Do you want to learn how to make money on Whatnot?
Have you ever wondered if you can sell products online without showing your face, building a website, or even having a big audience first?
Whatnot is a live selling app where people buy and sell products through livestreams. And, while that may sound intimidating at first, it can actually be a beginner-friendly way to start an online business.
Today, I’m excited to share an interview with Josh Garrod, who has generated around $400,000 in sales on Whatnot in less than 9 months.
Josh is part of Marketplace SuperHeroes, a company that has been teaching people how to build online income streams for more than a decade. He sells sealed trading card products through live shows, and what’s really interesting is that buyers never even see his face. They just see the products on screen and hear his voice.
In this interview, Josh talks about:
- What Whatnot is
- How live selling works
- How much money he has made
- What a beginner may be able to earn
- What kinds of products you can sell
- Whether this can be a good business for someone who is shy or introverted.
Josh also shares what startup costs may look like, how he finds products to sell, what challenges people may face, and the steps someone can take to get started. And by the way, most of their students didn’t even know what a trading card was when they got started, so don’t worry if you’re completely new to this world!
Josh and Marketplace SuperHeroes also put together a free live training called How They Made $247,840.96 in 125 Days Using a Free Phone App You’ve Probably Never Heard Of. In this training, you’ll learn how this app did $11 billion in sales last year, how Josh made $247,840.96 in just 125 days, why they think this opportunity feels like Amazon in 2012, and how beginners may be able to make their first sale in under 7 days. If you want to learn more about selling on Whatnot and see why so many people are excited about it, click here to register for the free training.
How I’ve Made $400,000 In Sales on Whatnot In Less Than 9 Months
If you want to learn how to start a side hustle selling on Whatnot, this interview is a great place to get started.
1. Tell us your story! Who are you, and how did you get started selling on Whatnot?
My name is Josh Garrod, and I’m a husband and father of three boys based in England.
I’ve always been interested in finding new ways to earn income, especially online. I’m naturally curious, and I enjoy learning how different businesses and side hustles work.
I first came across Whatnot completely by accident. At the time, I wasn’t looking for a new business. I simply noticed people selling products through live video streams and became curious about how it all worked.
The more I watched, the more interested I became. What stood out to me was that it felt very different from traditional online selling. Instead of creating a website, running ads, or listing products on a marketplace and waiting for customers to arrive, sellers were interacting with buyers in real time. It was fast-paced, entertaining, and community-driven.
As someone who enjoys learning about different ways people make money online, I found the concept fascinating. I started paying attention to what successful sellers were doing, how they interacted with viewers, and why people kept coming back to their shows.
Eventually, curiosity got the better of me and I decided to give it a try myself.
Like most people when they start something new, I had no idea what to expect. I wasn’t an expert in live selling, and I certainly didn’t expect it to become a major source of income. I’m also a bit of an introvert!! Initially, I saw it as an experiment and an opportunity to learn something new.
What happened next surprised me. The platform was growing at an incredibly rapid rate, much faster than I expected, and I quickly realised there was a genuine opportunity for ordinary people to build an income stream through live selling.
Whatnot combines community, entertainment, and selling in a way that I hadn’t really seen before. That combination is what initially attracted me to the platform, and it’s still one of the reasons I enjoy it today.
2. What is Whatnot, and how does it work for someone who has never used it before? Is there room for new Whatnot sellers? Do you just need a phone? Why is Whatnot popular?
Whatnot is a live-selling app where people can buy and sell products through live video streams.
The easiest way to explain it is to imagine a mix between eBay, QVC, and a social media livestream. Instead of listing an item and waiting days or weeks for someone to buy it, a seller goes live, shows products on camera, talks to viewers in real time, and can run quick auctions or fixed-price sales during the stream.
For someone who has never used it before, it can feel a little strange at first, but once you see it in action, it makes a lot of sense. Buyers join a live show, watch the seller present items, ask questions in the chat, and then bid or buy directly inside the app. Everything is handled through Whatnot, including payments and the order process, which makes it very beginner-friendly compared to trying to build a full ecommerce store from scratch.
