1. Find your demographic
The competition is stiff, so finding the right place to sell your clothes will give you the best chance of getting them in front of people who might want to buy them.
“Depop tends to appeal more to gen Z, so it doesn’t really suit the pieces I’m selling, while Vinted has a wide range of buyers of all ages,” says Becky Barnes, a sustainable stylist. “One of my most successful places for selling shoes and clothes is the local community Facebook page. As a seller, it’s easier because you don’t have to package up and send things – people almost always want to collect.”
2. Provide clear photos
Whether you show an item on a hanger, or post pictures of you wearing the garment, try to get a selection of clear photos from different angles, with closeups of the fabric, and include a shot of the label and care instructions.
Take them in lighting that shows them as they really are – Natacha Blanchard from Vinted recommends putting clothes against a white background so their outline is clear.
Kirsty Keoghan, global general manager of fashion at eBay, says people selling items on the site can use its background removal tool to create a more attractive image, and its AI-powered listing tool to help with descriptions.
3. Be descriptive and honest
Use more keywords than you think you need – this will help buyers find your items when they search.
Blanchard says: “Sometimes the colour does not appear in the photo as it does in real life, so I always pay attention to that.” If it is not possible to take photos in good lighting that shows the true colours, she will point out on the description that the shade is lighter or darker than it looks.
Always be clear about sizing, too. If something comes up smaller or larger than you would expect, mention it. “Include your basic measurements – height, bust, waist and hips – so people can immediately tell if something will fit,” says Barnes. “It does take a bit more time, but it’s worth getting the tape measure out and including those key measurements so that people are understanding what they are buying.”
If there are any defects, scratches or snags, mention these in your post, and include pictures of those parts. “I always try to think about selling as if I were buying – what would I need to know about an item, what information would I want to see?” says Blanchard.
4. Get the timing right
Think seasonally. “At this time of year, I would be thinking about selling summer dresses and things that suit the season. In October it would be coats and warmer clothing,” says Blanchard.
If you have had a clearout and really want to shift things quickly, be prepared to go low on prices or you may find it difficult to sell.
The timing of your post counts, too – holding off and posting when buyers are actively browsing can ensure your listing appears high on the page and gets more views.
“We know more people are actively listing on Saturdays, and people have a tendency to buy on Sundays and bank holidays,” says Blanchard.
5. Drip-feed your stock
After a wardrobe cull, it can be tempting to put everything online immediately. Instead, it is wise to post a few things each day.
Katie Rowe, who sells clothes on Depop, says: “I post every day to be as consistent as I can to maximise my exposure.”
Barnes agrees: “If I had 10 items, I wouldn’t upload all in one go to the same platform. I would add two or three a day, every day, just to try to keep myself at the top of the algorithm.”
6. Use bundles and discounts
On sites such as Vinted and Depop, you can choose to offer a discount to people who buy several items from you.
You get to choose the percentage you would like to take off when you set up your account. It is attractive to the buyer because, on top of the discount, they will pay less for postage.
“I sometimes make bundle offers through the Depop app, meaning that if a buyer buys two or more items, they can get a percentage off the final price,” says Amber Ramon, a regular seller on Depop.
7. Be friendly in negotiations
Online selling frequently requires interaction with buyers.
“Vinted, and other platforms, are about individuals, and if you list on Vinted, you have to be ready to engage. Potential buyers might have lots of questions,” says Blanchard. “Be prepared for negotiations – people will try to buy for less. It’s part of the process.”
8. Pack and ship well
Pack items carefully and make sure they are protected. “Some people like to be creative with their packaging,” says Blanchard. “That can range from packing really carefully to including a little note when sending items. Everyone has their own approach.”
Whatever yours is, be prompt with packing and sending. If you have happy customers, they may return to your page. But perhaps, more importantly, they will give you positive feedback, which will reassure subsequent buyers that you are trustworthy.
9. Check selling fees
Listing items is often free on secondhand platforms: eBay recently removed fees for private sellers of pre-owned clothes (sellers and buyers must be in the UK), and many platforms charge buyers, rather than sellers.
For example, buyers pay a “buyer protection” fee of between 3% and 8% of the pre-postage price on each Vinted purchase, plus between 30p and 80p.
Depop has a marketplace fee of about 5% plus £1, also charged to buyers. While it does not have a seller’s fee per se, there is a processing charge for payments, the service through which payments are received. Sellers pay 2.9% of the sale price (including postage cost) plus 30p.
10. Check tax requirements
Most people will not have to pay tax on the items they sell online. However, as of January this year, HM Revenue and Customs has required online marketplaces and other “digital platforms” to collect and report information on how much money their users make.
Websites in countries that have signed up to rules set out by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development must gather data on UK-resident sellers and share it with HMRC.
Tax experts and sites such as MoneySavingExpert.com say platforms will only report information to HMRC automatically if someone is selling 30 or more items a year, or makes more than the equivalent of €2,000 a year from this activity (a little under £1,700 at the time of writing).
Separately, everyone has a trading allowance each tax year, which means they can earn up to £1,000 without paying tax.
HMRC has a tool that lets you check if there is anything you need to do.
