I’ve been considering starting a thrift shop for pet supplies. My idea is to run it as a nonprofit, working with rescues, affordable vets, and local businesses that make pet-related items. The goal would be to help pet owners manage costs, which have gone up a lot recently. Do you think this could work?
Reminder to everyone: this forum is for asking and answering small business questions. If your post doesn’t follow the rules, it might get removed, and repeated issues could lead to a ban. If you have questions about this, feel free to contact the forum moderators.
You’ve got an interesting idea, but I have a few questions to think about.
Why do you want to make it a nonprofit? What kind of benefits do you see from doing it this way?
What groups would you want to partner with, and how would they benefit from your nonprofit?
Why would small businesses want to work with you? What’s in it for them?
Would the vets be physically involved, like offering treatments or exams in the shop?
Lastly, are you thinking people would donate their used pet items for resale? If so, why would they give to your store instead of another thrift shop?
If your area could use another thrift store, then sure, it could work.
But please, don’t let cats roam around the shop or pee on things. Customers won’t want to deal with that.
Blakeley said:
If your area could use another thrift store, then sure, it could work.
But please, don’t let cats roam around the shop or pee on things. Customers won’t want to deal with that.
I get where you’re coming from. I’m super allergic to cats. I can’t even go to vets that keep office cats, let alone shop somewhere they’ve been on the merchandise. I’ve even broken out in a rash from handling stuff that came from a place with cats.
@Tracy
There’s a store near where I used to live that does a lot of good for stray cats, but the entire place reeks of cat pee. It’s so bad that you can barely shop there. I’m sure it’s hurting their sales. If animals are involved, they need a separate area.
Not sure how you’ll get customers since none of the pets I know have money to spend…
You should consider combining it with a food pantry for pets. A friend of mine started one, and it’s been a huge success. When people hit hard times, they often have to give up their pets, and this could really help prevent that.
I love the idea! A thrift store for pet supplies could be a great way to help people manage pet care costs. Running it as a nonprofit would make it even better by supporting rescues and local businesses. Collaborating with affordable vets and small businesses sounds like a solid way to build community support. It could be a win for both pet owners and their furry friends!