Selling used clothing can turn into a profitable and successful venture if you do your research, repair your clothes, and keep your resources open. You can get rid of your old clothes and even earn money to buy new ones. Read on for more information.
Steps
Step 1. Look for used clothing stores in your area
Looking for "Used Clothing" and "Vintage Clothing" in the yellow pages can be a good start. Call shops and find out what kind of products they accept during this time, such as fall, kids, girls and specific brands. If they are not currently accepting new products, ask when they plan to start.
- Vintage stores usually prefer clothing that is over 20 years old. This can be a way of earning money on your family members' fashion from the 70s onwards. Talk to your parents and dig into your attic.
- The "contemporary used" clothing stores prefer current fashion clothing or at least not older than a couple of years. Some of these stores are locally owned and it is very easy to sell your used stuff to them. Others have very strict guidelines regarding the goods to be purchased, for example regarding sizes, model numbers and colors. They may turn down your Bebe jacket and may only offer you € 5 for your top.
- Stores that accept consignment merchandise sell the clothes for a fee. Like other stores, they may only accept certain seasonal items at specific times. Call ahead. These stores are a great choice for getting rid of formal dresses, bridesmaid dresses, etc. Agree on the price and, when the item is sold, they will call you to go and collect your money. If the item of clothing is not sold, you can choose to take it back.
- If you have nearly new clothes, many cities in America have a "near new" Junior League clothing store. They are willing to pay handsomely for practically new clothing. This might be a good chance to get rid of that hideous aunt sweater. Call ahead to find out about their clothing acceptance policies.
- Note: Some thrift shops resell items donated to charity. You can't sell your clothes to them, but you can check if someone has donated items that you can buy at a bargain price and then resell them somewhere else.
Step 2. Fix your clothes before selling them
Stains, holes, missing buttons and unstitched parts will not sell your clothes, no matter how great they may be. Shoppers are looking for clothes that are in new or like-new condition. Most stores are not interested in selling broken clothes.
Step 3. Wash and iron each garment
Clothes always make a better impression when presented on a hanger rather than folded into a bag. Add a sprinkle of starch on the collars to keep them in shape. If possible, you should carry your clothes in garment bags, still hanging on hangers.
Step 4. Expand your product range by accepting clothes from friends and looking for new clothes at nearby flea markets
Go to a nearby town and look for flea markets in upscale neighborhoods. Talk to your parents about their old clothes. Once you get them involved and they start making money too, you have a great team behind you. Chances are they have a lot of old clothes to sell and maybe even a few dresses from when you were little.
Step 5. It is not necessary that you go only to the shops in your city
If you have your parents' permission, or have a personal credit card, you can use Ebay. This will make your stuff visible and available to a much larger group of people. And then you don't have to worry about someone seeing you selling your stuff, which could be embarrassing. However, take into account the shipping, the preparation of the goods and the trips to the post office.
Step 6. Go to other places
If you have some trendy clothes and the local shops can't accept any more, don't give up. Move a few miles and stop in the small towns along the way. Be sure to call the stores to find out where they are and what type of clothing they accept. They might go crazy for your collection, especially if you own brands that aren't available in the malls closest to them.
Step 7. Also, if you have clothes that your family or friends might like, try selling them to them
Don't ask too high a price, maybe half what you paid for the item. This could help you get rid of tons of clothes. If you have cousins who dress similarly to yours, you may be able to trade.
Step 8. Take what's left and try to sell it at the local flea market
You may only make a few dollars, but that's better than giving up. This is also a great way to get rid of rejected or damaged clothes from other stores. You can also sell old shoes and that old-fashioned elegant dress of your father.
Step 9. Once you have attempted to sell your stuff via all the options mentioned above, you should turn your attention to the charities to get rid of what you have left
Charity deductions can get you more money when you file your tax return.
Advice
- Always be nice to shop owners and shoppers.
- Make sure your used clothes are (at least) in condition decent. This means no rips or holes (unless you bought the dress already like this), and no stains. Think about how you would feel if you received the item in question in such condition. Don't lie about the original state of the dress.
- Try selling your clothes on Ebay.
- Creating a collaborative relationship with a friend or another fashion lover could be useful.
- Develop friendly relationships with shop assistants. This can help you get inside information.
- Take a tour of the vintage shops.
- If you invest a little more and add a pretty flower on a pair of jeans or shoes to match certain earrings, the chances are that many more people will buy your stuff.
- Try online auctions on Yahoo.
- Goodwill only accepts donations but will give you a receipt for the tax deduction.
- Visit St. Vincent De Paul if you are in Australia.
- My Clothing Bay is only available in Australia at the moment.
Warnings
- Contemporary second-hand clothing resale stores won't offer you much for your items. Expect an offer of a few euros for each product, even if the price tag is still attached.
- Read about the sales and shipping process on Ebay.
Things You Need
- A collection of clothes you no longer use
- Washing machine
- Dryer
- Iron and ironing board
- Hangers
- List of local businesses dealing with used clothing
- Information about what those stores accept
- Transport cases for clothing
- A piggy bank for your new wealth
