Latest news with #gin
The Sun
7 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
I've made £8k in a year flogging tat on eBay – I even sell ‘actual rubbish' I find on the floor, it's crazy easy
A SAVVY woman has revealed that she earns cash by selling 'actual rubbish' on eBay. Kirsty, a bargain hunter and part-time Ebay and Vinted reseller who has made £8,000 in the last year thanks to her side hustle, explained that her most recent sale was a freebie she found on the floor by a bin. 3 3 3 And not only did she flog the freebie, but she managed to sell it for £10 - yes, you heard that correctly. Eager to share more on her side hustle with others, Kirsty took to social media to show off the gin bottle she recently sold. The content creator held up the empty Whitley Neill Quince Gin bottle and said: 'I have just sold a piece of actual rubbish on eBay.' Stunned by the sale, she beamed: 'This sale has blown my mind - it is this gin bottle which I found on the floor by a bottle bank. 'When this was new and full of gin, this was sold for between £20 and £25. 'When I saw it I thought, people like these coloured glasses for upcycling projects and things like that, so I knew someone on eBay would buy it.' Kirsty explained that she "aimed quite high' with her listing, as she added: 'I listed this at £9.99 and somebody did pay that full price I was asking, which is crazy. 'A tenner for something that was literally going to go in the bin.' As a result of her sale, Kirsty advised other resellers: 'Do look out for glasses which are coloured, or they're more unique or unusual because people do like to collect them, or like I said, they like to use them for their upcycling projects.' Detailing how she would be sending out the bottle, she confirmed: 'I'll be wrapping this in a lot of bubble wrap, popping it in a sturdy box and then padding out the box some more. I've made £18k on Vinted & a hack means I don't have to hunt for bits I've sold 'And then of course I'll be wrapping that box in a lot of fragile tape, so that it's completely obvious that what is inside that box is breakable, because you can't take too many precautions.' 'Amazing what people will buy' The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ kirsty_reseller, has clearly left many open-mouthed, as it has quickly racked up over 5,000 views, 145 likes and 32 comments. Social media users were gobsmacked by the sale and many eagerly raced to the comments to express this. One person said: 'Well done Kirsty! I love selling 'rubbish'.' Another added: 'Haha love this! I've sold loads of empty perfume bottles and boxes! Amazing what people will buy isn't it?!' A third commented: 'What!? I'm definitely doing this.' Top tips for selling on eBay NEW to eBay? It's head of secondhand, Emma Grant, reveals how to optimise your listings: Use key words - eBay automatically filters listing titles for key words, so it's crucial to use the terminology people search for - especially brand and product names. Choose the right category for your product - It might sound obvious but it's important to always choose the most specific category to sell in. Pictures are important - Most users will not bid on items they cannot see. For best results, take photos in natural light against a neutral background and be honest about any scratches or damage to the item. Be as detailed as possible - Be honest about the condition of the product and be sure to note any wear and tear. Look at past sold items - eBay has a function that allows you to search for the item you want to sell and then filter the results by sold items. Here, you can view the price the item has sold for and get insight into how others have listed it. Selling Sundays - Get the timing right. The busiest time for buyers is Sunday evenings, so schedule your listings to end around that time. Opt for seven-day auctions to ensure the max number of bids. The longer your item is listed, the more chance of people seeing it, so unless it's time-sensitive, pick seven days. December is the busiest month on eBay. Be realistic with pricing - Try searching for similar items on eBay, to make sure you're going for the right price and always ask yourself "would I pay this price for this item?" Donate to charity - When listing your item, consider donating a percentage of the sale to a cause of your choice – from 10% to 100% - you can donate the funds raised from your item straight from the platform. Whilst someone else simply wrote: 'Genius!' At the same time, a Vinted seller claimed: "Honestly you will be surprised, I sold a £1 coin for £6 on Vinted.'
