How To Make Cash From Your Clothes

With the cost of living going up, lots of us are trying to find ways to make some extra money from things we already own — like our clothes and accessories.

Yes, the contents of your closet can hold the secret to a profitable side hustle!

Your success will depend on matching your items with the best platform and how much time and effort you’re willing to invest.

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Choosing the Right Platform 

First, you need to decide what category your items fit into:

• Designer
• Vintage
• Quality department stores or street brands

This will determine what price point your items will be and which platform will be the best fit.

• For high-end designer clothes and accessories, Vestiaire Collective and The Real Real will be your best bet, while Grailed is suited to edgier streetwear and avantgarde brands. 
• Have a mix of items? Depop reigns supreme for its global reach, with more than 30 million registered users in over 150 countries. eBay has buyers for a range of items, including homewares, kids’ clothes, and shoes.
• Not quite at the designer level? If you have quality brands to shift, consider ThredUp or Poshmark, which offer a simpler method for selling online.

You may also want to spread your items around to see what works best or try a mix of online and physical retail. 

Think About the Time and Effort You Can Commit

Some platforms will require a lot of prep work before you even post your items, and a high level of engagement is required during the sale process. 

For other options, you can simply drop your clothes off or post them and let others do the work for you.

Physical can be easier

Consignment stores like Platos Closet and Crossroads Trading provide an easier and more convenient way to sell your clothes if you don’t want to do the leg work. Simply bag your items and head in, or request a bag and post your items.

The store’s staff will carefully choose the items they believe will sell. Keep in mind that they’ll assess your clothes based on their market knowledge — it's not a critique of your taste!

To save wasting their time and yours, check their website and social media channels beforehand to understand what types of clothing they're currently seeking.

Once the items are sold, the business will take a percentage of the sale and give you the rest, either in cash or as store credit.

Your area may also have a rent-a-rack store, where you can book some space in their shop. This is a good way to try and shift a few items at once but you’ll also have to pay a rental fee and potentially commission depending on the business model.

RELATED: Is a Side Hustle Worth It?

Bigger payoff online

Online platforms often require you to put in more effort, but can potentially see a bigger return.

Vestiaire Collective and The Real Real require their sellers to have highly curated items, and top-notch photography to reflect the high-end nature of the goods on offer. 

Styling is important and can have a huge impact on sales. Don’t just throw it on a hanger on the back of the bedroom door to take a photo. eBay and Etsy also demand a high level of engagement and customer service from their sellers.

Some online platforms require less input, but the returns will also be lower. 

For example, sellers can send items to ThredUp and the company will handle the photography and pricing. This makes everything much easier, but you will have less control over pricing and only take home 50% of the profits.

RELATED: How To Sell on Shopify

What You Need To Do To Sell Clothes

Once you’ve selected the platform, it’s time to get your clothes ready and your account set up.

1. Set up an account or shop

You’ll need to register for an account for online platforms, while for Depop or Etsy you’ll also set up a “shop” that buyers can peruse.

Each platform will have seller requirements and outline how items need to be presented, what details should be included, and what payment methods can be accepted.

For online platforms, you will generally be given a set timeframe to mail the item (e.g., for eBay it’s two days). 

RELATED: How To Start an Etsy Shop: Tips for Beginners

2. Ensure your clothes are in good condition

It should be obvious but make sure your clothes are clean, ironed, and free of holes. Get broken zippers mended and missing buttons replaced.

Always mention the condition of your item in your listing. If there’s a small pull or obvious mend, put this in the details so the buyer is aware from the get-go.

3. Authenticate designer items

Designer goods might require extra steps. Do you need anything authenticated? Do you have the required papers for designer bags?

Make sure you check the details for each of the platforms as they will be different. For example, when you sell well-known branded designer items locally on eBay, they will authenticate them for you.

Maximizing Your Chances of a Sale 

It’s competitive out there so if you’re serious about turning a profit, make sure you’ve got the below covered:

Follow trends and know what’s in demand

Know your audience on the platform you’re using and do your market research: 

• What are people buying or bidding on? 
• What are common key search terms?

Knowing what your customers are after will help you price your items competitively.

Pay attention to details

List thorough and accurate measurements. 

For a belt, you might include how far the holes are from the buckle of the belt and how far apart they are. For a dress or jumpsuit, you can add both the bust and hip measurements.

The more descriptive you are, the less likely someone will want to return your item. 

Including a good description and ample detail will also help give a buyer trust in your product and increase the chances of your items showing up in search results.

Sell seasonally

Items that sell well reflect the seasonal climate and are on-trend within the last 12 months, or are considered vintage — particularly for boots, tees, and denim.

You’ll have more luck and a better price if you sell seasonally — for instance, you’ll get a better price for a blazer, jacket, or pair of boots during winter when people are actively looking for them.

Some platforms have strict criteria on what they won’t take, and most will list the brands they don’t want to see. Make sure you abide by these rules!

Think customer-first

To increase your chances of repeat sales, focus on your customer service. Respond promptly to inquiries and address any issues. 

Ship the items quickly to the buyer, make sure your packaging is nice, and always include a small thank you card.

RELATED: How To Start a Side Hustle

FAQs

How does consignment work?

This is when a third-party business will store and sell goods on behalf of someone else and keep a portion of the profits.

How are designer goods authenticated?

Many platforms now have in-house authenticators to help spot fakes. Sellers may be required to show proof of purchase and the original invoice to prove their item is legitimate. 

TL;DR: How To Sell Clothes and Make Money

No matter what platform you use, it will take some patience before you start to cover your costs and see your clothes turn into profit. 

But if you’re willing to do the hard yards and invest some time and effort, you can make decent money and enjoy the process along the way!

For more tips on setting up a side hustle (clothes-based or otherwise!), check out these episodes of the Erika Taught Me podcast:

• Lessons from the Rise and Fall of Nasty Gal
• Side Hustle Your Way to a Million
• How to Sell Without Selling

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