Thrift Stores
sell pre-owned goods to customers at an affordable price keeping in mind sustainability and waste management.
Thrifting is practice was more common in the west before it came to India during the pandemic. It is a fairly new concept that has taken over the market in the year 2020.
Before that, thrift stores used to be a rare find, mostly engaging in vintage and pre-owned luxury goods but nowadays, things are different.
A multitude of thrift stores are coming up, mostly on social media like Instagram, and the numbers of these pages increase every day. What one has to do is, bid for the product they like in the comments and then wait for the seller to reply.
This trade has become really popular among the Gen-Z youngsters and even millennials and everyone is raving about how affordable shopping has become for them.
Thrift Store Online In India
Want to jump straight to my top picks? My favorite Thrift Store Online In India is All things Pre Loved and At Momos.
How to Start an Online Thrift Store?
1. Decide a niche
The first step of starting a thrift store on one's own would be conducting thorough research of the market and consumers. First of all, one has to look for the original meaning of thrift stores.
Thrifting actually means selling items that have been pre-owned or pre-loved. In short, they are second-hand products.
A lot of accounts try to name their business a thrift store and sell cheap clothes in the name of thrifting which is a foul practice and one should keep away from it.
There are all kinds of thrift stores focusing on different categories of products like shoes, bags, accessories, clothing, luxury items, etc. It gets easier to launch any business when one has decided on the niche as it helps in narrowing down the target market.
This helps in having realistic and attainable goals and evaluating the numbers one can make in that business. The same goes for thrift stores as it is already a narrowed down market in the pool of retail markets and selecting a target population would make it easier to start a business.
Some ideas to select the niche from are:
- Clothing
- Luxury Bags
- Novels
- Antiques
- Vintage Closet
- Luxury shoes, etc.
2. How to source material
Once the niche along with the target market is narrowed down, the real deal of the business begins.
Thrifting is all about sourcing. Whoever is on the top of their game, knows where to source from that can help attract customers the most and grow their business.
Sourcing is the key! And knowing where to source from can be tricky.
The most basic step is clearing out the closet. Yes! There are so many products in everyone’s closet that aren’t worn in so long because they either don’t fit anymore or they’re just not in trend anymore.
These prove to be the best pieces to start from while thrifting. When one has sold out all these products, one can move on to other sources.
Some of the sources suggested are:
Flea Markets: Flea markets are a rage as one can get massive discounts there on products that are trending and unique. This will be a great spot to source products for thrifting. Once the owner of the business becomes a regular customer, one might be able to grab more discounts than usual customers.
Garage Sales: Garage sales are basically hosted by a particular family, who collects all their pre-loved items and sells them at a discounted rate. This can also be a great stop for sourcing items as there are different kinds of stuff under one roof. The quantity might be less but if lucky, one can get some really cool vintage stuff.
Consignment Shops: Consignment shops are the ones that buy pre-loved items from people across the area and then sell them at their stores. Here, it is very easy to find something interesting and with a good resale value as a lot of these products are barely used. Sometimes, they also have their tags intact which can be a real steal.
Clearance Sales: These sales don’t necessarily have pre-owned items but they have items that are last season and were unable to make a sale. Such pieces can be sourced as branded pieces are sold very easily especially if they have their tags intact.
Export Rejects: These are the markets that are very common in metropolitan cities. The purpose of such markets is to sell branded products that got rejected, due to a manufacturing error that doesn’t fit the brand’s standard but can barely be seen otherwise, at a third or fourth of the original price.
3. Selecting a platform to build a business upon
After going through all the physical hustle, it’s time for the digital one. Launching a thrift store can be very exciting yet challenging at the same time.
One must always remember that a business should be seen to sell.
With this motto, one should go ahead in deciding which e-commerce platform or social media site should be chosen to sell the products that have been sourced by now.
The platform should be ideally one that has a lot of target customer engagement and attraction and where it is easy to advertise the business without a lot of marketing hassle.
The most common platform these days is Instagram which is used for thrift shopping. Instagram has a lovely user interface where all the products can be easily shown through pictures and the interaction between customer and seller is also very easy through comments and DM.
This is why it is so widely chosen by the top thrift stores of India and all the booming stores are also using this channel. Other platforms can be WhatsApp, Facebook, and Telegram.
These also have similar options of showcasing the products online easily through pictures with a rate quote making it easier for customers to book the design and piece of their choice through commenting and messaging.
After deciding which platform to use, there are a few key points that should be considered while setting up. The key points are:
- The name of the store defines its personality and thus, having a unique and impactful name that is easy to catch is a must.
