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How to open an online second-hand store. Second-hand store: how to open and start making a profit. Finding suppliers and filling the store

Many Russians believe that second-hand goods are for the poor, so they do not visit such stores. But this is not so - in second-hand stores you can find very high-quality and branded items at very affordable prices. Most Russian-Chinese consumer goods are clearly not of the same quality as European or American second-hand goods, so more and more people are wearing them. Especially during a crisis.

Introduction

Before opening a second-hand store from scratch, let's figure out what it is and where it even comes from. Second-hand clothing has become popular in Russia since the nineties of the last century - cheap and high-quality clothing was bought by weight and sold in specialized stores. Second-hand items are collected by special enterprises in the EU and the USA - there they are carefully sorted, disinfected and packaged into groups.

Second-hand is a great opportunity to buy branded items at an affordable price

These factories receive clothes collected by various public and charitable organizations. Here you can find completely new items in packaging and with stickers, donated by stores that are closing or that have decided to update their assortment, as well as slightly worn clothes and shoes that, for one reason or another, did not suit people or are not used in everyday life.

The main advantage of second-hand clothing is the opportunity to buy unique branded clothing at an incredibly low price. Many Russians dress completely second hand, not because they don’t have money for new clothes, but because they don’t want to buy consumer goods. Parents of small children become frequent clients of such stores. The fact is that children's clothes are often more expensive than adults' clothes, and the child wears them for a maximum of two seasons. Therefore, parents do not want to overpay and buy cheap things of good quality, which they then simply throw away. Target audience of stores:

  1. People with middle and low income.
  2. The youth.
  3. Parents with children under 16 years of age.
  4. People who love exclusive things.
  5. Buyers who need inexpensive "work" clothing.

The number of second-hand clients especially grows during a crisis - people quickly wear out their clothes and do not want to spend a lot of money on new ones.

Note:about 70% of your assortment should be women's clothing. The remaining 30 percent is divided between men's and children's clothing.

This principle only applies if you sell clothes in a general store. If you have a theme store (children's, men's, women's), then this division will be incorrect.

Decor

In order to start working, you will need a certificate of registration of individual entrepreneurs. It can be issued in a couple of days at the local tax office. You will also need to get:

  1. Permission to conduct trading activities.
  2. Tax registration document.
  3. Store lease agreement or certificate of ownership.
  4. Certificates from the fire inspection and sanitation department allowing the store to operate.
  5. ENFL payer certificate.
  6. A journal in which your income will be recorded (it is issued upon receipt of the cash register).
  7. Certificate of disinfection of items (issued by the supplier of the goods).

All necessary permits and certificates can be obtained within a month if you already have premises. Without a room, you won’t be able to get organized, so choose one right away.

Clothes are sold in bales of 100 kg

Where to find suppliers

Let's figure it out how to open a second-hand store: where to start and what generally needs to be done. First, decide on your suppliers. The first step is to find one of the largest ones available in your area and contract with them to supply a large number of things. This will allow you to purchase goods at a good discount and immediately fill your display cases. Then look for smaller suppliers who offer interesting conditions.

The second option is to work directly with factories. But this requires large sales volumes. Typically, second-hand city bases operate on this principle. Factories sell clothes in bales of 100 kilograms, and the minimum batch is usually at least a ton. Of these 100 kilograms, approximately 50-60 percent of items are suitable for sale in the store, the remaining 40 are usually sent to markets. In any case, it is profitable - a kilogram at wholesale usually costs a couple of euros, and the real selling price of an item can be hundreds and thousands of rubles.

By choosing the second option, you can earn a lot more money, but the investment will also be serious. You will need to go to the factory yourself to establish contacts and conclude a contract, organize delivery and customs clearance. If you are a responsible customer, you can negotiate with factories to defer payment or even pay after sale, which will significantly reduce your company's cash gap.

What to do about marriage?

If you work with a regional supplier, you can choose your own items to sell. You can purchase jeans separately, shoes separately, jackets or T-shirts separately. When working with a factory, there is no such opportunity - you just buy a bale of clothes. In one bale, approximately 40-50% of the goods will be unsuitable for sale in the store - they can be sent to markets or second-hand stores for the poor. Of this 50 percent, 10-20% will be outright defective, which cannot be used for wear and sale. Such things are sold as rags in service stations, factories, and printing houses for 0.5 euros per kilogram.

Focus on women's clothing

Selecting a room

To open a store you will need a room with an area of ​​50 m2. It is not necessary to open in the center - residential areas will suit you. Places near bus stops, shopping centers, and in the private sector have proven themselves well. There are no special requirements for the premises - it must be neatly decorated. Organize several fitting rooms in the store, install racks with hangers for hanging clothes, make a sign - and you can open. The room should be quite spacious and light; at the entrance you can install several lockers in which visitors will leave their bags.

To sell shoes and bags you will need special racks. Divide your store into several “halls” - let trousers be in one part, jackets in the second, T-shirts in the third, etc.

