I live in Jacksonville, Florida and have raised four children, by myself, with the help of purchasing items at thrift and consignment stores. Almost every article of clothing, furniture etc. in my home is second hand. At the present time I am very much interested in opening a store of this nature myself but do not know how to get started. I am on a limited budget but realize the abundance of items that are disregarded by many households that could be purchased by people like myself who really cannot afford to buy new. I would like to know about government grants and if they apply to this type of a business, start up costs, locations where this would be most benefitted, etc.
Thank you, Helen Tabor

It has been a while since I have been to jacksonville, so I can't tell you how the laws work there. I know in many areas in GA and TN people have little U-store it buildings where they store all their items and then open on the weekends, ( some open almost all week) others keep their items at more permant flea markets where they rent inside storage and/or booths.

I have actually went around the city of Atlanta when I lived there and collected things out of the trash and sold them. I often made 100 dollars or so on a Saturday from items gotten out of trash cans or left on the side of the road.

If you are looking at a store building, you will need funds for rent, libility insurance at least, and a lot more.

Badger890,

First, a caution. 80% of small business fail within the first 3 years of operation.

How can you avoid that?

Create a business plan.
Create a Cash Flow Budget.

Where will all your money go.

Make sure you plan, plan and plan before you go ahead with this.

I'm not saying don't go through with this, just make sure you are fully prepared first. Where will you get the start up money for the business? Yourself, friends/family, venture capitalist?

You have a great idea I must say. If you pick your market properly, and gets a good rental fee, I think it could be successful.

e-bay!!

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Originally Posted by klmgb

e-bay!!!!!!

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Lol.

Yes, e-bay works wonders.

But sometimes people would rather go, personally examine the products and then buy them.

And in person, there is no doubt you won't get the item as with eBay, the seller might not send the product to you!

I saw this on the back of a garbage truck. I too have toured the city picking up throw-aways, to my surprise I was able to sell the items and so far have made two hundred dollars. This was just two nights and about three hours each night. I have decided to continue and will find out when certain areas put trash out. I am astonished and wonder what kind of a spoiled society do we live in. I am determined to turn trash into my bread and butter.