Let’s talk about sourcing vintage during the pandemic! Our livelihoods have been impacted and we’ve had to adapt and find creative ways to keep up our inventory and stay relevant. I know this topic can get controversial given that everyone is making their own choices about risk so I’m going to focus on alternative ways to source other than what may be your usual routine of the thrift store and estate sale circuit several times a week.

I find some of these ideas to be huge time savers and as well as opportunities to strengthen your brand by being more intentional with what you source and offer to your customers. When I’m in a thrift store or shopping in person, I feel more compelled to “save” vintage items even if they aren’t exactly “me” and I don’t feel that same desire when shopping online. So if you haven’t already done so, maybe you will consider incorporating some of these sourcing methods into your routine for your own good…and for good!

In no particular order:

Local marketplace platforms - Facebook Marketplace & Groups, Craigslist, etc.: contactless pickups are the new normal and there are lots of people out there holding online yard sales or selling family collections and just want to get rid of the stuff! Create some alerts for the items you’re looking for and limit your time on these platforms, they can be addictive! Some Facebook Marketplace sellers are also willing to ship, so keep that in mind as well - you are no longer confined to buying from people in your location.
eBay and other online platforms: again, look for collections. Just be wary of buying breakables, I’ve heard nightmares of items arriving broken because they weren’t packaged properly. There can be some bad actors on these sites who are just looking for a quick buck and don’t really care about the items or whether or not they arrive safely.
Swapping with or sourcing from dealer friend: when the pandemic started, my group of local vintage girls and I did a lot of trading and selling to each other. It was also an excuse to show up on each other’s doorsteps or have a socially distanced cocktail! Just this week I received a flat rate box of 12 incredible brass pieces from my friend from out of state who was looking to offload some inventory. I paid a little more than normal but it’s a win-win for both of us - she makes some $$ and I’ll still be able to make a decent profit. Plus, all of the items totally align with where I’m taking my brand and a few are almost identical to items I’ve sold before so listing was a breeze!
Online estate sales and auction sites: you’ll need some patience here! A lot of estate sale companies have had to adapt their business models by entering into the auction space or by selling online instead of holding sales in clients’ homes.. Even Goodwill has an auction site! Check out estatesales.net to get started with online auctions. Local estate sale companies will offer pick up and in some cases, delivery - just read the fine print before you buy and don’t assume your items will be shipped.
Outdoor flea markets: early morning outings were my go-to last summer and fall and I’m looking forward to getting back out there again with my mask and sanitizer!
Outdoor estate sales: the only two estate sales I’ve been to during the pandemic were held outdoors! Seriously, is it springtime yet?
Network and don’t be shy! Let the world know you are a dealer and opportunities just may present themselves. I don’t really hide this when I’m talking with other dealers at flea markets, estate sales or online. I’ve actually been given better deals and have been invited to shop storage units and warehouses because of it! The seller may also have more items that you could be interested in so don’t be afraid to ask. And guess what, you’re not fooling another dealer by pretending you are a casual shopper so just give it up, they can tell! (I’ve sold at my fair share of flea markets :))
Make sure your family, friends and neighbors are aware that you would love to take things off their hands or help them downsize. You can even offer to pay them or give them a % of the sales but I’m sure most people would be happy to clear out whatever is collecting dust, knowing that you’ll be giving their once cherished belongings a new life!
Source from your own home: do you have any collections that you are finally ready to part with? Do you have piles of something like books, art, or jewelry but haven’t gotten it together to add that category of goods to your shop? (hello, this is me!) Anything in storage in your attic or basement? Save time and money and clear out what you already own!

Some additional notes for sourcing online:

Be sure to inspect the items for flaws and if there aren’t complete photos to make you confident in your purchase, ask the seller for more info or photos.
Trust your gut - if the deal looks too good to be true, it may just be, so do your due diligence!
Set some time restraints and a budget, it’s easy to get carried away while browsing online.
If you are meeting up with strangers, agree on public place or bring someone along. I had to say it!

Are any of these methods part of your new normal? What have you had success with? And which will you try next?

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