One angle is to get decent mid level axes and hot rod them a bit. One store I know of did that with imported resonator guitars, equiping them with better cones and hardware.

I'd try getting something like the Godin/Seagul/A&L/Norman/S&P lines and upgrading the saddle, pickup, nut, string pins, tuning machines, pickguard, and set-up, all of which are adequate to start with but might be used to push the sale. Optional to the customer of course.

Doing the same with pre-owned guitars is a good idea too.

If you're left with lots of spare parts, they can easily be sold to folks like me who rehab guitars on the side.

Scour those pawn shops too.

Peace, Mooh.