Woman earns $28k in two years from neighbour's dumped trash left on roadside
A young woman has earned $28,000 (£22,500) over the past two years thanks to her neighbour's dumped rubbish left on the roadside.
Emily Marlett, from Louisville, Kentucky, has turned her hobby of upcycling unwanted furniture into a successful business.
The 26-year-old started flipping cabinets, dressers, and chairs in May 2020 after losing her job.
Emily learned how to use power tools to create DIY pieces for her new home but started selling the items after receiving encouragement from her family a few months later.
She collects free furniture on "bulk trash removal" day, when people leave unwanted items outside their homes twice a year, and also finds broken furniture in second-hand shops.
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She collects dumped or unwanted items to fix and sell (Emily Marlett / SWNS)Her neighbourhood also leave out their items to throw away twice a year, so Emily is able to get lots of her finds for free.
Emily spends between four and 24 hours cleaning, fixing, and revamping the furniture. She then spends up to $50 on old furniture in resale stores and flips it for around $15 to $20.
Emily's business has become so successful that she was able to go part-time with her dental hygienist job in May 2022, after making $1,000 a month selling the upcycled furniture on Facebook Marketplace.
Emily sells outdoor patio sets for around $900, upcycled leather chairs for $250 each, and dressers for $350.
Emily learned how to use power tools to create DIY pieces (Emily Marlett / SWNS)
She spends between four and 24 hours fixing and revamping furniture (Emily Marlett / SWNS)Emily said: "It's crazy what people were throwing out.
"All it takes is a little bit of paint and sanding. You don't have to be super creative to flip furniture. Everybody can do it. It's so rewarding."
Emily's hobby has not only helped her earn money but has also helped the environment by reducing the amount of furniture that ends up in landfills.
Emily can get lots of her finds for free on bulk trash removal day (Emily Marlett / SWNS)She said: "It's stuff that goes to landfill if it's not collected.
"People like me, come and get it. Most things are damaged or broken.
"It's pieces that no one wants that require you to fix it. It's rare you find something already beautiful. I give it a new life."
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Emily repairs and upcycles the furniture she finds in a meticulous process.
Firstly, she inspects the furniture, looking for any damage or imperfections needing repair.
She then uses power tools like a sander and a chemical stripper to remove the old paint or varnish.
After stripping the furniture down to its natural colour, she cleans it thoroughly to prepare it for the next stage.
She spends up to $50 on old furniture and flips it for around $15 to $20 (Emily Marlett / SWNS)Emily then begins the creative process of painting or adding textures such as bamboo or wallpaper to the furniture.
If the furniture has any structural damage, Emily uses her woodworking skills to fix it.
Her meticulous attention to detail ensures the furniture looks and functions like new when she is done with it.
Her work so far has received the support from her husband, Zac, a 26-year-old electrician.
Emily paints or adds textures such as bamboo or wallpaper to the furniture (Emily Marlett / SWNS)She said: "People don't expect a woman to be working with power tools.
"People say 'do you need help with that?'. You don't often see a woman with a power tool."
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