The store will also need to install a cash register with a cash register and a table for packing purchases. A separate room for staff should be equipped in it: here your employees will change clothes, have lunch and store various equipment. It is best to choose a work schedule that allows people to come to you after work. For example, from 10 to 20. You can make Monday a day off - on Saturday and Sunday the number of clients is very large.

The most important thing for your store is cleanliness. Wash the floors regularly during the working day, make sure that the walls and window sills are clean, and remove all kinds of debris. Provide personnel with the necessary amount of drinking and technical water, if yourthe building does not have a permanent water connection.

Recruitment

Typically, a standard store with an area of ​​50-60 meters requires 3 workers. You need:

  1. Two sales consultants.
  2. Cashier.

The cleaning lady's duties are usually performed by the salesperson when there are no clients, which allows saving on wages. If you are opening a really large store or planning to build a chain, then you will need an accountant who will deal with all financial and tax issues.

From the equipment you will need racks and display cases for clothes

Advertising

An advertising campaign should begin before the store opens. Hand out leaflets and flyers, hang up some banners, decorate your space with a theme, and create a good sign. At the same time, you should start advertising on the Internet - post announcements on local forums, bulletin boards, create groups on social networks and post information about product updates. Hold regular promotions, create a discount system for regular customers, give discounts to pensioners and students - all this will create a circle of regular customers for you.

Profitability

Calculate a business plan for a second-hand store quite complicated - it all depends on many factors and the chosen method of work. But it is quite possible to give average figures. Consumables include:

  1. Registration of documents, purchase of a cash register - 10,000 rubles.
  2. Rent - 25,000 rubles.
  3. Salary – 80,000 rubles.
  4. Purchase of clothing (from 500 kg) – 150,000 rubles.
  5. Advertising – 15,000 rubles.
  6. Equipment and repairs in the premises - 100,000 rubles.
  7. Utilities 10,000.
  8. Other expenses, including taxes - 10,000 rubles.

In total, you will need about 500 thousand rubles to open (this is enough to pay rent and wages for a couple of months).

The profitability of the store directly depends on the number of customers. If you have no competitors in your area and you have carried out competent advertising, then the average profit per month will be about 80-100 thousand rubles minus all fixed expenses. That is, all investments made will pay off in a maximum of six months (taking into account the fact that there will not be very many clients in the first month). This business is great for beginners who do not have serious start-up capital. In just six months, you will fully recoup your investment and be able to open another store in a new area, creating an entire network in your city.

In contact with

Second-hand is a store of used, discounted and unsold goods. In Russia, such a business began to spread in the 90s and is gaining popularity to this day.

Basically, these things are purchased from specialized factories in Europe. Such enterprises accept old goods for little money, then carefully process and disinfect them.

The advantage of this business is the ratio of fairly high quality clothing with a low price. This market area attracts buyers due to the branded quality of clothing. The value of these goods is as follows:

  • Retains its appearance regardless of the number of washes.
  • They do not change color and do not shed.
  • Made from natural materials.

The relevance of this business in Russia is at a high level. This is due to the constant demand among the population for high-quality and inexpensive clothing. Often the target audience is people with average incomes who want to constantly update their wardrobe without significant financial costs. Therefore, opening such a store is quite a profitable business that can bring more profit than other projects in this industry.

So, such a business is a point of sale where used products are traded. Here you can sell absolutely any type of clothing that has undergone appropriate processing and has been prepared for sale. Most of your assortment (80%) should be women's clothing, the rest is men's and children's clothing.

Required documents and permits

Like any other business, a store requires state registration. To open this business, you will need to obtain the status of an individual entrepreneur, as well as prepare the following documents:

  • Evidence confirming the fact.
  • Permit for trading activities.
  • A document containing information about registration with the relevant tax authorities.
  • A document confirming permission to use the selected retail space for sales.
  • Certificate of single tax payer for individuals.
  • Income journal. Sales revenue data is reflected here.
  • Rental agreement for premises for organizing a point of sale.
  • Certificate of processing of items that will be allowed for sale. This document is provided by clothing suppliers.
  • Invoices for goods (also issued by suppliers).
  • Consumer corner.
  • Sanitary examination of the condition of goods. You should contact your suppliers to obtain this.

Interesting information about this type of store is presented in the following video:

Selection of suppliers and delivery of assortment

One of the most important steps is to find a reliable supplier who will regularly supply clothes. First, you should find one large contractor and use his services. This option is advantageous because you can get a good discount when ordering large quantities.

After this, you need to try to establish work with other suppliers, since each of them has its own prices, conditions, sources and quality of goods. The largest wholesale warehouses in Russia are:

  • Glavstoksecondtorg.
  • LLC "Mix-Europe"

Another option is to purchase the assortment directly from the factory. In this case, you need to go to a foreign country yourself and search for the desired product and conclude a transaction. This method seems cheaper, and the ideal option is Lithuania, where a reliable supplier is company "Sargma".

Factories usually sell their goods in bags or bags of 100 kilograms, and you will not have the opportunity to inspect and sort the goods. Experience shows that 50% of these items are good and salable.

