Virtual thrift store: tips for setting up your own and earning extra income!

O virtual thrift store It is the perfect opportunity for those who want to discover a new source of income, with a low investment value.

This is because you can start with even items from your own wardrobe. However, to progress in this area, it is important to follow the right path.

So, in today’s article we’ll look at some tips for setting up a thrift store from scratch with a good chance of success. Keep reading!

Virtual thrift store: invest in savings and sustainability to create a business!

If thrift stores used to be synonymous with old, used clothes at low cost, today this concept has changed, making room for the words economy and sustainability.

True fashion lovers know that true style lies in finding pieces with their own identity and good quality, which is not always possible to obtain when buying clothes from famous brands. fast fashions.

In a good online thrift store, you can find extremely high-quality pieces at incredible prices, and when the store's curation is spot on, you'll barely notice that they've been used by someone.

Therefore, those who truly value fashion, or even those who prioritize dressing without harming the environment and saving money, certainly look for good thrift stores.

So, if you have good pieces lying around in your closet, or even know good places to build up a nice stock, this is an excellent business idea!

6 tips for setting up your virtual thrift store 

If you believe that to set up a virtual thrift store you just need to pick up used items, take photos and post them on social media, you will probably make the same mistake as most businesses in this sector.

This is because those who buy clothes from thrift stores don't want to feel like they got a box of used clothes from their aunt, but rather that they are acquiring good quality pieces, with style and a fair price.

Therefore, this type of business requires some extra care in order to convey the correct image to customers, without compromising the value of its products. Here are 6 tips to achieve this result. 

1. Establish a sales method 

When setting up a business, the first thing we must evaluate is the sales method. 

This is because a good sales strategy has the role of adequately communicating your business model to the customer.

For example, if your idea is just to sell simple clothes at low prices, you need to communicate this to the customer.

This is because, when we talk about virtual thrift stores, we have two main types of audience:

1. Those who believe that thrift store clothes should always be cheap;
2. Those looking for excellent quality pieces from past collections.

With this in mind, we know that for the business model in the previous example, the sales method should be focused on attracting and serving the first audience.

Therefore, understand the purpose of your business, which audience you intend to reach and which strategies you should use to communicate and attract this audience.

2. Use social media to your advantage 

Using social media to set up a virtual thrift store is an excellent idea, especially for those looking to make bigger profits.

This is because using sales platforms like Enjoei or OLX can end up taking all your profit away, thanks to the fees on these sites.

Furthermore, with social media you can also invest in communication strategies to find the ideal audience for your business.

For example, if you are concerned that customers will find your items expensive, a short video showing all the care taken in cleaning, repairing and packaging the items can change that view.

Remember that customer loyalty to a business is directly linked to cost-benefit, so use networks to add value to your business.

3. Curate the pieces well for the virtual thrift store

Although many thrift stores operate this way, selling everything may not be a good idea for market positioning.

We must remember that not all people who search for virtual thrift stores are necessarily concerned about low prices.

Therefore, select your stock and, if possible, pay special attention to the pieces, checking the quality of the fabric, stitching, presence of stains or fading, among other important points.

Remember that, no matter how cheap it is, no one is happy to receive a shirt with a hole under the arm, a deodorant stain and a stored smell.

In this case, if you do a simple seam, wash it carefully and package it properly, it completely changes the customer experience.

This is especially important for an online thrift store, after all, you don't want a comment on your Instagram with a negative report, do you?

Read also: 5 niches that sell the most on the internet to start a business (valorizei.com)

4. Determine a target audience 

We've already talked a little about this, but it's important to focus on this point, as the biggest mistake virtual thrift store owners make is to turn their page into a real antiques catalog.

When it comes to thrift stores, we have some specific audiences, such as:

1. People looking for pieces with an older style (in this case, it is also important to evaluate what you are trying to achieve: retro, 80s, 90s, period costumes, etc.);
2. People looking for modern pieces at low prices (here, selling past collections from Renner, C&A or other stores works very well);
3. People looking for clothes from expensive but old brands (a Victor Hugo bag from 1980 may not have a great market value, but it certainly does for fashion);
4. People looking for old pieces, but with tags because they have never been used.

In addition to these audiences, we have many others, so carefully evaluate what you intend to serve with your business, and invest in this with a focus on correct communication.

5. Value your product

If you have a pair of Riachuelo pants from 2019 in excellent condition, you should bet on the correct value to be able to sell them.

This is because, for many, a piece that was released 5 years ago may be outdated, but for many, it fits the ideal style. 

It is your responsibility to make the customer see these possibilities, so look for the maximum potential of the piece.

With good curation, well-taken photos and through the presentation of possibilities, it is possible to find the right customer for each piece.

For example, you can get rid of that “outdated” look from the piece by taking photos showing combinations with more current pieces that create a cool and timeless style.

In this case, what will really determine success is your creativity in presenting good proposals to your audience.

6. Price your virtual thrift store items correctly

Is an online thrift store a place to buy cheap clothes? Not quite!

Although this is a big controversy on social media, we must remember that each product has its market value.

For example: a Marisa bag is traditionally cheap, but a Louis Vuitton bag is not. So, regardless of whether they are used, they cannot both be sold for the same price.

This is because even acquiring a Louis Vuitton for your business is more difficult and expensive, unlike a Marisa bag.

Therefore, if your thrift store focuses on selling designer pieces, the prices will be different from a store that sells fast fashion clothes from past collections.

There is an audience for both businesses, so to avoid making a loss or even having difficulty selling your products, bet on correct pricing.

By following these tips, it will be easy to establish a good business model for your virtual thrift store, which will allow you to make a profit and become a successful entrepreneur!

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