{"id":409007869,"date":"2022-10-13T05:41:40","date_gmt":"2022-10-13T10:41:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/?p=409007869"},"modified":"2022-10-13T05:41:40","modified_gmt":"2022-10-13T10:41:40","slug":"online-or-retail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/dating-vintage\/online-or-retail\/","title":{"rendered":"Should You Launch an Online Thrift Store or Try To Start a Retail One?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Starting up your own retail store these days can be incredibly difficult. Renting a location is perhaps the least of your worries. You\u2019ll need to focus on marketing, you\u2019ll have to appeal to your local customers, and you\u2019ll also need to worry about maintaining and protecting <a href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/articles\/online-store\/\">your store<\/a>. There are loads of different considerations to keep in mind, and it can make running your own store seem like a hassle that just isn\u2019t worth it.<\/p>\n<p>But starting an online store isn\u2019t exactly simple either, especially if your primary focus will be on <a href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/articles\/why-thrifting-is-so-wonderful\/\">thrifting<\/a>. So to help you decide on which is the better option, we\u2019ve put together this helpful article that will explain some of the biggest decisions that you need to keep in mind and how you can better prepare your brand-new <a href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/how-to-thrift-store-shop\/\">thrift store<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" class=\"wp-image-409007870\" src=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/word-image-409007869-1.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/word-image-409007869-1.png 1170w, https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/word-image-409007869-1-500x333.png 500w, https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/word-image-409007869-1-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/word-image-409007869-1-600x400.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_consider_with_online_thrift_stores\"><\/span><a id=\"post-409007869-_bjqyvpxt6088\"><\/a>What to consider with online thrift stores<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_50 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\" role=\"button\"><label for=\"item-649117af20c20\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><input  type=\"checkbox\" id=\"item-649117af20c20\"><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-visibility-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/dating-vintage\/online-or-retail\/#What_to_consider_with_online_thrift_stores\" title=\"What to consider with online thrift stores\">What to consider with online thrift stores<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/dating-vintage\/online-or-retail\/#You%E2%80%99ll_probably_save_a_lot_of_money_starting_an_online_thrift_store\" title=\"You\u2019ll probably save a lot of money starting an online thrift store\">You\u2019ll probably save a lot of money starting an online thrift store<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/dating-vintage\/online-or-retail\/#It%E2%80%99s_also_a_bit_easier_to_reach_a_wide_audience\" title=\"It\u2019s also a bit easier to reach a wide audience\">It\u2019s also a bit easier to reach a wide audience<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/dating-vintage\/online-or-retail\/#But_you%E2%80%99re_probably_going_to_have_trouble_with_inventory\" title=\"But you\u2019re probably going to have trouble with inventory\">But you\u2019re probably going to have trouble with inventory<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/dating-vintage\/online-or-retail\/#You%E2%80%99ll_need_some_kind_of_logistics_process\" title=\"You\u2019ll need some kind of logistics process\">You\u2019ll need some kind of logistics process<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/dating-vintage\/online-or-retail\/#You%E2%80%99ll_also_have_to_deal_with_customer_concerns_and_complaints\" title=\"You\u2019ll also have to deal with customer concerns and complaints\">You\u2019ll also have to deal with customer concerns and complaints<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/dating-vintage\/online-or-retail\/#Why_you_should_consider_going_all-in_with_a_retail_store\" title=\"Why you should consider going all-in with a retail store\">Why you should consider going all-in with a retail store<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/dating-vintage\/online-or-retail\/#Picking_a_good_location_will_make_things_easier_in_the_future\" title=\"Picking a good location will make things easier in the future\">Picking a good location will make things easier in the future<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/dating-vintage\/online-or-retail\/#Decorations_and_renovations_will_make_a_big_difference\" title=\"Decorations and renovations will make a big difference\">Decorations and renovations will make a big difference<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/dating-vintage\/online-or-retail\/#You_might_need_to_hire_staff_unless_you_can_work_all-day\" title=\"You might need to hire staff unless you can work all-day\">You might need to hire staff unless you can work all-day<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>Online thrift stores have become increasingly popular over the past couple of years. It\u2019s a great business to start because it can help you sell lots of outdated or unwanted goods, and internet-based services have made it incredibly easy to get started. <a href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/articles\/vintage-themed-websites-overview\/\">Setting up a website<\/a> takes almost no effort or time at all, and you can start selling almost immediately. But what other kinds of benefits can you expect if you start an online store and what sort of concerns should you have in mind?