Insight 40 - Magazine - Page 18
HOW I TURNED £5
INTO £70,000
M
y name is Henry Pigott, I have
recently turned 18, and I run
my own clothing business. In
the last couple of years, a huge part of my
life has been dedicated to my business
journey and growing my own business,
called Tractor Vintage. My business is a
vintage clothing shop which emphasises
the importance of used clothing and
shifting our focus away from fast fashion.
Fast fashion and the clothing industry
is having (and will continue to have) a
detrimental impact to our environment,
and it’s not something which we can
continue to ignore.
In December 2019, I purchased 300
stickers off Amazon for £5. I would later
split this up into bundles of 15 stickers
and sell these for £5 each also. This was
the start of my business journey and
spiked my interest in profits and dealing
with customers. Only using money
which initially came from the £5, I later
bought individual pieces of clothing off
marketplaces such as Depop, eBay and
Vinted, and I would resell them myself
for a mark-up. As demand grew, I had to
find myself a supplier who could provide
me clothing in bulk. I now have suppliers
in South Korea, Australia and Wales and
specialise in selling used North Face
Jackets and 90s vintage clothing, which
18
has led to Tractor Vintage turning over
£55,000 in the last 24 months, having
previously turned over only £15,000
between 2019-2022.
I have now finished my A-Levels and have
graduated from school. I am moving
onto the next chapter of my life, and no
doubt this will bring change to me and my
business. My business journey so far has
taught me several lessons. It’s taught me
hard work. It’s taught me negotiations.
Most importantly, it’s taught me the
importance (and necessity) of having
a point of difference and something
which makes you stand out. As people
move onto university and life away
from school, it feels easy to stay on the
same path and journey as everyone, and
arguably stay well within your comfort
zone. I don’t want to do that. If I give
the same output as others, how can I
expect a greater result? I’m looking into
degree apprenticeships, and ways to
expand my business and grow myself
as an individual. I’m only at the start of
my journey, and I will do everything to
make sure I never lose my curiosity and
my dedication to set myself apart from
others.
Email: henrypigott31@gmail.com
Website: depop.com/tractorvintage
bIZ4BIZ INSIGHT MAGAZINE | SEPTEMBER 2024