Selling clothes online via an app or website is, fortunately, becoming increasingly popular. Not only is this good for the environment – as it means fewer preloved clothes will end up in landfill and can instead live a second life with a new owner – it's also great for making a bit of extra money.
Even celebrities have taken to using apps such as Depop to sell their clothes, with most donating the funds to charity.
But what are the dos and don'ts of selling your clothes online? As competition rises, how can you make sure your clothes advertisem*nts stand out from the crowd? Salman Haqqi, personal finance expert at money.co.uk, has provided his top tips to maximise potential earnings from old items:
1. Detailed item descriptions
"It is vital that you cover all the important points that a potential buyer would need to know within your description. This will help your customers understand what they’re buying and reduces the number of questions asked, increasing the speed of sale," says Salman.
Item descriptions should include:
- a short, detailed and concise description within 120 words
- the brand name
- measurements/sizing
- condition
- material information
- any unique details of the item, such as embroidery or meshing
- hashtags that relate to your item to help attract buyers you are hoping to target
More:
5 clothes swapping apps and websites to trade your second-hand items
12 eco-friendly fashion brands you'll love
6 alternatives for when charity shops are closed or overwhelmed
2. Upload unique, but clear photos
"Another important step in securing a sale is by ensuring your images show the item clearly. Too often sellers take poor quality photos. Often the picture is too dark or has a filter that alters what the item actually looks like. Some even make the cardinal mistake of having messy backgrounds. These are all sure-fire ways to turn a buyer off," says Salman.
Think about:
- good lighting
- arrangement of item and background
- a plain background that clearly highlights to item of clothing
- a consistent photography style to help build trust among buyers
- making photos look official and professional
3. Keep an eye on trends
"Keeping an eye on trends is extremely important when selling old items online. This is particularly true when it comes to selling clothing items, as old fashion trends often come back around. This is proven with the current popularity of noughties items. Research from money.co.uk discovered that searches for “y2k top” have increased by 950% in the past year!" says Salman.
4. Friendly and fast customer service
"Being quick to respond to queries on reselling platforms, such as Depop, eBay, and Facebook marketplace is essential. Make sure you reply to customers within a day, at the very latest. This will help you to sell your items faster and keeps people interested.
"While it is important to respond to people quickly, it is equally important to be approachable. This will help you to build a rapport with the buyer and increase their trust towards you, so they’ll be more inclined to make a purchase," says Salman.
5. Offer bundle discounts
"If you’re having a major quarantine clear out, you may be able to sell more items by offering bundle discounts. In the description of your items, mention that you’re willing to offer the items at a reduced rate if more than one item is purchased. This will lead the buyer to your profile and encourage them to have a bigger look around!" says Salman.
6. Staying safe online
"It is extremely important to stay safe while selling online, so we recommend only communicating with potential buyers using the messaging and chat services provided by each platform. Avoid placing your contact details in your profile or product description. Finally, no matter how trustworthy a buyer seems, you should never dispatch an item without receiving payment first," says Salman.
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