Thrifting isn’t for the faint of heart.
Since the age of thirteen, I’ve been big on thrift store shopping – and it’s no easy feat. It takes time and research to see if you found something good. Sometimes you are even competing with other shoppers who are also looking for gold. Often, people don’t realize what they’re giving away. I’ve found things at thrift stores like brand new Pottery Barn vases and frames, Christian Dior beaded belts, and handcrafted furniture.
Loads of people have built business empires from thrifting. Reselling thrifted/vintage items has paved the way for places like Nasty Gal Vintage, Poshmark, and ThredUP. But you don’t need to be in the businesses of reselling to enjoy thrift shopping. Personally, I like to look for items that I can refresh or style in my home.
However, I have been contemplating turning my passion for thrift shopping into a full-fledged business. I know it won’t be easy, but I believe there is a market for unique and affordable vintage finds. I envision creating an online shop that curates and sells thrifted items that have been carefully selected and restored to their former glory. With the right motivation and guidance, I am confident that I can turn this dream into a reality. I am excited to check out resources and learn more about starting my own business in the thrift and vintage market.
How To Shop
The first section I visit in a thrift store is always kitchen & home decor. This is where you’re likely to find valuable wares. If you find a set of plates, look up the designer or manufacturer and find the plate. Are they expensive? Do they match your home decor style? Get ’em. From there, I head to the frames. Do you see any brand name frames? Anything potentially vintage and made by hand? Look up the info on the backing. Do you simply like something you see? Get it. Can something be refreshed with some paint? Get it.
Now you can spend some time looking through clothing. Usually, this is the brunt of thrift store inventory so it takes time. It’s easier if you are well-versed in brand names and know what you are looking for. You can definitely look up designers and labels, but inspect the clothing throughly. Is there a defect? Is it something you may be able to have fixed? If the answer is no, put it back. No use spending your money on an item you will likely never wear.
Shop with a Cart
Chances are if you are looking at something, someone else has taken notice of that item. There are people I like to refer to as ‘hawks’ who follow thrifters around looking at everything they looked at, touching everything they touched. If you put an item back while you are still deciding, you’ve likely already lost it. Place everything you’re interested in, in your cart, and only put them back when you’ve decided you absolutely don’t want to purchase it.
Get to know your stores
This takes the longest to learn, and involves routine thrift store stops. Once you’ve started shopping around enough, you get an idea of what types of items certain stores tend to carry. No two Goodwills are alike, and some thrift store owners prefer to carry wares and furniture over clothing.
You may even find that you prefer thrifting certain items over others. I only occasionally shop for clothes – I’ve got enough as it is. My focus tends to be on wares and frames over everything else.
Have Patience
I find that I see a lot of an item, until I need/want it. For example, I’ve been looking everywhere for vintage gold frames for my wedding. I saw them literally everywhere for years and now that I’m looking for them, they’ve disappeared from stores. You may go into a store and walk out with nothing. You may dedicate an entire day to thrifting and come up empty-handed. That’s the nature of thrift store shopping. Have patience and keep your eyes open.
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A few of my most favorite finds are this gold mirror, the Pottery Barn vase, and this 32-inch barstool which I painted black. Each one cost less than $10 each and they add a little pizzazz to my home.
If you’d like a list of my favorite Charlotte-area thrift stores, let me know!
