A woman who was once bullied for her love of op shopping has transformed her ‘awkward’ side hustle into a thriving boutique, proving that embracing what sets you apart can pay off in the most unexpected ways.
Bonnie Wood, 30, now proudly stands behind the counter of her own eclectic store, Opsessed, in the small Victorian town of Clunes.
The unique space is filled with carefully curated pre-loved fashion, quirky homewares and one-of-a-kind finds that reflect her lifelong passion for thrifting.
But the journey to get there hasn’t always been easy.
‘I often got bullied throughout high school for my savvy and ethical approach to shopping, but I stayed true to myself and kept dreaming big,’ Bonnie told Daily Mail, adding that a candid post she shared about her experience has since resonated with thousands across the country.
Her love of fashion was shaped early on by her mother, who she described as having a ‘really unique’ sense of style and a knack for finding standout pieces.
While she would occasionally shop at department stores like David Jones, Bonnie said her mum often sourced items on sale or made her own clothes, instilling an appreciation for creativity and individuality from a young age.
Although she admits she wasn’t always a fan.
Bonnie Wood, 30 (pictured), was once bullied for her love of op-shopping, but she’s now the proud owner of her own successful thrift store in the country town of Clunes, Victoria
‘I actually would often hide… because I didn’t want anybody from school seeing me in there with my parents,’ she recalled of being taken to second-hand stores as a child.
Like many teenagers, Bonnie struggled with the pressure to copy everyone else, admitting she ‘never really felt like I fit in’, but over time her mindset shifted.
‘I just got to the point, I was like, you know what, I don’t care,’ she said, adding that the experience eventually became about ‘being individual’ rather than following the ‘cool-kid’ trends.
That same mindset would later become the foundation of her successful business.
Bonnie’s journey into resale began in her mid-teens, when she started selling clothes online and quickly realised the great earning potential.
‘I would look at what my sister would sell on eBay… and she was like, “oh, I’ve made $300 this month”… and as a 15-year-old, that seemed like a lot of money.’
But what began as a quick way to make pocket money soon turned into something much bigger, though the idea for her store didn’t come until years later during COVID-19 lockdown.
Seriously missing the thrill of bargain hunting in stores, Bonnie realised she might have an obsession instead of just a hobby.
The unique space, appropriately named ‘Opsessed’, is filled with carefully curated pre-loved fashion, quirky homewares and one-of-a-kind finds that reflect her lifelong passion for thrifting
But the journey to get there hasn’t always been easy. ‘I often got bullied throughout high school for my savvy and ethical approach to shopping, but I stayed true to myself and kept dreaming big,’ Bonnie told Daily Mail
‘I was like, I think I’m obsessed… and then I was like, oh my god, ‘Opsessed’! That’s the name,’ she said of the lightbulb moment that sparked the brand.
With a ready-made shop space already owned by her mother in Clunes, what started as a casual ‘garage sale’ to help cull some of her family’s thrifted stash, quickly snowballed into a full-fledged retail space after locals kept returning.
Before their shop, the premises was a popular book store for 10 years.
‘We had people knocking on the door and letters being left under our door asking what our opening hours were.’
Realising they were onto something, Bonnie and her family made the decision to turn it into a permanent store, and Opsessed was born.
With a ready-made shop space already owned by her mother in Clunes, what started as a casual ‘garage sale’ to help cull some of her family’s thrifted stash, quickly snowballed into a full-fledged retail space after locals kept returning. Before their shop, the premises was a popular book store for 10 years
Importantly, affordability has always remained at the heart of the business, with items ranging from just 50 cents to a few dollars and more – a conscious decision shaped by her own values. ‘It’s accessible for anyone and everyone’
Now open on weekends, the boutique has become something of a destination, drawing shoppers from across Victoria and interstate, eager to explore its ‘eclectic’ and ‘quirky’ offerings.
‘It’s almost like stepping into an Alice in Wonderland vibe inside,’ Bonnie said.
Importantly, affordability has always remained at the heart of the business, with items ranging from just 50 cents to a few dollars and more – a conscious decision shaped by her own values.
‘It’s accessible for anyone and everyone,’ she explained.
‘There’s people out there… that can’t afford to be spending $100 or $50 on an item, but they might walk past and find a $2 or $5 thing, and that brings them equally as much joy.’
And although her instinct for spotting hidden gems has paid off, Bonnie admitted there are a few missed opportunities she still thinks about to this day.
Her love of fashion was shaped early on by her mother (right), who she describes as having a ‘really unique’ sense of style and a knack for finding standout pieces, as well as learning lots from her sister originally selling items on eBay
She recalled passing on a vintage Gucci handbag priced at $120, only to later discover it was worth almost $3000, as well as a genuine Fendi bag she spotted for just $20 but didn’t buy – which would’ve retailed for 100 times more than that.
‘There’s been more times that I’ve gone, why didn’t I get that?’ she said, admitting the near-misses have since shaped her golden rule when thrifting: ‘If in doubt, just get it’.
She also relies on tools like Google Lens to quickly check items on the spot, helping her identify designer pieces and hidden gems that could be worth thousands.
Alongside running the store, Bonnie continues to work as a disability support worker in her local community, a role that unexpectedly (and conveniently) feeds back into her business.
‘More often than not, my participants want to go op shopping as an activity… so, if I’m out and about and I see stuff, they’ll go, “oh my god Bonnie, get this for the shop”,’ she added.
The crossover has created a unique sense of community, both in and out of the store.
Alongside running the store, Bonnie continues to work as a disability support worker in her local community, a role that unexpectedly (and conveniently) feeds back into her business with patients that help her find hidden gems
Looking ahead, she has ambitions to expand into a larger warehouse-style space in Victoria and beyond
‘It’s a really safe space to connect,’ she said, adding that many customers have now become close friends supporting her journey.
Despite the success, Bonnie has insisted the business has grown organically rather than through big financial risks, describing the overwhelming support as something she still finds hard to believe.
‘I was like, who’s going to actually believe in it, you know? The influx of support has just been amazing… honestly, I can’t believe it.’
Looking ahead, she has ambitions to expand into a larger warehouse-style space in Victoria and beyond, but for now, she’s focused on continuing to build something meaningful.
From hiding in op shops as a child to running her own store filled with treasures, Bonnie’s story is a reminder that what once made you feel different can ultimately become your greatest strength.
‘From posting awkward as hell YouTube styling videos to now standing in front of my very own store is surreal,’ she said.
