Selling old clothes to thrift stores, also known as consignment stores, is a common side hustle.
However, unless you regularly sell items in bulk you won’t make a lot of money. And even then, you may probably only make a modest income.
But if you know where to reliably secure lightly used designer and luxury clothes in bulk, then you can make a small fortune.
There are online consignment stores that specialize in selling authenticated luxury consignment goods. There is a large market of people who would rather pay a few hundred dollars for lightly used luxury clothes than a few thousand on the retail market.
Here is what you need to know about the luxury consignment goods market and where to sell your goods.
What to Know Before Selling Used Luxury Clothes Online
The difference between online thrift stores and authenticated luxury consignment stores is the same difference between a used car dealership and a certified pre-owned car dealership.
When you buy a used car, you buy it as is in most circumstances. It is why anti-lemon laws have been passed to protect drivers from unscrupulous used car dealers.
Certified Pre-Owned cars have a pre-set limit for age and number of miles driven before that term can be applied to them. CPO vehicles also have authentication certifying that they are suitable for operation.
So, you will always pay more money for a CPO car even though it is still technically a “used car”advertised to a luxury market.
The big point here is that if you have regular access to used luxury clothing and accessories that are lightly used, then you could make hundreds or thousands selling them over a few months. There are several online consignment shops that cater to people like you.
Create a profile, sell your clothes, and make money. These commission rates vary per site, but you usually keep 80% of each sale.
The clothing and accessory articles have to be in near-perfect condition. You will need to provide pics or videos of the goods from several angles. And you will have to offer persuasive descriptions of the items. Make potential buyers imagine themselves in your wares.
Create profiles that invite viewers to check out what you are selling. And check out buyer profiles to develop your own mini demographic of customers who could regularly buy from you. Be proactive.
Just remember, you need to have a certified pre-own equivalency level of luxury used clothing to sell. Your goods must be a ladder rung level or two below “new.”
If your used clothing goods do not fit that standard, then you may want to stick to the traditional used clothing and thrift store market.
Where to Get Used Clothing in Bulk
There are many places where you can potentially get quality used clothing in bulk.
You can scour Craigslist, online newspaper classified ads, and similar websites to find people who are dumping their wardrobes.
You should also scout every retail and thrift store in your area that may be going out of business.
Your best bet is to check out local estate sales. Estate sales coordinators may be happy to give away wardrobes they haven’t sold at auction.
Never assume this will be easy. Estate sales are not coordinated to give away items to every ambitious entrepreneur who comes calling. Be ready to hustle to get what you want. Strategize before contacting estate sale organizers.
The average estate sale lasts a few hours to a few days depending on the size of the estate. And estate sales can be extended or advertised a few times to achieve success.
Check out estate auctions at the tail end of their events to see if anything has been sold. Organizers may be more willing to give you a wardrobe to take off their hands if they have not sold anything after an extended period.
Queenly
Queenly was founded in 2019 but is very popular with small businesses and entrepreneurs who buy or sell premium used formal wear for women of all sizes. You can sell your clothes to other Queenly site members or to the small business members that transact with Queenly.
Queenly members are looking for quality used prom, bridesmaid, cocktail, evening, and glam dresses. This site caters to people who to pay for authenticated consignment luxury clothing without paying the retail price.
Queenly has over 90,000 used designer and formal dresses on its site. And members are willing to pay hundreds of dollars, or more, for the best finds.
You can make use of the Queenly app and free shipping labels to help you execute sales.
Queenly takes 20% of every sale you make.
The RealReal
The RealReal is one of the few premier online consignment stores for the transaction of quality, designer, and used clothing brands like Hermès, Burberry, and Chanel, for example.
Depending on where you live, The RealReal may have local consignment office workers who will come to your house to assess and pick up your goods. Or you can bring your goods to a local office.
If you sell used luxury clothing to The RealReal, it behooves you to have quality used goods that can sell for top dollar.
Your commission for selling on The RealReal depends on a sliding scale. If your sales are less than $1,500, then you get a 55% commission. If you sell less than $195 worth of used luxury goods, then your commission will be less than 55%.
Since The RealReal’s business model is focused on authentic luxury consignment goods, seller’s commissions get larger the bigger the sale.
For example, if you sell over $10,000 worth of goods on The RealReal in one year, then your commission is 70%.
Explore the Luxury Designer Resale Market Thoroughly
There are several websites that cater to the authenticated luxury consignment demographic. So, check around online and find the best websites to cater to your needs.
However, I don’t want to make this process sound easier than it is.
You should be a fashionista who can name the current top ten fashion brands on cue. Or be willing to learn about the luxury retail industry comprehensively.
You need access to sources that will replenish your supplies regularly. This is a market that pays big bucks for lightly used secondhand luxury goods.
And you can’t just post pics on and site and wait for the big bucks to roll in. You will need the eye of a fashion photographer to take well-lighted photos of your goods and describe them well in your seller’s post to entice buyers to buy.
And conform your sales pitch to each buyer on each site. Study the buyers on each site you sell on. Don’t take it for granted that every buyer will buy your goods on sight.
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The post Where to Sell Lightly Used Luxury Clothes for Big Bucks Online appeared first on Fine-Tuned Finances.
A word of caution: After sending two shipments of designer clothing to a prominently advertised resale online shop, I have yet to be paid a cent. Most all of the items were new and had tags on them still. I’ve written the retailer three times and am finally ready to contact the attorney general, better business bureau and consumer affairs. Be careful who you choose to do business with. Better yet, donate your good quality clothing — especially business attire — to Goodwill.