Have you got a wardrobe bursting with clothes you never wear and you want to make some extra cash? Selling your clothes online is definitely for you. In this blog post we have channelled our expert knowledge on preloved women’s fashion and clothing resale to provide you our top tips and tricks on how to sell your clothes online and get paid fast.
Selling your clothes online never looked so good.
Selling your unwanted items online, whether that be furniture, clothes, media or cars, first took place in our lives back in 1995 when eBay was founded in San Francisco. But only recently are we seeing the real infiltration of online selling into the mainstream.
As bills continue to rise, individuals are finding new ways to make some extra cash and the method of the moment is selling your clothes online. Marketplaces such as eBay, Vinted, Facebook Marketplace and Depop have made it more accessible than ever to make some money from the unwanted items in your wardrobe.
But what is so special about now? The real answer is nothing. But what is changing is how marketplaces such as eBay and Vinted market themselves as the industry leaders in second-hand goods and in particular women’s fashion.
Back in 2022, eBay began a sponsorship deal with itv to become Love Island’s first preloved women’s fashion sponsor. Then again in 2023, Itv signed Vinted as their main sponsor for the revival season of Big Brother. Selling and buying preloved fashion is at the centre of these sponsorship deals for Itv and their timing couldn’t be better. Rising inflation, minimal growth in the national living wage and average UK salary is proving these two sponsorship deals to be well timed and well executed.
The leading online marketplaces are planting their flag right at the centre of millennial and Gen Z entertainment. Such strategies are making marketplaces like Vinted a household name and their strategies are paying off. The data below shows the huge uplift in interest on Google in Vinted in the past five years.
Why should we sell our clothes online?
The environment
Consumers, in particular younger generations, are becoming more and more attune to the impact their clothing purchases have on the environment. Despite best efforts, nearly three-fifths of clothing produced ends up in incinerators or landfills. It is a crazy number. But by extending the life of a clothing item by just 9 months, through methods such as online resale, you can reduce this item’s carbon, water and waste footprint by up to 30%. Given that the fashion industry produces somewhere between 80 billion and 150 billion items a year, any reprieve for the environment is welcome.
The environmental benefits of selling clothes online may not be your main incentive for choosing to have a clear out, but it is a great opportunity to become more educated on how selling clothes online has made a positive impact on the environment.
Make a little bit of extra cash
It is no secret to many that the cost-of-living crisis has forced people of all ages, backgrounds and financial positions to consider new sources of income. Bills have spiralled, petrol prices are instable and food prices have never been higher. So how can those struggling overcome this? Enter ‘selling your clothes online.’
So how much money can you really make from selling your old clothes online? Well, it varies. What you are selling, how many items you have to sell, the condition of your items and which platform you sell them on are all variables which can affect how much you will make. Way back in 2022, Depop reported that on average Gen Z are making an average of £437 per year selling preloved clothes online. Who doesn’t want an extra £437 in their bank account?
To make space
Another incentive to sell your clothes online is to make space. Most people can relate to the bulging wardrobe that becomes a health and safety hazard each time you open it. Selling your clothes online is a great way to empty out your wardrobe and drawers of items you no longer wear. You can then take the money you have earned from your sales and buy clothes, footwear and accessories which you will wear regularly.
Our top tips for selling your clothes: What do you need?
Patience
We can’t help but think of that Vinted advert where the girl empties her wardrobe, takes a few pictures, uploads her item onto their platform and boom it’s sold. Just like that. In most cases, that isn’t a realistic depiction of the online resale journey.
You are competing with millions of other sellers and if you are selling a common brand or item the buyer has plenty of choice and they may not choose your item. But fear not, our top tips for selling your clothes online will bring you much closer to your first sale.
- Take good photos: It goes without saying that the listings which have photos that clearly show the item at multiple angles are more likely to be bought. Because who is going to buy a dress based on one image which looks like it has been taken in a ditch?
- The price is always right: Listing your item at an appropriate price which accurately reflects its value will encourage buyers to choose your items. To know you are listing your item at the right price look through similar listings. eBay actually lets you filter to see sold listings and the price they were sold at and Vinted will provide you with a guide price when you create your listing which is based on sold items.
- Consider the condition of the item: Can your item be reworn? It is important to consider whether someone can repeatedly wear your unwanted clothes and still feel like they have made a worthwhile purchase. Selling an item which has barely got one wear left in it probably shouldn’t make it onto the online marketplaces. Instead donate it to your local charity who will be able make money from the weight of the item. Or you could even turn it into something else. How about a denim jacket turned into a denim cushion cover? Sounds good to us.
- Detailed listings: Providing detailed information about the item you are selling will encourage the buyer to choose your item because the information they need is readily available and it shows care and attention on your part. Detailed listings can include measurements, fit guidance, any information on signs of wear and fabric information. Don’t forget, for the buyer this is still an online purchase and so they are more than likely going to want all of the information they would typically get from a retailer in order to make an informed purchase.
