DO you ever wear an outfit and then it sits forgotten at the back of your wardrobe for months to come?

A woman has revealed how she decided to rent out her dresses – and she now rakes in £31,000 extra a year with the side hustle.

Single mum Johanna Sabaliauskas, 34, dug out dresses she’d worn for weddings and parties and listed them on rental site The Volte. 

Speaking to Femail, she said: “I had all these dresses sitting in my wardrobe that I didn't want to get rid of, so I thought why not give it a go.”

At first, the Australian mum rented out 10 designer dresses that she had in sizes ranging from 10 to 12.

However, now she has over 250 dresses, in sizes six to 16.

More on side hustles

I had ‘no job opportunities’ but started a drink side hustle & made 7-figures

I quit uni & make £144k a year thanks to my side hustle & I work 3 hours a day

After starting on the rental site 18 months ago, she is now on track to turnover £31,000 this year.

The Volte shoppers hire the outfits for the weekend or a couple of days, and then post them back to Johanna who is responsible for dry cleaning them.

While her dresses may cost up to £700 to buy outright, Johanna lists them as between £38 and £113 to hire, depending on the brand.

Melbourne-based Johanna said she wasn’t expecting her success “right away”, and it took six months before the sales started rolling in.

Most read in Money

TRIPLE THREAT

Pensioners’ bumper £901 cash boost under threat, Cabinet Minister hints

SALE AWAY

Poundland buys up to 71 Wilko stores – see the full list of locations

SHOP TO IT

Primark is making a major checkout change at 57 shops from tomorrow

SHUTTING SHOP

All 400 Wilko stores to close by October – see when your local shop will shut

She added: “I'm an everyday mum – I'm totally winging it – I don't have a business plan but I'm so passionate about this.

“I never expected this to take off the way it has. I'm so grateful and passionate about making women look and feel their best.”

One of her most successful items is an Alemais Phyllis Twist Dress, which costs £254 to buy, but you can rent it from Johanna for £74.

Other sought-after designers are Aje, V Chapman and Elliot.

Her side hustle has not only helped her earn more money for her family, but also helps the local economy.

Johanna said she spends thousands of dollars at her local post office each month, and hundreds at her nearby family-owned dry cleaners.

The owner of the dry cleaners even said her dress hire business pays for one of their staff member’s wages.

Johanna also runs a Facebook page so local people can try on their dresses to see what will suit them.

If she finds a dress that is hugely popular, she’ll buy it in numerous sizes and get duplicates, especially during the Australian summer months.

During this time – December to April – she will rent up to 40 dresses out each weekend.

READ MORE SUN STORIES

BBC radio DJ in on-air rant during final show which bosses tried to silence

Horror pics show 230ft cliff where reality star, 36, died in tragic car plunge

Typically dresses are rented out nine times on The Volte, however the founders say it can be as often as 16 times – and in rare cases over 70 times.

She added: “I still can't believe it. I'm really proud of myself for taking a risk that's paid off.”

Source: Read Full Article