Special attention should be paid to delivery. To begin with, you will need to personally accompany the cargo during transportation two or three times in order to ensure the reliability of the contractor and the carrier company. You can pay for the goods both before receiving it and after. If you and your partner have a trusting relationship, you can make payment after the sale of the goods.

Defective goods

Each shipment will invariably contain goods with significant defects that are unfit for sale and must be disposed of. In this case, clothes can be sold as rags to specialized printing houses for washing or factories for wiping oil.

The cost of knitted and cotton items is about 0.5 dollar per kilogram. Jeans can be sold for $0.3 per kilogram.

Premises for a future store

To organize this business you will need a fairly large premises ( from 40 square meters). There is absolutely no need to rent space in the city center for a high fee. Second-hand goods will also be in demand in the outskirts. The main criteria for choosing are the absence of competitors and a large number of residents in the area.

It must be remembered that the sale of such products near grocery stores is prohibited.

There is no extreme need to invest in renovation of the premises; it will be enough to make it look clean and tidy, as well as carry out cosmetic work that will not require significant financial costs. The room should be spacious and bright, since in most cases there will be a decent number of buyers.

At the entrance you need to place special lockers for the bags of store visitors. Be sure to have several fitting rooms with everything you need - a mirror, hangers, a rug and baskets for selected items. It is necessary to ensure that it is convenient for customers to approach the hangers with clothes. Usually they are located along the walls, and special shelving can be installed in the hall itself. If you want to sell shoes, bags and other accessories, then you should install special shelves so that they not only occupy a suitable place, but also fit harmoniously into the interior of the store.

It is necessary to arrange a cashier's workplace, as well as install a cash register and a packing table. It should be noted that it is subject to mandatory tax registration. You need to carefully monitor the cleanliness of the room, ventilate it and regularly carry out wet cleaning along with washing windows, as well as clean the surrounding area.

Your premises will be subject to constant inspections by SES workers, so there must be a place for employees to eat, as well as a supply of drinking (at least 2 liters) and technical (at least 20 liters) water.

Staff

If you are planning to open a large store, then you will need at least three sales consultants on each shift, one of whom will act as a cashier and the other will pack merchandise.

It is advisable to hire salespeople with experience and the ability to communicate with clients. An accountant will only be needed if the store has a large turnover.

Advertising

In our country, the population is very dismissive of second-hand clothing stores. With the help of advertising, you will have to change this attitude for the better. For an effective result, you need to use various methods:

  • First, you should post notices near the outlet with signs indicating the location of the store.
  • Then attract appropriate specialists to place advertisements in daily publications and on the Internet.
  • You can also distribute leaflets and hold events in the adjacent area of ​​the store (to attract customers at the initial stage).
  • If your budget allows, it is better to immediately turn to advertising professionals. Our specialists will competently plan your advertising campaign, which will lead to the fastest possible results.
  • Particular attention should be paid to various promotions and discounts. Experts advise updating the assortment every week and organizing sales on a certain day of the week.

Financial calculations

Opening such a business will require a relatively small amount of money, even if you plan to immediately purchase a large volume of goods. Approximate costs for a classic store in a small area of ​​the city:

  • Registration of the status of an individual entrepreneur will cost from 800 to 7,000 rubles, depending on the registration method. If you collect and submit an application and all necessary documents yourself, the price will be 800 rubles (state fee). If you contact a specialized company, the price can reach up to 7,000 rubles. In addition to the fee, this includes notary, company and postal services.
  • Renting premises. The cost depends on the area and location. On average, rent ranges from 20,000 to 30,000 rubles.
  • Employee salaries. Again, it all depends on the level of the store. Usually 70-100 thousand rubles a month is enough to pay the staff.
  • Purchase of an assortment of goods. In the early stages, you should purchase at least 500 kilograms of clothing. Once demand is identified, this figure may change. For starters, an amount of 150 thousand rubles will be enough.
  • Advertising campaign. This stage rarely exceeds 15,000 rubles. However, if you want the fastest possible result, then you need to count on 20-25 thousand.
  • Purchase of commercial equipment. Setting up a store will require about 100 thousand rubles.
  • Communal payments. These services will cost no more than 15,000 rubles.
  • Paying taxes. We should not forget about this expense item. The amount of tax contributions depends on the chosen taxation system.

Based on the above indicators, we can conclude that opening a second-hand store will require about 400 thousand rubles.

Business profitability

In any business there is a certain percentage of risk. In this case, the store’s profit will directly depend on advertising, store location and product quality. Therefore, it is very important to find a reliable and honest importer who will responsibly supply the required goods. In Russia, such suppliers in most cases sort the goods themselves and sell the most worn and unsalable items.

The average monthly profit of a second-hand store is from 70,000 rubles and can reach up to 150-200 thousand rubles. Business profitability is 40%.

This business is ideal for beginning entrepreneurs with no experience and little financial resources who want to achieve a stable income.

Every business project launched during a crisis poses an unprecedented risk. Demand for goods and services has fallen by more than 30%, and many businesses are being tested to their limits.

