This blog focuses on:
Setting Up Your Online Store: You can start an online store without spending money on inventory by selling items you already own, like clothes, accessories, and home goods. Avoid thrifting until you’ve made a profit from your own items, as spending money upfront could lead to a loss. Reinvest any profits into essentials like shipping supplies and packaging to present your products professionally.
Pricing Your Secondhand Clothing for Profit: To price your secondhand clothing, compare similar items on Poshmark or Google Lens to establish a base price. Eliminate the lowest-priced items and average the remaining prices, then increase this amount by 30% to allow for discounts while still making a profit. This pricing strategy will help you send enticing offers to buyers and increase your sales.
Creating Engaging Product Descriptions: Write product descriptions using relevant keywords that buyers might search for, and describe items as if there were no pictures. Use bullet points to include key details like brand, size, condition, and any unique features. Build buyer confidence by highlighting your seller ratings, shipping speed, and other trust-building factors.
The #1 Money Saving Tip for a Beginner Reseller
You don't need to spend money on inventory when setting up your online store. Start by going through your own closets, accessories, jewelry, home goods, electronics, and more. As you sort through everything, ask yourself, "Have I worn it or used it in the last 6 months?" If not, consider selling it on Poshmark.
I wouldn't recommend spending money on inventory at first, especially by thrifting, as you might end up with a loss. Instead, focus on selling your own items until you've made a decent profit. Once you’ve earned some money, you can reinvest it in purchasing items while thrifting. However, it's important to prioritize spending your profits on essentials, such as shipping supplies. Packaging your items with care—using tissue paper, ribbon, thank-you cards, and polymailers—can also make a big difference in how customers perceive your store.
How to Price Your Secondhand Clothing for Maximum Profit
As a beginner reseller, it's important to price your secondhand clothing effectively and accurately! start by running comps, or comparables, on Poshmark, eBay using Google Lens. This will help you see how others are pricing similar items in the same condition.
Next, focus on the first three rows of results, but eliminate the items priced between $3 and $10. Take the average price from the remaining listings to establish your base price. If you want to send aggressive or "waterfall" offers (e.g., 20%, then 30%, then 50%) while still making a profit, consider increasing the average price by 30%. This strategy allows you to send attractive offers to likers, increase your sales, and maximize your profit.
How to Create Engaging Product Descriptions for Secondhand Items
An engaging product description is key to attracting buyers. Be sure to use as many relevant keywords as possible, as these are the terms potential buyers will likely use when searching for your items. Always remember this mantra: "Describe your items as if there were no pictures."
Poshmark’s algorithm now favors bullet points over paragraphs for descriptions, so adjust accordingly. My template for writing engaging descriptions is as follows:
- Restate the title using more descriptive keywords that didn’t fit in the title.
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Bullet-point the descriptionwith the following details:
- Brand, name, style, size, colors
- Key details, embellishments, or unique features
- Approximate flat measurements
- Condition and any flaws
- 2 sales phrases (e.g., "Hurry, limited stock!" or "Don’t miss out!")
- Additional relevant keywords to improve searchability
- Buyer confidence information, such as: "5-star rated professional seller," "Ships same day," "Posh Ambassador," "Smoke-free home," or any bundle offers.
Anything that makes you stand out and builds trust with buyers, especially as a beginner reseller, will help increase your sales and customer retention.
Jennifer Synan
This helpful article was written by reseller, Jennifer Synan, who is based out of Pittsburgh, PA. Jennifer has been a reseller for five years and her marketplace of choice is Poshmark. Find her Posh Closet @italianposher73