One of the reasons Whatnot has become so popular is because it feels more personal than normal online shopping. Buyers are not just scrolling through static product photos. They are interacting with a real person, chatting with other people who enjoy the same niche, and taking part in the excitement of a live show.
There is absolutely still room for new sellers. In fact, I would argue that we’re still in the early stages of live selling as a whole. There are huge numbers of buyers joining the platform every day, and many categories are still underserved.
One of the biggest misconceptions people have is that they need an existing audience before they can succeed. That simply isn’t true. When I started selling on Whatnot, I had no audience, no following, and no community waiting for me. I started from scratch. Since launching in October 2025, we’ve grown to more than 38,000 followers on the platform.
The reality is that buyers come to Whatnot looking for products, entertainment, and community. If you can provide a good experience and show up consistently, the platform gives new sellers an opportunity to get discovered.
You also do not need a complicated setup to get started. Technically, you can start with a phone, some products to sell, and a space where you can stream. Over time, you may want to improve your lighting, camera angle, packaging process, and overall setup, but you do not need to have everything perfect on day one.
I think Whatnot is popular because it brings back something that is missing from a lot of online shopping: interaction. People like buying from people. They like asking questions, seeing the product live, feeling part of a community, and enjoying the entertainment side of the sale.
That is what makes it different from simply listing products on a marketplace. On Whatnot, the seller is not just selling items. They are hosting a live shopping experience.
3. Where does this work?
I’m based in the United Kingdom, and we’ve seen people successfully implement this business model in multiple countries, including the United States, the UK, Canada, Australia, and others. The principles are the same regardless of where you’re located.
The US market is even bigger than the UK!
We’ve worked with people from a variety of backgrounds and locations who have gone on to generate sales and build successful businesses using the same model.
For anyone interested in checking whether their country is currently supported, Whatnot maintains an up-to-date list here: https://help.whatnot.com/hc/en-us/articles/360061195812-Seller-location-currency-requirements
4. How do you make money on Whatnot? What exactly are you selling, and how does the live selling process work?
My business focuses on sealed trading card products, which are packs and boxes containing random cards inside.
The basic model is simple: I buy products from retailers or suppliers, then resell them live on Whatnot.
During a stream, I run short auctions for the products I’m selling. Viewers can bid instantly by swiping on their phone, and when the timer ends, the highest bidder wins.
Some buyers might only buy one item, while others will buy multiple items throughout the stream. Whatnot handles the payments and keeps track of the orders, then once the stream is finished, I package everything and ship it out.
So at its core, the business is buying inventory at one price and selling it for more during a live show. The skill comes from choosing the right products, keeping the stream moving, and making the buying process feel fun and easy.
If you want to learn more about the exact types of trading cards I’m selling, we’re putting on a free training session this week to share all the details with you. Click here to register now.
5. If someone is shy or introverted, can this still be a good business for them? Why or why not?
Absolutely.
In fact, I would describe myself as quite introverted. If you’d told me a few years ago that I would be running live shows for hundreds of people online, I probably wouldn’t have believed you.
I think a lot of people assume that successful sellers are naturally outgoing or love being the centre of attention, but that hasn’t been my experience at all. Like any new skill, confidence comes with practice.
I was definitely nervous when I started. The first few streams felt uncomfortable because I was doing something completely new. But after a while, I realised that viewers weren’t expecting perfection. They just wanted someone genuine who could help them enjoy the experience.
One thing I’ve found is that live selling is very different from public speaking. You’re not standing in front of a room giving a presentation. Most of the time it feels more like having a conversation with people who share a common interest.
As my confidence grew, I became more comfortable developing my own style and personality on stream. In some ways, it allowed me to step outside of my comfort zone and become more confident in other areas of life too.
So yes, I think introverts can absolutely succeed on Whatnot. You don’t need to be the loudest person in the room. You don’t need to be naturally charismatic. You just need to be willing to start before you feel completely ready and give yourself time to improve.
6. You say people can do this without showing their face. How does that actually work in real life? What do buyers see on screen?
A lot of people are surprised when I tell them that viewers never see my face.
In my streams, the camera is pointed at the products I’m selling. Buyers see the items on the desk, my hands as I handle the products, and that’s about it. They hear my voice, but they don’t see me sitting behind the camera.