However, even in a difficult economic situation, there are types of entrepreneurship that are popular and in demand in any financial situation. For example, a person always needs food, medicine and clothing, regardless of the state of the country’s economy. The less money people have, the more popular thrift stores and second-hand stores become. Below we present you with step-by-step instructions for launching a successful second-hand store, as well as calculations of costs and payback.

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With declining incomes, buyers are forced to save on clothes, but the habit of wearing good branded items does not go away. And if the client cannot afford a high-quality new item, he will go to a second-hand store. With professional promotion at points of sale of used clothing, you should expect an increase in the number of visitors. If we talk about well-known brands, then it is worth drawing the attention of buyers to the possibility of wearing clothes for a long time while maintaining their presentation, beautiful appearance, non-standard design, natural materials.

When forming an assortment, you should take into account that 2/3 of your store’s customers are women who purchase clothes for themselves and members of their families, so you need to focus on their tastes and wishes.

In order for an entrepreneur to realize the size of future income when opening a used clothing store, special attention should be paid to drawing up a business plan. If you cannot make this calculation yourself, you can use the services of a consulting company that has the experience and specialists necessary to draw up the document.

The mission for the business is “the ability to supply the population with high-quality branded clothing at low prices.” Inexpensive European clothing for all segments of the population is your main competitive advantage for attracting buyers: residents with low and middle incomes, families with children, students, retirees, people with plus-size figures, etc.

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Opening a clothing store from abroad is especially profitable in regional centers, regions and areas where people with a stable but low income live, not far from higher educational institutions or student dormitories. Second-hand store profits are potentially higher than other stores. Moreover, you can start selling any type of clothing. The main thing is that it undergoes the necessary processing and pre-sale preparation.

Store categories

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At the second-hand store you can buy items in the following categories:

  • Luxury items. This group includes clothing from famous brands, remnants of collections of popular designers and fashion designers. In Russia, unsold designer clothes are not sold at bargain prices, so branded items are purchased as high-end second-hand goods abroad. Often, expensive clothing stores purchase this category of second-hand goods, filling their assortment at minimum purchasing prices.
  • Worn clothes. Russian second-hand stores sell just this category of clothing. Compressed items are purchased in large bags by weight. The clothing category can be selected in advance by season, type, degree of wear, and gender.

By purchasing the cheapest items for resale, you risk encountering a large number of defects that you can only sell as rags. It is more profitable to resell used clothes in the middle price range with a minimal degree of wear and tear.

Used clothes are brought in large bags

Where to start: required documents

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To open a legal store, you must register a legal entity and obtain a package of permits.

Individual entrepreneurship with payment of a tax of 6% of turnover is registered by those who cannot document the costs of purchasing and delivering goods. Over time, when the entrepreneur is able to establish supply channels for high-quality clothing, the taxation system can be changed and the state can pay 15% of profits (income-expenses).

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If it is important for the owner to withdraw money from the company’s account at any time to start a business or for his own needs, it is more profitable to register an individual entrepreneur. But at the same time, the entrepreneur is responsible for the activities of the company with all his property. In order not to be responsible for the activities of the enterprise with property, a businessman has the right to register an LLC with similar taxation systems. However, you can withdraw money for personal needs only after paying all taxes.

In addition to opening an individual entrepreneur or LLC, an entrepreneur needs to prepare the following documents:

  • certificate of entrepreneurship;
  • trade permit;
  • a document confirming registration with the tax authorities;
  • permission to use retail space;
  • a log of income and expenses (with a simplified system, 15% of income minus expenses);
  • cash documents;
  • rental agreement for retail space, etc.

It is important to obtain from suppliers of foreign used clothing:

  • sanitary processing certificate for items approved for sale;
  • invoices for the delivery of goods;
  • certificate of sanitary examination.

Choosing a location for a store

As with the opening of any retail outlet, traffic to a secondary clothing store depends on the right location.

However, this business has its own characteristics. For example, there is no need to open points near train stations or central markets, since many residents do not talk about buying used clothes and are embarrassed to go to such stores in places where they might meet friends. The store can have good traffic in small courtyards in residential areas, in empty premises of old studios on the central streets of the city. However, there should be enough signage and directions to the store so that anyone can turn off the road and easily find it.

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The ideal place for a second-hand store is a residential area

To launch a trial store, it is enough to rent a small room of 30–40 m², in which to place a storage room, a staff room and the sales area itself with a cash register.

Organization of supplies

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Wholesalers receive goods from Europe directly from used clothing factories in large bales of 100–150 kg, after which they are packaged in small bales of 25–30 kg and sold to private traders and second-hand stores.

At the initial stage of launching a project, it is enough to find a wholesaler who supplies quality goods. When the business takes off, you can find direct suppliers abroad. Moreover, the quality of clothing often depends on the country that supplies it. Product sellers noticed that clothes from Germany were not of the best quality, and were also large in size. But things from France, on the contrary, have less wear and tear and are made from natural materials. The best clothes come from England - there are many stylish things in the bales that have not been worn at all. One of the disadvantages of direct deliveries is that it is impossible to view the contents of the bags.

You should not order things over the phone. After you have found the contacts of suitable suppliers, it is better to visit their warehouses yourself, where you can make trial purchases of clothing of different categories.

