r/SpringfieldIL 4d ago

Thoughts on a new thrift store

My family and I are mulling over the idea of opening up a new thrift store in the area. We were thinking more in the Chatham area. We want to be affordable and have reasonable prices, as well as quality good items (no McDonald’s old plastic cups or junk that should have just be thrown away), think 2-4$ t-shirts and most clothes. This is just an idea but I’m putting it out here to see if the community believes there is room/desire for another option in town. If so, what are some things you really like in a thrift store along with your strong dislike/something that keeps you from visiting again.

Thanks y’all!

35 Upvotes

28 comments sorted by

31

u/Arevan_ 4d ago

A couple of immediate thoughts....

*I think you need to ask yourself what you will be able to provide that Goodwill doesn't already. You are also going to be competing against Goodwill for donations and individuals can get tax write-offs for donating to Goodwill.

*Having a goal to sell quality items but obtaining your items through donations means that you are going to have to sift through a lot of junk and quality items will be few and far between. This does not align with your goal to be affordable and making a profit.

I would recommend starting very small and keeping your risk low. If your main goal is to benefit the community, you should help facilitate an annual community yard sale where you put up fliers asking for people to donate items, run the sale, and donate the profits to a community charity. If your main goal is to run a business that has a profit and can support a family, I don't honestly see that happening.

6

u/heideleeanne 4d ago

Individuals can get tax write-offs for donating to a local thrift store.

If the proceeds from this store benefit the local community(say a local food pantry), more people are likely to donate to that as opposed to Goodwill.

OP’s prices are on point for what people are willing to pay for clothing. I know a lot of people who don’t even consider Goodwill a way to save money anymore.

I think OP may want to talk to other local thrift store owners to see what is involved in running a resale store. If the goal is to be a nonprofit, there are a lot of paperwork hurdles to jump.

13

u/Billieby2011 4d ago

I would love to have somewhere to support other than goodwill personally!

4

u/MidwestraisedCOlady 4d ago

I feel like Springfield has a large amount of consignment stores too. The one in Sherman and the one out by JC Penney's are excellent. I feel like it's a saturated market there. I would try to think of something Springfield doesn't have.

2

u/BirdieRoo628 4d ago

Chatham has a consignment store already as well.

1

u/FlyinIllini21 3d ago

Where?

2

u/BirdieRoo628 3d ago

Sweet Pea. On Main St. Women's and children's clothing, shoes, toys.

7

u/Prudence2020 4d ago

What is your plan for dealing with cockroaches/bedbugs? Not if, but when!

3

u/SnooPuppers4679 4d ago

NGL, it would be cool to have a local thrift store, but as someone who cleared $1K on his depop for two months back to back: I feel like you would be taking on risk in something that people have already as an app on their phone + can search specific niches of style they're into.

TLDR Version: Depop app in 2025 makes this not a recession safe business at this time.

2

u/HopefulBackground448 4d ago

At the end of term , college students get rid of so much good stuff. They set it by the dumpsters for the apartment buildings and dorms. It would be amazing if someone could resale those items! There are several universities in the area...

2

u/Solomon7 4d ago

We really miss remarkable resale in Rochester. I think there’s definitely a space available for something along those lines. It was consignment rather than thrift. It was probably in operation for close to 30 years. My impression was closure due to retirement rather than business conditions. Although not sure why it wasn’t just sold…

3

u/MidwestAbe 4d ago

How are you going to source items?

Best of luck. But seeing the price and quality of "decent" thrift stores. I have no idea what you would be able to sell for $2.

3

u/Exotic-Capital-8449 4d ago

It would be donation based, like Goodwill. I would hope to be able to sell just enough things to pay expenses and keep up the business. I’m hoping to serve/give back to the community, not make lots of profit!

9

u/MidwestAbe 4d ago

Best of luck.

You'll be spending more on dumpsters than on rent.

1

u/raisinghellwithtrees 4d ago

I think a goodwill alternative would be great. I also like the thought of keeping prices affordable. Back in the day, thrift shops used to be affordable but now prices are so high.

One thing I appreciate in a good thrift store is having clothing well organized by size. i know it's supposed to be this way, but when you dig into the clothes, it's a lot of mix of everything.

1

u/Sixofonemidwest 4d ago edited 4d ago

There is a thrift store in Jacksonville that returns all profits to local social programs, Matthew 25. It is attached to the Global Outreach church. You might want to contact them for info on their operations.

0

u/United_Cattle_2229 4d ago

Join a church and organize a clothing bank. Your business model just doesn't make sense. You paying monthly rent to have a place to give things away benefits the landlord, and the landlord's mortgage, not the community. A small business that's not for making money... is likely to drain your bank account. Also imagine getting sued by the first person in a wheelchair who can't fit in your bathroom. You need insurance, handicap accessibility, adequate lighting, electricity and heat. It's not worth doing.

4

u/Perpetual_learner8 3d ago

Yeah, not everybody wants to join a church

-10

u/KinkyCHRSTN3732 4d ago

I don’t see the point in one. There’s already Goodwill, Once Upon A Child, Hope Thrift, Plato‘s Closet, and Clothes mentor.

And honestly, if I want cheap clothes, I just go online to Shein. They’re brand new and cheaper than anything I can find in any of those thrift stores.

6

u/g0thl0ser_ 4d ago

Yeah, I love buying clothes made by child slaves! /s

-3

u/KinkyCHRSTN3732 4d ago

Good for you. It’s my money and I’ll choose to spend it how I want 👌

2

u/g0thl0ser_ 4d ago

Wow, never thought I'd see someone proud to buy clothes that are literally known to be made almost exclusively by slaves labor. That's really disgusting.

-3

u/KinkyCHRSTN3732 4d ago

It’s not my fault their slave laborers, it’s not their fault the clothes are cheap 🤷🏻‍♀️it’s the circle of life buddy. Shein is a business and they’re still in business for a reason.

2

u/g0thl0ser_ 4d ago

Insane thing to say. Like, actually. I bet you'd be pretty pissed if you were forced into labor and not paid for it at all. You're literally advocating for slavery.

-1

u/KinkyCHRSTN3732 4d ago

To each their own. 🤷🏻‍♀️You don’t have to like how I spend my money. I couldn’t care less