How you can promote garments on-line: The information to promoting on Depop, Poshmark, Mercari

Desk of Contents

They’re watching you from inside your closet.

The gown you got for one singular wedding ceremony two years in the past. The blazer you got for an interview at an organization that is apparently not hiring. They taunt you silently each time you push them apart for a monochrome sweatsuit.

That is your signal. Begin promoting your garments on-line.

The facet hustle that does not require a lot time, or a particular ability

The pandemic closet purge to underconsumption-core pipeline has put a highlight on the artwork of successfully eliminating previous stuff.

Chances are high, you have already got a trash bag in your closet the place completely good castoffs go to die — and it is easy to let that bag turn into a everlasting fixture in your to-do record. Whether or not your gadgets are evenly worn or have been by no means touched after the preliminary try-on, figuring out methods to promote them successfully is a slept-on ability.

Being secondhand vendor savvy, you may have a go-to method to earn further money for years to come back. It’s going to turn into a very clutch monetary cushion as the results of tariffs loom at each the budget-friendly and luxurious ends of the attire spectrum. Individuals will shortly understand that there is one method to skirt round spiking clothes prices with out frantically Googling which clothes manufacturers have factories the place: Simply purchase clothes that is already in circulation.

Unsure the place to begin? I did not at first, both. After virtually a decade of itemizing my very own stuff and doing a majority of my very own purchasing from different folks’s closets, I’ve poured the whole lot I’ve discovered right into a working information on promoting your garments on the totally different resale apps, from picture and outline tricks to transport hacks to the ins and outs of promoting charges.

From the vendor’s perspective, the apparent perk of an internet store is having a go-to method to earn further money to cushion in opposition to costlier on a regular basis gadgets. Even a revenue of $10 right here and there might make a weekly grocery invoice really feel much less daunting — a recurring win on this financial hellscape. The very best half is that clothes-selling apps are a facet hustle that does not actually require you to clock in. Certain, a couple of minutes are required at the start to publish the gadgets, plus a pit cease on the publish workplace when a bought merchandise must be mailed. However between that, you are simply ready for the precise purchaser to scroll previous your stuff.

However the purchaser’s POV says quite a bit, too: Individuals might be searching for methods to economize the place they will, and shopping for used or refurbished is a method to do this with out stopping purchasing fully. If an merchandise is already in circulation (i.e., sitting in some particular person’s Mercari store), it is inherently invulnerable to the tariffs that surge the prices of imported items.

Will tariffs make garments costlier?

In case you have been a betting particular person, would you guess that the tags in your present outfit say “Made within the USA” or “Made actually wherever else“?

Anybody whose intestine feeling mentioned the latter is, in fact, appropriate. A 2024 report from the American Attire & Footwear Affiliation estimated that the U.S. will get 97 p.c of its attire and sneakers from different international locations, which signifies that 97 p.c of garments and sneakers within the U.S. are going to price more cash to usher in. So sure, it is practically inevitable that the majority garments might be affected by tariffs. For a way lengthy, we do not know, and the hike in value might be depending on the tariff fee tied to the nation every garment is coming from.

A giant chunk of that 97 p.c comes from Asia, together with China, whose imports have been saddled with a greater than one hundred pc tariff fee as of April 9. JSYK, Shein and Temu gadgets ship from China. Trump additionally moved to shut a loophole that beforehand allowed shipments of low-cost gadgets (like garments from Shein) to fly underneath the radar and evade different commerce taxes.

TL;DR: Retailers whose whole success mannequin is constructed on the power to be tremendous low-cost at the moment are dealing with roadblocks that’ll make staying low-cost a lot more durable. In flip, many patrons is likely to be pressured to wean off of quick style and clothes haul mentality.

However we would have liked to shift away from that entire mess regardless. Quick style manufacturers are solely capable of promote clothes at such low prices as a result of the folks making them aren’t being paid pretty, with the availability chain usually banking on little one labor. The fixed churning out of low-quality polyester crap additionally wreaks havoc on the atmosphere. The quick style business is a infamous contributor to landfills and is chargeable for practically 10 p.c of worldwide carbon emissions — that is the equal of 1 rubbish truck full of garments being burned or dumped each second. In 2023, Shein alone emitted extra carbon dioxide than what 4 coal energy vegetation mixed might emit in a yr.

The thrifting growth proves that persons are down to purchase used garments

I’ve advisable resale apps to associates, and far of their hesitation stemmed from the identical place: “Nobody desires my stuff.” However that is not essentially true. You would be stunned at what patrons are actively looking down, particularly when costs are cheaper than shopping for the identical precise factor model new.

The surging reputation of thrifting over the previous few years is all of the reassurance you need to want that persons are completely open to carrying beforehand worn garments. For these of us who weren’t blessed with the time or motivation to scan Goodwill with a fine-tooth comb for hidden gems, on-line resale platforms are the transfer. There is a marketplace for the stuff that Plato’s Closet or Buffalo Alternate turned down for no matter arbitrary motive.

