Combine your love of the environment, your true passion for consumer spending, and your addiction to secondhand goods, and you have the makings of a reseller. That’s me. I work part-time as a reseller at Poshmark, a social marketplace for selling new and used items. It’s a fun and profitable side hustle that combines two of my passions.
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It started out as an afterthought, but it definitely evolved over the first few weeks and months on Poshmark. At first, I sold things that my kids had outgrown and a few things from my closet that I no longer used. Now, I list some of my family’s stuff, but I also look for items that I can give a second chance to. When I first started, I averaged 30 listings a year and made about $500. By mid-year, I’ve already doubled my listings and tripled my income! It took time, patience, persistence, and gratitude to grow this wild idea of selling gently used items, but I wouldn’t change a thing.
How I got started as a Poshmark seller
My journey with Poshmark began with a New Year’s resolution to try something new. On December 31, 2018, I opened what I call my “closet” on Posh. After months of research, exploring different tools, and rummaging through other people’s closets, I finally listed something to sell. The first thing I listed was a children’s Lands End windbreaker that my son owned. I was so happy when it sold within a few weeks of listing it that I knew this would one day become more than just a hobby.
With a full-time job and little free time, I was just an occasional seller. I would occasionally sell some fun secondhand items, but I never really tried to make it a profitable career. As of this year, I’ve been putting more time and attention into my Poshmark closet, treating it as a business, and I’m excited about what the future holds.
What's for sale in my Poshmark closet
Currently selling women's, men's, and children's clothing and shoes, with some accessories and home goods mixed in. Poshmark has created multiple categories on their platform where you can sell almost anything. This has been criticized, but I appreciate it. There is a bundling feature for buyers, so if someone likes several items in your closet, they can combine all of those items into one purchase and only pay one shipping fee. With that in mind, I think selling a wider variety of items gives buyers a chance to shop your closet, and gives sellers a chance to make more sales. In fact, my closet automatically offers a 10% discount when you bundle two or more items.
My favorite items to sell are purses, bags, and dresses. I always gravitate toward these sections when I shop secondhand. It makes me feel good to know that these items are being passed on to new owners and that someone else is enjoying them. Plus, when I offer items for resale (I can never part with my own stuff), I tend to take pictures and list them right away, so the inventory moves quickly.
My Strategy as a Poshmark Seller
As with any business, everyone’s model will be a little unique. Selling, inventory, and sourcing strategies will vary from reseller to reseller. Here are some Poshmark selling strategies that have helped me stay on track to reach my personal goals.
1. Keep seasonality in mind
Seasonality is a constant in fashion. People will inevitably buy beachwear in the summer and snow gear in the winter. Wardrobes change about twice a year. It’s hard to imagine buying a swimsuit in February in the Midwest, but listing ahead of the season can help you secure additional sales. I try to follow the same cycle as the big retailers. Except for Christmas in September, I can’t get used to it.
2. Price Research
Pricing is an important aspect of being a successful seller. In my experience, it is a good idea to research sales comparisons and price your items accordingly. I tend to price my items slightly higher to give buyers who like the item a personalized discount while still leaving room for them to accept the offer. I also keep a detailed spreadsheet with information such as the cost of goods sold and the date of purchase, so that I can easily determine the lowest price I can accept while still making a profit.
3. Providing customer service
Customer service is key. To be successful in business and life, treat others the way you want to be treated. I take this to heart in every interaction and sale. I maintain clear communication, pack items carefully, ship orders promptly, and always thank buyers for their purchase with a personal note. I am proud to be a Posh Ambassador and a top-rated seller with 217 5-star reviews.
Try other resale sites
Poshmark has a lot of competition when it comes to other reselling platforms. Probably the first one that comes to mind is Ebay, and I have used it a bit myself, but Poshmark’s listing and shipping process is quite different and will require some experimentation.
Each reselling platform has different demographics for their shoppers, so what sells well on Depop might not be noticed on Mercari. Plus, each platform has different rules and fee structures, so additional numerical analysis is needed. We plan to expand soon, but for now, we are focusing primarily on Posh.
Tips for making money on Poshmark
1. Stay active
No one has completely deciphered the Poshmark algorithm, but it seems that the more active you are on the site, the more your closet will be exposed. I can’t stress enough the importance of sharing your listings regularly to stay at the top of search results. Share with other closets, follow fellow Poshers, and keep building your listings. After all, it’s a social marketplace, so staying active will yield positive results.
2. Title Optimization
Another way to stay on top of search results is to optimize your titles and listings with keywords. Add your brand, style, color, and size to your titles, and always take advantage of the three style tags available for each listing. Think of them as hashtags for Poshmark.
3. Best photos and descriptions
Take clear photos and write detailed descriptions. It’s important to mention things like fabric content and measurements. And when it comes to defects, honesty is the best policy. Disclosure of any defects so that buyers can buy with confidence. People who shop your wardrobe determine your rating, so providing great customer service will help you earn repeat business.
3. Stay up to date with the latest trends
Stay on top of trends. Brand names are important, but keeping up with the latest fashion trends will help you sell faster. Walk through department stores and watch YouTube videos to see the latest styles that are trending. Many successful resellers create “sold items” videos, and I love watching and taking notes on these videos.
Get a $10 credit when you sign up for Poshmark using this referral code HEATHERUNFOLDED.
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The post How to Make Money with Poshmark first appeared on The Real Deal by RetailMeNot.