Before purchasing goods, you need to understand the categories of European second-hand stores:

  1. Cream. The most expensive category of clothing without wear, sorted into groups based on several characteristics, which includes expensive branded items.
  2. Luxury This category includes brand new or minimally worn (about 5%) clothing from well-known brands with an average price.
  3. Extra. These are the same crazy clothes, but with a greater degree of wear and tear (about 10%).

Unworn branded items in the “Cream” category are the best and most expensive goods

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  • 1st grade. High-quality clothing with minimal wear.
  • 2nd grade. Items with minor defects or a high degree of wear.
  • 3rd grade. Rags are things that can no longer be worn.

Pricing

When goods arrive at the store, bales of items must be weighed, then quality goods must be sorted from rags. What you classify as rags most likely will not be able to be sold - it will be a loss that must be covered by selling good things.

After this, the degree of wear and tear of each item is assessed, based on which the price is set. In this case, special attention is paid to the condition of the tissue in the armpits, collars, elbows, and sleeves. After sorting, things are grouped into price categories with a fixed price tag, for example, “Everything for 300 rubles.” New or branded clothing is priced individually. Items with minor defects are placed on sale with a 50% discount.

Some used European clothing stores sell items by weight. However, with such trading, it is necessary to ensure that a margin of at least 100–150% is maintained for a quality product.

Equipment for commercial premises

The building must first of all be light so that the buyer can clearly see the item he likes. It should have a fitting room with a large mirror so that the buyer can try on the item right there. All goods, regardless of their location, must be freely accessible.

Entering the sales area, the buyer must first see expensive and high-quality items that are sold at high prices. To select seasonal outerwear hanging in the foreground, it is important to place mirrors in the retail space. You will also have to purchase clothes racks, shelves, a large number of hangers, and several mannequins. At the entrance to the hall there are boxes for storing bags while the client is in the store, and at the exit there is a table for packing goods.

To prevent visitors from associating worn items with dirty ones, it is important to keep the sales area perfectly clean. Otherwise, you won’t be able to attract buyers who want to buy expensive things.

Recruitment

The requirements for personnel and their qualifications are similar to those of a regular clothing store.

Enough for a small shop:

  • 4 consultants;
  • commodity sorter;
  • manager;
  • 1 cleaning lady.

It is important to hire salespeople who are experienced, willing and able to sell. To stimulate them, they often set a salary and a bonus based on the amount received for the items sold. It is important to monitor how sellers serve customers, how polite and attentive they are. Your advertising can only attract customers, and quality service will help you retain them.

Advertising

When selling clothes that have already been used, it is important to focus on quality and brand. Stylish items that are in excellent condition are displayed on display. These same things are photographed and posted on the website or social networks to attract additional customers on the Internet. At the same time, it is important to update the information in a timely manner so that the products on the website correspond to those in the store, otherwise the trust of customers will be lost and promotion efforts will be in vain.

When selling clothes, the seasonality factor is important. With the beginning of the season, for example, a summer product can be sold at the maximum price, then the demand for it falls and fades away until next year. To speed up turnover, they organize sales, make discounts, “3 for the price of 2” promotions, etc.

Also, do not forget about the “dead” periods when people go on vacation or celebrate holidays. During these months, turnover decreases, so the delivery time of goods can be increased.

Cost calculation and payback forecast

According to reviews from owners of similar stores, some goods are sold at prices with a minimum markup. The other is bought up by the population with a margin of 100–150%. If an entrepreneur manages to establish a supply chain for quality items and attract a large number of regular customers, the business will take off.

Table: monthly expenses

Additionally, you will have to pay taxes - 6% of turnover + mandatory payments or 15% of the amount of income minus expenses, depending on the tax system that the entrepreneur chooses.

If we take into account the average markup of 100%, for a business to break even, its turnover must be at least 480–500 thousand, half of which is the cost of the goods supplied. If the daily revenue of a retail outlet is more than 16 thousand rubles, the business is considered break-even.

Starting investments

To successfully launch a project, you need to have an amount of 500 thousand -1 ml of rubles (including advertising and signage), necessary to promote the business for a period of 6 months, and for the business to start generating income - about 3–3.5 ml of working capital.

Payback forecast and expected profit

If an entrepreneur manages to find a supplier of high-quality European clothing, preferably from England, Italy or France, and also choose a good location for the store, the outlet will be able to promote itself and recoup the costs of launching the project within a year. Small shops bring their owner about 50–70 thousand rubles. monthly profit, promoted business 150–200.

One of the good options for starting your own business in Russia. This product firmly holds its position of popularity in the modern clothing and footwear market. Constant demand and compliance with basic rules when organizing a business will ensure its profitability and quick payback. But everything related to material costs requires detailed study and good orientation in the matter.

What is second-hand and where does it come from?

These are used clothes and shoes. The main suppliers of second-hand goods to Russia are European countries. In Europe, there is a practice when citizens hand over unnecessary things to special collection points, receiving a small fee for this. As a rule, we rent out not only used wardrobe items, but also completely new ones that we simply didn’t like, didn’t fit in size, or went out of fashion.

