Used clothing continues to enjoy unrivalled popularity in most countries, in almost every marketplace. Many predict that second-hand clothing will double by 2026. There are many ways to sell, service or trade used clothing and succeed. Ways to build and grow a successful business.
- Used clothes can be sold with a rack on wheels, a bike, street or mobile cart, a kiosk or stand alongside the road, or a small truck.
- It can be done at or near a market, or in a good area where there is lots of foot and vehicle traffic. Or, you can sell used clothing door-to-door in residential areas.
- Even though used clothes are very popular, when you are trying you must reach lots of possible consumers in order to sell enough clothes or accessories to make some real income. Lots of foot traffic, lots of vehicle traffic, and very often specific times, eg. morning and evening commuting hours.
- Watch foot and vehicle traffic to learn how much goes through the area. Add up the number of people walking and driving by. What happens in the area at breakfast time? Lunch time? Dinner time? In the evening?
- As you grow, you can hire others to work for you, upgrade your equipment, maybe open a store or sell online from a website.
Deciding What Types of Clothes to Sell
- It helps to succeed if you are interested in and enjoy clothes and fashions.
- What do people really need? What do they want in the way of style or fashion.
- Speak to typical prospective customers and ask what they would like to buy, to wear. This can really help in deciding for instance whether to target women, men or both and what type of styles right in your area. Maybe target teenagers. Keep thinking about the styles.
In addition to used clothing, sell new clothes too...
- Are you a tailor or a seamstress? Are you experienced and already making and selling clothes? Were you successful? Did you price it correctly so you made a profit?
- You can team up with someone else who is already experienced selling used clothes. Maybe you can modify or tailor used clothes and your colleague does the selling. If you team up, work out a fair agreement in writing and both sign it. Do it before starting, not after something goes wrong.
Important to remember...
- Good quality clothing is beneficial to the buyer and seller. Good quality lasts longer, doesn't quickly fade or shrink. Good quality means you can sell as a higher price.
- Customers often pay a higher price for used clothing than for comparable new items.
- To many buyers, affordability is key. You might make less profit per item, but you can sell many more items.
- In rural areas affordability is even more important.
- Fashions. To many buyers, current fashion trends are what they are looking for. You can keep up with global and regional fashions, by looking online.
Getting Started in Used Clothing...
- Starting costs as a local vendor of used clothing is very low. Good opportunities even with very little money to start.
- Despite starting with limited cash, many who do well and stand out are able to expand operations.
- Beneficial to many as vendors often create employment opportunities.
Best Places for Selling Can Change...
- Overtime demands for buying used clothes can change.
- Keep talking to your customers, other people, is the traffic changing? Are new markets or shops opening in the area?
- Keep watching foot and vehicle traffic to learn how much goes through the area. Keep adding up the number of people walking and driving by. Is traffic changing at breakfast time? Lunch time? Dinner time? In the evening? Will there be more demand, or less?
Make Sure It's Legal...
In every country, often in every county or province, even sometimes in every city or large town, there are local laws, regulations and rules. To avoid problems, it is useful to understand and take into account what impacts your business. Think about:
- Access, sidewalks, open areas, legal rights.
- Dates and times you can operate.
- Rules on location, eg, distance from a door, in front of a store window, a street corner, etc.
- Limit of vendors allowed to sell in your location.
- Charges or fees to be paid. To whom?
- In most countries, both formal and informal businesses operate successfully and with little objections. BUT, be sure to understand your impact in your city or town...
Good Business Practices to Help You Succeed at
Whatever You Do...
- There are always formal and informal business practices.
- Work to your strengths and improve your weaknesses.
- Is there a market for your goods or services?
- Know your competitors.
- Opportunities are based on knowing as much as possible about your customers, your costs, regulations, the market in which you offer or sell. That's how you know if your opportunity is realistic.
- Know your break-even point. Understand the costs of raw materials, overheads and production time.
- Everything you sell or offer should be good quality.
- Plan your project. Make choices based on good information.
- Be professional. You really are the main asset and source of your business. One reason why skills are so important.
- Gain knowledge so you can make informed decisions.
- Do what you say and say what you do.
- Do your very best to Stand Out.
Plan Out Your Overhead Costs...
- Be sure to understand the costs of raw materials.
- Work out all operational costs: rents; communications; utilities; etc.
- Keep clear records. Bookkeeping, a filing system of the day-to-day business transactions. You must record and understand transactions in order to price your goods or services. Once you get started there are useful smartphone apps to handle bookkeeping and safely retain records.
Price Your Goods Or Services So That You Will Profit...
- If you are selling used clothes or another item or product, a 50% - 100% profit margin is typical.
- Know your break-even point. Understand the costs of raw materials, overheads and production time.
Begin To Create and Build Your Brand...
- Use Facebook to set up a business page to keep your customers up-to-date about what you will be offering or selling. Maybe photos of clothes you sell.
- Set up a basic website. You do need a domain.
- Join AfricanPriorities.com to upload and display details, a brochure, audios, videos, and more. Its all FREE.
Other Ideas and Thoughts...
- Hygiene is your first concern, especially during and after Covid-19
- Be creative. Innovate and improvise.
- Be honest. Trustworthy
- Enjoy talking to people. Be a good listener. Smile. People will remember you. Help or introduce you to others.