Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before Starting a Small Vintage Clothing Busines

If someone had handed me a little guidebook when I started my vintage shop, I would have saved a ton of sweat, tears, and “why did I think this was easy” moments. Running a small vintage clothing business is glamorous in theory; you imagine treasure-hunting for coats, finding the perfect handbags, and sending off packages with cute tissue paper. Reality check: it’s part magic, part hustle, and part pure chaos.

Here are the things I wish someone told me:

1. Sourcing isn’t just fun it’s strategic
You can’t just grab anything because it looks cute. Every piece needs to have a story, quality, and sellability. That means inspecting seams, fabrics, and fit. 

2. Inventory management is secretly everything
Tracking sizes, pricing, and storage locations may sound boring, but without it, you’ll lose hours trying to find pieces for orders. Even small shops benefit from a system, whether it’s digital or just color-coded bins with labels.

3. Repairs and care add up fast
Zippers, buttons, lining, shoes, everything sometimes needs a little love before it hits your shop. Factor in the time and cost for dry-cleaning, minor repairs, and conditioning leather. A pre-loved blazer may require a bit of work, but it will sell faster and make the buyer happy.

4. Photography is a full-time job on its own
If your photos aren’t on point, your items won’t sell. Steaming, styling, lighting, and measuring take hours but make all the difference. Think of it as storytelling; each photo is your vintage piece’s first impression.

5. Social media is your best friend and worst enemy
It’s amazing for connecting with customers, building hype, and showing your shop personality. But it can also eat your life if you’re constantly chasing trends. Find your voice, post consistently, and don’t compare your shop to everyone else’s.

6. Patience is mandatory
Not every piece will fly off the rack immediately. Vintage shopping is a treasure hunt for your customers too. Sometimes it takes weeks, months, or seasons for the right person to find your pre-loved gem.

7. The joy is worth it
Every moment you see someone light up because they found their dream dress or bag is worth all the behind-the-scenes grind. Running a small vintage clothing business is a marathon, not a sprint, but nothing beats sharing your love of timeless, one-of-a-kind pieces with the world.

Starting a vintage shop is part hustle, part heart, and a lot of learning on the go. If I could go back, I would tell myself to embrace the chaos, celebrate the wins, and never underestimate the power of a curated collection of pre-loved pieces.