Today we’d like to introduce you to Cortney Allison.
Hi Cortney, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
So, the way I started has two parts. My mom passed away from cancer in 2017. I was her only child and she had a lot of stuff. I was 21 years old at the time, and I didn’t have a lot of space to keep everything. My cousins grandpa was nice enough to let me keep her stuff in his garage for while, and the things I needed to get rid of (that shouldn’t be sold in a garage sale) he suggested I list it on eBay. Doing this, I learned how to check the price of other things that were listed and how to price competitively. Fast forward a few years, I’m in a small 2 bedroom apartment with my now fiancé. I have a ton of clothes that I want to get rid of. I hear about Poshmark, and I decide to list one item on there. It sold pretty quickly for only about $7 or $8 but I was hooked. Most of my clothes were thrifted to begin with, so I thought, what if I went to the thrift store and bought clothes just to put on Poshmark? I looked into it online, and sure enough plenty of people were already doing this, and they gave you free information on what to look for in YouTube videos. I used my prior knowledge about eBay to list things, and eventually moved everything onto there to sell as well. I built this up while working a 9-5. I would get up at 5am to ship or take photos, and on my breaks at work I would list things. I eventually was making enough to replace my income, and I quit my job to do it full time.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have been many bumps along the road. I think all entrepreneurs and small business owners face many challenges. Some for me include: not being able to find enough inventory while out thrifting that day, getting burnt out, juggling taking care of two kids while trying to grow my business. I think what helps me the most when I struggle is resilience, and when that doesn’t work pivoting. Also just remembering why I do this in the first place. I want to be close to my family. I think working a 9-5, spending so much of the day away from your family doesn’t make sense to me. I want to be with them any chance I get.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am Cortney’s Clothes. I sell used clothing online, and I make content to help others know what they can sell as well. My fiancé Joe helps me on his days off, going to the Goodwill bins, regular Goodwills, Salvation Army’s, and garage sales. What sets me apart from others is my work ethic and my willingness to try new things.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
In the next 5-10 years I would love to see myself traveling to different thrift stores all over the world. I would love to have my fiancé be able to quit his job and work with me full time. Maybe I would open up a store front. I believe that entrepreneurs are so much more than the things they create, and I know I have a lot more to offer. I am definitely just getting started and there is so much more to come.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://posh.mk/BZ32COaG3Ub
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cortneys.clothes?igsh=bGxpbWRrbjNrZmY1&utm_source=qr
