Thinking about starting a clothing reselling business from home and looking for honest advice
I’m considering growing my reselling into a small side hustle I can run from home, and I’d love to hear from people who have experience doing this successfully.
I’m a stay-at-home mom of four, so I’m looking for something flexible that I can work on around my family’s schedule. I’ve already sold clothing, baby items, and accessories on Poshmark and vinted, so I’m familiar with researching brands, creating listings, photographing items, and shipping orders. I’m not completely new to reselling, but I haven’t tried sourcing inventory in bulk.
I’m considering a few different approaches:
Sourcing individual pieces from thrift stores and Goodwill outlets. Buying clothing by the pound,
purchasing small wholesale or liquidation lots,
eventually maybe buying a clothing pallet if the numbers make sense.
I’m in Northern Illinois and am thinking about visiting the Goodwill Outlet in Romeoville to see what I can find. I’d probably source once a month or every other month rather than making frequent trips.
I’d really appreciate some honest advice from people who have been doing this for a while!
A few questions I’m trying to figure out:
Is reselling clothing still worth it? Are you making a reasonable profit after fees, shipping supplies, inventory costs, and your time?
Where do you source your inventory? Are thrift stores and bins more profitable than wholesale lots or liquidation pallets?
What brands or categories are actually selling well for you right now? I’m particularly interested in women’s clothing, denim, and contemporary brands.
Is buying pallets worth the risk? Or is it better to handpick inventory until you really understand your numbers?
How much inventory do you realistically need to make this worthwhile as a side business?
What would you do differently if you were starting over today? I’d love to hear about mistakes, sourcing strategies, or things you wish you’d known earlier.
I’m not expecting easy money, and I’d rather start small and learn than tie up a lot of money in inventory that doesn’t sell. I’m hoping to build something sustainable that fits around family life.
Thanks in advance! I’d especially appreciate honest experiences from people who are actively reselling, including what hasn’t worked for you.