Is Thrift Flipping Sustainable? Your Thrift Flipping Cheat Sheet! - The Eco Hub (2024)

FAQs

Is thrift flipping sustainable? ›

Reselling thrift store clothes and other items (AKA thrift flip) promotes a more ethical wardrobe, can be the source of a side income, benefits the environment, and helps reduce carbon emissions and textile waste alike.

It can be very lucrative, especially if you're good at finding high-valued items at bargain prices. A lot of sellers use local thrift store flipping to supplement their main income.

Thrift store flipping can be a great way to make some extra money while giving a new life to used items that might have otherwise gone to the landfill. You can resell your thrift store items at garage sales, online, or through apps!

Critics argue that if thrift flippers are trawling the op shops for bargains, they're cutting off access to cheap clothes that many people rely on, especially those on low incomes. It can also inadvertently add to the overconsumption of clothes. We take you through the pros and cons of thrift flipping.

The biggest benefit to reselling that I have noticed is that it allows a wider range of people to shop secondhand fashion. While the prices may be higher than they would have been directly in a thrift store, not everyone has the ability to shop in person for second hand fashion.

Some argue that thrifting has essentially become gentrified because of its trendiness. Wealthier people have begun to frequent thrift stores, shopping for the same items as low-income people who were the original customers of the secondhand shops.

If you're planning to visit only one store, $30 ought to be enough if you're only going to buy a few things, and those few things cost less than $10 on average.

Yes, a thrift store is a good investment. They typically have low overhead costs, meaning they can be profitable with relatively small sales volumes. Additionally, thrift shops can be a great way to recycle unwanted items and help keep them out of landfills.

Since most of what you find at thrift stores isn't new, it follows that you should never be paying more than 20% of what the original retail price of the item was when new. Aim for more than that — I'm not exaggerating when I say you can get as much as 95% – 99% off original retail prices.

What rare items to look for at thrift stores? ›

Retro stereos, walkmans, DVD and VHS players, video game consoles, cameras, and other old-school electronic accessories are always fun to find at thrift stores like Goodwill. Many people like to collect these gadgets to remind them of years past, whether the devices are in working condition or not.

What Items Sell Best on Consignment? Clothing is one of the top-selling items in an online consignment shop and includes women's, children's, and men's clothes. Jewelry and designer goods (including designer clothing) are also popular items.

“These days secondhand shopping is becoming the norm and, in many cases, preferred to buying brand new because of the wide variety of clothing available and the affordability compared to buying from a traditional retail store,” she said. Thrifting started to become a fashion trend during the pandemic thanks to TikTok.

It's "the gentrification of thrift stores," Vox wrote. But experts say it's not the resellers that should be blamed for price hikes, though their "hauls" may be the reason that secondhand shops are raising prices. "We should look at the corporate facilities, even as they're classed as nonprofit organizations.

Since Thrifting is all of a sudden in, and has become a trend even for wealthy consumers, this means that the prices at second-hand stores will keep rising, reducing the narrowed options of low-income communities. That is why it's up to consumers to take a stand, and start to become conscious even to this extent.

Thrift Tip: While most people wash the items they donate, most thrift stores don't have the capacity to clean the goods they sell. That's why we recommend washing your items before donation and after purchase.

If the tag on the garment says "wash separately before wearing," you can usually expect some dye transfer and color bleeding. Hand-washing will help remove some of the excess dye, but make sure to check the rinse water. If color remains in the water, continue to wash the item separately or with similar colors.

The action of thrifting itself is not wrong; however, reselling thrifted items for higher prices and taking resources away from those who need them is unethical.

While there's no “perfect” day to shop second hand stores, many regulars swear by shopping early on Monday and Tuesday. Homeowners tend to drop off garage sale leftovers on Sunday nights, making for new finds. Plus, the weekends are more crowded shopping days, so employees look to restock early in the week.

