College is a super fun and exciting time. It's also a time when you're extremely broke. Part-time jobs are awesome, but can also be difficult to fit into your schedule. So why not take a chance and start your own little business?
Don't worry, this isn't a sales pitch for a new buy in group (like Mary Kay or 31). This is a message of inspiration for all those girls out there, just like me, who have way too many clothes and need some extra cash! Thrifting has been on the rise for a while now, and my suggestion to you is basically the same thing. You take all of the clothes you don't wear anymore and sell them. The best part about it is that you probably have a good chunk of change sitting right in front of you without you even noticing it. Not to mention, selling doesn't require a lot of skill or effort.
To get started, you want to decide how you're going to sell. Luckily, you have a few options.
1. Consignment (think Plato's) : Consignment shops are places where you take your clothes and they buy them from you and resell. Some places, like Plato's, will pay you on the spot for what they buy whereas other consignment shops only give you money when your item sells. There are a couple of downsides to this method. (1) They tend to be picky about what they buy. I've gone to Plato's before and earned $100 whereas other times I received $7. It's always hit or miss. (2) You have no control over the price. When you sell items on your own, you can dictate what you want for it. Shops don't usually haggle with you and sometimes, they rip you off. (3) Occasionally, stores only offer store credit vs. actual cash. This is great if you're looking for clothes but if you need moolah for other things, you're outta luck.
2. Online "Shops" : Poshmark, EBay, and many social media pages exist to help you sell. Personally, I use Posh and I love it. They make it so easy to use and the interactions between buyer and seller is usually positive. They are all similar but vary on certain aspects. Here's a run down of a few different sites!
Poshmark (FAVORITE): On Poshmark, you list an item, ask a price, and post. People see your item and some will buy flat out. Some may try to bargain a price with you, it's your call on if you accept. Once someone purchases, they pay for the price and a flat shipping rate. You will then get a pre-paid mailing label, already filled out with your customers info, emailed to you. You grab a priority mail package, slap that puppy on there, and ship it out. Fast and simple. Poshmark takes $2.95 out of any sales lower than $15 and 20% out of any sales higher than $15. It may seem like a good portion, but they make it so simple and wonderful....it's really worth it. (I'll chat more about Posh at the end!)
EBay: EBay is less user friendly, but still useful. It has the same idea, you post your item and chose whether to do a buy it now or auction. With a BIN, you set the price and that's it. If you think your item will be of high demand, you set a starting bid and see how high it'll go! With EBay, shipping isn't included, so you either ask for it in addition to price or pay it yourself. Also, the communication isn't as easy. Whereas Posh, where you have a feed for comments, EBay relies on private messages. They also take a commission out of your profits, but don't provide as much support. That's why I usually chose PM.
Social Media: Lastly, there has been a surge of pages on Facebook and Instagram for buying and selling clothes. This is a great and simple way to do it BUT it comes with more risk. Without a "governing body", you're not protected from bad buyers and buyers aren't protected from bad sellers. Sites like Sorority Girl Yard Sale have a pretty good reputation, but it only takes one to spoil a bunch. Make sure before you ever sell anything on here, you really know who you are selling to!
To wrap things up, I'm going to give you a couple tips to getting more views, more shares, and ultimately, more money! Now as I said, I've tried all of these methods but Poshmark is the way to go in my opinion, so most of tips are geared towards that site. But don't worry! If you keep these in mind, you can be a great seller anywhere!
1. When you first start your "closet" (your page of items for sale!) get a lot of pieces together before you set up shop. An empty closet is unappealing and unattractive.
2. Take a GOOD quality photo of all angles of your item and highlight any details. (Tip : Don't try to be artsy or use a bunch of filters. People want to know what they are buying, if the photo is weird or hard to see, it's a big turn off!!)
3. Be as descriptive as possible! There is no virtual fitting room, so people need to know. Does it run small? Is it true to size? I even like to get out a measuring tape and put all the measurements in there. An educated buyer, is a ready buyer!
4. Offer discounts on multiple items! If someone wants to buys two or three things, throw in an incentive. It's a nice touch.
5. BE HONEST. If you're having a conversation with a buyer and they say they really like your item but they need it to be a loose fit, don't tell them it is if you know it's a tight piece. Many of my customers are repeats. That's because they know I am going to be up front with them. You want to be sure to build a reputation for yourself just as you would anywhere else.
6. Package it nicely! All of my items are clean and folded. Sometimes, I like to throw in a free gift (could be anything! Just a little gift to say thanks) And I always include a note saying thank you (Plus it's fun to have a reason to use all the cute notecards I've picked up). Personalizing the item makes the buyer have an even better experience and they'll probably keep coming back. You'll also get higher ratings which is good when new buyers are deciding whether or not to buy from you!
7. Take advantage of the "parties" and the share button. You can get more closet followers if you make yourself more well known. Share your items, post them into a Posh Party, get yourself out there. A little work will go a long way!
8. Make a "fake" listing and introduce yourself. Let your buyers know who you are, tell them about you! If you're trying to raise money for something, tell them! Think about why you love a certain store you go to. Usually, it's because of the atmosphere! This is no different!!
Here are a couple pictures of items I have had for sale and also, my "meet the seller" pic! I love being a Fashionista and getting to make money from it! Take it from me, this can be fun and rewarding, just jump on in and be sure to follow my Posh Closet @mdevine92
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