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How to approach starting an online vintage clothing and accessories store?

I already have a store selling handmade goods and original artwork. But want to take thing in a new direction, with things a bit more "me" and a bit more fun. I was wondering the right way to approach this, do I shop on a weekly basis for new items to re-sell? Sifting through thrift stores and finding treasures to sell? Thanks!

Public Comments

1. A lot of folks think vintage clothing is easy to get into - just buy an old dress and voila. However there is a lot more to it than meets the eye. To be a success, you have to be knowledgable about cleaning and mending. Not just the better condition your items are in (holes, tears, completeness) but storage dust or smell doesn't fly if you want the repeat business. You might have to put a few hours of your time into getting an item ready for sale in prep. There is a lot of vintage clothing out there but its not all in great shape or unique - you have to make sure you are offering things that people want to buy in conditions they would feel comfortable wearing or collecting. Another consideration is storage space. This is what sours relationships! Many folks anticipate that they will buy something and sell it the same week. Because good vintage is not in unlimited supply, sometimes you will buy a beautiful coat in April, or a short set in november and people may not be looking for it then. Unless the item has a transcendent appeal and is highly collectible, people are going to tend to buy what is similar to what is currently in style. Somehow when the fashion magazines show miniskirts or circle skirts or eskimo jackets - that is what people have their mind to buy. So you might find something really cool but may want to hold onto it until it becomes in demand again. Most importantly though is thinking about your niche. It is very common for people starting out to "save" every vintage item in sight. Realistically, that makes every dealer the same. Are you going to specialize in a certain era of item or type of item? then stick to it. So - if you decide you have the storage space where it won't take over your home, have the know how to make simple repairs, and can be judicious about what you select - then go for it. What i would also suggest to you though if you are selling art and handmade goods - before i ditch that i would incorporate some vintage into your offerings to get your feet wet. Perhaps choose items that would appeal to the same clientele - do you sell to other people who make handmade things so vintage fabrics might be a good way to expand your offerings? or do your customers like to own unique things? Then i would pass up the simple dresses and only buy things that have that one of a kind, creative look to them. Skip the timeless classic because your customers can get that a lot of places. In otherwords, build upon your current clientele before exchanging them for another. You will be able to more easily make the transition if you decide to do so that way - or you may just find your vintage fashion bug has been satisfied by buying things when you want to buy them, and not offering when you hit a dry streak.