From collection points, items are sent to specialized factories for processing (disinfection), subsequent sorting and delivery to points of sale. Clothes are sold by large wholesale companies that supply second-hand clothes to small wholesale companies, including stores.

Before opening a second-hand store, it is also important to know what types of a given product exist, since its price category depends on this. It comes in three types:

  1. sorted by individual types of clothing;
  2. sorted by seasonal goods;
  3. mixed (mix of men's, women's, children's clothing).

Based on quality, such products are divided into several categories:

  1. "Original". Items that have not passed the sorting stage. May include heavily worn clothing items that can only be used as rags.
  2. First grade. As a rule, these are high-quality clothes, accessories and shoes. Minor wear. Marriage also occurs, but in rare cases.
  3. Second grade. Worn and often defective goods.
  4. Third grade. Items with heavy wear and in poor condition.
  5. "Cream". Product from brands without defects. There is some minor wear, but most of the time these are brand new items.
  6. "Extra". Clothes and shoes are in good condition with no more than 10% wear. Often there are completely new and branded items.
  7. "Lux". New or minimally worn item with tags and in excellent condition.
  8. "Stock." Only new clothes and shoes.

Second-hand goods are also divided by country of origin and type of assembly: container, home, school. The price category of a product directly depends on the combination of the above characteristics.

Depending on the format of trade, you can open a second-hand store:

  1. With weight goods. In this case, the price is determined per kilogram. That is, the value of a thing is determined by its weight. It is advisable to use this approach when trading items of the first and third grades and the “Extra” category. The trading scheme includes a gradual reduction in prices: the initial markup of 300% after a week/month is reduced to 200%, then to 100%, and so on down to cost. For buyers, this looks like promotions or discounts: 25%, 50%, and so on.
  2. With priced item. Used to sell expensive product groups (“Luxury”, “Extra”, “Stock”, “Cream”). For each item, the cost, markup and discount system are determined. The primary markup is also 300%.
  3. With mixed goods. In most cases, the format is used for “Lux” and “Extra” items. About a third of all goods are priced individually (the highest quality and most interesting things). However, no discounts are established on these until the end of the month. The remaining goods are sold on a weight basis.

This is not all that is needed to open a second-hand store. It is also important to consider the seasonality of the business. As practice shows, trade in this type of product is suspended for four months a year. In particular, we are talking about the first two months of winter and summer. Planning to open a store before and during these periods would be a mistake.

In addition, you should take into account that the share of unsold goods accounts for 10-15%. Therefore, it is advisable to think through options for its implementation (for example, selling to car services, repair shops, and so on).

As with opening any type of your own business, in this case you also need a business plan that will allow you to assess the capabilities and amount of start-up capital. As an example, we will consider a small store with an area of ​​about 50 square meters. m. (the given figures are approximate):

  1. Expenses for utilities and rent - 50,000 - 55,000 rubles;
  2. Purchase of equipment - 50,000 - 70,000 rubles;
  3. Salary of implementers (sellers) - 40,000 - 50,000 rubles;
  4. Purchase of goods - 300,000 - 350,000 rubles.

Is it profitable to open a second-hand store? Based on the above figures, starting a business will require initial capital of about 500,000 rubles. In this case, monthly income can reach an average of about 450,000, from which you need to subtract the costs of purchasing a new batch of goods and other expenses, and the net profit will be about 70,000 - 100,000 rubles. The approximate payback period for a store is 0.5-1 year, but if desired, this process can be significantly accelerated.

First step. Registration

The most profitable solution for registering and running a business is the form of individual entrepreneurship. The advantages of an individual entrepreneur include: freedom to dispose of profits, a simple tax system, and the availability of a patent. But this method is applicable for selling goods at retail in a store whose area does not exceed 50 square meters.

For larger retail premises, it is better to choose the single tax on temporary income (UTII) system or the simplified taxation system (STS). You need to find out about the operation of a particular system in the region on the spot. Licensing and permitting documents are also required to run a business. It is mandatory to have product quality certificates that must be required from suppliers.

Second step. Renting premises

When choosing a room, it is important to consider its location and area. Depending on the implementation format, it should be:

  • From 40 to 80 sq. m. for trading things by the piece with an individual price. The premises should be located in a place with good traffic in a prosperous area. This could be the city center, an area near a shopping center, market, and so on.
  • From 15 to 20 sq. m. for trade in weighted goods. Areas with cheap rent are suitable, including semi-basement and basement premises.
  • From 30 to 80 sq. m. for the sale of mixed type things.

At the stage of selecting a suitable room, the quality of lighting or the possibility of adjusting it is also taken into account. The lighting should not be too bright (so as not to irritate buyers), but sufficient for a detailed examination of the product. Due to the specific smell characteristic of second-hand stores, the premises must have an effective ventilation system.

Step three. Equipment purchase

To save on this point, you can purchase not new, but used equipment and furniture. Minimum set:

  • hung (it is better to choose a model with simple assembly and installation);
  • tables;
  • mannequins (can be excluded if there are no plans to sell at price tags);
  • fitting rooms;
  • baskets, hangers for things.

