Sell your old clothes: tips ‘n tricks

By: Georgia Riordan

At the start of the pandemic, I was overwhelmed by all of the clothes in my closet. I knew I did not want to donate them, as the EPA reports that 62.5% of donated clothes are sent to a landfill. I decided to start selling my clothes online in order to earn some money and ensure they were being used rather than incinerated. I started investigating different selling platforms, eventually settling on Depop, Mercari, and Instagram.

What I Learned:

  • Depop targets a younger audience. Only the trendiest pieces sell. In order to have success selling on Depop, your items need to be name brand, vintage, or handmade. 

  • Mercari has an older demographic with a more expendable income. There is also less customer interaction compared to depop. On depop, people will bombard you with questions before they make a purchase. I have made sales on Mercari with no messages from the buyer.

  • Instagram is a great way to sell items that have not been getting attention on Depop or Mercari. It is helpful because you can avoid the selling fees. Additionally, there is a large reselling community on Instagram that can help you build a following. 

After 3 months of selling during COVID I made over $1000. I made the most sales on Instagram, but the most profit on Mercari. If you are looking to sell, it is helpful to create a spreadsheet in order to keep track of progress.

Items are more likely to sell on Depop and Mercari if shipping is free, however, on Instagram, buyers are more willing to pay shipping due to the fact that there aren’t extra fees. I would recommend following as many thrifting and reselling accounts on Instagram as possible in order to build a following. Once you make connections with other businesses, you can use Instagram's features to your advantage, like hosting live auctions or using Instagram stories. 

How to Auction:

  • Decide Starting Bid. What is the cheapest price you are willing to sell the item for?

  • Decide BIN price. BIN stands for Buy It Now. Typically when auctioning, you make the buyer pay for shipping. However, if they BIN the item, shipping is usually included.

  • Decide how long to run the auction for.  Every time someone places a bid update with the current highest bid, message other bidders that the bid has been raised. 

Developing a strong aesthetic for your Instagram page can aid in your shop's success. Typically, customers prefer try-on pics so that they can see what the clothes look like on the body. However, some may be uncomfortable with this, layout photos can be a good option instead. If you find a place with good lighting, you can lay the clothes flat and then use an app to edit out the background. I recommend PhotoRoom because it has specific presets for depop sellers. If taking try-on photos, it is worth investing in a ring light tripod with a remote so that you can take a lot of posed photos efficiently. 

Reselling clothes is a great way to declutter while also making a profit. Buying used clothing also helps the environment and acts as a good alternative to fast fashion. Running my own clothing shop has allowed me to express myself artistically and meet people in the online thrifting community. Before you throw out your old clothes, consider reselling them!