“How to Start a Thrift Store”
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What keeps most people back is the lack of knowledge or fear to fail and even in some cases fear to secede becoming independent and responsible not only for your business but also for other people’s lives.

You have the thought, and now you need to learn and obtain the knowledge, with the courage to grow, and the strength to break through any roadblocks you may encounter. Most of you have the desire but will be discourage easily, you will find the biggest barrier is not anything that stands in front you but it comes from within, so know this “you are the only thing standing in your way."

Here are my suggestions not in any particular order:
1. Clean your garage or storage area out. No, do not get rid of anything other than trash.
2. Repack all your good items you have accumulated over the years but no longer need or use. Set aside things you may use in your store such as staplers, filing cabinets aka office supplies. The items you are packing plan to sell them.
3. Clean and repair what you can
4. Section out your storage space, cloths, kids toys, etc so you know exactly where to find them. Now stand back, look into your garage, and say DANG I already have a great start just with my own junk.
5. Contact your family, friends, and your coworkers, find out if they have baby cloths, toys and other items they are wanting to get rid of and you could come by and pickup.
6. Set a sign out front or run a free ad stating; donate your unwanted items here. Or Phone or email to arrange a pickup. Other words start accumulating your merchandise for free by donations.
7. If you can afford it and have a place to park a small u-haul truck on the weekends do so with your big sign DONATE unwanted goods here Saturday and Sundays

While you do this, you can setup your garage as a mini thrift store if you choose too, spreading to the driveway and lawn if needed and start selling stuff now (put price tags on everything). Buy a surveillance camera you can hook up to your computer or a TV so you do not have to stay outside the whole time while waiting for customers. Otherwise, just accumulate as much as you can. Different cities, and states, have different laws you must learn these. Go down to your city building where you would by permits and business license and so forth, they have all the information, fees and requirements for your area or visit your local library or law library. Do not buy a permit yet just gather the information you will need, such as the type of insurance you must have.

Other resources are the antique shops in the area, most of these are ran by the owner, ask them out to lunch because you want to pick their brains, and perhaps making a new friend while learning all the ups and downs of owning a business. Drive around town and notice all the shop that are closed, (boarded up) pay close attention to the location, foot traffic, traffic and parking. The locations you are interested in get the number for sale or lease, note square feet. Call this number ask question such as “How much per ft? Is it up to code earthquake retrofit? Be sure to check your local ordinance some places/location will not allow certain types of business in the area or they set limits on how many and even some case days or hours of operation, Etc…

Pay special notice to the stores or business that have sat vacant for 6 months or longer most of them will be willing to do a deal. Have a backup location. Eventually you will need a lawyer a business lawyer. Start interviewing them and be prepared to ask your question. Most will give you 30 minutes of their time; make it count, let them know you are planning to open a business and may be in need of their services.

Learn what they can do for you such as reading your lease agreements before signing them. What are the rates? Etc….. If you are not comfortable with the first one move on interview others rely on your hunch keep your eyes open and how you are treated. Send thank you letters for their time because you may be back. Ask your new lunch buddy are they happy with their lawyer? Keep a little black book in the car with the lawyer’s name, location, and telephone number, do not let them see this, after you are done interviewing them return to your car and give them a rating plus make special note. Such as; I am comfortable with this lawyer, he/she does not talk down to me and very friendly (4 stars) or makes me feel I was wasting their time, rude, condescending (2 stars). Either way send thank you note for the time you have taken. It is a part of their life they will never get back and the first impression may be wrong.

I really do not know I have no experience in this, it is just one of those things “if I were you” hope it gives you a few Ideas.
God Bless you and best of luck.
Billy

Wow, thank you Tara, for some reason while reading your letter I felt proud of you, do not ask why because I do not know. I even feel a little more hope in my heart that I was lacking because things have been bad or I should say, "challenging". Over the past, few years I have watched many business locations close from department stores to warehouses and continual to sit vacate today.

I have also noticed that certain stores flourish in good and bad times. I have heard Latino’s call them “Tienda de segunda mano” or simply “Segunda” second, or second best. Personally I call them thrift or secondhand stores. These stores are an assembly of unwanted goods such as clothing and house items. Similar could be said about the homeless and long-term unemployed “assembly of unwanted” such as my self. I feel I have failed at being a husband; brother and son and most recently, an Internet entrepreneur, if you want to know who I am visit my failed site “midnightadwar.com/Ads/”

As of now even with prayer, I cannot see my way through the challenges that lay ahead, but for some reason I can see it for you. You have great things ahead of you, however not without a few challenges, you are strong, you are committed and you shall prevail. Sometimes I can absorb strength from post like these, again thank you. Take care, Billy

@Wendy K- start with craigslist, look for store fixtures and call them and let them know what you are doing. Also, visit (don't call) a few local clothing stores and ask for hangers, rounders, etc. If that doesn't work, my next step would be to find a carpenter guy willing to help you design some racks. Best of luck- it sounds like a great plan! Valerie, Largo, Florida, Manager of The Buzz Thrift Store

Dear @Suseela O'Mara. First, you do not need a Good Samaritan, unless of course, you want to move in free or have them jump-start your business and yes there are good people out there that are willing to do that. However, what is your business plan or do you have one. Such as how many square feet are you looking for? Either way, make sure you have a good sound business plan readily available just in case there is an offer otherwise search your area for buildings that have been vacate for 6 months or longer and call them to find out what they are asking for the rent/lease or purchase. Just keep looking until you find you can make-work but remember location is very important.

