The sales of vintage clothes is slowly becoming a booming business that many online marketplaces are making it possible for individuals to sell their vintage clothes online. What does this mean for you? You can now check your wardrobe or your store and start making money from those clothes that are just taking up space.

In fact, it’s reported that resale grew 24 times faster than retail between 2017 and 2018. Additionally, the overall resale market is likely to reach $41 billion by 2022. If you’re considering trying the resale market, now is the time to do it – and vintage clothing is the way to go. Within the next decade, it’s expected that American closets will consist of at least 33% of used and vintage apparel.

After mentioning all of this interesting facts, the question that will come to your mind is, Where can you actually sell those vintage clothes? Not to worry, this article will provide practical ways for you to make money selling vintage clothes online. Lets get into it.

• Top 7 Best Platforms to Sell Vintage Clothes
• Best Place to Sell Used Clothes Online
• Best Place to Sell Clothes for Cash
• What to Sell Vintage Clothing UK
• What are Some Tips to Sell Clothes Online Fast?
• Where Can I Sell my Clothes For The Most Money?

Top 7 Best Platforms to Sell Vintage Clothes

If you are curious about the platforms where you can sell your vintage clothes, we have provided a list of the top online spots to sell your vintage clothes. Also, the exciting factor about some of these platforms is that they offer a mobile version of their platform so that you can make your sale anywhere and anytime. Here they are;

1. Depop

Depop is a website that lets you sell your old clothes, hats, and shoes to make extra money all from your mobile device. It also lets you follow friends, like shops and you can sell everything just by taking a picture of it from your phone.

Read Also: Make A Living Selling Vintage Online

They also allow you to sell other items such as art, books, illustrations, and vintage records. They call themselves a community and really push the connectivity of their shoppers and buyers. They don’t charge to list items, but they usually take up to a 10% cut of your sale along with PayPal transaction charges.

2. Vinted

Vinted is an online platform that allows you to buy, sell or swap fashion outfits, used clothing, shoes and related accessories with prospective clients and like-minded individuals. What Vinted claims to offer you is a chance to declutter your wardrobe and make some extra cash out of fashion outfits that you no longer need.

Vinted was launched in Lithuania in 2008 by co-founders Milda Mitkute and Justas Janauskas. Since then, the company has experienced considerable growth, and it now has subsidiaries in Germany, the United States, and 7 other countries.

The platform has over 20 million members, with over 15,000 new members joining every day.

Vinted is quite restrictive when it comes to items that you can sell on this platform. The only items allowed include:

• Women’s clothing
• Women’s bags
• Women’s beauty products
• Cosmetics
• Tech accessories
• Men’s clothing
• Children’s clothing
• All types of footwear

Selling items on Vinted is free. However, buyers have to part with a service fee of 5% of the order, plus a fixed processing fee of $0.70.

3. Poshmark

If you use Pinterest, you’ve likely seen this site advertised. Poshmark is a website where you can sell your old clothes. The website is filled with apparel at a range of price points, from Levis to Louis Vuitton. You’ll find a wealth of name brand clothes such as North Face and Michael Kors. You can shop from people’s closets for a deep discount compared to buying in-store.

On Poshmark, sellers can quickly list clothing for men, women, and kids directly from their phone with the Poshmark app. Fees for listing your vintage clothing on Poshmark are taken from the listed price once you make a sale. It’s a flat $2.95 for items under $15, and 20% of the listing price for everything else.

The best part of selling on Poshmark, is they take care of the financial side of the transaction, sending you a pre-paid shipping label, and providing customer service for your shoppers.

4. Thredup

With ThredUp, selling couldn’t be easier. They simply mail you a clean-out bag, you fill it up with the clothing you want to sell, and then send it back for them to do the rest.

They have a huge inventory with 15,000 new items being listed each day. Like Poshmark, ThredUp charges 20% of the sale price as a commission.

5. The RealReal

If you are looking to sell upscale retro clothing, then The RealReal is the site you should sell on. They identify themselves as a “Luxury Consignment” business and will accept your used designer apparel.

Quality products are likely to sell within just a few days, and you will get to pocket as much as 70% of the sales prices.

6. Mercari

The Mercari website makes it easy for sellers to list and sell vintage clothing through their mobile app. The process is simple: upload a photo, choose your price, and list your items. When you sell something, you’ll receive a pre-paid mailing label and ship the item directly to the buyer.

One nice thing about Mercari is, though it’s an ideal place to sell vintage clothing, you can also sell other non-clothing items as well. Mercari charges only 10% of the sale price.

7. Tradesy

Tradesy, similar to Poshmark, is another online designer resale site that boasts deep discounts on name brands. In addition to clothes, you’ll also find great vintage accessories.

Tradesy sends the seller a box along with a prepaid label to make it faster and easier for the buyer and seller. While you can list any apparel from any designer, luxury clothing and handbags tend to sell the best. For items that sell for under $50, there is a fee of $7.50, everything else is 19.8% of the sale price.

