SPRING IS HERE in the upper Midwest (or so we’re told)…
So if you’re a reseller like me, you know that Spring means pushing things like t-shirts, snarky beer cozies and frisbees, shorts, vintage sunglasses, my personal favorite sight-see of the summer: sundresses. But there’s an even more important aspect to all of this – the stuff you’re buying, a.k.a your inventory. The world of selling operates seasonally, and at its most elementary, on a bi-yearly, 6 month cycle. Winter and Summer, cool and warm, lighter colors and then darker colors.
OBVIOUSLY! SO WHAT? This would mean that starting now. You should be actively seeking and buying your inventory for next Fall & Winter. Nothing conveys the theory of “buy low & sell high” better than second-hand reselling. Any thrift picker worth their weight in wool, knows that the cheapest items to yank right now would be winter and cool weather goods. Also, since the vintage industry isn’t propelled by nor does it operate solely within the confines of “what’s next”, worrying about 2011/2012 trends is pointless. The stuff you should be picking is is timeless anyways – but you already knew that. This makes Spring time a very exciting time of year. Thrift stores are practically giving their winter weather stuff away to make way for people’s continual Spring cleaning purges that they’ll be bombarded with for the next couple of months.
So when it’s getting warm and sunny outside, resist temptation to buy high and now. You have to start thinking cool.
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^^^ THINGS I FOUND (at the thrift store) ^^^ Thrifting, Frugality, Upcycling and Green Living Tips for the Modern Thrifter 
This is true. I was just in a Goodwill the other day and they were having a promo on winter sweaters. But the “off season” for things can be a good time to find things too. When it’s cold out most folks aren’t looking for shorts & sleeveless tops, so you can find a great selection and deals on them too, and just the opposite in summer, look for winter/cold weather attire. Most thrift stores have specials based on when inventory arrived, so you can always find items that are 1/2 off.
Thanks for the reminder! I specialize in reselling kitschy knick knacks and tend to avoid clothes with thrifting, but I should use this as a chance to thrift for a few jackets so I don’t freeze to death for the next harsh Floridian winter. Hey- it’s cold to us!
I definitely follow this mantra, I have a ridiculous amount of vintage jackets/coats and I’ve bought them all for under $10 during the summer. Last year I found my favorite coat in Brooklyn when a vintage store was clearing out their winter merch. It’s hard to even touch wool when it’s humid in the summer but it’s worth the sacrifice!
Starting in May I haunt the thrift stores at the beginning/end of each month as that’s when everyone moves and gets rid of stuff. The garage sales are glorious then too!!