I say six months or longer because that will give a little more negotiating power. If you cannot afford a place and you have a garage you can work from clean it, out and setup your store right at home until you have earned and saved enough funds to do what you want. Just remember do not throw everything out sell it, rearrange your garage to represent the smaller version of what you want your store to look like. Check with your family and friends to find out what they are disposing of go collect it and sell it out of your little store. These are all thing you will be doing when you startup a business anyway while keeping your overhead low, plus you will need to replenish your stock on a regular basis.

The biggest problem you will be facing is learning what sells and what does not, moreover pricing is a factor as well. However, the best part is once your family, friends and neighbors learn what you are doing people will bring you their unwanted items and whatever you sell it for is all profit. Good luck and best wishes, Billy

@Nicole Ortega. I enjoy simple questions:

Do I have to be associated with a charity or be non-profit? Simply put “no” however, there are certain benefits being associated with a charity without being non-profit. What type of license do I need? A business license, in my area it cost $32 yes thirty-two dollars a year at my neighborhood City Hall. Moreover, pending what you plan to sell such as alcohol, firearms, or hazardous chemicals, or sell hotdogs from a hotdog stand you may need a permit as well. Overall, check out your local government in the area you live and they have all the answers. It is not difficult. Here is a link for you good luck and God bless: http://www.azdor.gov/Business.aspx

@Nicole Ortega, If you do not have a garage to sell from try the flea market first or if you can get some popular item’s AKA items that sell and most people want and if possible rent a storage unit and set it up like a shop no cloths unless it is something unique. Take pictures of it and place it on Craigslist, when you get calls setup appointments with your potential buyers. Meet them there, it is safer than meeting at your home, do not enter the locker with them just point out where it is at.

Be safe because there are no cameras in the storage unit, anyhow once they are in there it is a good chance they will see other things they would like to purchase tell them to shop around. Nevertheless, remember do not sell anything that another client has first appointment or that you have a prior obligation that way you do not upset potential loyal customers.

On the other hand, if someone missed there appointment and you have the opportunity to sell, sell it unless you get a courtesy call or you extend a courtesy call to find if they are still coming. Play it by ear it is a learning curve. Good luck http://www.azdor.gov/Business.aspx

Hey, for the one’s looking for discounted items to sell in your thrift stores, check out your local Salvation Army and Goodwill distribution centers. The fact is and in most cases, they receive more donations than they can handle and will sell them to you at a discount. This does not only help them with overstock but also puts immediate cash at their disposal. Also be sure to post your “Donation Accepted Here” signs and soon you will be having such wonderful problems. Billy

Louisiana location- Hello to all...this thrift store blog has gotten shifted somehow. I emailed back in 2011, and it is amazing and exciting to still see that so many people from all over the world want to start a thrift store. It is a wonderful thing to be a part of. just remember your motives should always be in the right perspective. whether non-profit or for-profit.. it is a ministry! I now have over 15 years of thrift store experience and have decided I want to help people like yourself achieve that dream. You must keep believing in your vision! I started a thrift store basically overnight!!!God is good. I want to walk with you on your journey to owning your own thriftstore. Nothing feels as great as putting the key in that door knowing that you are in control of your own destiny and can help people and prosper yourself. email me if you want to become a part of the experience with me: bridgetteandgeorge@yahoo.com - P.S. I will only respond to serious inquiries.

Hello fellow thrift store lovers!
I have owned and managed three successful thrift stores in Central Minnesota since 2005. My wife and I started the stores, one by one, from a vision and a prayer and each continue to grow, in spite of a very competitive market. I think we have discovered some of the more crucial, key elements to creating a profitable thrift store and I am willing to share those insights, as well as serve as ongoing mentor to whoever would like this type of relationship as they start their store. I am an experienced retail veteran, with over 20 years in sales management, one-third of this experience in retail, a third in direct sales, and as I mentioned, eight years in the thrift industry.

There are many, many aspects to running a thrift store, from the accounting and legal sides, to the customer service and product offering side, to employees and payroll setup, to the recycling component, the location and type of building, advertising (online and traditional), acquisition of product, and much more. It's not as simple of a business as some of these books want to make it sound, and that's why most of their reviews are "too basic" . That's for a reason... they avoid the hard questions, sugar-coat the industry, and assume you are going to have perfect luck. however my friends, "the devil is in the details", as they say, and I have learned this the hard way. I made a million mistakes, but, after 8 years, I have also learned how to offer an incredible value to my customers, keep my costs down, and my customers coming back! I can teach you how to do that and a lot more.

What I like about the thrift business is that there are ways to get started with very minimal investment. What keeps me up at night is the amount of misinformation and poor understanding that so many new store owners have about the business. Be weary, this is NOT a fool proof business like some would suggest. As in any business, there are ways to make money and serve people, and also ways to "loose your shirt" - like many of my fellow thrift-store owners have. For most of us, starting a thrift store requires hard work, and a solid plan. It can be a very fulfilling type of work when done right.

If you would like help starting your store and want advice or information to get on a solid path, I would be glad to assist. I work part-time as an independent consultant in the thrift industry, and my rates are very humble. Feel free to write me at jbarker@sytekcom.com and please include your phone number. Our initial consultation is free and there are no long-term commitments.

Jai Barker, Thrift Store Coach/Mentor