In her instructional manual "Too Good to be Threw", Kate Holmes, Sarasota, FL, outlines the basics of bootstrapping a successful thrift shop, something she herself did in 1975 when fired from her job.

Kate recommends a couple of basics:
• Start with a minimum of 1200 square feet and room to expand
• Choose a location visible to both foot and car traffic
• Be sure to have an easy-to-locate address
• Adequate parking is also key
• Make sure you have good signs to attract attention
• Pick a neighborhood with businesses that will attract your desired clientele

Kate says she started her business with just $900 to her name and was "in the black" within six weeks and a month later could support herself completely with her new business.

Some of the key elements of Kate's bootstrap startup? She used her $900 to:
• Pay one month's rent and security deposit on her store location
• Pay a deposit for her utilities
• Buy racks, tags, sales books and receipts for her store
• Pay for promotion including postcards, fliers and ads in two local newspapers

Kate kept her budget low by using:
• Grocery bags for merchandise and scraps of paper for price tags
• A door on 2X4's for a sales counter
• A stool and some shelves borrowed from her dad
• Pieces of furniture from her apartment as display props

For more of Kate's thoughts for a bootstrap thrift shop startup, be sure to check out her posts at Too Good to Be Threw.com.