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'See how we made a smooth and citrussy gin within York's historic walls'
Have you ever fancied making your own gin? You can in the centre of York at a new gin school on the edge of the city centre. Nestled within Middleton's Hotel on Skeldergate is the recently opened York Gin Distillery where the fun takes place. Now, I was invited to give it ago, and with a mate telling me what fun he had when he tried it, my expectations were high. RECOMMENDED READING: Fun pairing crisps and vino with the Wine Lady Emma Moore York Gin launches Rutterkin Rum in honour of its emblem City drinks firm reports record sales of its York Zero York Zero wins gold in national Free From Awards in London York Gin opens distillery at Middletons in Skeldergate The courses take place on Saturdays and Sunday's from noon for around 2.5 hours, as well as the odd weekday evening. This is in addition to the gin tastings, wine and crisp pairings and beer and crisp pairings that York Gin hosts in the new location. When I called one Saturday, there were four other also keen to make their favourite tipple. Emma Godivala and he box of botanicals (Image: Darren Greenwood) Naturally, we started off with a gin and tonic, to help guide our efforts and ambitions. The gin was an award-winning York Gin London Dry, finely matched with Fevertree Tonic. York Gin's Emma Godivala then explained the processes behind making the gin. We learnt all about the names of the distillery equipment and the botanicals or herbs used to make the gin. We were to make a gin similar to London Dry, using a neat grain-based alcohol spirit. Emma Godivala ensures all is working well (Image: Darren Greenwood) There is another type of gin that also uses a sugar syrup to make a more flavoursome gin, which is how you make a gin known as 'Old Tom', a method that was used before London Dry's were created. York Gin developed its sugar syrup with acclaimed chef Andrew Pern, which includes white rose of Yorkshire, star anise, fennel and angelica. We had an 'Old Tom' to drink with tonic as well, so we could experience the difference. Next, we choose our botanicals, in addition to the juniper berries, coriander and orris. I also included kaffir lime, orange peel, lemon peel, cloves, lemon grass and chilli flakes aiming for a fresh, citrusy taste. These were mixed together and then put in the still, which bubbled away for around 15-20 minutes before starting to give off a liquid that was around 80 per cent alcohol. During this bit, Emma talked about gin's notorious past, when in the 17th Century, the 'Gin Craze' happened and one-in-eight homes had their own distillery. The country was getting drunk on cheap gin, which was harming the economy and people's health. Pictures such as Hogarth's Gin Lane highlighted this. The government of the time took various measures over the years, which led to the world's first vending machine, known as a 'Puss and Mew.' Someone would walk down a street making car noises and you might hear a meowing noise in return, which might lead you to a hole in a wall where you would put your money in and gin would come out of a small tap. It hard for someone to get caught by the authorities as you would not know who was selling the gin. Emma then spoke about various York 'outlaws', such as Guy Fawkes and Dick Turpin, as York Gin has an extra-strong 'Navy Strength' gin known as Outlaws. By now the gin was ready and came pouring out of the still. The first of the liquid was kept separated as we were to use around a middle 400ml from the still. This was still around 70-80 per cent ABV, so it was watered down to fill the 70cl bottle. The strength was tested and mine still came out at a decent 45.4 per cent ABV. When the liquid gin had cooled down, I was able to try mine and noticed it was very smooth. Neil and Gemma Hartley-Smith had used cocoa nibs, Szechuan pepper, angelica and spices to give their gin an earthy flavour. Tasting it Neil said he liked his gin: 'It's Christmas in a glass, we are saving it for December.' Susannah Baines used ginger, chilli and lime to make her gin. She said: 'It's absolutely delicious. One word to describe York gin is it is absolutely smooth. You do not want a false alcohol taste, you want a smooth, beautiful gin.' Jo Herd said: 'I got fresh York lavender from outside, strawberry petals and marshmallow and some Szechuan pepper.' Having a sip, she continued: 'It's absolutely gorgeous. I will drink it as soon as I get home. It's going to be lovely for a summer cocktail.' There were sheets to record what your recipe was because if you want some more, York Gin will make some more for you. Emma also said whilst the gins can be drunk on the same day, their flavours would be enhanced more if you wait a few days, which I what I did. And yes, I was able to experience a smooth, fresh citrussy gin, with the recommended Fevertree tonic. I had had a great time and as I was told, it was great fun and very informative, learning much about one of my favourite tipples. Echoing the others, Susannah also confirmed: 'It's really, really great fun. It's a superb thing to do.' The gin making school costs £95 for one using one still and receiving one 700ml bottle, or £120 for two, with them sharing a still and receiving one bottle. Engraved bottles and 'Yorkshire tapas' food is extra. For details and to book, go to:
Bloomberg
6 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Whisky Maker Suntory Is Trying to Get More Japanese to Try Gin
By and Kanoko Matsuyama Save In Japan, a nation of beer and sake drinkers, the world's third-largest whisky maker is trying to get the locals interested in gin. Suntory Holdings Ltd. has launched new cocktails and a pop-up bar at the Grand Prince Hotel Takanawa in an attempt to push its Roku gin brand, which up until now has gotten 90% of its sales overseas, primarily in Europe, North America and Singapore.
