Post #204003 by mbonga on Wed, Dec 21, 2005 10:05 AM

I have no specific experience in this area, but general wisdom suggests the following:

Talk to people in the business before getting into it yourself. Even cashiers and managers at thrift stores like Goodwill and Salvation Army that carry used clothes (usually nonreturnable) could probably give you good, practical, specific advice.

One idea: Why not custom make clothes in vintage style instead of selling old ones that are likely to fall apart from age? I had my mother do that when I wanted a dashiki just like the ones on the cover of the first Strawberry Alarm Clock album, and it turned out so well that my friend started having his mother do the same thing!

You could also lease window space from an existing business on the sidewalk side, with a sign in the window display saying "Entrance in alley."

It's often wise to diversify and to carry more than one type of item, even if in small quantities, like Borders and Barnes & Noble and Starbucks carry CDs and/or DVDs, despite being primarily in a different business (books, food). Maybe you could also carry vintage paraphernalia like tikis, rain lamps & lava lamps, postcards, used LPs, and so on.

Starting any small business is particularly risky. Most go out of business within 1-2 years. Although I'm sure you will quickly learn the field (vintage clothing) just by starting such a business, not knowing the field is likely to be an additional disadvantage at the start, on top of the existing location handicap. I would do some serious thinking about what type of business you really want, and why, and whether it's worth the high risk of bankruptcy to you. Sorry to be negative, but it's better to worry about that now than later. You still have time to change your course.

[ Edited by: mbonga 2005-12-21 10:09 ]