<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"You%E2%80%99ll_probably_save_a_lot_of_money_starting_an_online_thrift_store\"><\/span><a id=\"post-409007869-_utozjwyr66n4\"><\/a>You\u2019ll probably save a lot of money starting an online thrift store<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>One of the best ways to <a href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/thrifting\/save-money-thrift-store-shopping\/\">save money<\/a> when starting a business is to actually set up your store on the internet first. There are fewer investments and costs that you need to focus on and there\u2019s a good chance that you\u2019ll reach a wider audience than you could with a retail store alone. Money is one of the biggest hurdles to overcome when you start a business, so anything you do to reduce the amount you\u2019re spending can certainly go a long way.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"It%E2%80%99s_also_a_bit_easier_to_reach_a_wide_audience\"><\/span><a id=\"post-409007869-_hs6xi0rvxwds\"><\/a>It\u2019s also a bit easier to reach a wide audience<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Another huge benefit of starting an <a href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/articles\/online-thrift-shopping-tips\/\">online thrift store<\/a> is that you\u2019re more likely to reach a wide audience with all of the online marketing options at your disposal. Whether you use social media, influencers, online banners, or even video advertising, there are plenty of ways to reach your intended audience thanks to all of the different platforms on offer. The ease of acquiring new leads and customs on the internet helps to ensure that your business gets a steady flow of attention. While not all of these leads will be qualified, it\u2019ll definitely help with your exposure and start growing your brand.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"But_you%E2%80%99re_probably_going_to_have_trouble_with_inventory\"><\/span><a id=\"post-409007869-_hnruz9k3flts\"><\/a>But you\u2019re probably going to have trouble with inventory<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>A thrift store lives and dies by its stock, so you need to get creative when it comes to filling up your inventory. The major challenge here is building up enough stock so that you have plenty of items to sell. This is usually a bit easier if you have a store because people can drop off unwanted items that you can add to your store, or they might even approach you with large bags of items for cheap.<\/p>\n<p>Some of the most common options with an online thrift store include searching through your own belongings, going to garage sales, or even going to other thrift stores. You can even <a href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/vintage-online-2\/vintage-antique-facebook-groups\/\">buy and sell<\/a> cheap fashion, furniture, and other items that you find on marketplaces such as eBay. As long as you have a list of options for procuring stock, you can ease some of these concerns.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"You%E2%80%99ll_need_some_kind_of_logistics_process\"><\/span><a id=\"post-409007869-_mx0po8m054bw\"><\/a>You\u2019ll need some kind of logistics process<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Don\u2019t forget that as an online store, you need to actually mail items to customers. This sounds easy at first, but sending them as regular packages like you would for a friend or family member isn\u2019t going to work long-term. Sooner or later, you\u2019ll need to strike some kind of postage deal to ensure that you\u2019re not overpaying when sending goods. You\u2019ll also need to have consistent packaging so that buyers become repeat customers.<\/p>\n<p>Packaging your goods properly will lead to a better customer experience. It\u2019s a vital part of <a href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/vintage-style\/careers-involving-vintage-clothing\/\">running an online business<\/a> and you\u2019ll need to figure out how to best manage your logistics process as an online thrift store.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"You%E2%80%99ll_also_have_to_deal_with_customer_concerns_and_complaints\"><\/span><a id=\"post-409007869-_3acpiph7hcqi\"><\/a>You\u2019ll also have to deal with customer concerns and complaints<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Lastly, don&#8217;t forget that you also have to deal with customer concerns and complaints. If an item isn\u2019t as you\u2019ve described, if they\u2019re not happy with it, or even if it\u2019s damaged in shipping, you need to respond to your customers and you typically need to give them some kind of favorable outcome. Much of the time, this means a refund or giving them a replacement product.<\/p>\n<p>But whatever the case is, you need to have some kind of policy or process in place to ensure that your customers can reach out to you if they\u2019re unhappy. If you don\u2019t deal with customer concerns, then it\u2019s going to negatively affect your reputation and may even destroy your business if you\u2019re not careful.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" class=\"wp-image-409007871\" src=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/word-image-409007869-2.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/word-image-409007869-2.png 1170w, https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/word-image-409007869-2-500x333.png 500w, https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/word-image-409007869-2-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/word-image-409007869-2-600x400.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_you_should_consider_going_all-in_with_a_retail_store\"><\/span><a id=\"post-409007869-_j2plhn57i5wu\"><\/a>Why you should consider going all-in with a retail store<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>So now that we\u2019ve covered some of the ups and downs of running an <a href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/articles\/online-thrift-shopping-tips\/\">online thrift store<\/a>, what about starting up a retail one? While there are a couple of benefits to doing this, there are also a lot of challenges that you need to face before you can even get your store ready for customers. So without further ado, here are some considerations to keep in mind.