Step four. Search for a supplier

In order not to make a mistake in choosing a supplier and to acquire a reliable partner, you should consider:

  • The company must have at least 5 years of experience;
  • a large list of countries and factories from which goods are purchased;
  • relevance of the price list (frequent price updates indicate the real work of the wholesale buyer);
  • comfortable conditions for cooperation (availability of warehouses in the region, discount systems, etc.).

Step five. Selecting a product range

In many ways, the choice of second-hand assortment depends on the format of trade and the location of the store. For example, children's, youth and women's items are suitable for new buildings; all categories of goods are suitable for residential areas; jeans and shoes are suitable for industrial areas.

At the initial stage, a wide selection of items should be provided in order to reach the maximum number of customers. The best option is goods of different price categories: the share of mixed clothing is up to 80%, seasonal clothing is up to 30%. All items in the store should be sorted by type (top, bottom, etc.), seasons, groups (children's, men's, women's).

Step six. Recruitment

When choosing a suitable candidate for the position of cashier-seller, you should take into account his experience in the field of trade and the ability to stimulate customers to purchase. If the personal participation of the business owner is planned for the first time, then one implementer will be sufficient (if the premises are small).

It would not be amiss to include the following items in the seller’s responsibilities:

  • financial responsibility (for the safety of goods);
  • participation in preparing the store for opening;
  • assisting customers in choosing a product;
  • cash service;
  • monitoring consumer demand;
  • drawing up requests for the purchase of new products or changes/expansion of the assortment.

Step seven. Advertising

This item was not included in the business plan discussed in the article. However, it does affect the question how much does it cost to open a second-hand store from scratch? and rate of return.

The most popular marketing tools are sales, various promotions, and a cumulative system of discounts. It is important that all information is provided to customers as quickly as possible. Among the most effective techniques:

  • advertising in the media;
  • streetlines, banners;
  • posting advertisements on information boards at the entrances of apartment buildings and places where there are large crowds of people;
  • word of mouth radio;
  • distribution of booklets, leaflets.

Many people like to dress in beautiful, inexpensive clothes, which are often unusual, stylish and original. And most importantly, it should be affordable. And if this is so, then it is profitable to sell such a product that people need. To do this, just open a second-hand store. It's not difficult to do. The article will discuss how to open a second hand store.

To open such a business, it is important to understand where to start. First, you need to find out where exactly to buy clothes, how to sort them, and at what price it is more profitable to sell them. In addition, you should decide on the location of the outlet.

Benefits of opening a second-hand store

It is quite possible to open a store without a large start-up capital. Only 500,000 - 600,000 rubles will be enough. This money will be used to purchase goods and equipment, rent premises and pay staff.

It should be noted that conducting such a business is not difficult. The goods will need to be ordered, packaged and sold. As a result, you will not need to hire many workers with extensive experience. This type of business is quite suitable for beginning entrepreneurs. There are very few risks and little competition in this type of activity, so it’s definitely worth opening a business. This business can bring good profits and entrepreneurial experience with a minimum investment. And after gaining the necessary experience, it will be possible to open a point where new things will be sold.

Drawing up a business plan

First you need to draw up a business plan for a second-hand store. With its help you can calculate how much investment is required. For example, it is planned to open a point with an area of ​​50 square meters. Expenses will be required for the following needs:

  • rent of premises and utilities - about 50,000 rubles;
  • purchase of necessary equipment - approximately 60,000 rubles;
  • employee salary is about 50,000 rubles. and more, depending on the number of employees;
  • funds for the purchase of goods - about 400,000 rubles.

So, it will be quite possible to start a business if you have an average of 500 - 600 thousand rubles on hand. Revenue can be 500,000 rubles or more. But about a third of the amount will be spent on purchasing a new product. As a result, the net profit will be about 100,000 rubles per month. Second-hand goods can pay for themselves in about six months to a year. And if you're lucky, it will happen sooner. Whether it is profitable to open a second-hand store is something everyone decides for themselves, although it’s worth thinking about. You need to understand that if the business does not take off, its payback may take one and a half to two years, or even the business may turn out to be unprofitable.

A detailed business plan indicates the stages of project implementation, writes marketing and financial plans, and makes an assessment of probable risks.

We are looking for and equipping premises

The first step is to find a suitable premises where things will be sold. It is best if it is located in a fairly crowded place in a residential area. You don’t have to pay much attention to repairs. But it is important that the store is clean and spacious and looks attractive from the outside. It is recommended to ensure good ventilation inside, because it is difficult to choose things in such places, and you need to be prepared for large crowds of people and their presence in the room for a long time.

It is important to choose a convenient location for fitting booths. It's better if there are several of them. They should be well lit, have large mirrors, rugs, and hooks for clothes. It is advisable to hang one or more additional mirrors in the hall so that visitors can try on clothes without occupying the fitting rooms. In addition, it is necessary to equip the room with shelves, hangers, and racks. If you don’t want to spend money on new equipment, you can buy used one. Along the walls you should place dressed mannequins and some oversized items, for example, a voluminous wedding dress. For the convenience of visitors, it is necessary to place at least one or two sofas or armchairs.

