Where I Source for Whatnot (And How I Think About It)

February 21, 2026

One of the most common questions I get from new sellers is:

“Where do you find your inventory?”

The short answer is: antique malls and estate sales mostly.

The longer answer is that sourcing is less about location and more about how you think.

Over time, I’ve learned that sourcing has to protect three things:

• Your margins
• Your time
• Your energy

If it doesn’t protect all three, it isn’t sustainable.

Where I Source Now

When I first started reselling, I sourced heavily from thrift stores. I would spend hours driving from store to store, digging through shelves and racks hoping to find the best pieces.

And sometimes I did.

But I also noticed something else.

I was spending more time searching than I was building my business.

It became exhausting. The unpredictability, the digging, the time investment. Some days I would leave with great inventory. Other days I would leave with almost nothing.

Eventually I realized I didn’t need to work that hard to find good pieces.

Now, I primarily source from antique malls and estate sales.

Why?

Because I am far more likely to find unique, well-cared-for items that fit my brand and sell well live. The pieces feel curated. They’re often in better condition. Someone has already done the digging and hours of searching for me.

That shift changed everything.

Instead of spending hours hoping to find something good, I can walk in, evaluate quickly, and make confident decisions.

My sourcing is more efficient.
My inventory feels more cohesive.
And I leave feeling energized instead of drained.

Estate Sales

Estate sales are one of my favorite environments.

You’re often walking through a home that has been lived in for decades. Collections are intact. Items have history. You can find everything from vintage decor to brass, books, art, and kitchenware.

When sourcing at estate sales, I think about:

• Condition
• Weight
• Shipping safety
• Whether it will perform well live

Just because something is old doesn’t mean it will sell.

I look for pieces that:

• Show well on camera
• Are lightweight enough to ship comfortably
• Fit my show’s aesthetic
• Make sense at the price I can realistically sell them for

Estate sales allow me to source character without sacrificing practicality.

Antique Malls

Antique malls are now a major sourcing location for me.

I know this can be controversial in some reseller spaces, but I have no issue sourcing from antique malls and reselling.

Vendors set their prices intentionally. If I come in as a customer, purchase an item at the listed price, and know I can turn around and make a profit, everyone involved is still paid exactly what they wanted.

The vendor gets the sale.
I get inventory that fits my business.
My buyers get access to curated pieces.

Everyone is supported in the way they intended.

What I would not do is go into an antique mall and ask for discounts on items I plan to resell. That’s not respectful of the vendor’s work or pricing.

If the numbers don’t work at the listed price, I simply pass.

That keeps sourcing clean and professional.

Antique malls allow me to:

• Save time
• Find higher-quality pieces
• Source more intentionally
• Avoid burnout

And that has been worth it.

Thrift Stores (Occasionally)

I still source from thrift stores once in a while, but they are no longer my primary sourcing destination.

They can be great for:

• Testing new categories
• Lightweight items
• Occasional hidden gems

But I no longer rely on them as my main inventory pipeline.

For me, the hours spent driving from store to store were no longer worth the return.

That may not be true for everyone. But it’s true for my business at this stage.

A Honest Note About the Goodwill Bins

I used to source at the Goodwill Bins much more often.

And if I’m being completely honest, part of it was the dopamine.

The bins feel like a treasure hunt. You’re digging. You’re competing. You’re chasing the “big find.” When you uncover something special, it feels incredible.

But I started to notice something.

I was leaving with items that were damaged.
Chipped.
Cracked.
“Fixable.”
Or simply not aligned with my brand.

I wasn’t always sourcing strategically.
I was sourcing emotionally.

The art of the hunt felt good.

And while once in a blue moon I would find something truly amazing, it was incredibly competitive. The hours spent digging didn’t always translate into consistent, quality inventory.

Over time, I had to ask myself:

Is this sustainable?

For me, the answer became no.

Where the Bins Still Make Sense for Me

That said — I still use the bins.

For books.

The bins are actually my main source of old books.

Even though bins books are priced individually, they often have a very strong profit margin. And unlike fragile decor, books typically ship well, stack well, and perform beautifully in my shows.

When I go to the bins now, I go with intention.

I’m not there for everything.
I’m typically there for books. Anything in addition is a bonus. Not a need.

That small shift changed everything.

Instead of chasing adrenaline, I’m making focused sourcing decisions.