Everything you must know to start an online thrift store

If you’re a fashion lover with the most typical youngster habit: shopping incessantly. Every time you open your closet, a few things fall out, so you contemplate a bigger closet.You’re repeatedly told you have “too many clothes”, but you choose to believe otherwise. And one day, realise that maybe you do have too many clothes. Clothes that you don’t wear, either because you outgrew them, or maybe they simply stopped being “trendy”. In that moment, you realise that you need a closet clearance, desperately. That was me. And that is how I started my journey of starting my own brand. I started my page, Retag Thrift (@retagthrift), back in 2021, with the sole purpose of getting rid of my unused clothes. Little did I know, Retag would grow to earn close to 1 lakh INR in the span of two years.

Anything and everything can be thrifted- be it clothes, shoes, home décor items, furniture. Thrifting comes with a bunch of benefits- it’s based on reusing and “upcycling” products. It is an eco-friendly way of clearing your closet as well as buying what can turn out to be one of a kind and exclusive to you; without burning a hole in your pocket.

India has seen a dramatic surge in online thrift stores since the 2020 COVID lockdown. What started out as a way to clear our closets has now turned into a full-fledged sustainable shopping industry. It may sound like being a thrift store owner is not something everyone can do, but being the founder of one, I’m here to tell you otherwise.

If you’re thinking of starting your own thrift store, this is everything you need to know.

1. Gather and shortlist clothes

Identify which style of clothes you’re going to sell. When you first start to gather your clothes, they will be in great abundance. This is why you categorize them. Divide the clothes in a way that you have enough to carry out a significant number of drops. And when you have nothing left to sell, you partner with third-party sellers and offer your page as a platform for them to sell their products. This maintains activity on your page and makes your followers stick around to see what’s in store for them.

2. Choosing a social media platform

While some go with Facebook, a majority of online thrift stores start their businesses on Instagram because of its easy user interface. Create a business account as it makes it more convenient for you to keep track of your orders, your customers and your following. With Instagram Business, you get more analytical tools to help you track the consumer activity on your page.

3. Photograph your products

Your products are a reflection of your style. On Retag, I follow the theme of ‘minimalism’, because I have always been into simple, minimal clothes, which is what I sell. Create a vibe that goes with your style, whether it is Bohemian, street, or Grunge. Photographing your products is a crucial step because the entirety of your sales depends on how appealing you make your products look to buyers. The idea is to make them think that they absolutely need this product. Go for a distraction-free background, so that the viewer’s focus is on the product. I make sure that I maintain consistent backgrounds for every drop. The camera angle, the positioning of the model, remain the same. Place the outfit on a chart paper, a mat, or put them on a hanger and click clear pictures.

4. Price wisely

The pricing needs to be realistic and planned keeping in mind the condition of your products. I generally keep it at 50-70 percent of the original price. No one would pay Rs.2000 for a worn-out top. If there’s any defect in any of the products, make sure you show it in the pictures- we want to be honest, trustworthy sellers, and not deceive our buyers. All this adds to your credibility as a seller.

4. Know what to post and when

If you post your product pictures out of the blue, the turnout of your sale is unlikely to see much success. This is because you did not inform your audience about your drop, and they did not know when to expect it. Your audience might miss your drop. Posting consistent stories with timers for the drop, sneak-peak of the products that you are posting, can spark excitement among your audience, giving them something to look forward to, and letting them set reminders so they don’t miss the drop. Ideally, I would start posting stories about my upcoming sale 4-5 days prior to the drop, to give my audience constant reminders.

5. Check your client’s credibility

STRICTLY avoid payment after delivery! No matter how much you try to verify the credibility of your clients, you can never be too sure. Take the payment first, then proceed with the shipping. Instead of your buyers paying the delivery partners, take online payments only (UPI or bank transfers). I have stuck to it to date as it is easier to keep track of.

6. Packaging and shipping

Wrap your package neatly. Go for eco-friendly packing paper. You can have your logo printed on it for your branding. You can even put a handwritten note that describes the garment along with styling ideas. Always choose a reliable shipping company to avoid any hassles. You’ll face logistical issues in your first few orders but you will learn with each setback. Once your business is up and running, be consistent and aim to offer top-notch customer service to build trust and loyalty. Spell out your refund and exchange policies clearly. Respond promptly to customer inquiries, address concerns, and handle returns or exchanges professionally.

7. Boost sales

A smart way to increase your sales is to put out exciting offers and organise clearance sales from time to time. Offers around festivals and special occasions and schemes such as “Buy 1, get 15% off, buy 2 get 30% work well. It’s about innovating constantly. It might sound intimidating in the beginning, but once you get a hang of it, it just gets easier and you develop a natural knack for it.