Couple who snapped up Woolworths closing down sale bargains and sold them on eBay when the chain went bust in 2009 now make £3m a year online

• Yvonne Hogan and Kevin Dollimore turned their side hustle into a £3m business
• When Woolworths went bust in 2009, they bought old stock and sold it on eBay
• The pair now make £3 million a year, have quit their jobs and hired 16 employees  

A couple who snapped up Woolworths closing down sale bargains and sold them on eBay when the chain went bust ten years ago now make £3 million a year online.

Yvonne Hogan and Kevin Dollimore, from Hertfordshire, turned their side hustle into a business with 16 employees after spotting an opportunity to purchase stock from the British retail giant when it went out of business in 2009. 

‘This year, we are celebrating our 10 anniversary of our eBay business,’ Ms Hogan, who was able to quit her job, told the Mirror. 

Yvonne Hogan and Kevin Dollimore (pictured), from Hertfordshire, turned their side hustle into a business with 16 employees after spotting an opportunity to purchase stock from the retail giant when it went out of business in 2009

‘We have grown our business from a small idea from our own home into a family run UK-based business with our very own premises. We have three beautiful dogs – Hollie, Lillie and Rocco – who come to work with us every day.’ 

When Woolworths collapsed a decade ago, the two were stilling working in car sales and looking for a career change. 

Hearing about the chain closing more than 800 of its store, they thought it would be lucrative to buy and sell the stock at a discounted rate.

‘We started the business from home in Hertfordshire, as we wanted to keep our costs low.

‘I still remember the feeling of the first one selling, then the second, the third – we couldn’t believe how successful it was,’ Ms Hogan said.  

The couple have grown their business by finding suppliers around the world and buying big name brands for a reduced rate.

When Woolworths collapsed a decade ago, the two were stilling working in car sales and looking for a career change. Hearing about the chain closing more than 800 of its store, they thought it would be lucrative to buy and sell the stock at a discounted rate

They found perfume and beauty a particularly lucrative corner of the online selling market. 

Fragrances, skincare, cosmetics, watches, jewellery, accessories and sunglasses, are among the highest sellers. 

Branded items with damaged boxes from Paco Rabanne, Dolce & Gabbana and Yves Saint Laurent are also hugely popular for the couple’s eBay site.  

Fragrances, skincare, cosmetics, watches, jewellery, accessories and sunglasses, are among the highest sellers. Branded items with damaged boxes from Paco Rabanne, Dolce & Gabbana and Yves Saint Laurent are also hugely popular for the couple’s eBay site

‘Ultimately, we want to be able to sell designer brands at affordable prices which allows our customers to access products they might not have been able to if they had to purchase at the RRP,’ Ms Hogan said. 

So successful has the business become that they were forced to find another building to store stock – and then they grew out of that and moved to a warehouse.

Their team now consists of 16 people – a mix of full time and part time, ‘so we can also call on a little army of ‘Hogies helpers’ whenever we need them’.

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