Sell clothing from the comfort of your home.
You own a closet full of clothes you know you'll never wear, including items that no longer fit and vintage outfits from decades past. Some of the garments may even be brand new and bear the original tag. If you want to turn a profit from your unwanted threads, sell them online. You don't need your own website or a business license to start selling. Just photograph the clothes, list them on an online marketplace and watch buyers snap up your wares.
The Source
Before you start selling clothes, you'll need to find a source for them. The surplus in your closet and attic are ideal at first, but once you sell those items, you will need to purchase additional inventory. Thrift stores are an excellent and inexpensive way to find beautiful clothes that are in great shape. You may even get lucky and find a name-brand item with a 99-cent price tag. Ask family members, friends and neighbors if they have any items they'd like to sell. Offer them a piece of your profit when the clothes sell. Also consider buying stock online, on sites such as eBay, and then selling it for more than you paid.
Choose a Selling Platform
When many people think about selling goods online, the first website they think of is the ever-popular eBay. You may already be familiar with this auction site. Here, you can list your items at a starting price and ask buyers to bid on them. Etsy is another high-traffic site for buying and selling crafts; so if you make your own clothes, it's a good marketplace to try. Tradesy is a website dedicated to selling clothes, shoes and accessories. Buyers don't need to bid to purchase your goods, and like eBay, Tradesy pays through PayPal. If you have an iPhone, try Poshmark, an app that makes it easy to list and sell clothes. Other services include Wiseling.com, Klury, Threadflip and Storenvy.
Take Photos
You can write a tantalizing description of that hot cocktail dress you want to sell, but if you don't show it off with a picture, you'll probably never see a dime. Just as in a brick-and-mortar store, buyers want to see the condition, appearance and size of an item before they buy. If you plan to sell clothes often, invest in a good digital camera; you can find a nice one for under $100 online or in most electronics stores.
Before photographing, wash used garments and ensure there are no visible stains. Hang or lay the garment flat on the floor or against a wall. Use a single flat color for the background so buyers will focus on the garment. Let natural light shine into the room or turn on the camera's flash if necessary. Take photos of the item from the front and back.
List and Sell
Learn the ins and outs of your chosen selling platform before you make a listing for your item. Find out if there are any fees for using the services. Some sites may charge you an up-front listing fee, while on others, it's free to list but you're charged a commission based on your sale amount.
When you make a listing, describe the item's size, condition and appearance. Be honest about problems, such as tears, stains, broken zippers or missing buttons. Price your item based on what similar items sell for on that platform or on eBay.
Check your email regularly so you know when a buyer has a question or you've made a sale. When you sell an item, ship it to the buyer promptly to ensure future purchases and, with luck, a good recommendation.
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