Thrift store reselling is when you buy items from a thrift store and sell them elsewhere for a higher price. You can resell things like clothing, shoes, accessories, furniture, and home decor. It can be a fun way to make extra money.
I used to work at a popular secondhand clothing shop called Plato’s Closet. We mainly sold brand-name, young adult clothing. While working there, I met many people who would search our racks for items to resell. Some even bought items from yard sales and charity shops just to sell to us. Many of these same people also went to garage sales and thrift stores like Goodwill to find items for reselling.
I saw a lot of thrift store reselling happening. Some people did it full-time, while others did it as a side hustle. Some did it because they loved the thrill of finding treasures. Sometimes people made a lot of money, and other times they only made a few dollars.
I worked at Plato’s Closet for many years, starting as a sales associate and eventually becoming a manager. Every day, I saw someone flipping items from thrift stores. One of the things I loved about working in a resale shop was seeing people save money on clothes. We had high-quality clothing and brand-name accessories for a fraction of the price you’d find in traditional retail stores.
After working in a secondhand shop for so long, it’s hard for me to pay full price for clothing because I know you can find similar items much cheaper elsewhere. Buying secondhand not only saves you money but also prevents waste and reduces landfill accumulation.
Shopping secondhand helps reduce the amount of stuff we throw into landfills. It’s a small step towards minimizing our environmental impact. Besides being good for your budget, buying secondhand is also good for the planet.
However, not everyone sees thrift store shopping the same way, especially if you’re buying items to resell. Some people believe that reselling thrift store items takes away from those who might need them more. Others think it’s wrong to profit from thrift store finds.
Personally, I believe thrift stores and discounts are for everyone. While people are entitled to their opinions, I think they might not fully understand the benefits of secondhand shopping or the missions of non-profit thrift stores. If reselling encourages more people to buy used instead of new, it helps reduce landfill waste.
Thrift store reselling helps the environment by giving items a new life instead of letting them end up in landfills. Thrift stores often have more items than they can sell, and sometimes they even turn away donations because they have too much stuff. Stores like Goodwill go to great lengths to keep items out of landfills, such as selling by the pound or sending clothes to textile recyclers. Still, a lot of items end up in landfills.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, there were 16 million tons of textile waste produced in 2015, with 85% going to landfills. Clothing and footwear waste made up 11.9 million tons of that. Americans, on average, throw away 81 pounds of clothing each year. The decomposition time for clothing and other items can be quite lengthy, with leather shoes taking 25-40 years and plastic bottles taking 70-450 years.
By purchasing secondhand clothing, even for reselling, you help reduce waste and protect the environment. More people shopping at thrift stores means fewer items end up in landfills. Can you imagine how much more waste there would be if resellers couldn’t shop at thrift stores?
Thrift stores usually have plenty of everything, and in some places, they are turning away donations because they have too much. When we donated most of our belongings to move into an RV, many of our items were rejected because the stores had too much stuff. Thrift stores won’t be running out of basic household items and clothing anytime soon.
The idea that resellers are taking away items from the less fortunate isn’t realistic. Thrift stores are overflowing with items, and there’s plenty for everyone. More people shopping at thrift stores, including resellers, means more funds for their charitable missions. For example, Goodwill uses the revenue from its stores to fund job training and placement services.
If you’re interested in starting thrift store reselling, here are some tips:
1. **Pay attention to trends and brands:** Follow fashion blogs or influencers to learn what’s popular. Vintage finds and 90’s clothes are trendy now, and high-quality outdoor clothing brands always sell well.
2. **Carefully inspect each item:** Look for rips, stains, worn spots, and other signs of wear. Whether it’s clothing, shoes, or furniture, make sure the items are in good condition.
3. **Be honest when listing your items:** Mention any issues and show photos of them. Honesty can help your ratings on selling platforms.
4. **Use apps to make reselling easier:** Popular apps include Poshmark, Depop, Facebook Marketplace, 5miles, Charish (for furniture and home decor), Vinted, and Instagram.
What do you think? Should thrift stores be used for reselling?