Although more than 500,000 new businesses are started every month, most small businesses fold within the first five years. If you’re considering starting a small business for side income, you could make great use of used clothing donations. Teens are very excited about new styles, but older people know that styles come and go: one popular style right now is to wear denim jackets that have been attractively bleached. Teenagers pay up to $100 for a single pair of bleached denim pants in the store, but entrepreneurs are starting to bleach denim jackets and jeans from used clothing stores. Fashion-forward entrepreneurs can make great use of clothing from clothing drop off locations and thrift stores.
If you’re thinking of starting a fashion business selling used clothing online, ask teens and young adults if they prefer any brands in particular. You could find thousands of dollars in gently used clothes at clothing resale locations. If you’re not familiar enough with computers to feel comfortable logging on to clothing resale websites, ask a friend or family member to help you get started. There are a variety of ways to sell — and re-sell — online. You can buy certain brands for under $5 and resell them for as much as $50. Young adults want to wear the latest fashions, but may be struggling with school loans and other expenses: if you can buy a piece of clothing cheaply and resell it for less than it would cost in stores, you should be able to build a following online.
You could be surprised by what you can find at clothing donation stores. The vast majority of the clothing that gets donated is in fine, workable condition. There is always a selection of brand name clothing that people buy, do not wear, and eventually donate. Getting started online is simple, and you should pick a specialty. Are you going to feature leather jackets in great condition? Or are you going to focus on offering gently used prom dresses for a discount? The average prom costs more than $2,000 once you factor in limousine rental and party clothes: there are thousands of teens who would love to find high fashion at low prices.
While used clothing donations are often organized by size and color, you may find that you’re taking a few hours to look through everything. It’s important to be patient if you are thinking about starting an online store that offers used clothing donations. You should always check labels as you flip through the available clothing, because you could miss a winning piece if you’re unfamiliar with its brand. Take your cell phone with you or a fashion magazine and try to recreate the looks that are offered on major websites and in the magazines. You need to try to attract people to your website, so it’s good to look for name brands that people are enthusiastic about buying. Note: teens favorite brands can change frequently, but there are several famous brand names that sell clothing that is always in style.
You should also know that, in addition to bleached denim, teenagers still love colorful denim and sparkly jewelry. Advertising and marketing online is a little bit different than it used to be: nowadays, people pay for advertisements that appear when customers search for words related to your business. If you are offering prom dresses, you could opt in for some inexpensive advertisements that will show when people search for “prom dresses discount” in your local area. You could attract clients from around the world: as long as you can mail the clothing to your clients within one week, you shouldn’t have any problems or customer issues with your used clothing donations recycling business. While the world of retail has changed considerably, people who are ready to put in some time could find that they have stumbled upon a lucrative source of income.
