The Kawartha Small Business Podcast · The Kawartha Small Business Podcast

179: Chris Mitchell- Selected Threads

·31 min·2 clips

A Coogee sweater can list for over $1,000 on Poshmark, but auctions can still move it fast.

1. The Kawartha Small Business Podcast episode centers on Chris Mitchell and Selected Threads, a Poshmark-based clothing resale business tied to the Kawarthas. 2. Brian Rump and Matt Gearty host Chris Mitchell, who is introduced as “Battle Rap Chris” and described as a former editor-in-chief of BattleRap.com and a managing editor at HipHopDX. 3. The episode asks how a former hip-hop media worker turned “independent businessman” built a clothing business around vintage, luxury, and live auctions. 4. Chris says he once flew to Los Angeles, New York, Atlanta, and England for battle rap coverage, which shows how far his earlier work took him. 5. He explains that battle rap moved from freestyle insults to pre-written rounds after 8 Mile made narrative battles feel more polished. 6. Chris says Toronto had a “big, big scene,” while Fenelon Falls has no real battle rap scene and Lindsay has one named rapper, Jay Walker. 7. He describes how BattleRap.com started from his Toronto blog, T.O. Battle Blog, before he moved into an editor-in-chief role within two months. 8. Chris says he later became managing editor at HipHopDX, but desk work about “whatever Kanye West had done that day” felt less thrilling than field coverage. 9. He says having a son changed his travel habits and pushed him away from constant event coverage. 10. Chris traces Selected Threads to moving from Toronto to Kawartha Lakes during the pandemic and having too many clothes from Queen West and Ossington. 11. He says he Googled “how do you sell clothes online?” and Poshmark appeared, which led to selling dress shirts and other pieces he no longer wore. 12. Chris says he learned that men’s clothing was only “a small fraction” of the market, so he started studying women’s clothing, value retention, and what counts as “good” and “great.” 13. He says he was laid off from a cannabis-industry writing and editing job during the pandemic and stopped chasing editorial interviews for companies he barely knew. 14. Chris says he pushed harder on clothes because the side hustle was already working and because live shows on the Poshmark app added hosting and live-streaming skills. 15. He connects those live shows to his earlier work in interviews and podcasting, saying his journalism and marketing background fit the format. 16. Chris brings in a Coogee sweater from Attawigamig in Port Perry as a personal example, saying he paid about $225 after bringing nonperishable goods for a food drive. 17. He says Coogee-branded sweaters can appear on Poshmark for more than $1,000, while auctions can still move a piece if two buyers want it badly enough. 18. Chris says his 2024 question is whether to keep a comfortable, balanced life or push harder by listing more items, expanding to Poshmark U.S., and making more money. 19. The tone stays conversational and local, with Brian and Matt asking practical questions while Chris answers in a straightforward, media-savvy style. 20. People interested in small business, resale, live selling, or lifestyle-first work choices would likely get the most from this episode.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from The Kawartha Small Business Podcast