South China Morning Post
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Your Hong Kong weekend drinks guide for June 27-29
It's a great weekend to catch up on new openings as we prepare to bid farewell to the month of June. The duo behind Socio have just opened their second concept, positioned as a 'premium cocktail club'. After Dr. Fern's closed in January, the doctor is back as The Pottinger opens gin concept The Doctor's Residence. Round out your weekend on Kowloon side as Nicola's Night returns to Terrible Baby with its second edition, dubbed The Italians. Thursday, June 26 Gossip opens in Central Gossip in Foco is being positioned as a 'premium cocktail club' in Hong Kong's Central district. Photo: Handout What: It's no longer just a rumour – It's no longer just a rumour – Amir Javaid and Max Bajracharya (two of the creators of Socio) have opened Gossip in the Foco building, in the heart of Central. The duo are positioning the venue as a 'premium cocktail club' that combines live music, plush surrounds, and a killer cocktail concept that draws inspiration from – of all things – traditional masks from around Asia, as well as ingredients sourced from the region. For instance, Hannya is named after a mask in Japanese Noh theatre, and combines yuzu kosho, kombu-infused Bacardi, Iichiko shochu, clarified pear, matcha air and shiso powder. Where: 3/F, Foco Building, 48 Cochrane Street, Central When: 6pm-2am Friday, June 27 The Doctor's Residence by Dr. Fern The Doctor's Residence by Dr. Fern in The Pottinger Hong Kong specialises in exotic gin and tonics. Photo: Handout What: When we reported on Dr. Fern's Gin Parlour's closure in January, Hong Kong's beverage scene waited with bated breath to see if and when the gin specialist would reopen. The Pottinger hotel gave us the answer just last week, as The Doctor's Residence began its soft opening at The Envoy's former location – one complete with a terrace. Bar manager Babit Burathoki returns to helm the concept, which continues to focus on exotic gin and tonics, alongside a series of gin-centric signatures like Brinewashed – comprising Tamras gin, coriander extract, chilli brine, mint, lemongrass and clarified watermelon – or Shroom Service, which combines Australian gin with Fernet Hunter, calamansi juice, almond liqueur, coconut oil and a mushroom foam. Where: 3/F, The Pottinger, 74 Queen's Road Central, Central When: 5pm-1am Saturday, June 28
Entrepreneur
25-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
YouTube, Gin, and the Power of a Spreadsheet
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur United Kingdom, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. Few CEOs could claim their core growth strategy includes an on-camera personality who regularly urges viewers not to like, comment or subscribe. But for Vishap Patel, CEO of James Gin, that counterintuitive tactic appears to be working just fine. "A year ago we didn't have a YouTube channel," Patel reflects. "Then we launched James May's Planet Gin. To date we've attracted over 600,000 subscribers (despite insisting that people should not like, comment or subscribe) and we're now releasing new video content on a weekly basis." This push into content hasn't just built an audience - it's built margin. "We're also extremely active on all social channels with around 2m views per month on Instagram and 3.3m likes on TikTok. From a business perspective, we think this is a fairly unique way to promote a spirits brand - particularly as the YouTube advertising revenue makes it more or less cost neutral." It's an unorthodox marketing plan for a gin company - but Patel, who joined as CEO six months ago, hasn't come to preserve tradition. One of his first moves was to bring a dose of operational rigour to a business founded, in his words, by "people who have an allergic reaction to Excel spreadsheets." "I joined the business as CEO 6 months ago and the first thing I did was create a business plan and budget for 2025," he says. "Who knew, having a strategy, plan and structure in place could lead to faster organic growth?" In Patel's world, planning doesn't quash creativity - it frees it. "There's still room for creativity and flexibility in the best laid plans, but we now have a clear direction of travel at the company which allows the team to be more clearly focused." Perhaps the most striking shift in his thinking, however, has been around venture capital. Where many founders see funding rounds as a rite of passage, Patel has become wary. "That fundraising is a necessity for any founder," he says - "that's the belief I've changed my mind on." In his view, it stems from "a misconstrued belief that a start-up is generally loss-making by default, with a 'grow at all costs' mentality in the beginning which doesn't actually set the business up for long-term success." The James Gin approach is different: deliberate growth, positive cashflow, and full control. "A smaller, more focused start can lead to better proof of concept and identification of a low-cost and scalable marketing model. Fundraising sucks up so much of a founder's time and energy. Running the business profitably... allows you to retain control of the business, its trajectory and ultimate value." Not all capital, he concedes, is bad. "But I'm now clear that you should raise funds to actually grow your business quicker once you have identified clear growth drivers, rather than fundraise to keep the lights on." That humility - and strategic patience - may explain why Patel sees curiosity as a founder's most underrated strength. "I'm committed to getting things right and if I don't know the answer, I'm not afraid to ask. This business was founded by people who are experts in fields that are way outside my experience and I'm constantly learning new things - as, I believe, they are from me." He's also quick to highlight the virtue of failure, and Britain's need to reframe it. "To learn more from our friends across the pond," he says, is the task ahead. "To embrace failure, and see it as a learning opportunity and not a negative." "Most successful founders fail two or three times before making it stick. The wunderkid who skipped school and became a millionaire by 20 - they are the anomaly, not the rule." His vision for the next decade? A more experienced, more resilient start-up ecosystem: "More experienced, fearless founders in the UK, committed to building profitable and sustainable businesses will build a more robust and resilient startup ecosystem that can remain attractive for investment even in the face of macroeconomic uncertainty." It's a future built not just on risk and ambition - but, occasionally, on a well-formatted spreadsheet.
