Getting Started

A Detailed Guide for a Thrift business

Before you dive deep, you need a starting point. Even if you have a broad idea like "thrift business," try to list potential sub-niches or angles. Explanation: Think about your interests, problems you can solve, or underserved markets. Don't filter too much at this stage.

EKD

28 May 2025 • 8 min read

Photo by Hannah Morgan / Unsplash

Researching a niche market is crucial before investing time and money. It helps you understand demand, identify your target audience, analyze competition, and ultimately, find a profitable angle. The good news? You don't need expensive software to get started!

Our Running Example: We want to start a thrift business. This is broad, so we'll use the tools to narrow it down and understand specific opportunities.

Step 1: Brainstorm Initial Niche Ideas (and Sub-Niches)

Before you dive deep, you need a starting point. Even if you have a broad idea like "thrift business," try to list potential sub-niches or angles.

Why: Think about your interests, problems you can solve, or underserved markets. Don't filter too much at this stage.
Free Tools:
- Your Brain & Observations: What are people talking about? What gaps do you see in the market?
- Google Search (Autocomplete & "People also ask"): Start typing broad terms and see what Google suggests. Look at the "People also ask" section for common questions.
- Social Media (especially Pinterest, Instagram, TikTok): See what's trending visually. What kind of content gets engagement?
How to Use:
- Start typing your broad idea into Google.
- Scroll through feeds on social media using relevant hashtags.
Thrift Business Example:
- Initial broad idea: Thrift Business
- Google Autocomplete for "thrifted...": "thrifted home decor," "thrifted vintage clothing," "thrifted kids clothes," "thrifted furniture online."
- "People also ask" for "thrift store business": "Is a thrift store profitable?", "How do I start a successful thrift store?", "What are the most popular thrift store items?"
- Pinterest/Instagram search for #thriftedfashion: Reveals styles like Y2K, vintage denim, 90s band tees, unique blazers.
- Possible Sub-Niches from Brainstorming:
  - Vintage band t-shirts
  - Curated thrifted home decor (e.g., mid-century modern)
  - High-quality second-hand children's clothing
  - Thrifted designer handbags
  - Upcycled/reworked thrifted clothing

Step 2: Gauge Initial Interest & Demand

Once you have a few potential niches/sub-niches, you need to see if people are actually looking for them.

Why: You want to find niches with sufficient interest but not necessarily overwhelming saturation.
Free Tools:
- Google Trends (trends.google.com): Compare search interest over time for different keywords. You can also see regional interest and related queries.
- AnswerThePublic (answerthepublic.com): Visualizes search questions around a keyword. (Free version has limited daily searches).
- Google Search (SERP analysis): How many results appear? Are there ads? This indicates commercial intent.
How to Use:
- Google Trends: Enter your potential niche keywords (e.g., "vintage band tees," "thrifted home decor"). Compare them. Look at the trend line (up, down, stable?). Check "related queries" for more ideas.
- AnswerThePublic: Enter a core keyword (e.g., "vintage clothing"). See the questions people ask (what, where, why, how).
- Google Search: Search your niche term. Look at the number of results. Are the top results blogs, shops, forums, or a mix?
Thrift Business Example:
- Google Trends:
  - Comparing "vintage band tees" vs. "thrifted designer bags" vs. "mid-century modern decor."
  - "Vintage band tees" might show consistent interest, perhaps spiking around music festival seasons. "Mid-century modern decor" might be steadily popular.
  - Related queries for "vintage band tees" might include "90s band tees," "rare band tees," specific band names.
- AnswerThePublic (for "thrift home decor"): Might show questions like "where to find thrift home decor," "how to style thrift home decor," "what thrift home decor is valuable."
- Google Search for "vintage band tees online": Likely many Etsy shops, specialized online stores, eBay listings. This shows demand and existing sellers.

Step 3: Identify and Analyze Your Potential Audience

Who would buy from you? Understanding their demographics, pain points, desires, and where they hang out online is key.

Why: You need to know who you're talking to so you can tailor your offerings and marketing.
Free Tools:
- Reddit (reddit.com): Find subreddits related to your niche. Read discussions, look at top posts, and see common questions and complaints.
- Quora (quora.com): Search for questions related to your niche. See what problems people are trying to solve.
- Facebook Groups: Search for groups related to your niche. Observe discussions (if public, or join and observe).
- YouTube Comments: Look at comments on videos related to your niche.
- Instagram/TikTok Comments & Hashtags: See who is engaging with content in your niche and what they're saying.
How to Use:
- Reddit: Search for subreddits like r/ThriftStoreHauls, r/VintageFashion, r/Mid_Century, r/Flipping. Look for:
  - What items get people most excited?
  - What are common frustrations (e.g., high prices at "curated" thrifts, difficulty finding specific sizes/styles)?
  - What language do they use?
- Facebook Groups: Search for "Vintage Clothing Lovers," "Thrift Haul Brags," "Secondhand Kids Clothes Swap."
Thrift Business Example (Focusing on "Curated Vintage Clothing"):
- Reddit (r/VintageFashion, r/ThriftStoreHauls):
  - Audience: Likely 20s-40s, fashion-conscious, sustainability-minded, looking for unique pieces, appreciate quality and history.
  - Pain points: Sifting through racks for hours, inconsistent sizing, finding authentic vintage vs. modern repro, condition issues.
  - Desires: Unique style, good quality, fair price, finding "gems," knowing the story behind a piece.
- Instagram (#vintagefashion, #truevintage): See who is posting and commenting. Note their style, age range (often visible in profiles), and the brands/aesthetics they admire.
- Conclusion: The audience for "curated vintage clothing" values uniqueness, quality, and perhaps sustainability. They might be willing to pay a bit more for items that are already selected, cleaned, and well-presented.

