Resale apps like Poshmark, Depop and The RealReal are easy and cheap ways to sell your clothes, make money and give them new life instead of storage. Most platforms will sell you new, unused or second-hand items, including vintage and designer clothes.
When used correctly, you can make a lot of money and clean out your closet. But if you’re impatient or don’t understand how to use the apps, your clothes may never sell.
We spoke to savvy sellers and buyers who shared their best tips on how to get the most out of resale apps.
Start with a closet clean-out
Lily Russell made a full-time career out of becoming a top seller on Depop. In 2017, she made over 16,000 sales and gained 92,000 followers. She became a top five seller at Depop right out of high school for selling 90’s and Y2K vintage pieces.
“I started by cleaning out my closet and when I saw how quickly the pieces sold, I knew I could turn my closet into something much bigger,” Russell explained.
Classy seller Anna Van De Kerchove sell parts that no longer fit.
“I had a quick size change, so I’m selling clothes that are now too big for me,” she said. “App shopping is a great way to recycle clothes in a world of fast fashion.”
Engage with your audience
The more questions your followers ask about your clothes, the more likely you are to make a sale. They will often ask for additional photos or try to negotiate a lower price.
“Give discounts to those who love and answer questions in a timely manner,” suggested VanDeKerchove.
She also makes sure she is honest with her prices. “I’m like, ‘How much would I really pay for this?'” she said.
Russell recommends cross-promoting on Instagram and TikTok.
“I guard anywhere and everywhere, and that’s brought a lot of success to my shop,” Russell said. “Marketing is as important as marketing your articles.”
Russell now has over 43,000 followers on Instagram. She sticks to a schedule of sourcing clothing and photography for Depop while juggling social media content creation.
“It’s hard to keep up with everything,” Russell admitted. “My best friend helps me ship my orders and it’s made it so much easier.”
Be specific with your listings
When listing your items, be as detailed as possible about the material, quality and color.
“The more accurate your description, the more ‘likes’ you’ll get,” explained Christina Romano, Poshmark seller. “After I get a ‘like’, I send buyers product discounts or ship to close the deal.”
Poshmark allows you to offer a discounted price on multiple items through a “bundle” feature.
“We’ve had the most success giving shoppers deals instead of waiting for them to buy an item based on price,” Romano said.
The quality of the photo is also important. Sellers are most successful when they include multiple high-quality images.
“I always take photos of the front, back, of any brand name tag and logo,” said Poshmark seller Giselle Diaz. “Make sure you have good lighting to ensure the true color of the item is displayed.”
Consistency is the key
If you don’t secure sales right away, don’t give up. It’s important to be consistent, even during periods when online shopping is quiet.
“It can be stressful and discouraging to invest in stocks that aren’t selling,” Russell said. “You have to go through extremely slow weeks and extremely busy weeks.”
VanDeKerchove is often frustrated by The RealReal, where an item can take months to sell.
“Plus, you might not get much more for the item than you would on Mercari or Poshmark,” added VanDeKerchove.
The brands that have sold closest to VanDeKerchove’s original price are Peloton Apparel and Good American.
“Good American denim is great to find … and part of that is the great quality of the denim and how well it wears over time,” he said.
Note that most resale apps take a percentage of your sale. For sales under $15, Poshmark receives a flat fee of $2.95. For sales of $15 or more, Poshmark takes 20%. Depop and eBay both take 10%. The RealReal commission depends on what you sell and can be up to 45%.
You know that the audience on each platform is different
Each resale app has a unique audience. RealReal and eBay tend to attract an older crowd looking for nostalgic designer pieces. VanDeKerchove bought a vintage YSL cashmere blazer on eBay for about $100, plus old-school Kate Spade and Marc Jacobs.
“If I’m shopping, I always look for the quality and authenticity of older items,” she said.
Depop became popular with Gen Z thanks to a big push from social media influencers like Avani Gregg, who share their closets.
“The way Depop is formatted to look almost like social media is really clever,” said Russell. “On Poshmark or eBay, you have to hope that someone is searching for the exact keywords to find your page. But on Depop, people get my suggested items. It’s easy to see everything I’ve posted in one place, like an Instagram feed.”
Depop also encouraged the younger generation to become entrepreneurs, like Russell.
“If you had told me a few years ago that this would be my full-time career, I wouldn’t have believed you,” she said. “I don’t need a 9 to 5 job to be successful. I just have to do what I like.
What brings in the most revenue?
Depends! Russell made more money selling vintage brands Forever 21, Charlotte Russe and 90s clubwear on Depop.
“A lot of people don’t know that Forever 21 and Charlotte Russe were founded in the ’70s and ’80s,” Russell said. “They have a lot of amazing pieces because their pieces were made with much better quality materials than they are today.”
But it’s not the brand name that matters as much as the style of the song on Depop.
“I’ve bought some of the craziest vintage pieces, and the brands on them are almost never brands I would think to buy them for,” Russell said.
Romano said the items that have sold the fastest for her on Poshmark are well-known brands.
“Right now, the closest are the big brands like Old Navy, American Eagle and Stoney Clover,” Romano said. “These items sold quickly and first compared to smaller brands, as we’ve gotten through Stitch Fix over the years.”
Beware of scams
Take safety precautions when communicating with strangers, especially on Poshmark. RealReal is trusted because it handles the sale for you. But with Poshmark, communicating with your buyers can be dangerous.
“Never respond to someone who wants to take the conversation outside of the app,” said Poshmark seller Olyasha Novozhylova. “They may ask you to email them. All sales should take place in the app. Block that person immediately.
Novozhylova recommends including your address on the shipping label and receipt of purchase.
Choose the platform you feel most comfortable with.
“It’s easier for me to sell The RealReal because they do everything for you,” Novozhylova said. “You get a dedicated account manager who will message you and set up an appointment. They tell you where to leave your things or even come pick them up.”
RealReal will take all the photos, rate the articles and publish them. Novozhylova sold Louis Vuitton bags and wallets and Burberry shoes on the app with a direct payment.
I am an experienced author and journalist with a passion for lifestyle journalism. I currently work for Buna Times, one of the leading news websites in the world. I specialize in writing stories about health, wellness, fashion, beauty, interior design, and more. My articles have been featured on major publications such as The Guardian and The Huffington Post.