And opposite to well-liked perception, you may nonetheless have a ton of success promoting garments on-line even if in case you have no cool classic items to record. Consider how engaging a gently worn pair of Lululemon leggings listed at 50% off might be now that model new Lululemon leggings, which already weren’t anybody’s concept of reasonably priced, will most likely get costlier attributable to tariffs. A marriage invitee who feels financially burnt out after shopping for a bathe and wedding ceremony reward would most likely love to purchase somebody’s Princess Polly gown that was additionally solely worn for a single event and is now $50 cheaper than market value.

I am going to always remember the frenzy I felt after discovering a pair of platform SK8-Hello Vans in my dimension on Depop after months of seeing “Out of inventory” all over the place else. I couldn’t have cared much less concerning the mild scuffs. That vendor would not realize it, however her not wanting these random sneakers made my life. That is secondhand savviness for you: If it is bought out on the web site, it is likely to be quietly floating round on a promoting app.

Do not let snobby thrift shops who settle for nothing bully you into pondering your wardrobe sucks.

It is easy to depend on Amazon or Asos when a shirt is $10 and transport is quick and free, however keep in mind that a lot of what is being bought secondhand is simply as reasonably priced. The distinction: Shopping for secondhand takes one thing that is already in circulation off the market. And let’s be actual — that weirdly low-cost shirt positively is not higher high quality than a shirt that is been worn a number of instances.

Which is finest: Depop, Poshmark, or Mercari?

Every member of the holy trinity will get the job finished. In truth, many sellers publish on all three to achieve a wider viewers. However sure forms of garments might carry out higher on one app or the opposite, primarily based on the demographics of the consumer bases protecting every platform afloat.

Poshmark, the OG, has 130 million customers versus Depop’s 35 million and Mercari’s 23 million. The largest distinction between the apps might be their consumer bases: Something well-liked on TikTok or Instagram will seemingly do nicely with Depop’s viewers (90 p.c of customers are Gen Z), whereas gadgets focused towards ages 40 and up would possibly fare higher on one of many different two. There are gender variations, too: 70 p.c of Poshmark’s customers establish as ladies, for instance, whereas 38 p.c of Depop’s customers establish as males.

Depop will be intimidating. Of the large three, it is the app that feels most like social media, and with that comes stress to curate an aesthetic theme, publish constantly, and maintenance the vibe of the store as an entire. The gang is concurrently eclectic but particular: millennials and Gen Zers who resonate with area of interest stylistic pockets of web tradition (insert phrase right here-core), observe influencers intently, and admire classic items and full outfit styling.

In case you’re entering into thrifting or seeking to promote from a distinct segment model, head to Depop first. You may have higher luck promoting a recognizable sweater from Todd Snyder or Lisa Says Gah than a generic turtleneck from Zara. (You should definitely use hashtags, together with the model title and phrases folks would possibly search, like #plaidpants or #NWT — “new with tags.”)

Fortunately, Depop’s interface is tremendous approachable. The app seems quite a bit like Instagram — you may scroll by a feed exhibiting one merchandise at a time from retailers you observe. (You can even search by class or change to the Discover web page for a grid of recent gadgets, which Depop curates as “the perfect gadgets from our neighborhood.”)

Mashable High Tales

Poshmark and Mercari are a bit extra chaotic. Your feed might be stuffed with updates about new listings, however some will solely be *vaguely* just like stuff you’ve checked out earlier than. Their search options get cluttered, too: Poshmark’s search bar tends to tug up gadgets that do not fairly match the search phrases, and Mercari regularly turns up gadgets which have already bought. You had one job, filters.

The Poshmark neighborhood’s requirements additionally are usually a bit looser. Many customers are nonetheless younger and hungry for classic and designer items, however older millennials and members of Gen X would possibly really feel extra at house right here than on Depop. (My mother typically provides me gadgets of hers to promote; in these instances, Poshmark is my go-to.) Poshmark additionally lacks a method to message different customers straight. Personally, I do not love having a convo within the remark part, however different customers do not appear to thoughts.

Mercari, for its half, is the place to promote house items like electronics and decor, new and used. Objects from T.J. Maxx and Marshalls that go viral and promote out shortly usually find yourself listed on Mercari — the Rae Dunn and Hiya Kitty merch lore runs deep on these digital cabinets. When you have undesirable skincare that you simply’re too lazy to return or undesirable fragrance or cologne with just some sprays used, Mercari additionally has an enormous marketplace for stuff like that.

In response to a query about Mercari’s target market on the Mercari subreddit, Reddit consumer chibidesigns writes: “I’ve had lots of success promoting random issues on Mercari. Offered computerized toothbrush heads inside 10min of posting, and bought lots of previous electronics wires I had laying round. Clothes strikes, however at a slower tempo than what I transfer on Poshmark.”

Mercari continues to be nice for style resale, although, particularly for issues like sneakers (assume sneakerhead tradition), kids’s clothes, or outerwear. My brother has given me a number of pairs of his previous Air Jordans to promote for him, and most bought shortly on Mercari after gaining little traction on Depop.