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Picking_a_good_location_will_make_things_easier_in_the_future\"><\/span><a id=\"post-409007869-_ktzrvk66i2ad\"><\/a>Picking a good location will make things easier in the future<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>One of the best ways to ensure long-term success for your thrift store is to pick the right location. Unlike regular stores that focus solely on foot traffic, thrift stores tend to thrive when there is both high foot traffic and nearby residential areas. If you can set up your thrift store near lots of apartments and houses, then it means you have a wider audience to not only buy your products but also to donate unwanted goods.<\/p>\n<p>Choosing the right location for a store requires a lot of thinking and planning, so don\u2019t skip this step. Resist the temptation of setting up a thrift store in a typical retail location and think about how and where you can procure inventory from instead. You\u2019ll find that being in close proximity to a large residential area is generally one of the best ways to establish your thrift store brand.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Decorations_and_renovations_will_make_a_big_difference\"><\/span><a id=\"post-409007869-_trx70b62nn60\"><\/a>Decorations and renovations will make a big difference<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Thrift stores can generally be quite relaxed and laid-back because there aren\u2019t many amenities that you need. You don\u2019t even need a stock room in most cases because you don\u2019t have multiples of an item like a regular clothing store. You can simply place all of the clothes on racks on your shop floor, and fill your shelves with a variety of different items.<\/p>\n<p>However, there are a couple of ways to make your thrift store look more appealing. Some people <a href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/vintage-style\/vintage-fashion-outfit-ideas\/\">love a vintage look<\/a> by using things like old furniture, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pipedreamfittings.com\/product-category\/malleable-galvanised-pipe-fittings\/mild-steel-black-self-coloured-and-galvanised-mild-steel-tubing-pipe\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">steel pipe<\/a> across the ceiling or walls, or even brick interiors. Decorations like this can create a lot of charm and is generally one of the best ways to add personality to your store. But if you can\u2019t do much to transform your store to make it look nicer, don\u2019t stress over it.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"You_might_need_to_hire_staff_unless_you_can_work_all-day\"><\/span><a id=\"post-409007869-_9fs9lckokyo3\"><\/a>You might need to hire staff unless you can work all-day<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Hiring staff is normal for stores, but if you\u2019re smart about when you open and how you organize your thrift store, you may be able to run it on your own. For starters, think about when you should open and how long you should open. There\u2019s no point in opening during late hours if there are no customers interested in <a href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/articles\/ultimate-guide\/\">shopping<\/a> or thrifting past a certain time. You should keep track of how many customers you get on certain days and think strategically to avoid opening during dead hours.<\/p>\n<p>But if you do need to hire staff, then you need to decide what duties they have. Since a thrift store can be fairly easy to run, staff that you hire will generally take care of a bit of everything. This makes it cost-effective to hire staff, and there\u2019s very little training required which makes it even cheaper to build a team.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1170\" height=\"780\" class=\"wp-image-409007872\" src=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/word-image-409007869-3.png\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/word-image-409007869-3.png 1170w, https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/word-image-409007869-3-500x333.png 500w, https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/word-image-409007869-3-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/word-image-409007869-3-600x400.png 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1170px) 100vw, 1170px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>So is it worth starting up a retail thrift store or is it more cost-effective and smarter to just do it online? The answer is difficult because both of them are valid options for running a business, especially if you have an interest in <a href=\"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/vintage-style\/80s\/80s-clothing\/\">vintage fashion<\/a> or antiques. In general, if you have a lot of ideas, connections, and money, then you should definitely try to rent a commercial space for your business. If you don\u2019t, then starting an online thrift store is a much more cost-effective option that will have you up and running in less than a day.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Starting up your own retail store these days can be incredibly difficult. Renting a location is perhaps the least of your worries. You\u2019ll need to focus on marketing, you\u2019ll have to appeal to your local customers, and you\u2019ll also need to worry about maintaining and protecting your store. There are loads of different considerations to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1554,"featured_media":409007872,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":""},"categories":[3852,3764],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/409007869"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1554"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=409007869"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/409007869\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":409010851,"href":"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/409007869\/revisions\/409010851"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/409007872"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=409007869"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=409007869"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sammydvintage.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=409007869"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}