Up Close with: Hucknall YouTuber Steph Turton aka 'Handbagholic'

A former digital marketer from Hucknall has amassed a large number of YouTube subscribers in a short amount of time and now makes a living out of producing content about designer handbags.

Steph Turton has over 21,000 subscribers to her channel 'Handbagholic' which she started four years ago.

It was never her intention to create a brand and have nearly 3 million views of her videos in such a short space of time.

Initially, whilst she was still working in digital marketing, Steph used to buy designer handbags from eBay, enjoy them for a short period of time and then sell them on for a profit.

Speaking exclusively to Hucknall Nub News, she said: "I'd get the bags, clean them up, get them authentication certificates, bags, boxes all that. And then I created the website to sell them.

"Then I thought, I wanted to learn to video edit, so why not film? I had two bags that were the same bag but different colours, and I thought why not create a bit of video so it might help people that can't decide?

"Then I created a few more videos and it's escalated to the point where at the start of this year I now don't buy and sell the designer bags, I now just create content for YouTube, the website and Instagram, and it's growing really nicely.

"I'm at the point where brands sponsor my content so I'm getting a lot more brands get in touch, and they want to sponsor videos. It's enabled me to quit my full job as of October last year.

"I still do part time contracts on the side as and when they come in. I'm helping some influencers at the minute manage their YouTube channels. This is my main bread and butter at the minute, making money through YouTube and the website, affiliate commission and sponsorships as well.

"And I think the thing with it, I see a lot of people who are a lot further along than me and you can make really good money doing this. I make generally more money now, than what I earnt in my full time job. It's absolutely amazing and I never thought it was possible, or that it would be a lot further down the line but it actually can be quite lucrative, so it's really good."

Her advice to other people considering taking the plunge into a new hobby or career is to go for it and not be afraid to challenge yourself.

"Try something new or learn a new skill because you never know where it will take you. I'm now starting a personal YouTube channel which is going to help people set up online income streams. That is my passion now because I've seen how this has changed my life in terms of I don't have to be at an office or working set hours anymore, and it's allowed me so much more freedom that I really want to potentially help other people create their income streams online.

"For anyone out there that's thinking about it, it seems like a huge mountain but if you just start with something like, all I want to do is create one cohesive video and just take that first step to the next one, that's all you need to do."

Ms Turton added: "If I could go back in time and tell myself something, five, ten years ago, it would be to start this a lot sooner."

'Handbagholic' Ms Turton's YouTube channel can be found here . Her website can be found here , and you can follow her on Instagram here .