Most sellers on Whatnot don’t use a traditional webcam setup. Instead, they position a phone or camera above their workspace so viewers can clearly see whatever is being sold.
For me, that made getting started much easier. I wasn’t worried about how I looked on camera, what I was wearing, or whether I looked confident enough. I could focus entirely on learning how the platform worked and creating a good experience for viewers.
In practice, a buyer joins the stream and sees the products being showcased in real time. If I’m running an auction, they’ll see the item being sold, the countdown timer, the current bid, and the live chat. They can ask questions, place bids, and interact with the stream directly through the app.
7. How much money have you made on Whatnot? Can you break down the numbers, such as revenue, profit, costs, and how long it took?
I started my first Whatnot stream on October 27, 2025, so I’ve been selling on the platform for less than a year.
As of writing this, I’ve generated just over £300,000 in sales through Whatnot, which is approximately $400,000 USD at current exchange rates.
Revenue and profit are obviously two different things. My profit margins typically range between 25% and 35%, depending on the products being sold and how a particular stream performs.
For example, one recent stream generated around £2,300 in revenue (approximately $3,100 USD) and just over £700 in profit (approximately $950 USD), which worked out to a profit margin of around 30%.
One thing I’ve learned is that no two streams are exactly the same. Some days perform better than others, and factors such as the products you’re selling, the day of the week, the time you’re streaming, and the audience that joins your show can all make a difference. Over time, you start to learn what works best for your particular niche and audience.
8. What items can a person sell on Whatnot? How do they find the items to sell on Whatnot?
One of the things I like about Whatnot is that there isn’t just one thing you can sell.
Some of the biggest categories on the platform include trading cards, collectibles, toys, fashion, beauty products, and home goods. There are also sellers doing very well in areas such as sports memorabilia, comics, coins, jewellery, and many other niches.
Personally, I focus on trading cards because that’s the category where I’ve had the most success. In fact, we’ve grown the business entirely within that niche so far and haven’t really needed to branch out into other categories yet.
When it comes to finding products to sell, I think a lot of people overcomplicate it. Many beginners assume they need wholesale accounts, large suppliers, or special industry contacts before they can get started.
That wasn’t my experience at all.
When I started, I spent the first six to eight weeks buying products from online retailers, just like any other customer. The barrier to entry was extremely low. I didn’t need to negotiate with suppliers, place huge orders, or open trade accounts.
My advice to beginners is simple: start by looking at what successful sellers are already selling. If a particular product is consistently selling well, use Google or AI tools to research where those products can be purchased and what they sell for. From there, it’s just a case of understanding whether the numbers work.
As you grow, you can start building relationships with wholesalers and suppliers, but I don’t think that’s something people should worry about on day one. The important thing is getting started, learning the platform, and proving that you can sell before trying to optimise everything.
9. How much can a beginner realistically make on Whatnot in the first month or first few months?
It’s impossible to guarantee what somebody will make because there are so many factors involved, including the products they sell, how often they stream, how quickly they learn, and how much effort they put into the business.
What I can do is share my own experience.
In my first month on Whatnot, from October 27 to November 27, 2025, I generated £17,145 in sales, which is approximately $23,000 USD.
Of course, not everyone will achieve the same results, but I think it’s important for people to understand that meaningful numbers are possible much sooner than most people expect.
We’ve also seen many people who have followed the same general business model generate thousands of dollars in sales during their first month. Some have gone on to generate tens of thousands of dollars in sales within their first few months as they gained experience and built an audience.
One of my favourite examples is actually my dad. He was 65 years old when he started, had no experience with live selling, and knew virtually nothing about trading cards. Despite that, he was able to build momentum and generate five figures in sales within his first few months on the platform.
For most beginners, I think the goal shouldn’t be trying to replace a full-time income immediately. The goal should be proving the concept works, learning the platform, and building confidence. Once you’ve done that, it becomes much easier to grow and scale over time.
10. What are some challenges a person may have by selling on Whatnot? What happens to items that don’t sell? Do they have to have the inventory in their home?
Like any business, there are challenges, but most of them are easier to overcome than people imagine.
