Combine a love of the environment with a genuine interest in consumer spending, and toss in a dash of thriftiness, and you’ve got the makings of a reseller. That’s me. I’m a part-time reseller on Poshmark, the social marketplace for new and used fashion. It combines two of my passions into a fun, lucrative side hustle.
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What started as a whim has definitely evolved since my first weeks and months on Poshmark. At first, I sold things my kids had outgrown and things in my closet that I was ready to part with. Lately, I’ve been listing family items while also finding things worth repurposing. At first, I averaged 30 listings per year, making about $500. Halfway through the year, I’ve already doubled my listings and tripled my revenue. It took time, patience, persistence, and gratitude to nurture this wild idea to sell gently used items, and I wouldn’t change a thing.
How I became a Poshmark seller
My Poshmark journey began with a New Year’s resolution to try something new. On December 31, 2018, I opened my closet, as Posh calls it, to the public. It took months of research, looking at different tools, and peering into other people’s closets before I actually put anything up for sale. The first item I listed was my son’s kid’s Lands End windbreaker. I was thrilled that it sold within a few weeks of listing it, and knew that one day this could be more than just a hobby.
With a full-time job and little free time, I was just a casual seller, listing the occasional exciting find, but never striving to turn it into a lucrative career. This year, I’ve devoted more time and attention to my Poshmark closet and am treating it as a business venture. I’m excited to see what the future holds.
What I’m selling on my Poshmark Closet
Currently, there is clothing and shoes for women, men, and children, with a bit of accessories and home goods mixed in. Poshmark has created multiple categories on the platform, allowing you to sell just about anything, which has been criticized but I appreciate it. Buyers have the bundle feature, so if someone likes multiple items in your closet, they can combine all of those items into one purchase and pay one shipping fee. With that in mind, I think selling a wider range of items gives buyers the opportunity to really shop your closet and gives sellers the chance to make bigger sales. In fact, in my closet, I automatically get a 10% discount when I buy two or more items in a bundle.
My favorite things to sell are handbags, bags, and dresses. When I’m thrift shopping, I’m always drawn to these sections first. It makes me so happy to know that these pieces have found new homes and that someone is enjoying them. Plus, when I acquire items to resell (because I can never part with my own stuff), I photograph them and list them right away, so my inventory moves quickly.
My Strategy as a Poshmark Seller
Like every business, every business model is a little different. Selling, inventory, and sourcing strategies vary from reseller to reseller. Here are some Poshmark selling strategies that have helped me reach my personal goals:
1. Consider seasonality
Seasonality has always been a part of fashion. People inevitably buy beachwear for summer and snowwear for winter. Wardrobes change roughly twice a year. While buying a swimsuit in February in the Midwest is unlikely, listing before the season can help you secure additional sales. I try to follow the same calendar rotation as the big retailers, except for Christmas in September, which I can’t get on board with.
2. Check the price
Pricing is a key factor in becoming a successful seller. A good rule of thumb is to compare and find out what has sold and price your items accordingly. I tend to set my listing prices a little higher so that I can send personalized discounts to buyers who like my items and still have some wiggle room to accept offers. Additionally, I keep a spreadsheet detailing the cost of my items, listing dates, and other information, so I can easily determine the lowest price I can accept while still making a profit.
3. Provide customer service
Customer service is key. To succeed in business and in life, treat others the way you would like to be treated. I keep this in mind in every interaction and sale. I maintain clear communication, package items with care, ship orders promptly, and always let buyers know I appreciate their purchase with a personal note. I am proud to be a Posh Ambassador and a top-tier seller with 217 5-star reviews.
Try other resale sites
As for other reselling platforms, Poshmark has many competitors. The first one that probably comes to mind is eBay. I’ve tried it a little, but the listing and shipping process is very different from Poshmark and requires some trial and error.
Each reselling platform has a different buyer demographic, so what sells well on Depop might not get any traction on Mercari. Plus, each platform has a different set of rules and fee structures that require additional math. I plan to branch out soon, but for now I’m mainly focused on Posh.
Tips for Making a Profit on Poshmark
1. Stay active
While no one has fully cracked Poshmark’s algorithm, it appears that the more active you are on the site, the more visibility your closet gets. We can’t stress enough the importance of sharing your listings regularly to stay at the top of search results. Share from other closets, follow fellow Posh users, and list consistently. It’s a social marketplace, after all, so being active pays off.
2. Optimize your title
Another way to stay at the top of search results is to optimize your titles and listings with keywords. Add brand, style, color, and size to your title and always take advantage of the three style tags available within each listing. Think of these as Poshmark hashtags.
3. Top-notch photos and descriptions
Take clear photos and write detailed descriptions. Fabric material, measurements, and other important details are important to mention. It’s also best to be honest about defects; be sure to disclose them so buyers can make a purchase with peace of mind. People who shop your closet will collectively determine your seller rating, so providing great customer service will ensure repeat business.
3. Stay on top of trends
Stay on top of trends. Brand names are important, but staying up to date with the latest fashion trends will help you sell faster. Walk around department stores and watch YouTube videos to get a glimpse of the latest styles that are hot. Many successful resellers create “what sold” videos, and I like to watch them and take notes.
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