If you’ve ever wondered how to sell clothes online, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s face it: you barely ever wear half of theclothes in your closet. And you’re certainly not alone.
It’s easy to go overboard on holiday sales or impulse buy impractical pieces for some future idealized version of yourself who is totally comfortable walking around in 5-inch heels. After a while, an excess of unworn items can start to feel extremely overwhelming and wasteful. Donating clothes is always a great solution, but did you know that you canclean out your closetandmake a little extra cash?
young start up small business owner holding mobile phone and take photo of her product. freelance woman entrepreneur SME use smart phone to take picture and sell cloth on website. Online selling, internet marketing, e-commerce concept
There’s so much to love about brick-and-mortar consignment shops, but selling clothes online is far more convenient – and can even be pretty lucrative. In fact, the vice president of marketplace at the social shopping app Depop, RachelSwidenbank, told Insider that some are making upwards of $300,000 a year selling items on the platform. While the majority of these high-earners are Gen Z-ers who likely dedicate a ton of time and energy to their hustle, anyone can earn some extra income by selling their clothes – plus, there are a variety of thrifting apps to choose from (more on that later).
So, if you’re wondering how to sell clothes online, keep on reading for our best tips.
How to Sell Clothes Online: The Basics
When it comes to selling clothes online, your first step should be a massive decluttering session. Sort through every item you own and determine what to keep, what to sell, and what to donate. A good rule of thumb for deciding what to keep is to ask yourself: Have I worn this in the last 6 months? If the answer is no, that generally means it’s time to let it go. Another question to consider: Is it two sizes too small? If so, it should go.
Once you have your sell pile, make sure the items are in good shape – clean, free of stains, no serious ripping or pilling, etc. Then, when it comes time to sell, it’s important to take high-quality, eye-catching photos of your items. You don’t need a fancy camera, either; your smartphone will work just fine. Just use good lighting (natural light is great), make sure the clothes are nicely displayed and wrinkle-free, and keep the background of the photos neutral.
When taking photos of the clothes you want to sell online, be sure to get the following five shots: front, back, detail, tag, and damage (if there is any).
The Types of Clothes Worth Selling Online
If an item is worn or damaged in any significant way, it’s probably not worth reselling. However, a small scuff or tear doesn’t automatically mean a piece is worthless – just be sure to take clear pictures of any imperfections and be transparent with potential buyers. After all, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. When it comes to super worn or damaged items, you’ll also want to knock the price down a bit.
Generally speaking, you’ll probably be more successful if you sell high-quality items that are in good condition. Well-known and designer brands are more likely to gain interest, though this differs from app to app.
For example, according to a 2021 industry report from online consignment shop ThredUp, leather goods brand Frye is its top-selling brand. Other top performers for the app include Kate Spade, Tory Burch, and Coach.
Other items that tend to sell well online include vintage items (truly vintage, not dated styles you dug up from five years ago), anything new with its original tags, current trends, and timeless brand-name pieces. Essentially, if you’re considering how to sell clothes online, think about which store is the best fit for the brands and types of items that you own.
How to Sell Expensive,Designer Clothes
You might be wary of selling expensive, designer clothes online, but many resell sites have specific processes in place for luxury sales. Online consignment shop The RealReal caters specifically to luxury and high-end items, offering a white-glove service that includes free, at-home pickups – so you don’t have to worry about putting expensive items in the mail.
Best Websites to Sell Clothes Online
Now that you know how to sell clothes online, let’s talk about where to sell clothes online. Here are four online marketplaces to consider.
- Poshmark: Boasting 70 million users, Poshmark is a great place to sell everything from clothing to home accessories – you can even sell (unused) beauty products.
- ThredUp: Don’t have time to sort and photograph all your unwanted clothes? Simply back them in a box and send them off to ThredUp, where they’ll take care of everything for you.
- Depop: With most of its users under age 26, Depop is a destination for trendy, 90s-inspired fashion. You can buy and sell anything from graphic tees to crop tops to Levi’s 501 denim.
- The RealReal: Because users get up to 85% of each sale, The RealReal is the best option if you’re looking to sell designer items.
How to Price Your Clothes
While most online thrift stores will set the price of resell items for you, others offer sellers more control over the process. Of course, if you are selling on platforms like Facebook or eBay, you will have to set the prices yourself. So, first and foremost, be realistic and remove your emotional attachement. Most people are shopping for used clothes to get a good deal.
Generally speaking, you should price clothes anywhere from 50-75 percent off the retail price. This will vary depending on the brand of your items and the condition they are in. If clothes are new with tags, you can price higher; try 25-33 percent off to start. Just keep in mind that for anything you are trying to sell online, the higher the price, the longer it will take to sell. Finally, be sure to factor in shipping costs.