Shop In The Spring And Summer Months

This makes it a great time to go thrifting. Many neighborhood garage sales take all of the leftovers to the local thrift store, making the stores fully stocked with some great finds!

Why is thrifting so popular with Gen Z? ›

The top three reasons Gen Z are buying used clothing is to save money, to be more sustainable, and to have more fun shopping, the report said. The market for secondhand goods in the United States is expected to more than double to 82 billion dollars by 2026, from 35 billion dollars in 2021, according to the report.

For your best shot at spotting diamonds in the rough, Goodwill recommends shopping early in the day on Mondays and Tuesdays. Thrift stores are great places to find high-quality items at affordable prices—it's just a matter of who gets to them first.

Clothing in thrift shops is usually from generations past, things that have withstood the test of time. Sustainable clothes tend to cost a bit more, thanks to the fair wages and sustainably-produced fabrics and textiles, and you can find them potentially much cheaper than new in a thrift store.

Clothing. Clothing is an item that sells best in thrift stores. Accounting for 31.8 percent of industry revenue, clothing is the largest revenue generator in the Thrift Stores industry, according to IBISWorld. Instead of paying higher retail prices, many people are switching to thrift stores for their clothing needs.

Some of the disadvantages of thrifting include the long time it takes to sort through the many, often unorganized, clothing items. Often the clothes have no warranty and no return policy, says the Odyssey.

Approximately 16-18% of Americans shop at thrift stores and 12-15% shop at consignment or resale shops annually. The EU fashion resale second-hand market is projected to double in the next five years and will be twice as big as the fast fashion market by 2030.

“I'd say that the golden age of thrifting is over,” Megan Miller, 65, said in an interview. “The ability to find high-quality, well-made things is definitely on the wane.”

If in doubt about a piece, stick with hand-washing or put it on the gentlest cycle with cold or warm water instead of hot. To disinfect thrift store clothes entirely, you can also add some vinegar to your washing process with a natural and safe laundry detergent. After taking your washed clothes out, avoid the dryer.

How do you get good finds at a thrift store? ›

Focus on one area of the store at a time. For example, you may decide to look for valuable kitchen items such as vintage enamelware or antique glassware. Other areas to look for valuables include the clothing and accessory aisles, the jewelry section and the furniture section.

It is possible to make meaningful money selling thrift store items. Hundreds of stores are reselling all kinds of items. In addition to flipping thrift stores as a side hustle, many people consider it a fun one. Flipping thrift stores is a great way to earn money for your finances, pay off debt, and fund hobbies.

In terms of time investment and profitability, consignment is likely the best option for anyone with a large quantity of items to sell. This is particularly the case for collections that include bulky items like furniture, valuables like designer jewelry, or antiques.

The One-Third Rule of Consignment Pricing

To establish a base price, we start with 1/3 of the item's original retail price, then add or subtract 10% for details that affect the item's desirability (wear, color, styling, etc.). You may need to adjust your base price ratio depending on the type of goods you sell.

Depending on the consignment shop and the item being sold, the seller may concede 25% to 60% of the sales price in consignment fees. Consignment arrangements typically are in effect for a set period of time. After this time, if a sale is not made, the goods are returned to their owner.

Thrifter (noun) TA – Thrifter's Anonymous (Seriously, it's an addiction.) And, Sammy, I love “thrift release.” The thrift store is my sanctuary.

Reselling thrift store clothes and other items (AKA thrift flip) promotes a more ethical wardrobe, can be the source of a side income, benefits the environment, and helps reduce carbon emissions and textile waste alike.

Thrifting has now become a preferred way of shopping for clothing. The resale market is expected to be worth around $350 billion by 2027, according to a report done by thredUP.

Without the pressure of an errand to run, you can decompress and simply walk the aisles without any desires, needs or goals. There's a spontaneity to thrifting that fuels the fire of addiction — with such packed, scheduled lives it's refreshing to simply “be” in a thrift store.