- The next step would be hiring a good graphic designer to design a beautiful logo for the business.
- If the business is going to be run just online, then it is very important to set up an aesthetic profile from the first post. If the feed of the page will aesthetically, please the customers, there is a higher chance that they return to that page.
- All the necessary details should be mentioned clearly for the customers to see including, payment policy, exchange, and return policy, etc.
- Add the products in separate batches with proper product descriptions and the pictures should be clicked clearly showing all defects if any. Honesty and trust are the key factors in the business of a thrift store.
4. Build a payment and shipping policy
Once the e-commerce platform is selected to do the business, this step becomes relatively easier as one only needs a few more steps to set up the payment and shipping process.
The best part about doing an online business is that the interaction with the
customer becomes easier and thus it would be a good option to set up a live chat feature.
This won’t be required on a social media platform as they already have that built-in.
The crux of the point is that interacting with customers and being available for them at all times is extremely necessary for this business as the customers will have a lot of queries that need to be answered in time before they lose interest.
After dealing with the customer through chats and giving them every detail about the product and clearing their queries, it’s time to ask them to make payment. This can be done by sharing with them the bank details.
After this, the only thing left to do is ask them for their address, and ship the product at the earliest so that they receive the product in time and can get us good reviews.
5. Market the brand
After discussing all the important steps of setting up a thrift store, one must remember that like any other business, this one would also require marketing and advertising.
For that, there are some simple ways to do it and some technical ways.
The first way to do so can be by asking the customers about their experience and leaving a review on the website or the social media page.
This will help other customers to trust the brand easily. Another way is through word-of-mouth. When people are satisfied with any product, they mostly recommend it to friends and family.
This can only be achieved if the business is done authentically and giving post-purchase services to the customers by following up on whether the products have been received or not and whether they have arrived in good condition.
Other than these classical ways of branding, there are modern ways too:
Content Marketing: The main objective is to make the brand name reach as many people as possible and thus having a strong strategy for marketing is necessary.
To do this, one should always be active on all social media accounts to interact with the potential customers and even when there is no new collection coming, one can always use the platform to raise awareness about sustainability and thrifting.
This will also help consumer interaction with the business.Run Paid Ads: Digital ads on social media with the help of social media management and other tools, it has become easy and effective to run ads on the digital platform.
The algorithm of such digital platforms is set in a way that people interested in thrifting would see the ads and thus, it gets very easy to target customers through that.
Leading thrifting stores in India
1. Threadripper
Threadripper is trying to promote the idea of upcycling and recycling in order to be sustainable and reduce the carbon footprint by reusing old clothes and sewing them into something new and completely unique.
The owner of the business is highly driven toward fashion and sustainability and is trying to use the platform to show her design skills and raise awareness.
Details:
2. Believe It Thrift It
Believe It Thrift It is a business run by Ayush and Muskan who handpicks every single item themselves.
They are trying to promote a culture of slow and ethical fashion. They have a wide range of vintage items in their collection, mostly clothes.
They are shipping all over India.
Details:
3. Aimee Loved
Aimee Loved is a thrift store selling pre-owned ensembles on Instagram and is associated with upcycled fashion.
It has an aesthetically pleasing IG handle and has been featured in Vogue Magazine.
Not just that, but the products of the store have been worn by celebrities like Sonam Kapoor and been featured in top magazines like Grazia.
Details:
4. All things Pre Loved
This is a thrift store based in India founded by Pritika Rao. The store specifically deals in clothing and accessories and has over 250 posts on the page.
They ship all over India and sell branded clothes at the best prices. They have been featured in Grazia as well.
Details:
5. At Momos
This is a great store if one is looking for trendy fashion finds that are available at the best prices.
At Momos is a perfect destination for youngsters that like K-Pop culture and are obsessed with cool winter wear.
They ship all over India and ensure complete sanitization before shipping the products.
Details:
6. Woo
Thrift Woo is founded by Sonali Sharma and specifically deals in swimwear, lingerie, bodysuits, etc.
The purpose is to sell stuff at a cheaper rate and also to reduce the carbon footprint on the environment. They have dispatched over 6.5k plus orders till now.
Details:
7. Lulu Thrifts
Lulu thrifts is another successful and top thrift store in India. They are running the business from the North East and sell branded items at a lower cost making trendy fashion both sustainable and affordable.
They have a wide collection of cute and chic items including clothes and shoes etc.
