A Primer On Sourcing The Best Vintage Items For Your Online Reselling Business

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If you often wonder about all the stories that vintage pieces hold, fret about all the ones that lay abandoned, and dream about giving them a new lease on life, then reselling vintage items online might be the perfect side hustle for you!

Not only do you get to feel the thrill of sourcing unique items, you also get to curate a collection of timeless pieces and find the perfect home for them. And, hey, it’s also good for sustainability. 🤷

Keep reading to learn how to source the best vintage items and build your reselling business.

What is reselling? Is reselling vintage items profitable?

Reselling refers to buying goods and further selling them to others (for a profit) rather than using the products themselves. Think of it as being a buyer and a seller all rolled into one! So, if you buy vintage items from somewhere and resell them to others online, you’re a vintage reseller.

This brings us to our next question: is reselling vintage items profitable? It certainly can be, as long as you know how to spot a good vintage piece that collectors will want to buy. But be aware that it can take a while for your e-commerce reselling business to pick up steam.

But be aware that it can take a while for your e-commerce reselling business to pick up steam.

Best vintage items to resell

If you already know the type of vintage pieces you want to resell, great! You can skip ahead to the next section. But if you’re still looking for ideas, here’s a list of some coveted vintage items:

• Clothes
• Collectibles like toys, jewelry, and memorabilia
• Furniture
• Old board games
• Vinyl players and records, cassettes, and VHS tapes
• Old gadgets
• Books
• Artwork
• Watches
• Lighting fixtures
• Home goods like clocks, mirrors, and glassware

How to find vintage stores near me for reselling

After choosing the type(s) of vintage items you want to sell – yes, you can choose more than one! – it’s time to actually go looking for them. But before we dive into that, here’s something to keep in mind: an item is considered vintage only if it’s older than 20 years but less than 100 years of age. Anything beyond that falls into the antique category. 

With that out of the way, let’s go on a virtual journey of all the best places to buy vintage items for your vintage reselling business.

Flea markets

The very concept of a flea market is to sell pre-loved items, so these open bazaars are great places to find vintage items that can’t be found anywhere else. This means you will be able to set yourself apart from other vintage sellers.

Some markets have hundreds and thousands of sellers, so if you’re willing to spend some time, you may find some real treasures. And the best part is that you can get these items for a steal.

But how do you find these flea markets? Use the keyword “flea markets near me” on Google or search on Facebook Marketplace for info about any second-hand markets near you. You can also peruse your local newspaper to see if there are ads about flea markets.

Another excellent resource is FleaMapKet, an online website that houses an inventory of over 1200+ flea markets from all over the world. The list is updated regularly. Simply head to the website (there’s also an app) and enter your location as well as what items you’re looking for.

Thrift stores

Thrift stores can be a real treasure trove of vintage items, especially vintage clothes, furniture, home goods, and collectibles for low prices. You also get to appraise the materials firsthand, which we always recommend.

So, if you know how to spot items that might appeal to vintage collectors or have a high resale value, you can make a good profit.

To find thrift stores in your locality, search for the keyword “thrift stores near me” on Google or ask on local Facebook groups or Instagram. Also, pay attention when you’re driving to see if you can spot a hidden gem. Alternatively, you can also head to a branch of a well-known vintage thrift store. For instance, Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, and Teen Challenge SuperThrift are all good options.

Pro Tip: Befriend the employees at vintage thrift stores near you to get first dibs on any high value items that someone may drop off.

Specialty vintage stores and boutiques

There are several specialty vintage stores run by fellow collectors and lovers of all things vintage. They often have the connections needed to acquire top-notch vintage stuff. Unlike thrift shops, they do the work of acquiring, curating, and authenticating the goods for you.

The staff will also be more knowledgeable about the times. However, this will be reflected in the price of the items.

There are both general vintage stores and specialty vintage stores that focus on a single type of vintage item. i.e. memorabilia from the 18oos.

To find vintage stores near you, do a simple Google search with the keywords “vintage stores near me” or “vintage stores at [your location].” You can also get on Facebook or Reddit and ask fellow vintage enthusiasts for suggestions.

