Running a vintage or pre-loved shop can be incredibly fulfilling and super fun, but as with any business venture, you should be aware of all the hidden (and not-so-hidden) costs, especially when you're just starting out.

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Whether it's hunting for unique inventory or promoting your shop, having a solid understanding of your expenses means being able to set your prices at an affordable point for customers and, most importantly, turning the best profit possible.

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Sourcing inventory

For most vintage sellers, sourcing is far and away the most expensive and most important investment someone can make in their reselling business.

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The actual cost of inventory is an obvious component to sourcing and, regardless of whether you’re scouring local thrift stores, attending estate sales, or travelling around your region to vintage markets, the price of your items can add up quickly.

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Be sure to factor in costs like gas, meals and accommodations if travel is part of your sourcing strategy.

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Veteran vendors often have their own unique strategies for determining if something is worth their time and effort and if there is potential with their return on their investment (ROI), but for new sellers, there’s a learning curve to find a balance between sourcing high-quality, on-brand goods and staying within their budget.

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The cost to sell

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Booth or consignment fees

If you have a space in a bricks-and-mortar location, expect to pay a shelf or consignment fee. These can range in price depending on a number of factors, including the size of the city or the type of store. Consignment fees can be anywhere in the ballpark of 20-30 per cent and shelf fees range from $100-300 per month.

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Craft and maker markets can also range in price, which vary based on location, time of year, or length of market. A booth fee can be as low as $25 for a table or hundreds of dollars to attend.

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While it can sometimes be worthwhile to venture outside of your town or region to attend a dedicated vintage or antique market, know that it does mean increased costs (sometimes significantly). When budgeting, include travel incidentals such as gas, meals and accommodations.

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If you are selling in-person, whether as a market vendor or in a static space at a vintage collective or antique store, having a clean, creative, and branded space to display your wares is crucial. Consider including staging costs like garment racks, a table or stands, table-top displays, tablecloths and mirrors.

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Platform fees

‍Selling on platforms like Etsy or eBay introduces an additional set of fees. As an example, here’s a quick breakdown for Etsy:

• Sellers pay a fee of US$0.20 per listing.
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• If your shop's currency is set to something other than USD — like CAD — Etsy takes a 2.5% currency conversion fee from the sale price before the money hits your bank account. This is an extra cost to keep in mind when setting your prices.
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• In terms of marketing, Etsy Ads work on a pay-per-click basis, allowing you to set your daily budget. As for Offsite Ads, sellers making under US$10,000 per year will pay a 15 per cent fee on any sale generated from these ads. If you make more than US$10,000 annually, the fee drops to 12% per cent, with a cap of $100 CAD per order.
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These fees can add up quickly and have the potential to impact your bottom line, so it's essential to account for them in your pricing.

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Online sellers also aren’t off the hook when it comes to staging. In fact, having a clear and bright place to take photos for online listings is even more important than in-person selling because photos and videos will have to compensate for the fact that buyers aren’t able to physically touch and hold your items.

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To make the most of your online sales, consider purchasing a lightbox, staging props, a quality smartphone or camera, and photo editing software.

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Shipping

One of the benefits of being a vintage seller is the often unspoken understanding that most (if not all) of the community is in support of sustainability efforts — and many of us incorporate these ideals into our business models.

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When it comes to packaging, packing and shipping materials, this means an amount of lenience is given; we might sacrifice the aesthetics of pristine new packaging in favour of using recycled materials.

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Flyers, gently used bubble wrap, shoe boxes (and boxes of every other size) make excellent, low-impact alternatives for sending things in the mail with the added bonus of contributing minimal (if any) additional costs.

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When it comes to new packing materials, services like ULine or Amazon can be convenient for getting boxes and supplies, but those costs can really stack up — especially if you're shipping larger or fragile items.

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Marketing matters

Marketing your vintage business is a necessary expense. Consider investing in ads, joining a directory of vintage sellers and boosting your social media posts to build awareness, which is crucial for reaching new customers, nurturing existing ones, and staying relevant in the vintage-seller’s market space.

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Many vintage sellers rely [too] heavily on social media for free advertising, where your content is at the mercy of algorithms. While organic reach is great, it can be risky to put all your eggs in that basket, especially when sales are slow.

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Continued from above

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Even a modest marketing budget can improve your bottom line. With some thoughtful and consistent content creation, advertising and other strategies, you can achieve a measurable difference in sales via other metrics, including:

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1. Staying on your customers’ radar: Ensure that you’re the first shop someone thinks of when they are looking for something.

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‍2. Nurturing customer relationships: Regular engagement builds loyalty and trust, which can translate to future sales and repeat customers of your shop.

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‍3. Gaining visibility: Staying top-of-mind with consistent marketing allows you to stand out in a crowded marketplace of sellers.

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‍4. Showcasing the value of your vintage: Highlight the unique qualities of your items — like craftsmanship, rarity and sustainability — so that you always communicate why you’re the right vintage vendor for someone’s needs.

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It’s also worth noting that during slower economic times, like the ones we’re experiencing right now, maintaining (or even increasing) marketing efforts can keep your vintage business relevant.

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It’s about creating a consistent presence to a) capture sales that are happening during the soft period, and b) capitalize on momentum when sales do rebound.

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Soft costs you might not have considered

Time management

Every aspect of running a vintage business takes time. For part-time sellers, the balance of other work and life on top of a vintage business can be overwhelming.

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It's important to keep track of the hours you’re spending sourcing and selling and make sure you're not underpricing your time and effort; and that you are spending at least some time every week on marketing your efforts.

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Networking

Sellers sometimes overlook the value of networking, both online and at in-person events like markets, but the potential of these connections cannot be understated.

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Building relationships within the vintage community can lead to collaborations, sharing resources and tips, all of which contribute to your shop’s success as well as the success of the greater community.

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Mental health

For secondhand enthusiasts, vintage selling might seem like a dream job, but, like with any industry, the pressures of the gig (constant sourcing, selling via listing or in-person, and marketing) can still lead to burnout.

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Manage expectations and try to avoid comparing yourself to other shops or more established sellers. Protecting your mental health will ultimately contribute to the longevity of your vintage business.

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By having a thorough understanding and preparing for all the costs associated with vintage selling, you can better equip yourself to price your items, build your brand, and grow your shop in a sustainable way.

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Krista Montelpare is a freelance writer based in Nova Scotia and the founder of vintage shop Cellary.

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