Assuming this is a proof of concept, then the only things that would end up on this site are the high end stuff, and those would deserve to have an actual photo

Assuming this is a proof of concept, then the only things that would end up on this site are the high end stuff, and those would deserve to have an actual photo of the object on the site. If you can get local thrift stores to work with you, and you can have real photos of real items, that might be an option. You're up against sites like shopgoodwill.com and ebay.com to make this worthwhile to the buyer. You're adding a middleman, after all. What does the middleman do that we can't or won't easily do for ourselves? My guess is that what you should focus on is giving independent thrift stores a place to advertise their hard to sell items where they're not being drowned by dropshippers and corporate greed like on ebay. Manage shipping communications between the parties. Find a way to handle disputes when the buyer isn't satisfied with the product, especially when the seller does not correctly list the product or hides unreasonable flaws with it, like a fur coat with a bald spot or a guitar with a broken & reglued neck. That being said, it's not a bad idea, but you need to back it up with an excellent implementation. You need excellent communication with the stores you work with. 1% inspiration, 99% perspiration, right? Also, consider working with antique stores as well if you can make it this far. There are dozens of them in every state that lease booths to vendors who then sit back and wait for items to sell. Also, consider allowing scout accounts, where people who go to thrift stores and antique stores can register with your website as a seller, post photos of items and descriptions and the sellers price + a scout fee, with the reservation that there is no guarantee that the item will still be there and that all items are on a first come first served (including local sales) and that if you don't buy now you may never get the chance to buy. If someone buys the item, the scout knows where it is and is responsible for purchasing the item and shipping it to the customer. Scout fees could be something like a flat $5 + 10% of the purchase price, so it would be a thing for stay at home moms and people who are unable to work but who enjoy window shopping could do in their spare time. If you can add on your services with the amendments above, you can find a very strong and possibly profitable niche to work in.