Estate sales

In an estate sale, all the possessions of an individual are sold to the general public. Since these are items that have been owned by individuals, there’s a good chance that you will find vintage items within the collection.

EstateSales.net is a good website to find estate sales happening near you. You can also check Craigslist and local Facebook groups for listings. Another great way is to sign up for newsletters by estate sale companies that operate near you to get information about upcoming estate sales right in your inbox. Search for “estate sale companies near me” on Google, head to their website, and sign up for their mailing list.

Pro Tip: Once you find an estate sale happening near you, head there super early (at least a few hours early) so that you get first dibs.

Vintage pop-ups

Vintage pop-ups and fairs happen a few times a year and host a curated selection of unique vintage finds. For instance, the NYC Vintage Pop-Up by Grand Bazaar, NYC or Garden at the Flea in San Jose.

You can search on Google or Instagram for vintage pop-up events that typically happen in your city. Most of them happen periodically and are announced well in advance, so save the date and head over to add some fine vintage pieces to your inventory.

Vintage wholesalers

Vintage wholesalers deal with vintage items in bulk, which can come in really handy – especially for vintage resellers who sell clothes and home goods and want to stock up on their inventory.

These wholesalers typically acquire items from auctions, estate sales, thrift stores, exhibitions, or from rag houses that process vintage clothing (in the case of fashion).

The benefit of purchasing from vintage wholesalers is the fact that the items are already sourced and authenticated for you.

A quick Google search for “vintage wholesalers in [your location]” will return several results, but we recommend that you check out their reviews, inquire about the minimum number of items you have to buy, and schedule an in-person pick-up if possible.

Online vintage stores

Just like brick-and-mortar vintage stores, there are also online ones that sell vintage items. Most of them specialize in a single type of vintage product i.e. clothes and shoes, jewelry, furniture, and so on.

These stores can be a great way to shop around for vintage items from other countries. But be aware of the risks involved in buying anything vintage online.

You can Google and find several online vintage stores. But if you want to save on shipping costs and shop from online stores that are based in your area, you can specifically check for “online vintage stores near me.”

Here’s a vintage online store that sells furniture, lighting, and art, among other things:

Friends and family members

Although this is technically not a place that sells vintage items, your friends and family members probably have a few vintage items of their own. So, if any of them are clearing out their wardrobes, it won’t hurt to ask if they have any collectibles they are willing to part with.

Tips for sourcing authentic vintage items

Whether you’re new to the vintage game or have been at it for a while, here are a few things to keep in mind when you source items for your vintage reselling business.

• Do your research and be aware of the going rate for the types of vintage pieces you’re planning to buy.
• Beware of knockoffs. Learn how to spot the miniscule differences between an original piece and a fake one.
• Invest in pieces that are coveted by collectors. These are the ones that usually have a high resale value. To do this, you need to research your target customers and get to know the kind of pieces that are in demand. This might include limited edition vintage pieces, ones that have standout features or are from a particular era.
• Enlist the help of a specialist, especially if you’re not a vintage expert, or you haven’t learned the ropes of spotting a good deal yet.
• Don’t be afraid of asking questions. No matter where you’re buying your vintage goods from, don’t walk away with a piece unless you’ve had all your doubts clarified and you’re feeling sure about it.

Best platforms for reselling vintage items

Once you’ve sourced your vintage items, clicked some pictures, and decided on your prices, it’s time to head over to one (or more) of these e-commerce platforms 👇 and start selling them. We actually recommend multi-channel selling (with the help of cross listing apps such as Crosslist) as it’s proven to increase your sales!

Psst.. click on the links to learn how to get started with reselling your vintage items on each platform.

Psst.. click on the links to learn how to get started with reselling your vintage items on each platform.

1. eBay
2. Depop
3. Facebook Marketplace
4. Etsy
5. Shopify
6. Wix
7. Instagram

Supercharge your vintage reselling business with Crosslist

Crosslist allows you to list your items on more than one e-commerce marketplace with just a few clicks. Not only do you get to save your time and energy but you also get to increase your sales by having more eyes on your vintage goods!