Opening your Store
Locating premises
Your initial step is to find suitable premises to sell the clothing from. If you are looking for a shop front you will need to analyse your location relative to target market, foot traffic and population density among other factors.
Finding Stock
Next you must decide what type of clothes you wish to sell. A second-hand clothes shop sells a wide range of clothing and trades in low-cost clothing for customers shopping on a budget. Second-hand shops may also specialise in maternity wear, children’s clothing or vintage fashions.
Then you will need to find stock to sell, but first you will need to familiarize yourself with the laws applying importation of second hand clothing.
Setting up shop
Once you have your store and stock set up, focus on making your shop attractive to potential buyers:
- It would also be wise for your shop to have dressing rooms, as many second-hand shops lack this basic facility.
- Install good lighting so the shop is always bright, and keep it spotlessly clean.
- Have all your stock properly dry-cleaned or washed before you put it on the shelves; this is not only a legal requirement, but it will pay off in sales. Customers can see when an item is grubby or creased, and this will put them off visiting again.
Extending your service offering
By offering additional services, you may attract more customers. These services may include dry cleaning and on-site alteration services.
Complying with regulations
Public health by-laws clearly state that second hand clothing must be disinfected properly as soon as they are received. The by-laws also require you to store second-hand goods in a place where they cannot become infested with rodents, other vermin or pests.
Contact your local municipality for clear instructions on they require you to store your stock; different municipalities may take slightly different approaches to this matter, depending on the climate, the seriousness of the problem in your area, etc.
Obtaining Stock
Importing
The import of bales of second hand clothing into South Africa is banned. Reject garments produced by local manufactures are usually sold off through clothing factory shops of which there are many. “There is a ban of the import of second hand clothing into the country.
There is only one exception which is the import of second hand coats”, says Etienne Volk, senior research officer for the Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union. The importation of all second hand goods and clothing is governed by the International Trade Administration Act of 2002. The Act stipulates that all second-hand clothes can no longer be imported into South Africa.
Other ways to get stock
One can get stock for shop through other means such as jumble sales, car boot sales, charity shops, buying from individuals, visiting local clothing manufactures and buying reject clothing from them. Once people know that you buy and sell second-hand clothing they will become another source of stock for the shop.
Training
If you would like to attend training and need information contact The Clothing, Textiles, Footwear and Leather SETA about which accredited training providers are in your area.
Here are some other training courses available that you will find helpful:
- Intec College offers a one-year certificate in fashion merchandising on a part-time basis. The entry requirement is Grade 10.
- Damelin offers a one-year certificate in wholesale and retail credit control on a full-time basis, as well as a one-year certificate in small business financial management. The entry requirement is Grade 11.