Details:
8. Vintage Laundry
Vintage Laundry is a thrift store that sells gender-fluid clothes for the broke kids as they say it, meaning selling at an affordable price.
They have been featured on Grazia, the Hindu, etc, and have created a brand by selling vibrant hues and artistic patterns.
Details:
9. Thrift It Bro
Thrift it bro is a thrift store mainly dealing in pre-owned books and novels. Clothes and accessories can’t be the only thing that can be thrifted.
A lot of waste is created through unused books that are thrown away in the garbage.
Thrift It Bro prevents that and provides a platform to purchase second-hand books and other products like tote bags etc.
Details:
10. Thrift Banana
Thrift banana is a thrift store founded by fashion students. They wanted to take a conscious step in helping the environment through sustainable choices and this business was one of these steps.
They provide handpicked, pre-loved, and upcycled clothing.
Details:
11. Rerunn
Rerunn
sells extremely cute and aesthetic clothing like dresses, skirts, and blouses. They believe in less is more and thus sell minimalist clothing items.
They deliver across all of India and have a strong customer base.
Details:
12. Mirinwon
Mirinwon is started by Ngahon Tungshangnao, from Manipur. This store is indulged in selling chic and casual clothing.
They sell pre-loved items that are ethically sourced and will surely catch the eye. They have a strong following on Instagram as well.
Details:
13. Thrift & Thrive
Thrift and Thrive is a thrift business selling pre-owned branded and designer bags like The North Face, Louis Vuitton, Coach, etc.
They have been shipping all over India for quite a long time now and have a strong following on Instagram.
They are known for showing the exact picture of the product in its current condition making them a reliable brand.
Details:
14. The Vintage
The Vintage is another successful thrift store. This business is popular for selling vintage and antique stuff that looks stylish and chic.
The fashion sense of the owner must be good as every piece is highly liked by everyone and can top the charts.
They have some really cute and chic summer dresses in the current collection.
Details:
15. Bombay Closet Cleanse
This is a consignment store run by a woman named Bombay Closet Cleanse which basically sells, buys, and exchanges pre-owned items like clothes, shoes, etc.
They are located in Mumbai and their collection shifts from luxury to local.
Details:
16. Badass Babes Club
Badass Babes Club has found a place in the fashion market, thrifting and selling amazing (and badass) corsets and bralettes made of various materials such as denim, lace, etc.
They also sell bustier tops, crop, and wrap tops. They were established in 2020 and are shipping pan India.
Details:
17. Kiki Kloset
This store is popular for selling upcycled jewelry, crop tops accessories like sunglasses, etc.
They make super-chic and youth-trending jewelry that is inspired by the gen z influencers’ style. Their products are quirky and sustainable.
They also have a website of their own that promotes slow fashion.
Details:
18. Collections Re-loved
Collection reloved is a thrift store run on Instagram. It is an online boutique store for preloved and pre-owned fashion products.
They mainly sell pre-loved clothes at an affordable rate making it a perfect stop to shop for some casual looks.
Details:
19. Discovery
This store is a one of its kind in the market. It does not just sell pre-loved clothing but it particularly goes back to the items worn in the 1970s and 80s, from the era of disco days.
They sell authentically sourced sustainable vintage items that are super cool.
Details:
20. Poshmark Thrift Store
Poshmark is a thrift store based out of Nagaland. Northeast is a popular hub for a lot of good thrift stores and so is this one.
They have a wide collection of dresses and gowns for women and all are available at a pretty affordable rate making it easier to look good for youngsters.
Details:
Profitable thrift stores ideas
1. Designer clothes: The easiest way to make a profit out of a thrift store is by selling designer labels at a cheaper price as anybody would love to get their hands on something they can’t afford otherwise. It is a steal deal for the middle class and even the rich.
2. Vintage stuff: Vintage items are a rare find and thus it will be a highly profitable business to indulge in trading vintage stuff. All one has to do to get there is find a good place to source the vintage stuff.
It can be either from a grandmother’s closet or a rare store that sells such stuff.
3. Home décor: Home Décor is very popular these days and everybody is trying to decorate their homes in the best possible way and yet affordable. There are some cities like Gurgaon that have flea markets that sell home décor items at a cheaper rate but not all cities have it.
Therefore an online business in the same can help in making a good profit.
4. Statement items: one of a kind: Some people have a knack for collecting things that aren’t seen everywhere and are unique. These are sold at an expensive price as they are so limited in supply. This can be a successful business idea as well.
For instance, limited edition shoes of a good brand like Yeezy, or a vintage vinyl record. These things sell really well.
