How To Sell Clothing On eBay or Depop For A Profit
Wednesday, October 19, 2022This post is collaborative, but all opinions are my own!
Whether you’re selling clothes to make some extra cash or reselling as a part-time job, there are some handy tips that I have learned while selling clothes on eBay. There are thousands of brands that people will pay a premium for, you just need to know what sells! Here is my guide to selling clothes on eBay & why you should sell your old clothes rather than binning them!
Why You Should Resell Your Clothes
Every year, millions of clothing garments get thrown away. In the UK, we throw away £30 million worth of unused clothing each year. Think how much money you could be making if you sold that instead. It would also reduce the amount of waste we are contributing.
If you aren't looking to sell your clothing, I wrote a blog post about getting rid of clothing in a more eco-friendly way. Selling your clothes helps the environment as it gives your garment another chance. It keeps the item out of the landfill for longer, which isn't the best, but it's better than being thrown straight away.
Selling your clothes can also earn you a pretty penny. I once sold old dresses for a family member and made around £1000 from just a binbag full. Clothing is a big market, especially when you're selling the right brands. There are lots of other benefits too:
- Can earn you money, possibly even a second income
- It keeps clothing out of landfill for longer
- It's really easy to sell things
- You can clear your wardrobe quickly
- It can make for a fun hobby
- Clothing is one of the easiest things to sell and package
Take Quality Photos With Multiple Angles
When you're selling clothes, the best way to get clicks on your listing is to have a high-quality image. Using a white background is one of the best ways to make the clothing colours pop. It's also better to model the clothing yourself or use a mannequin as you show off the fit of the clothing. If you lay the item on the ground, you could put a ruler next to it to show measurements.
When you take your photos, make sure you show any holes or blemishes. You must describe the issues to the buyer. You should also photograph multiple angles of the clothing. I recommend showing the front, back and sides when on a model. Then, I will show any embellishments or details and the sleeve length as it gives the buyer more details of what the garment looks like. Make sure you get a close up of any issues!
Include Your Measurements
If you're selling clothing, make sure you include the measurements and washing instructions in your description. It will help the buyer to understand the garment care, and make sure they know the fit. If you don't want to type out each product's measurements, you could use a large ruler in the photo. I have seen many sellers use this method and it's worked nicely for them! It saves you time and saves the buyer messaging you for details.
Offering measurements will mean that you'll have fewer messages to answer, as most buyers will message you regarding the fit. I recommend including measurements like the sleeve/skirt length, pit-to-pit and waist. Those are most commonly asked for in my experience. It means that buyers can read the description and make an informed bid, rather than waiting for you to reply, possibly changing their minds if you take too long. Some garments will already include the measurements on the label, but it doesn't take long to measure if not.
Related: How I make £1000 in a month on eBay
Consider Offering A Return Policy
If you're a business seller or selling clothes regularly, you may want to consider adding a generous return policy. Not every garment will fit the buyer perfectly. They will either throw it away or make up an excuse of why they need to return it. I've even had cases where they've ruined the item on purpose to get a refund. Some have torn holes while others have picked off buttons. Not everyone will ruin clothing because they want to return it, but it's worth considering to avoid issues.
If you offer a return policy, you avoid the risk of people trashing items. It will also appeal to your buyers over other listings, especially if they don't offer returns. Offering a returns policy can be annoying, especially if you're not consistently making sales. You may find that you're getting more items back then when you didn't offer one. Make sure it's clear that the buyer would have to pay the return shipping, otherwise, you could be out of pocket.
eBay Vs Depop
I think both are great websites for selling your preloved items. However, is one better than the other? I personally love selling on eBay. I have sold a range of different things successfully, but there are some things I would change. There are non-payers, and you can't leave bad feedback to a buyer, even if they are wrong. There are more users on eBay, so things are more likely to sell, but the fees are high. There are many other differences like shipping, payments and listings that you should look at.
Depop has a lot of younger users, while eBay is 30 and above on average. It's worth considering which platform you are using depending on what you sell. Trendier clothing such as crop tops, brands and vintage items may sell better on Depop. However, eBay also does well for branded items. I like playing with both sites and seeing what sells best and where. If you are stylish and can turn your Depop store into something worth looking at, you may be best using that site.
What Brands & Clothing Sell Well
While different brands fluctuate in popularity over the months, there are a few brands that I have found really well. Most of these have sold the first time for me, and are worth picking up or listing. I find that a lot of these brands are also clothing you'll find in your wardrobe, so you don't have to go out and buy it from a thrift shop. These brands and items have sold well for me, but may not always and might not for you. It's all about trial and error, and lucky eBay is a great place to try things out.