A camera
Maybe this is stating the obvious but to be able to sell your unwanted clothes online you will need access to a camera to be able to take good quality photos of your items and upload them to your listings.
Realistic expectations
To enjoy selling your unwanted clothes online it is important to set realistic expectations, especially financially. Unfortunately, your items may not sell as fast as you hoped or for as much money. Ultimately you decide how much to sell your items for but overpricing your items could delay their sale and delay the extra cash in your pocket.
Time
Depending on how many clothing items you have to sell it could take some time to photograph them and upload them with detailed listings. Although it may seem a chore at the time, by taking care and attention with your listings you are increasingly the likelihood of a sale.
Where to sell your clothes online? Pros and Cons of five online resale websites and marketplaces.
We’ve brought together our five favourite online resale platforms and marketplaces which we have personally used.
Sunshine Thrift: Get Rid
Trade in your unwanted clothing and homewares in exchange for cash, Sunshine Thrift vouchers or a charitable donation using Sunshine Thrift's Get Rid service. Get Rid isn’t like other clothing resale websites because you don’t actually have to wait for your item to sell. Instead, you get paid within 72 hours of them receiving your items.
Simply create a Get Rid order online by providing an image and the information about the items you want to get rid. This information is then checked against their Get Rid guidelines and if your items are accepted you will be invited to order a mailer bag which you can use to return your unwanted items.
The best part is, you have a choice of three payment methods: cash via PayPal, vouchers to spend on the Sunshine Thrift website or a donation to a charity of your choice.
Pros: You get paid, via your chosen payment method, within 72 hours of your unwanted clothes arriving back with them.
Cons: Not every clothing brand is accepted, your clothing item must adhere to the Get Rid guidelines to be eligible for payment.
Vinted
Since launching in 2008, Vinted has excelled at becoming the marketplace for the vast majority of women’s clothing brands and items. If you have an unwanted item of clothing to sell, the likelihood is you can sell it on Vinted. They have a quick and easy listing process and prospective buyers can easily make offers on the items you are selling. You can create listings using their free app or their website.
Pros: There are no selling fees. Any fees are paid for by the buyer so you take home every penny of each sale.
Cons: The price point of the items sold on Vinted is slightly lower than other platforms so you may earn less money on some items.
Depop
There are a lot of similarities between Depop in Vinted in how they operate. Depop too has a user-friendly listing process which you can use on their free app or website. Comparatively to Vinted, Depop has developed a reputation for being the vintage clothing online marketplace. Whilst this is great news if you are a vintage lover, it has excluded some prospective users because of this niche.
Pros: It’s swing towards being a vintage online marketplace, whether it is intentional or not, has created a community of vintage buyers who often become repeat buyers. Sellers tend to stick to a style which makes it much easier for the buyer who can target a particular seller without sifting through endless pages of items they would never like.
Cons: There are fees for selling on Depop. Any sales made directly through Depop incur a 10% fee on the total order value. There is also a standard transaction fee on every purchase of 2.9% + £0.30.
Buyers can also choose to checkout via PayPal which also incurs chargers. Learn more about Depop selling fees here.
eBay
eBay is the OG online marketplace. You can sell pretty much anything legal on eBay and there will likely to be a buyer. In recent years eBay has pitched itself as the go-to for preloved women’s fashion online through its sponsorship deals with ITV, it is still very much a marketplace for anything and everything. In our opinion, platforms like Depop and Vinted are easier to use as someone who is just looking to sell their unwanted clothes online quickly. However, as the market leader, eBay holds the biggest audience and therefore presents more opportunity for sales.
Pros: Customer base of 129million in the UK so you will not be short of prospective buyers.
Cons: eBay takes a huge 12.8% of every sale as well as a 30p fixed transaction fee.
Learn more about ebay selling fees here.
Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace can be considered the new kid on the block. Founded in 2016, it was designed to allow local buyers and sellers to connect and exchange and purchase goods. Similar to eBay, Facebook Marketplace allows you to sell almost anything legal. It has a user-friendly upload process which can you do from inside the Facebook app or on their website. Prospective buyers can make offers and arrange for collection of an item.
Pros: It encourages local selling which has a minimal environmental impact and promotes a community spirit. There are also zero selling fees, so you take home every penny.
Cons: Payment is managed offline by you. Buyers cannot currently purchase through Facebook marketplace, making it your responsibility to arrange payment with the buyer. This can be done through PayPal, cash on collection or bank transfer. This does leave the door slightly ajar for fraudulent activity which can make selling riskier.
Final thoughts
In this blog we have shared our inside knowledge on selling your clothes online and the benefits of doing so. We’re big fans of selling your unwanted clothes to a new owner because not only does it extend the life of an item, therefore reducing its environmental impact, it also helps you make a little bit of extra cash, and the buyer can save money.
