Jul 22, 2019
How to Make $5,000 Reselling Clothes Online
After college, I had to find a way to make some money while I lived at my parents’ house sending out job applications. What I found was a lucrative side hustle. Here’s how to do it…
Margins
The key to becoming a successful online reseller is margins. The cost at which you buy an item and the price at which you sell it. The greater the margins, the greater the profitability. An easy way to increase your margins is to lower the cost of your inventory and business supplies. My recommendation is to source all your clothing from the Goodwill Outlets and take advantage of free post office supplies!
Sourcing
The Goodwill Outlet offers a discount once you reach 25 pounds. To get the most bang for your buck, I recommend leaving with 25 pounds every time. The idea is to shop for everyone (all sizes). That way, you can reach 25 pounds in a reasonable amount of time. On average, it takes me 3 to 4 hours. The majority of the items you’ll pick up are women’s clothing. But don’t neglect men, they shop online too!
Let’s do the Math
In order to get the Goodwill discount, you need 25 pounds of clothing. Let’s say the average article of clothing is 10 ounces.
10 articles of clothing = 6.25 lb
20 articles of clothing = 12.5 lb
40 articles of clothing = 25 lb
Brands
Lucky for us, we don’t have to market the product we’re selling because brand recognition has already done that. The better you are at identifying brands, the more cost-efficient your business will be. Don’t make the mistake of buying fast fashion brands. They have a low resell value.
Platforms
eBay
- $7.99/month for 100 listings
- Your audience is global
Poshmark
- Free subscription
- You never pay for shipping
ThredUp
- No seller profiles
- They take care of everything
Storage
Storage is actually less of a hassle than you might think. Clothes can be folded and tightly packed into a plastic bin. I estimate that you can fit 50 articles of clothing into a 12-gallon bin.
Pictures
When it comes to taking photos I have one motto: “Give them no reason not to purchase”. People need to be convinced that they have seen everything. Upwards of 6 photos will give them that reassurance. I recommend close-ups, a front, back, and side view.
Equipment
- Mannequin (optional) I was lucky to grab a male and female mannequin from a store closing in the mall.
- Lightbox (recommended) removes all shadows and is great for close-ups.
- Steamer (necessary) not only removes wrinkles but also eliminates odor and bacteria.
- Photography Lights (necessary) natural lighting and room lighting typically isn’t enough.
- White Brick Wallpaper (recommended) reflects light, eliminates shadow, and aesthetically pleasing.
Pricing
Check the comps and price accordingly. Accept reasonable offers! You are not in the storage business.
Thanks for reading and happy selling!