Best Place to Sell Used Clothes Online

While these sites are trendy, cross listing your products on multiple platforms will net you even more sales and happy customers. This is what we call multichannel selling and is great way to succeed in the ecommerce industry. Once you’re ready, start selling on more established sites with tons of traffic such as Etsy and eBay.

Of course, once you grow and start selling in multiple places, inventory management software may be helpful to automate boring tasks such as keeping your product quantities the same on every marketplace you sell on.

This means you can list your vintage clothes on tons of different sites at once without worrying about accidentally selling the same pair of boots to two different people at the same time. Another great idea is to open your own online shop with a software option like Shopify. There are a lot of great Shopify apps just for fashion retailers too.

No matter which vintage clothes site you choose we wish you luck in your endeavor.

Best Place to Sell Clothes for Cash

In additon to the platform we mentioned above, the internet provide other opportunities for you to sell clothes online. Lets us now take a close look at some of them.

1. eBay

It might seem like the eBay boom is over now, but with millions of visitors every day, the site is still hugely popular and can be a great option for selling clothes online. The great thing about eBay is that you can sell literally anything on there – but it can also be your downfall too.

The key to good business is trying to find out what people are searching for – look for niche markets or demands, and create listings that target key search terms.

Remember, there are also two selling options to go for. ‘Buy It Now’ allows you to set a non-negotiable price, but if you opt for an auction, buyers can place bids. This could mean your clothes sell for a lot more than you’d imagined – plus, you can set a starting bid, which means the item won’t be sold for a price you’re unhappy with.

2. ASOS Marketplace

ASOS Marketplace isn’t for beginners or those just looking to make an extra few quid by selling their last season cast-offs – it’s for dedicated clothes sellers looking to establish their own business (or who already have one).

For example, you need to have at least 15 items listed at all times, which can be quite an ask.

To get started you need to apply for a boutique – they’ll only consider you if you make your own unique clothing, have a large selection of high-quality vintage garments or you’ve already established yourself as an independent fashion label.

Compared to other options listed here, it’s quite pricey (although you can get a sweet discount with a TOTUM card!) but if you’re determined to have a career in high-end or retail fashion, having access to ASOS’ huge audience is a major plus.

3. Preloved

Similar to Gumtree, Preloved is a free classified ads site that lets you list things to sell in your local area – it’s also one of the largest classified sites in the UK with an audience of millions.

The best thing about Preloved is there are no fees whatsoever and there’s a strong emphasis on location, so you might be able to sell clothes to people in your area and save on postage.

Make sure to fill in your profile so people know you’re a reliable (and real!) person. You also get three free pictures per ad, so use them wisely!

4. Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace isn’t known for being the most successful platform for selling clothes online, but since it’s completely free, it might be worth a shot.

The Marketplace allows you to upload items in the traditional way, but it has also been merged with Facebook selling groups.

These groups are normally specific to certain locations, like towns or boroughs, allowing you to potentially cut out postage costs by selling to people who live close enough to come and collect their items.

Don’t count on getting a great response for high-quality vintage or niche items, but if you’ve got a large bundle of clothing you want rid of, this might be a good way of selling it quickly and without charges.

5. Etsy

You might normally associate Etsy with selling homemade craft items, not second-hand clothes. But if you make your own or upcycle clothing, then this could be a great way of standing out from the crowd.

You could sell printed t-shirts or hand embroidered vintage clothing, for example. Homemade jewellery or badges are also great for this site too.

Etsy does have strict rules on what you’re allowed to sell, however, so make sure you check the small print first.

What to Sell Vintage Clothing UK

1. Refashioner

Refashioner sells designer pieces and exceptional vintage clothing with wonderful accompanying stories. While there are many luxury items and upscale pieces, Refashioner looks for more avant-garde designers and unique selections.

Items are organized by the owner and all considered “owned” not pre-owned. Though they do have a backlog for selling and their fees are not disclosed, if you have valuable and unique vintage clothing, Refashioner is worth looking into.

2. Letgo

Letgo is a website where you can buy anything from tables and chairs to electronics and, yes, vintage clothes. It’s like a trendier version of Craigslist, going by the common saying “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” What’s great is the fact that there are no listing fees or commissions.

Also, if you’re looking to furnish your first apartment and you’re low on funds, Letgo is a great place to find inexpensive furniture.

3. Varagesale

Varagesale is a site that is very similar to Craigslist. On this site, you can sell pretty much anything. You can surf the site from your computer and from your mobile device. Varagesale is community based, sort of like a giant virtual garage sale. They make a point to weed out sketchy sellers to protect the community as a whole. Again, similar to Letgo, there aren’t any fees.

4. Bonanza

On average, products on Bonanza are 3% less expensive than eBay and they allow sellers to make their own page or “webstore.” Bonanza states, “Until you make a sale, we pay all advertising costs on your behalf. We only make money when you make money.

No listing fees, no monthly store fees, no other sneaky fees.” Sounds like a great deal to me.

5. OfferUp

OfferUp is similar to Letgo. You can buy and sell things online near you or look for things at a distance. The OfferUp mobile app is the main way shoppers access the site. It is one of the top apps in the shopping category on the Apple app store.

