Are you passionate about your reselling business, but having a hard time finding clothes to flip? Maybe you’re just getting sick of going to the same place every week (or every day) and you want something different for a change. No matter what your reason for looking elsewhere, there are many options out there! Below I’ve listed a few of my favorite places to source great clothes for flippable prices. Take a gander!

Flipping clothes is a great way to make some extra money, or get get on your feet after a hardship. When I initially started a few years back, I began with thirty dollars and not a clue in the world as to what I was doing. (Hopefully at this point you already have your shop set up and know the ropes when it comes to listing and pricing). However after a few weeks of going to the same place over and over, it got old. I needed fresh inventory, new sales, new styles. So I began looking elsewhere. Here are some of the places where I have been able to find clothes at great prices:

1. Thrift stores are magical places that sell clothes that have usually been donated to them, so they can keep their prices low low low! Goodwill is the obvious thrift store that everyone knows about, followed by Salvation Army. Some people don’t realize, however, that there are other thrift stores out there, you just need to find them! Volunteers of America for example was one of my absolute favorite places to source back when I lived in Pennsylvania because of their excellent prices and the fact that they accept returns. You can also find mom and pop thrift shops that aren’t big name, and you may just find that it is an excellent source for great clothes! Some people don’t like donating their items to big company thrift stores for various reason, so I’ve always had an easy time finding great brands at smaller thrift stores. Just give it a Google and you may be surprised at what you find!
2. Goodwill Outlets are big scary places filled with tiny little diamonds. You just need to find them. Basically, a bunch of clothes, shoes, and random household goods are thrown into giant bins (which are usually rotated every hour or so) and people rush in like vultures and go crazy trying to find the best deals first. I’ve been to two Goodwill Outlets so far ( I never had one located near to me), and my experiences were not as bad as I had expected. I found lots of clothes for dirt cheap (they charge by the pound, so there are no mark-up prices!) and was able to flip them for a decent profit. Just make sure you grab stuff and throw them in your cart as you find them. Don’t worry about inspecting them until you are done. You may miss out on something wonderful.
3. Estate Sales are really cool. Like, super fly. I was scared of estate sales for the longest time, but when my mom decided to start a company that holds estate sales, I had to learn quick. I didn’t source for clothes at them, because at that time I was looking for yarn and knitting and crochet supplies, but I did notice lots of vintage clothing that you could definitely flip! If you decide to give an estate sale a try, make sure to get there early before all of the good things are gone. You’ll have full run of the house, where things will be priced, and sometimes in lots, and you can just grab what you want and pay the person at the door. It’s really easy and not as scary as I had originally imagined. Lots of resellers (especially the older, more seasoned ones) frequent the estate sales and already know the ropes. Try to learn their ways. It’s worked for them.
4. Craigslist is still around, and in the clothing section are always people trying to get rid of some clothes. Some people want way too much for their clothes, but others just want it gone. I once paid $60 for two large boxes of department store clothing and shoes. If you can’t find anyone offering clothes to sell or give away, create a listing in the “looking for” section. Say that you’re willing to pay for unwanted clothing, and offer your price. However you decide to do it, Craigslist just may be a gold mine for you.
5. Dumpsters. Yes, I said it. Okay, now don’t freak out. I’m not talking about diving in dumpsters full of food trash. However, you may pass a dumpster by a college housing area. Sometimes college kids just throw away clothes they don’t have room for or don’t want anymore. You can also go behind some department stores (please stay clear of compactors!), but I wouldn’t rely on this method. Usually stores destroy the product that they toss, and other dumpster divers can be quite territorial. I’m not saying this from experience or anything…
6. Ask your friends and family if you can have their hand me downs. Seriously, do it! Some people have clothes they don’t wear anymore, and by asking may remind them that they don’t need them anymore. You can offer a little cash too. Just be sure to be fair, but if they offer to let you have it free of charge, don’t forget to say “thank you” and graciously accept their gifts!
7. You could buy storage lockers. I’ve never done this (yet) but I know some people who have. You never know what could be in those lockers….It would obviously be best if they let you have an idea of what was inside those lockers, however, so you don’t end up buying an oversized locker full of creepy doll parts or something.
8. Ask department stores if you can buy their unsold stock. I met a girl who would go into Marshall’s and pay the lowest prices for clothing that they couldn’t sell. All new with tags, and easy to flip. That sort of thing would take a really confident, extroverted person, and honey that just ain’t me!
9. Yard Sales make for great sourcing! People usually want to get rid of their stuff for cheap in order to clear some space, so you can get name brand clothing for as low as $.50 a piece! Make sure to check for any holes or stains just to be safe, because most of the time you won’t be able to take them back.
10. Your own closet! Especially when first starting out, your closet can have a bunch of things for you to get started! Go through everything, and try to remember the last time you had used it, or even thought about it. Go through your storage bins full out out-of-season clothing, your kids clothes, heck, even your spouse’s clothes! (I would suggest getting their permission first, obv.) You just might be able to find enough items to get your reselling business launched without spending a penny on inventory!

As you can see, there are so many ways for you to acquire inventory to resell online. Some of the ideas may work well for some, while others may work best for someone else. Only YOU know what will work best for you, and when you find that thing (or things!), go forth and SOURCE!

If you haven’t yet begun selling clothes online, but really want to, I suggest setting up a store on Poshmark! Poshmark is great because you don’t have to worry about shipping costs, or even going to the post office! That is the main reason I prefer Poshmark over the other online platforms for selling fashion. If you don’t yet have an account, be sure to sign up using my code RINSTYLE for $5 off your first purchase! If you want to become a Posh Ambassador (a great marketing strategy!), you will have to make a purchase from any seller as your final step of the Ambassador program (and leave them a review with a nice message!)

If you have any other ideas for sourcing clothes to resell, I’d love to hear about them! Leave a comment down below and let me know how you get your inventory!