08/09/2026
I keep getting messages like:
“I'm new to the thrift wear business. What should I buy first?”
“Which bale moves faster, and which one gives more profit?”
“Between China and UK bales, which one is better?”
“CCR and CMR, which one should I buy?”
And sometimes I ask myself: If I answer all these questions for you, what then will experience teach you?
It is good to make enquiries before entering a business. In fact, that is an important part of preparation. You need to learn the basics, understand the business, know what to expect, and avoid some common mistakes.
However, it is wrong to try to figure everything out at once.
There are certain things you have to discover for yourself with time. One of them is what works best for you and your market.
For example, I may tell you to buy children's mix because it sells very well in my area. But I am not you, and your customers are not my customers.
I may tell you that UK bales are better. But what happens when you eventually encounter a bad UK bale? Do you think every bale will always be good?
No.
Both UK and China bales have good and bad bales. The same thing applies to different categories of thrift wears.
The truth is, every bale can move, and every bale can make you profit, as long as the clothes are sellable and you know how to sell them. Some may move faster than others, and some may give you better margins depending on your location, customers, season, purchasing price, and how you sell.
It may take time, but eventually, you will sell them.
Business comes with risk.
So, don't always expect someone to figure everything out for you so that you can start a business without taking any risk. That will never happen.
Once you have made up your mind to start a business, get proper training. Learn the basics. Understand the business model and learn how to avoid some common and costly mistakes.
But understand that the purpose of training is not to remove every risk from the business. That is impossible.
What we are trying to do is prepare you for some of the things you are likely to experience, help you understand how to navigate them, and make your journey a little easier.
Eventually, you will still have to make some decisions for yourself.
You will buy a bale and discover things you didn't expect.
You will make mistakes.
You will try something that doesn't work.
You will discover something that works exceptionally well for your own customers.
And that is where experience comes in.
Believe in yourself and believe that you can make it.
If you make mistakes, it's okay. Learn from them, make adjustments, and move forward.
Don't wait until you have figured everything out. Don't wait until you know exactly which bale is the best, which category will sell the fastest, or until you can guarantee that everything will go perfectly.
Just know what you are getting into, prepare yourself properly, and start.
With time, you will learn.
And sometimes, the things you learn from your own experience will teach you more than any answer someone could have given you at the beginning.
Laura Love Laura
