What if you could shop for a living?
No, were not talkingmystery shopping, or even working as apersonal stylist.
This job entails shopping at thrift stores, garage sales and even other peoples closets.
Vintage has long been back in style, especially because every piece is so unique.
Thats not entirely the case.
Selling vintage clothing on Etsy isnt a way to make a quick buck.
Thats exactly the case for Lora Conrad, the owner ofHungry Heart Vintage.
Over the past few years, shes built her Etsy shop into a profitable business.
Conrad is always on the hunt for new pieces she can breathe new life into and sell.
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
But what if your car breaks down, or you have a sudden medical bill?
Ask one of these companies to help…
One surprising way she acquires new pieces is through private appointments.
Private buying appointments are by far my favorite ways of acquiring vintage, she said.
Im leaving their homes with bits of their family history that will live on through others.
When she first started selling vintage, Conrad didnt anticipate this would be part of her job.
Embrace Seasonality
Swimsuit season arrived a couple months ago including in Conrads shop.
She constantly keeps her shop fresh and lists whats in season.
Its not just that she can get more money when an item is in season.
It also keeps her selling costs as low as possible.
Etsy charges $0.20 for each listing.
If it doesnt sell within four months, it costs another $0.20 to relist the item.
She also runs promotions, especially during holidays likeBlack Friday.
Build Your Brand
Conrad doesnt spend all her time on her Etsy shop.
Conrad alsoblogsabout how to blend vintage and modern style.
Shes kind of like a vintage clothing advisor.
Dedicate Yourself to the Details
Glowing reviews attract more people to your shop.
And on the other side of the coin, a bad review can turn someone away.
The best way to acquire those happy customers, then entice them to leave you a five-star review?
Go above and beyond their expectations.
To begin with, Conrad spends a great deal of time preparing clothes for sale.
Cleaning and repairing is time consuming.
Then Conrad gets extremely detailed in how she describes each item.
She includes measurements as well as information about fit, material, brand and condition.
She always lets customers know about any imperfections and provides a range of photos for each item.
After the sale, Conrad artfully packages her orders and writes notes to thank her customers.
Packing takes quite a bit of time, but thats on me, Conrad said.
Develop a Pricing Formula
One of the trickiest parts of selling vintage clothes is pricing.
Some pieces are more rare than others, so are worth more.
Some pieces Conrad finds for cheap, others she has to pay more for up front.
So how much does she make on the stuff she resells?
Its hard to say from piece to piece, Conrad said.
Sometimes you find a treasure on its way to someones dumpster or in your neighborhood thrift.
And she doesnt even bother with trying to factor in her own labor hours.
The only formula I use to mark up items is, L=0.
Thats Lora pays herself no money per hour for her labor.
But as a self-defined independent, stubborn, loner workaholic, she wouldnt have it any other way.
Betsy Mikel is a Chicago-based freelance copywriter.
She loves biking all over every city she visits to find its best taqueria.
No Interest Til Almost 2027?
Balance Transfer = Credit Card Cheat Code