For many beginners, the biggest challenge is simply getting started. Nerves can definitely play a part. I was nervous before my first stream too, and if I’m honest, it wasn’t a particularly good stream. But that’s completely normal. I learned a lot from it, made adjustments, and the next stream was better. Every stream teaches you something.
Another challenge can be figuring out which products to sell. That’s one of the reasons I focused on a category that already had strong demand on the platform. Rather than trying to reinvent the wheel, I looked at what was already working and built from there.
As for products that don’t sell, it’s usually not a big deal. If an item doesn’t get any bids, I simply put it to one side and move on to the next auction. A few minutes later, there will be different viewers in the stream and a completely different audience looking at the same product. Often, an item that doesn’t sell the first time will sell perfectly well later in the same stream.
For the business model I run, I do keep inventory at home because I need the products available to show and ship to customers. Fortunately, the products I sell are small and easy to store. Even though we can process hundreds of sales in a single stream, most of my inventory fits on a small set of shelves and the products I’m actively selling can often fit into a shoebox-sized space on my desk.
That’s one of the things I like most about the business. You don’t need a warehouse, a shop, or a garage full of stock. You can start relatively small and expand as you grow.
11. Can you list the steps someone needs to take to get started selling on Whatnot?
Step 1: Decide what you’re going to sell.
Start by looking at categories that are already performing well on Whatnot and choose something that interests you. You don’t need to become an expert overnight, but it helps to pick a niche you enjoy learning about.
Step 2: Source some inventory.
For most beginners, this can be as simple as purchasing products from online retailers. That’s exactly how I got started. You don’t need wholesale accounts or industry contacts on day one.
Step 3: Get a basic setup.
You don’t need a professional studio. A phone, a phone stand, a label printer, and a small workspace are enough to get started. I also recommend making your selling space look presentable. For example, I use a themed playmat that matches the products I sell.
Step 4: Apply to become a seller and set up your account.
Whatnot guides you through the process, and once approved, you’ll be able to schedule and run your first live show. Whatnot also gives you a “beginner boost” or a cash incentive when you set up your seller account (at the time of this interview), so we recommend only setting up your seller account when you’re ready to sell!
Step 5: Go live and learn.
Your first stream probably won’t be perfect, and that’s okay. We always say to our students “the goal is to get experience, learn what works, and become more confident with each show – not to be perfect”. What other business model do you know that can be up and running in a week?
Step 6: Reinvest and grow.
As sales start coming in, reinvest some of the profits into additional inventory. That’s exactly how I grew my business. Rather than taking all the money out, I used a portion of it to buy more stock and gradually scale over time.
If I could give one piece of advice, it would be not to overthink it. Most people spend too much time planning and not enough time actually going live. The fastest way to learn is to start, make mistakes, improve, and repeat the process.
12. Can you tell me about the program you teach? How does your course help someone start a business selling on Whatnot?
The resource I teach is called Go Live, Get Paid.
The team at Marketplace SuperHeroes and I created it because after sharing my results, the same questions kept coming up over and over again. People wanted to know what products I was selling, where I was sourcing them, how much inventory they needed, how to set up their streams, and how to avoid the mistakes I made when I was getting started.
The goal of the programme is to shorten the learning curve.
Rather than spending months trying to figure everything out through trial and error, members get access to the exact business model I’ve used to build my own Whatnot business. We don’t just talk about broad concepts. We get into the specifics. We show people exactly what products we’re selling, where we’re buying them from, how much inventory we recommend starting with, and how we approach pricing and live selling.
We also provide templates, resources, and practical tools that members can use to implement what they’re learning.
One of the most valuable parts of the programme is the ongoing support. We host regular live Q&A sessions where members can ask questions, get feedback, and learn from both our experiences and the experiences of other sellers who are following the same model.
Ultimately, the programme is designed for people who want a proven starting point. Could somebody figure everything out on their own? Maybe. That’s what I did. But it took a lot of testing, mistakes, and wasted time. Go Live, Get Paid gives people a blueprint they can follow so they can focus less on guessing and more on taking action.
If you want to learn more about the model, the exact steps you need to take to plug this business model into your own life, we’re hosting a live training this Thursday. Click here to register to see if it’s the right fit for you!
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