Step 4: Scope Out the Competition

Who else is operating in this niche? What are they doing well, and where are the gaps?

Why: You don't want to enter a completely saturated market without a unique selling proposition (USP).
Free Tools:
- Google Search (incognito mode): Search for your niche keywords to see who ranks.
- Social Media Search: Search for your niche on Instagram, Etsy, Pinterest, Facebook Marketplace.
- SimilarWeb (free version for basic website traffic overview): Get a rough idea of competitor website traffic and sources.
- BuzzSumo (free version for content discovery): See what content performs well for keywords related to your niche (can indicate what competitors are successfully creating).
How to Use:
- Google/Social Media: Identify 3-5 direct competitors. Analyze their:
  - Website/Shop: Professionalism, product selection, pricing, photography, descriptions, shipping policies.
  - Social Media: Platform presence, engagement, content type, branding.
  - Reviews: What do customers love/hate?
- SimilarWeb: Check their website traffic (if they have a standalone site) for a general idea of their reach.
Thrift Business Example (Continuing with "Curated Vintage Clothing"):
- Google Search for "online vintage clothing store," "curated Y2K fashion":
  - Identify top Etsy sellers, independent Shopify stores, Depop/Poshmark power sellers.
- Competitor Analysis (e.g., a successful Etsy vintage store):
  - Strengths: Great photography, detailed descriptions including measurements, specific era focus (e.g., 70s disco wear), active Instagram with styled outfits.
  - Weaknesses: Maybe shipping is slow, or they don't offer returns, or their sizing information is sometimes inconsistent (gleaned from reviews).
  - Opportunities for you: Could you offer faster shipping? Focus on a different vintage era they neglect (e.g., 90s grunge)? Offer styling bundles? Better plus-size vintage options?

Step 5: Identify Problems You Can Solve or Unique Angles

Based on your audience and competitor research, how can you stand out?

Why: This is where you define your Unique Selling Proposition (USP). What makes you different and better for your target customer?
Free Tools: Synthesis of all previous research.
How to Use:
- Review your notes on audience pain points.
- Review your notes on competitor weaknesses or gaps in the market.
- Brainstorm solutions or unique approaches.
Thrift Business Example (Curated Vintage Clothing):
- Audience Pain Point: Finding unique vintage pieces that fit modern style and are in good condition without spending hours sifting. Difficulty finding specific sizes.
- Competitor Weakness: Some competitors have generic photography or focus on only one specific vintage style. Few cater well to extended sizes.
- Potential Unique Angles/USPs for your thrift business:
  - "Vintage Workwear for Creative Professionals": Curated vintage blazers, blouses, trousers suitable for stylish office wear.
  - "Inclusive Vintage sizing": Actively sourcing and showcasing a wide range of sizes, with accurate modern measurements.
  - "Themed Vintage Style Bundles": E.g., a "90s Grunge Starter Pack" or "Romantic Academia Bundle" with 3-5 coordinated pieces.
  - "Repair & Rework Focus": Thrifting items that need minor repairs or upcycling, highlighting the sustainable aspect and craftsmanship.

Step 6: Test Your Niche (Low-Risk)

Before going all-in, try a small-scale test if possible.

Why: Validate your refined niche idea with minimal investment.
Free Tools/Methods:
- Social Media Polling (Instagram/Facebook Stories): Ask your existing network or relevant groups for opinions.
- Pre-sell/Waiting List: Create a simple landing page (e.g., using Carrd.co free tier, or a Mailchimp free landing page) for a specific product idea and see if people sign up.
- Small Batch on Marketplaces: List a few items on Etsy, Depop, Poshmark, or Facebook Marketplace following your refined niche strategy.
How to Use:
- Present your refined niche concept or specific product ideas and gather feedback.
- If you plan an online store, try selling a few curated items on an existing marketplace first to gauge interest in your specific curation style.
Thrift Business Example (Refined Niche: "Curated Vintage 90s Grunge Style Bundles"):
- Social Media Poll: "Would you be interested in a curated style bundle of authentic 90s grunge pieces (flannel, band tee, ripped jeans) for $X?"
- Small Batch Test: Source 3-5 outfits that fit the "90s grunge bundle" theme. Take excellent photos. List them on Depop or Etsy with clear descriptions of your niche. See if they sell and what feedback you get.

Step 7: Monitor and Iterate

Niche research isn't a one-time task. Markets and trends evolve.

Why: Continuously listen to your audience and watch the market to stay relevant.
Free Tools:
- Google Alerts (google.com/alerts): Set up alerts for your niche keywords, brand name (once established), and competitor names.
- Continue using Reddit, Social Media Groups, Google Trends to stay updated on conversations and shifting interests.
How to Use:
- Regularly check your Google Alerts.
- Periodically revisit the subreddits and groups relevant to your audience.
- Keep an eye on Google Trends for your main keywords.
Thrift Business Example:
- Google Alerts for: "90s fashion revival," "vintage band merch," "sustainable fashion trends."
- Revisit r/90sFashion, r/Grunge: See if new sub-trends are emerging within the 90s aesthetic (e.g., a specific type of shoe, a certain layering technique). This helps you adapt your sourcing.

Key Takeaways:

Start Broad, Then Narrow: Don't get stuck on your first idea.
Listen to Your Audience: Their problems and desires are your opportunities.
Find a Gap: Don't just copy competitors; offer something unique or better.
Free Tools Are Powerful: When used strategically, they can give you incredible insights.
Test & Iterate: The market is dynamic. Be prepared to adapt.

Action builds business. Start small, start smart—then scale.

This content is AI-assisted and reviewed for accuracy, but errors may occur. Always consult a legal/financial professional before making business decisions. nrold.com is not liable for any actions taken based on this information.