Clothing Items:
- Plus size women’s clothing
- Trainers e.g. Nike, Vans and Adidas
- Ladies dresses
- Ladies Workwear
- Vintage clothing
- Boy’s clothing bundles
- Baby’s clothing bundles
Brands:
- Joe Browns
- M&S
- North Face
- Anthropologie
- Per Una (an M&S brand)
- Bonmarche
- H&M
- Eileen Fisher
- Lululemon
- Nike Clothing, especially coats
- J Crew
- Gap Clothing
- Victoria's Secret + Victoria's Secret Pink
Tips For Selling Clothing
Know What Your Clothes Are Worth - It’s easy to put a £4.99 price tag on a dress, but make sure you know it’s worth that. If you look in “Sold Listings”, you’ll be able to find what your item has sold for previously. Check the listing & it’s condition. If your item is in better condition and in demand, you may be able to sell it for more!
Sell In Bundles – If you have a collection of boys clothing or Primark tops that you can’t shift, try bundling them together. Although you won’t get as much money for it, you’ll be able to get rid of your stock. Shifting your items is important as it gets things moving and helps you to avoid throwing it away.
Donate What You Don’t Sell – There is a point where your clothes just won’t sell. If you’ve relisted them for months on end and they still haven’t sold, donate them. Some clothes, such as Primark clothes, may not have a buyer. Primark clothing sells better in a bundle. It’s better to give them to a clothing bank rather than keeping clutter
Ironing Items Doesn’t Hurt – Although I was given good feedback, one of my first buyers said they had to spend time ironing a shirt I had sent out. That has stuck with me, and I now iron my clothing or make sure it’s in decent shape. If may take extra time, but if your item is high value, it’s a nice idea. It can be the difference between good and average feedback!
Shipping Your Items
We live in a 24/7 world, and for any small business owner, we've got to understand that customers want things and they want them now. It can be tough to compete with big delivery companies like Amazon, but being good at deliveries is one of those fine arts that, when you do it right, will ensure that you have happy customers that return. Many bigger companies utilise pallet storage options for larger items in storage. If you are running an eBay shop and you are not at the point where you need to put items in storage, you've got to figure out what it takes to make sure that your items reach the buyer in one piece. The carrier should deliver the package in good condition, but you can help to mitigate some of the effects by doing some of the following:
Shipping fees would include the cost of the box, stickers, the time it takes to send an item, the costs for collecting and delivering, and import or export fees. When you are selling items online, you've got to show your shipping costs on your website, and you may should create a shipping policy that sets clear expectations about the time it takes for shipping and how much it costs. eBay allows you to set your own shipping policy and it include your dispatch time. - Purchasing high-quality packaging.
- Make sure the item is protected, especially if it's fragile.
- Choose a reliable supplier or delivery service.
Choosing the Right Courier
Not every courier is reliable. Royal Mail have many planned strikes, and Evri are unreliable or damage items. When you're selling multiple items a day, you want to ensure the courier has your best interests. Here are three things that you need to consider when choosing a courier:
- Consider their costs. Whether you charge postage or offer free shipping, you need to pay for postage. Make sure it's affordable and offers the service you need, like tracking or same day delivery.
- Tracking facilities. Some carriers do not provide tracking facilities. If a customer comes to you wondering where their item is, you can share the tracking details.
- Reliability. As Christmas approaches, you want to make sure your parcels will get there on time. People get angier as the big day approaches and want their parcels quickly!
- Their reputation. Researching the right courier is crucial because you need to determine if they are able to do the job that's expected of them.
Reducing Your Shipping Costs
If you're tight on budget, there are ways to reduce your costs. Luckily, clothing doesn't usually weigh much. You can often fit it as a small parcel. Here are a few things that you may want to bear in mind:
- Reducing the weight of the packages.
- Providing local delivery or opting for pick-up.
- Picking the right size packaging, for example, smaller packages for items like jewellery.
- Using lightweight packing material, such as bubble wrap or foam inserts.
Selling clothing is fun and rewarding. I've made lots of profit from selling my old clothes, clothes given to me by family and even reselling charity shop items. Clothing is a big market on eBay. Not every item you sell will make a profit, but if you keep up with the seasons, you'll find your items will sell better. Have you ever tried selling your old clothes on eBay? Let me know if you're cleaning out your wardrobe or have a side hustle in reselling! I'd love to hear your success stories and brands that sell well for you!
2 comments
I really found this post helpful!! I've never tried selling on ebay, I used to put mine on facebook but I havent for a while now. Maybe I will give ebay a try some time. xx
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, I have never sold clothes on Ebay as a charity earns the money from shops :)
ReplyDeleteNic | Nic's Adventures & Bakes