Thrift stores are heaven for shoppers, especially those who love clothes but are living on a budget. They’re some of the best places to get pieces that are top tier for staggeringly low prices. It’s the same reason people who want to start an online clothing business find themselves gravitating towards second-hand shops.
You unlock great earning opportunities when you have access to quality clothes of varying designs, materials, and brands. With more and more people opting for sustainable fashion by buying in thrift stores, there’s no better time than now to consider the many ways you can profit from them.
Resell
Reselling thrift clothes are acceptable today, especially on social media and online shops. You’re saving people time from going through several racks of clothes by picking out the good ones, washing them, and delivering them to their doorsteps. That being said, the process is more complex than it sounds. You’ll have to do your homework and determine what sells, when, and for whom.
It’s probably not best to include coasts in your collection when summer is fast approaching. Three-quarter length trousers for men? Unless they want to be bullied, it’s not going to sell. Keep up with trends, or brand your business as a go-to shop for classic pieces. You can even specialize in second-hand clothes from brands like Gucci, Giordano, Louis Vuitton, and Dior.
Redesign
Feeling artistic? Thrift stores can be your supplier of plain shirts, blouses, and even jackets that benefit from additional designs. With the right style and a high-grade print, it’s easy to promote your artworks and profit from them simultaneously. They’ll also appear brand new, which will make it less challenging for your clients to purchase the second-hand items you sell.
The trick to making this endeavor successful is ensuring that the clothes and the print are both high-quality. Investing in heat press machines like those you see in instagraph.com is worth your buck. Go only with reputable companies with products that can support the volume you produce and create output that won’t wear out with washing. This might cost you more money, but you’ll enjoy the returns when your list of satisfied customers grows.
Restructure
Fashion designers who are just launching their careers find interesting materials to work with in thrift stores. If you like a fabric but hate the design, why not restructure it? This way, you’re selling brand-new clothes while helping the environment.
Most of the high-quality materials you’ll find there are expensive to buy in textile factories. Second-hand clothes also come with zippers, buttons, sequins, and beads you can use on the restructured product or a future project. Considering the costs that you’ll dodge, thrift stores deserve your unyielding support.
Business Is an Art
More than money, it takes wits to start a business and make it successful. Turn your thrift store visits into opportunities to buy and sell the best pieces you find. You already love shopping–why not make money out of it, right?