In recent years, thrifting has become a trend and re-sold clothing is a staple in modern fashion. If executed correctly, thrifting can be a profitable side hustle. Re-sellers face many issues when starting their businesses. Some of the most common issues beginner re-sellers face include the volume of competition, catering to a specific group of customers, and learning how to promote. In this blog, I will walk you through how I was able to overcome these obstacles and how you can apply this and grow your thrift business.
Fighting off the competitors
The start up process for a reseller is quite terrifying. You walk into Goodwill on a crisp 
Tuesday morning. Immediately, you see fifteen shaggy looking guys wearing Nascar shirts from 1992. After sleeping in the parking lot the night before, they are absolutely rampaging the racks in front of your eyes. This is simply not an ideal situation for you. They seem to find all the fun clothes, and you are left with a ripped Nike shirt your dad would not even wear to cut grass. How do you combat the wardrobe warriors? The answer: You have to work with them.
I quickly learned that I was not going to outwork the full time thrifters. Instead, I became friends with them. Every time you see one at Goodwill, strike up a conversation. Ask where they re-sell, how long they have been re-selling, and most importantly, ask them if they have excess inventory. They will almost undoubtedly have multiple bags of clothes they have not been able to sell at their high-end events. They will often be able to provide you dozens of shirts for low prices. You are doing them a favor by taking their excess inventory, and they are providing you with low-end shirts to build your business.
Catering your thrift business to your customers
Some ripped and stained shirts sell for over $50 at vintage events. The same shirt may never sell for 
a local vendor. You must know your audience. Who are you selling to? What are they wanting to buy? The vintage vendors at large events have an audience who is willing to pay high dollar for items that many people view as trash. A two-year-old shirt from a professional sports team would likely never sell at a thrift event, but a local vendor could profit an easy $15.
I sell on a college campus. My customers rarely want to pay over $15 for a shirt. I have adjusted my business model. I sell large amounts of inventory for lower prices. While some of my shirts could sell for almost double at vintage events, I do not have the cliental for that pricing to be profitable. You will have to experiment with your own audience. High ball your customers a few times and see if they bite. Locate what types of clothing your customers are wanting to purchase from your thrift business. You make think some of the shirts you purchased are the best threads this side of the Mississippi, but your customers may disagree. Your customers are your audience – not you!
Difficulty of promoting your thrift business
Because your new business is likely a hobby, promoting can be difficult. Spamming your personal 
social media stories is embarrassing and can cause your followers to become annoyed with your content. The balance between utilizing your connections and becoming a social media nuisance is difficult to learn, but necessary for success.
I created a Snapchat private story, an Instagram account, and a Mercari. The snapchat is highly interactive with deals and promotions and hundreds of people have willingly joined the story. The Instagram is a public account. I found that people do not like to follow account, but actively view, interact, and like the content. I use Mercari to list my shirts that would likely not sell to my in-person customers. For promotion, I use friends who are well known at my college to be featured in my “commercials”. My commercials are humorous and are designed to be shared across various Instagram stories. Balancing these three
Application
Now that you have the wisdom of a semi-experienced clothing re-seller, you can apply this to your business. Meet people and make connections with people who can help you. The industry is all about who you know. Become personal and develop friendships with your customers. Learn what they want to buy and what interests them. Lastly, walk the delicate balance between promoting your business through your personal media and promoting your business though accounts dedicated to your hustle. Use these tips and your thrift business will be booming in no time!
Written by Eric Moore
