An 18-year-old from Aberdare has managed to turn her father's discarded football shirts into a £35,000 business, proving that one person's old jersey is another's law degree funding. Eleri Williams started reselling vintage football shirts from her parents' spare room during her GCSEs, and three years later, she's opened a shop in Cardiff's Royal Arcade and plans to graduate debt-free.
"The intention of the business was not to pay for my university. It was for pocket money to fund my typical teenage girl of online shopping and generally being expensive," Williams told BBC Business, adding that her dad probably just wanted her to "take a bit of initiative." She admits that, as first jobs go, "it hasn't gone too bad."
Williams, who wants to study law at Cardiff University, says her profits will help her leave university without debt - a notable feat given that Welsh students owe an average of £40,000 upon graduation (compared to £53,000 in England). Her side hustle joins a growing trend: a survey by wealth provider Aviva found that 65% of students had a side hustle last year, up from 38% in the 1980s.
Among her prized finds: a vintage Juventus shirt of Alessandro Del Piero that sold for £150, and the holy grail - a Super Furry Animals-sponsored Cardiff City shirt, which she won't sell because "they're very rare to come across." Her personal favorite is the vibrant blue 2002-03 Manchester United third kit. Williams's parents help "man the shop" when she has school or exams, and she plans to keep the business running around her university schedule.
"My side hustle turned into a successful business and a store - and putting me through university," she said. "Obviously that's not going to be the case for everyone, but it's an effective way to fund yourself."