Christian Hull in debt, closing X-rated shop as Aussie spending halts

With $250,000 worth of products no one wants to buy, Christian Hull has been forced to close his store – prompting fans to take action.

A popular Australian influencer has announced the closure of his “X-rated” business, revealing he’s up to his eyeballs in debt after purchasing stock no one wants to buy.

Comedian Christian Hull, who has 1.9 million TikTok followers, launched the “Fk Off Shop” after he went viral during Covid with his first product, a flower pendant that contained “leave me alone” energy.

The handmade resin necklace, which Hull would scream profanities at before sending out to buyers, sold “incredibly well” – prompting the Brisbane-based star to launch an online store dedicated to merchandise that encapsulated the comic’s sense of humour.

With a promising start, Hull poured thousands of dollars into buying unique and quirky stock, but as the economic climate changed at the end of the pandemic he found himself in an awful position.

“People just are not spending, everything costs so much money and what I sell isn’t essential. No one needs a penis shaped cheese board or an umbrella with a huge middle finger on it,” he told news.com.au.

“The last 18 months have been so stressful and I haven’t been making any money and have $240,000 of inventory sitting in a warehouse that I’m paying rent for, so the obvious solution was to just call it a day and admit defeat.”

Hull, who also operates a second business which covers his income from live shows, social media and brand collaborations, said despite earning half a million dollars in the first six months which he reinvested into the business, it got to the point where he was using money earned from his other venture to pay for the Fk Off Shop.

He was also stung with a tax bill he wasn’t expecting due to his inexperience.

Comedian Christian Hull has shut down his X-rated shop due to crippling debts. Picture: Supplied

It was launched at the start of the pandemic following the success of his ‘Fk Off Pendant’. Picture: Supplied

“I got into this on a whim and have learnt so many lessons along the way. Costly ones,” he shared.

“In the first 6 months I made $500,000 and reinvested most of it back into the business without realising that tax was clearly a thing and I got hit with a HUGE tax bill that I spent years paying it off.

“When I finally got that bill settled it was just a constant stream of bills. My shop hasn’t been making enough money to stay afloat for the last 2 years so I was topping up the cash every now and then from the money I was earning from sponsored content and touring.

“This is not a good thing to be doing. One business shouldn’t be funding the other. I’ve poured $200,000 into the shop during those two years.

“I was only doing my stand up shows to pay for the struggling business. I went on tour in October and the tour didn’t earn what I thought is would and this was pretty financially devastating because now I had two businesses not being able to earn enough to keep themselves afloat.”

But as shopping habits have changed due to the cost of living crisis, Hull has found himself straddled with $250,000 worth of stock. Picture: Supplied

For months Hull was struggling to keep his head above water, eventually decided it was time to pull the plug, a move he said has bought much relief.

“I have cried those tears and screamed into many pillows but ultimately I’m super happy to be free from a clearly failing business.

“It’s a relief to be closing the business down, but I have learnt too many lessons to give it all up, so I’m sure I will take everything I have learnt over the last four years and do something amazing down the track. I just need a rest.”

He’s managed to sell a huge amount of stock by moving into his warehouse and broadcasting to his 1.9 million followers who he said have ‘rallied’ behind him. Picture: Supplied

Of course, he couldn’t go down without a laugh, deciding to move into the Gold Coast warehouse and document his stock clearance sale, sharing everything with his followers from packing orders to very relatable “meltdowns”.

It seems it was one last stroke of genius for the Fk Off Shop, with Hull raising $200,000 to date.

“I had no idea people would rally behind the closing down of this shop and buy virtually all the stock I have,” he said.

“In my mind, they didn’t buy it before so why would they care now. It turns out they are supportive legends who mostly don’t need or want these products but have connected with me and my story and feel bad and want to help which I find so humbling.

“It’s been a really amazing and surprising time. I wanted to move at least $90K worth of stock over and in the fist 3 days I had sold $145,000.”

Hull is now in the final stages of completely dissolving the business, but still has $50,000 worth of product to shift, and is hopeful he can make it happen.

Hull isn’t the only influencer to have closed their business in recent weeks, with fitness guru Ashy Bines announcing the recent closure of her activewear brand and former Bachelorette Georgia Love also shutting down her pyjama business.

Originally published as Christian Hull in debt, closing X-rated shop as Aussie spending halts