What are Some Tips to Sell Clothes Online Fast?

1. Take lots of clear photos of your items – Help the buyer envision themselves wearing the clothes you’re listing by taking photos with a good quality camera and lots of natural light. If possible, try and take a photo of someone wearing the item – it’s much easier for buyers to visualize what the item will actually look like that way.

2. Try and find a niche – Do you have a particular style such as retro or vintage, or large quantities of a certain item like trainers or jewelry? If you can give your page a theme, you’ll attract loyal customers who’ll keep coming back for more.

3. Maintain a good reputation – Be honest about the quality of the item you’re trying to sell, including if there are any stains or tears! Always respond to messages and feedback, and maybe throw in a little handwritten note thanking the buyer for shopping with you.

4. Make your clothes presentable – It goes without saying, but give your items a good wash and an iron before you sell them. No one is going to want to buy a creased shirt!

5. Ensure your descriptions are accurate – Make sure the sizes you’re advertising are spot on, and if something’s labeled as a size 12 but feels more like a 10, let shoppers know! Nobody likes buying clothes online that turn out to be the completely wrong size.

6. Keep up with fashion trends – Certain things will come in and out of style, so jump on top of trends and make some cash from it.

7. Think seasonally – Festival wear will sell better in summer, while people are more likely to be shopping for woolly coats in the winter. But if you’re selling to an international audience, keep their seasons and climates in mind too!

8. Be realistic about pricing – Just because you bought it for £30, doesn’t mean you’ll get that when you resell it. In many cases, people aren’t prepared to pay as much for something second-hand as they would brand new from a shop, so don’t scare customers off with high prices.

9. Don’t lose money on the postage – Check postage prices in advance and add that on top of the advertised selling price (most sites will have a separate section for this). You can splash out on tracked or signed for delivery, but as a minimum, you need to keep a hold of the proof of postage in case something goes wrong and your parcel doesn’t arrive.

Where Can I Sell my Clothes For The Most Money?

If it’s almost new, you should consider trying to sell it at a local or online consignment shop. If it’s a little more worn than that, consider donating to a local Goodwill or other charitable organization.

If it’s saleable, and you don’t know where to start, here are some platforms that will pay you the most.

1. Local Consignment Stores

There are consignment shops located in communities across the country. But since they are consignment shops, they may not be particularly well known, at least in comparison to major retail chains.

If you’re having difficulty locating a consignment shop in your area, check out this Showroom Finder. The site can help you locate consignment shops for women’s clothing and accessories, furniture, kids’ clothing and furniture, resale and thrift, antiques, and vintage and estate shops in your area. They offer profiles of more than 5,000 shops in all 50 states and Washington DC. And they specialize in a dozen or so of the largest cities.

2. Plato’s Closet

If you’re looking to make a clean break from your clothing, you should try Plato’s Closet. It’s a chain of consignment shops with several hundred stores across the US and Canada. Instead of listing your items for sale, then waiting for a buyer, Plato’s Closet will pay you cash for your items. Naturally, they’ll be a sharp mark-down from retail value. But it will give you an opportunity to get cash immediately.

Be aware however that the chain is highly selective. They buy and sell only gently used brand-name clothing. Think Abercrombie & Fitch, Aeropostale, American Eagle and Hollister. And their target market is teenagers and young adults, between the ages of 12 and 24.

3. Beacon’s Closet

Beacon’s Closet is a very local consignment chain, with just four shops – all located in New York City. But if you live in or near the Big Apple, this one may be well worth your time. You can earn 35% on the sale of your items, which is one of the more generous commission arrangements in the industry.

Even if you don’t live in the New York area, you may still be able to sell to Beacon’s Closet. That’s because they offer “sell by mail”, as well as “sell in-store”. And either way, they pay cash the day they receive your items. The store will donate any items they don’t sell.

4. Crossroads Trading

Crossroads Trading has 37 stores, located primarily in California, but they also have locations in New York, Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, Houston, Portland, Oregon, Seattle, and Washington DC.

Read Also: Using Skills In 3D Animation To Make Money As A Digital Graphics Artist

They primarily buy men’s and women’s current, on-trend clothing and accessories, which must be in excellent condition. Items must be name brand and designer clothing. They can be sold for either cash or trade credit.

Your items can be sold in one of four ways: in-store, drop-off, consignment, and by mail. The by-mail option means you can work with this chain, even if there isn’t a store in your local area.

5. Buffalo Exchange

Buffalo Exchange is a another major competitor in the consignment industry. They have shops located in 18 states across the country, plus Washington DC. When you sell items through the chain, you receive a 30% commission in cash. However, you also have the option of taking a store credit at 50%.

Like every other consignment dealer in this review, items must be gently worn and high-end labels. But it’s another shop where you can simply bring your clothing items into the store, and get cash on the spot.

Finally

While there are some tricks and strategies that you have to figure out along the way, selling vintage clothing online can be a very lucrative and fun business.

Knowing the pros and cons, how to source products, and finding your niche, will give you the best chances for success. If you’re new to the vintage scene and need a place to start, try out one of the most popular marketplaces.