Where to Find Inventory: The Sourcing Guide
Finding good stock is the treasure-hunt part of reselling. Whether a find is actually profitable depends on fees, shipping and your time, so do the maths before you buy.
1. Charity shops and second-hand stores
Fixed prices, frequent turnover, and plenty of competition from other resellers.
- Tip: go often; feel for quality materials (wool, silk, leather) before reading the label.
- Good for: vintage pieces, mid-range brands.
2. Pay-by-weight outlets
Some outlets sell unsorted clothing by the kilo. Prices per item can be very low, but you also buy a lot that won't sell.
- Tip: wear gloves, bring large bags, and check every item for damage.
3. Online arbitrage
Buying underpriced items on one platform and reselling them elsewhere.
- Tip: specialise in a niche you know (sneakers, workwear, vintage denim) so you can spot value.
- Respect each platform's rules and be honest about condition.
4. Retail arbitrage
Buying clearance items in shops to resell online. Before buying, check the marketplace's prohibited and restricted-items policy and any rules that apply to regulated, recalled, counterfeit or safety-sensitive products. Business, tax, consumer-protection and product-safety duties vary by country; contact the competent local authority or a qualified adviser if you are unsure. Compare with recent sold prices before committing money.
Calculate the margin before you buy
Example (illustrative, not a promise): a vintage jacket bought for €8.
| € | |
|---|---|
| Expected sale price | 35.00 |
| Purchase price | −8.00 |
| Platform selling fee | Check the current amount for your account and country |
| Packaging | −0.50 |
| Cleaning | −1.00 |
| Margin before platform fees and your time | 25.50 |
Subtract the actual platform and payment charges shown for the transaction, then consider your time: sourcing, cleaning, photos, listing, messages and shipping. Not every find sells, and unsold stock ties up money and space.
Listing what you found
If you come home with many items, SellFast AI can draft titles and descriptions from your photos so you spend less time writing. You still check each draft before publishing.