Current challenges for thrifting stores
Thrifting has become such a rage that now, every day there’s a new store popping up with the same business idea making it very difficult to stand out. Here are the challenges listed that one might face while setting up a thrift store:
1. Managing orders
It can get very tricky to manage the orders in a thrift business as a bunch of people try to get their hands on the same product which makes it very difficult to keep a track of who booked the item first, who has paid, and for which product.
Thus, it is ultimately necessary to have a proper system both for the customer and for the owner regarding how the products will be sold and what are the store policies. Once booked from the customer’s end, the owner then has to confirm the order and wait for the payment and delivery details.
2. Collecting payments
After confirming the orders, the store owner is supposed to ask the customer for the payment by providing the bank a/c details or UPI ids.
The purpose of this is to collect money from the customer in a way that is most accessible and convenient for them but it causes a lot of issues on the owner’s end as at the end of the day, one might lose track of the money and eventually, some money itself.
The most important point to keep in mind is asking the customer for a screenshot of the payment. Since the whole business is online, that is the only proof that can be asked for. This will prevent miscalculations.
3. Managing packaging and shipping
Packaging and shipping thrifted items add a whole other degree of difficulty. You must provide an experience, which includes properly wrapping orders and including tiny details such as thank you letters.
It can be time-consuming to do this at scale and then walk to the nearest post office or have a delivery partner come pick up orders once they're ready.
That's why so many thrift businesses are frequently contacted by angry customers inquiring about purchase progress, refunds, and cancellations.
4. Communicating with Customers
Thrift retailers must directly contact customers with details such as tracking numbers once an order has been placed. Following that, there is a breakdown in communication between the store and the customer, resulting in a poor level of brand recall.
Most consumers have post-buy anxiety until they receive their goods, and many forget where they made a purchase merely 30 days later due to a lack of consistent contact.
5. Launching the Drop
When a thrift store gets a new collection, they need to build up anticipation before progressively releasing it by posting items one by one.
Imagine publishing 100 products, each with a description, and receiving a flood of requests to book them as soon as the posts go live. Yes, bigger drops make it more difficult to launch new products, especially as your audience (and catalogue) grows.
Many thrift businesses have closed due to the aforementioned issues, as they were unable to meet customer expectations.
How much does it cost to start an online thrift store?
The most common kind of costs required in setting up an online thrift store would include, Product Costs, Website Designing, Delivery Process, Working Capital for the day-to-day expenses of travelling to source new products in the initial days, and good equipment to take pictures of the products clearly.
Conclusion
Thrifting started as an idea but has now taken over the fashion and retail industry like a storm. People don’t consider wearing old or pre-owned clothes as an uncool practice.
In fact, they celebrate the fact that they are helping in taking care of the environment and have started taking such small steps into making the world a better place.
Thrifting promotes sustainability at a larger scale and includes the younger generation in the process which makes the whole process of explaining the concept of sustainability to the coming generation much easier. Refer to this link to get some guidance on how to Thrift Store Online In India.
Frequently asked questions
Q1. Where can I shop online in thrift shops in India?
There are a lot of online thrift stores online in India where one can buy.
A small list of these stores are:
- Threadripper
- Believe It Thrift It
- Aimee Loved
- Candour.Oak
- At Momos
- Woo
- Lulu Thrifts
- Vintage Laundry
- Thrift It Bro
- Thrift Banana
- Rerunn
- MIRINWON
- Thrift & Thrive
- The Vintage
- Bombay Closet Cleanse
- Badass Babes Club
- Kiki Kloset
- Collections Reloved
- Disco>ery
- Poshmark Thrift Store
Q2. How can I buy thrift clothes in India?
It is very accessible to buy from thrift stores in India post-Pandemic. There are multiple stores both online and offline that are dealing in the thrifting business. One can look up #thriftstoreindia on social media sites like Instagram to look for these options.
Q3. What is the most popular online thrift store?
There are a lot of thrift stores ruling the charts at the moment. Some labels are also worn by celebrities and stars from the Bollywood and fashion industry. Naming a few are, Bodements, Mirinwon, Bombay Closet Cleanse, All things pre-loved, Aimee, Paradime Thrifts, etc.
Q4. How can I buy thrift clothes online?
Thrifting clothes online are not as difficult as it seems. All one has to do is go to Instagram or the website of the above-mentioned thrift stores, comment under the desired product and wait for the seller to reply with payment and shipping details. It’s that simple!
Here are my best picks:
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