Why are Goodwill prices high? ›

“Goodwill's rising prices can be attributed to several factors,” said Casey Jones, founder and head of marketing and finance at CJ&CO. “Firstly, the cost of operations — including rent, utilities and wages — has increased over time. Secondly, the quality and brand of donated items can also influence pricing.

Many factors have contributed to the rise in popularity of thrift stores recently. The growth of ethical and sustainable fashion is one of the causes. Many people are looking for alternatives to fast fashion as they become more aware of how the fashion industry affects the environment and human rights.

Go a few times a week until you find exactly what you need. If you are thrifting for your own wardrobe just because you are wanting to incorporate more second hand items into your life, you probably can get away with going just once a week.

Saving money

Whether you're shopping for clothes, furniture, musical instruments, or most anything, you'll be able to find quality items at lower prices than if you bought them brand new. You can also find name brand clothing, shoes, purses, and more for a fraction of the cost.

Reduces Waste

An average American throws out 60-80 pounds of used clothing in a lifetime. Choosing to go thrift shopping reduces waste significantly, since fewer clothes will need to be produced. Less clothing means fewer textiles and fabrics will end up in enormous piles in a landfill.

Some of the disadvantages of thrifting include the long time it takes to sort through the many, often unorganized, clothing items. Often the clothes have no warranty and no return policy, says the Odyssey.

Thrift shopping is good for the environment because it keeps clothes out of landfills, reduces carbon and chemical pollution caused by clothing production, and lowers water consumption. Most thrift shops also support local charities, which some could be for environmental causes.

Yes, a thrift store is a good investment. They typically have low overhead costs, meaning they can be profitable with relatively small sales volumes. Additionally, thrift shops can be a great way to recycle unwanted items and help keep them out of landfills.

To answer the question: yes, thrift shopping is sanitary. I know there's the icky factor of wearing someone else's clothing but think of it this way: When you go thrift shopping, you always wash the clothing before wearing them {here are my tips for cleaning thrift store clothes}.

Eco Thrift is a thrift store chain based in California that was founded in 1982 by Greg Ellison. The company is the largest-volume for-profit thrift store in the state of California.

Are second-hand clothes better for the environment? ›

Second-hand clothes have a big positive social and environmental impact. They reduce carbon emissions, save lots of resources, water, and energy. They also prevent old clothing from ending up in landfills or incinerators.

The popularity of thrifting has created an inflation in the prices these thrift companies can get away with. The modern generation is also quick to blame TikTok and reselling apps for the rise of thrift prices. And, while not the main contributor, these apps have proved to be a threat to thrift stores.

Depop, one of the most popular secondhand shopping platforms, also found savings to be a driving factor. According to a survey by the company, 53% of shoppers said they thrifted to save money in 2022. The platform also found that shoppers can save an average of 25% per thrifted item compared to what it would cost new.

Since most of what you find at thrift stores isn't new, it follows that you should never be paying more than 20% of what the original retail price of the item was when new. Aim for more than that — I'm not exaggerating when I say you can get as much as 95% – 99% off original retail prices.

Thrifting can be compared to hunting, which is why they enjoy the thrill of seeking their best find. Consequently, when they find some valuable items regularly, they get tempted to go back more frequently. They start to have the urge, thinking that they'll get more chances of scoring the best thrift treasure.

Positive Environmental Impact – Going Green

Each year, billions of pounds of clothing and household items end up in landfills, exacerbating environmental pollution. When you shop at a second-hand store, you're minimizing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and granting items a new lease on life.

The easiest and most effective way to stop shopping is to remove the temptation to shop. Whenever I got a store email letting me know about new products or a sale, I couldn't help but click through to browse. But browsing leads to seeing things that I want, which leads me to spending money on things that I don't need.

Thrift stores are not the most profitable businesses. Many are lucky to make $100 to $200 a day – just enough to keep the lights on. If you are trying to start a business with serious profit potential, a thrift store is not it. Most of these businesses are labors of love and/or charity organizations.