debt.
