In hopes of making some extra cash, I listed a pair of unworn Vans to the Poshmark app. To my surprise, they sold in a matter of hours! Fast forward a year later and my dream of starting my own small business has become a reality. I built and currently manage “Poshvall,” a sustainable fashion and reselling business. Using the Poshmark app, I have been able to sell hundreds of items and make thousands of dollars with no initial cost!
What is Poshmark?
For those who don’t know, Poshmark is a platform where people buy and sell new and used clothing, shoes and accessories. Starting up your Poshmark closet may feel intimidating at first, but I’m here to give you a step-by-step guide to building your reselling business at no cost!
- Clean out your closet
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I bet you have at least five items in your personal closet right now that you haven’t worn in the past year (it’s okay, I’m guilty of it too). Instead of clinging onto that dress you wore to prom or those shoes that barely fit, create a pile of clothes that you don’t wear anymore. That pile is the first step to getting some extra money into your bank account.
- Download the Poshmark app and start listing
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After downloading and creating a Poshmark account, you’ll find yourself ready to start making money. Grab your “I haven’t worn it in a year” pile and start listing your items! Here are a few tips and tricks to consider when listing.
1. Take clear and bright photos of your items. I suggest using a white rug or background. You don’t need professional lighting or a studio background to take great photos. A blank wall and some natural light will do the trick!
2. Before listing your items, do your research! Let’s say you want to sell a pair of American Eagle jeans you don’t wear anymore. Go to the Poshmark app and search “American Eagle Jeans.” Look at how much these jeans are selling for and how much they have sold for previously. This helps you get an idea of what to price your item. It’s super important to make sure your item isn’t overpriced or underpriced!
3. Have detailed listing descriptions. Shopping secondhand can be tricky. It’s important for the buyer to know every detail about the listing. Include colors, condition, fit and special features in your description! Being detailed helps the buyer know exactly what they’re purchasing.
- Share, share and share a little more
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If you don’t know what sharing is, don’t worry, I didn’t either. Sharing is the key to success on Poshmark. Basically, all of your listings have a share button. There are two types of sharing options: self-shares and community-shares. Self-shares are when you share your own listings to your followers or a “Posh Party.” Community-shares are when you share other people’s listings to your followers. Sharing is how you increase your exposure and let others know your account is active. I recommend self-sharing your listings three to five times a day to keep them at the top of your followers’ search results.
Remember, you may not make a sale right away. Some items take longer to sell than others, but consistency is key. Even when you feel discouraged, keep on sharing and listing!
- Congrats, you made a sale
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If you haven’t made a sale yet, don’t worry! Keep on sharing and listing.
If you did make a sale, congratulations! I remember the feeling of making my first sale. I was so excited and instantly hooked to the idea of reselling clothing! On the other hand, I was also freaking out because, at the time, I had never been to the post office (now it’s like my second home, how ironic). Don’t worry though, the shipping process is super simple!
Poshmark partners with the United States Post Office (USPS) to give sellers an easy way to ship their sales. Now that you’ve made a sale, you’ve probably received an email with the purchase information. Attached to the email is a pre-paid shipping label. All you have to do is print the label, package your sale in any envelope or box, and drop it off at your nearest post office.
If you don’t have an envelope or box, the post office offers free shipping supplies! Remember when I said this business can be built at zero cost? I meant it!
Also, if you don’t have a car, USPS offers free package pickup! Schedule a pickup through the USPS website and boom, a postal worker will pick up your sale from your house!
- Get that money
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After the buyer receives their purchase, they will accept the package and your earnings will become redeemable on your account. Set up your direct deposit and bam — you now have some extra cash in your pocket!
- Reinvest
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I initially started selling my clothes on Poshmark to make a little extra money. However, I have been able to turn this hobby into a business of over 25,000 followers. I have managed over 300+ items of inventory and have made thousands of dollars reselling clothes.
I do this by reinvesting a portion of the money I make from my personal closet into sourcing for new items. If you’re into thrifting, this will be fun. Basically, I go to thrift stores like Goodwill and Salvation Army in search of high end, good quality, or trending items at low prices to resell on my platform. Sourcing is an adventure! It may take hours to find quality items, but when you finally discover those hidden gems, it feels amazing!
Whether you’re looking to make a little extra cash or build your business, reselling is a zero-risk method that can lead to high rewards! Remember to keep listing, reinvesting and sourcing for items! Like I mentioned earlier, consistency is key!