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  People start online businesses every day. There is this recent craze for online businesses and the selling of digital skills. However, there is another kind of online selling you can engage in that will profit you. That is, establishing an online thrift store. 
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Thrift items are basically referred to as second-hand items that are resold. They are mostly the UK and US-used items like clothing that are shipped to Nigeria and sold at affordable prices. The good thing about online stores is that you will not need to rent an office space or have a physical store unless you necessarily need it. You can make use of your home or anywhere else you can keep your products. For thrift products, purchasing them can be pretty easy and they are not expensive. In this article, I will be exploring how you can start an online thrift store if that is what you have in mind to do right now. 

  • Identify your niche

Identifying your niche is the first step in this process. As earlier stated, there are several items that can be sold as thrift. Do your research and be sure of the niche you want to focus on. It could be second-hand clothes, shoes, bags, etc. Scan through the thrift market and identify the one that will be most convenient for you.
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  • Create your brand

Now you know what item you want to trade; the next thing is to create and build your brand. This involves creating a brand name, logo, brand message and the entire brand feel. At this stage, craft a name that can resonate easily with people. Get a good graphics designer to design your logo and brand guidelines if you can’t do it yourself. It is also at this stage that you identify who your target audience is. Determine their demographics, what they like and how you will reach them. All these are encompassed in your brand.

  • Create a store

If you will be renting a physical store, you will have to get it in place before making your purchase and dealing with other forms of logistics that are involved. It is the same for an online store. The easiest these days is Instagram. You can open an IG account specifically for your business and set it up to be a store. You can also make use of some online shops available in Nigeria and beyond. An example of a prominent one in Nigeria is Qshop. Other website store builders like WordPress and Wix can also come in handy.

  • Purchase your products

At this stage, you will have to liaise with thrift sellers that open bails of clothing or other thrift items, depending on what you will be selling.
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Go to large markets where you can buy these items in bulk and at cheaper prices. In Lagos, for instance, you can purchase from Yaba market or the famous Balogun market. Just search around your resident state and identify one where you can get what you want.

  • Market your store

This is a vital aspect of every business. Now you have it on that website or Instagram, it is time to market it. You can take nice pictures of your products and market them as much as possible. You can also share the link to your online store on groups and platforms where you know you can get customers. This will help drive customers to your site or your IG page. Featured Image Source: SOFTLOFT
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This article was first published on 13th June 2022

chidiogo-akaelu

Chidiogo Shalom Akaelu holds a degree in English and Literary Studies, from the University of Nigeria. She is a freelance writer, editor and founder of Loana Press, a budding online publishing outlet.

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