They Launched Their Thrift Store with €500… Here Are Their Results 1 Month Later

Maxime Lemaille
2025-05-20T18:29:11+02:00

Launch a Profitable Thrift Store with Just €500?
Many dream of it, few dare to believe. Yet several young resellers took the plunge with a very limited budget… and the results exceeded all expectations.

Here’s the (very real) story of those who decided to stop waiting for the perfect moment and launched with strategy, common sense… and a bit of boldness.

A Simple Idea: Start Small, but Smart

Early April. Two vintage lovers want to try selling clothes online.
They have no shop, no website, and no unlimited budget. Just one clear goal: prove that you can build a viable business with very little money.

Their plan: buy a bale of vintage clothing, sort out the best pieces, list them on Vinted and Instagram, and see if they can make quick sales.

- Total budget: €500

- They can’t afford mistakes.

The Key Step: Choosing Stock That Actually Sells

No time to dig through dusty bins. They go straight to the point: a ready-to-sell bale from United Vintage, specialized in sorted vintage clothes (sweatshirts, t-shirts, hoodies…).

- Bale cost: €350

- With the remaining budget, they plan to buy some accessories to photograph the pieces and handle shipping.

Their goal is clear: sell fast, cleanly, and start building a small community around their brand.

Clean Presentation, Simple Strategy

They set up a mini photo studio at home and take the time to sort and showcase each item.
No professional shoot — just consistency, natural light, and a good eye for detail.

They create an Instagram account with a clear editorial line, alternating product highlights, “new arrival” stories, and lifestyle content.
On Instagram, they carefully craft captions, descriptions, and pricing.

One week later, the first sales come in. Then more follow.

The Results After 30 Days

- Items listed: 52

- Items sold: 42

- Average price per item: €19.50

- Total revenue: €819

- Net profit (after fees, shipping, reinvestment): around €300

Within a month, not only did they recoup their initial investment, but they also proved the model works.
They’re now planning a second drop, with a bigger budget and a growing audience.

Key Takeaways

Launching a profitable thrift store doesn’t require thousands of euros or a physical shop.
What you do need is:

- Good stock that sells easily

- Clean and consistent presentation

- A minimum of strategy

- A reliable sourcing partner

United Vintage: The Foundation for a Good Start

If they were able to launch with just €500, it’s also because they made the right choices from the start.
With United Vintage, you can order pre-sorted vintage clothing bales, organized by type, with in-demand, fast-selling items.

Want to get started without the hassle, with stock that actually sells and a clear profitability plan?
Start simple, but start smart.
United Vintage supports you from day one.