To prevent theft of things, it is advisable to install one or two CCTV cameras in the hall. In some places you can additionally put up dummies of them, but no one should know that they are not real.

To operate, you will need a cash register, which must be registered with the tax office. There should be a special small packing table near the cash register.

Store arrangement

Store assortment

The product must be placed as compactly as possible. A small area should fit as many clothes as possible. The more clothes are sold, the greater the benefit. It is important to clear the passage so that customers can move freely around the premises.

As for the area of ​​the premises, it can be anything, depending on what the business owner’s goals are. It is best for novice businessmen to give preference to medium-sized premises. In any case, it should be more than 40 - 50 square meters. On average, there will be about 10 kilograms of goods per square meter of room area. This should be taken into account. In this type of business, quick sales are important, since only this can ensure a good profit. So it is better if there is enough space for things. But it is worth looking among premises with low rent to reduce your costs.

Before setting up your retail outlet, it is important to find out about the requirements from the fire inspection and SES. You will need to obtain permission from them.

Where to look for suppliers

So, the premises have been found and equipped. You should also think about finding suppliers of goods. It is best to choose them in megacities, because in small cities there is always a greater risk of stumbling upon unscrupulous suppliers. Over time, you can change suppliers, try working with other people, then compare the results. Different suppliers may have their own working conditions, prices for goods, and their own assortment.

Working with received items

Second-hand clothes come in large bags or bales and are priced by weight. Incoming items need to be sorted. This is done like this:

  1. It is necessary to select clothing that is in excellent condition and does not require any repairs or additional maintenance.
  2. Separately, items are selected that require minor repairs, for example, with torn buttons or a small hole. If you don’t want to finish these clothes yourself, you can always seek help from a specialized company that offers clothing repair and cleaning services.
  3. The remaining goods will need to be thrown away or given to people in need or to a church or humanitarian organization.

Prepared clothing should be sorted into categories: fold jackets, coats, shirts, skirts separately. After this, the product must be assigned a certain price, taking into account the degree of its wear and tear. You can simply divide all things into categories, setting a different price for each of them. This is also convenient for buyers.

Second hand assortment

Main categories of things

  • luxury new clothes with labels, or items with a degree of wear of up to 5%;
  • extra These are new clothes. Sometimes slightly worn, in excellent condition.
  • I grade. These are high-quality, sometimes slightly defective clothes.
  • II grade. Worn items, sometimes defective.
  • III grade. Items in fairly poor condition.

Typically, any second-hand store sells women's clothing (up to 80%), some children's and men's. Indeed, the demand for this product is mainly among women. If educational institutions are located nearby, you can bring more youth items. In any case, things for women, men, children and youth should be placed separately from each other to make it easier to choose.

Promotion of the case

When everything is done, the new outlet needs advertising. Without this, you will have to wait a long time for new visitors. You need to install an advertising sign directly near the store. Additionally, you should submit several advertisements on social networks, in newspapers, and on local radio. Before you plan to open a retail outlet, you can hang balloons near it.

From time to time, you can distribute flyers near the point of sale (at an intersection, near a public transport stop, right at the entrance). If you wish, you can open your own website and constantly inform there about the arrival of new batches of goods and upcoming discounts.

Working with a showcase can give excellent results. When a new batch of goods is received, it can be put on display, showing customers that there is a large assortment of goods.

Buyers require constant updating of the assortment. In this regard, items that have not sold for a long time must be thrown away or their value greatly reduced. You can come up with and hold some kind of promotion, or organize sales to get rid of the remnants of the previous assortment. This will make room for new things.

The same people will often come to the store, primarily poor people who cannot afford to constantly buy new clothes. These may also be lovers of some unusual style, for whom ordinary stores are not suitable. Some people buy work clothes in such places. But there are usually few casual visitors here. It is important to establish contact with customers, especially regular ones, and then they will come to buy again and again.

Second hand

Staff

If the store is small, one cashier is sufficient. If the area of ​​the premises is more than 100 square meters, it is better to hire a couple more sellers. They will advise customers and also counter possible theft of goods. In case of large turnover, it is necessary to hire an accountant. Additionally, you can hire a cleaning lady.

Since the success of a business largely depends on sellers, their selection should be taken very seriously. The owner of the outlet also needs to provide the staff with the most comfortable working conditions. This will increase productivity and contribute to quality customer service.

Business registration

The store can be registered as an individual entrepreneur or LLC. No licensing is required. But to work, you will need a SES certificate, which must be sent by the factory along with the shipment of goods supplied. This document is valid for three years. An additional permit to conduct trading activities will be required.

So, if you decide to open a second-hand store, you should definitely try yourself in this business. If the project is successful, over time it will be possible to open a retail chain in different areas of the city.

To open such a business, it is important to understand where to start. You need to find out where to buy clothes, how to sort them, at what price it is more profitable to sell them, and decide on the location of the retail outlet.