Making your listings pop is much less work than you assume

Beginning a profitable store would require some legwork, however observe a number of key ideas and you will be good to go. Here is what to give attention to.

Begin with the background. Take into account what you, as a purchaser, would wish to see to really feel snug shopping for clothes from somebody. Blindingly synthetic lighting or a carpet coated in pet hair don’t precisely show that the vendor takes care of their garments. A half-assed picture might ship the message that you simply’ll be half-assed with transport or communication, too.

Assembling a makeshift studio is an effective transfer. It would not need to be fancy — assume cohesive and presentable, like a properly embellished nook of your room or a plain wall exterior your condo advanced. A uniform look is nice, however what actually issues is exhibiting that you simply take pleasure within the reselling course of.

Modeling garments isn’t a requirement, particularly whenever you’re promoting one thing as a result of it would not match. However since returns aren’t quite common on resale apps, patrons do admire seeing what an merchandise seems like on an individual. Nonetheless, there isn’t any want to tug a buddy out for a shoot. The self-timer in your telephone can work surprisingly nicely, but when that makes you are feeling rushed, an affordable wi-fi shutter distant and mini tripod will provide you with extra management.

Do not feel like being in entrance of the digicam? There are different methods to take eye-catching photographs. Placing an merchandise on a hanger is a classy various, so long as the background is comparatively impartial. (Bonus factors if your whole photographs have a uniform backdrop or theme.) An artsy prop, like a plant within the nook, can add a little bit of flare.

I am not Depop well-known by any stretch, however I have made virtually 300 gross sales. I’ve settled on posing every garment on a white rug on the identical chunk of ground, with my roommate’s enormous gold ground mirror as a bit accent within the nook. For gadgets which might be too massive or awkward for a ground image, I dangle them on the closet door close by to maintain the vibe as match-y as potential. (On Depop, photographs need to be sq., so hold that in thoughts when taking photographs. Mercari and Poshmark enable photographs to broaden to full rectangular dimension.)

Many customers use an precise backdrop (might be a sheet, might be a $17 cloud backdrop with fairy string lights). Others take away the backgrounds on their photographs and edit the merchandise onto a enjoyable digital backdrop utilizing a service like Photoshop or Canva Professional.

Such intricate photoshoots aren’t completely essential, although, particularly on platforms that are not Depop. Mercari and Poshmark buyers admire practicality, seemingly simply searching for photographs that very clearly intensify the merchandise’s colour and situation. A clean chunk of hardwood ground was my background for all of these sneakers I used to be promoting. No matter you do, publish a couple of picture. The back and front of an article of clothes, close-ups on zippers, necklines, or different small particulars, the bottoms of sneakers — similar to you’d most likely study an merchandise by hand in a retailer earlier than shopping for, taking photographs from a number of angles exhibits the client precisely what they’d be buying.

Listed below are another fast recommendations on making a profitable promoting app publish:

Lighting could make or break a photograph. Pure daylight captures colours and textures as they seem IRL and might spotlight stains or snags that you might have missed. But when pure mild is not out there, a setup that mimics pure mild might be a godsend. (A 5000K mild bulb is an effective place to begin.) Attempt a Lume Dice or an adjustable daylight lamp.

In some instances, particularly with sneakers, turning on flash is a surefire method to spotlight any discoloration, scuffs, stains, or creasing.

Be as descriptive as potential within the description. Although “Black hoodie sz massive good situation” is faster so that you can sort, it is not precisely useful for the client. Say as a lot concerning the merchandise as you may, together with the way it matches or the texture of the material — bullet factors are tremendous if it feels such as you’re rambling. Previous choosing “good” or “glorious” situation within the settings of the itemizing, I like to inform patrons roughly what number of instances the merchandise was worn (if I’ve a normal concept). Know the yr it got here out? Add that. Know the precise title and/or colour of the merchandise {that a} purchaser would possibly sort into the search bar (i.e., Reformation Gloria gown in “Honeyglow”)? Add that.

Be candid about flaws or different quirks, like whether or not the merchandise matches like a small even when it is tagged as a medium. Duping somebody is only a recipe for a foul assessment, and that’ll simply hinder your probability of creating extra gross sales sooner or later.

Launder your gadgets earlier than promoting. Take the time to hang-dry gadgets that may’t go within the dryer, and hand wash delicates that say to take action. (A couple of drops of Woolite Delicates within the sink will just do tremendous.) It will assist with fading, shrinking, and cloth sturdiness, and might be the distinction between “glorious” or “truthful” situation.

Be conscious of wrinkles. Even the cutest little picture association cannot make ridiculously wrinkly garments look engaging to patrons, and sometimes makes it inconceivable to truly see how the garment would lay usually. If one in every of your gadgets’ earlier storage state of affairs was being crumpled in a ball for a yr, simply develop up and iron it, or ship it by a dryer’s wrinkle launch setting.

Fundamental stitching expertise go a good distance. SNL followers would possibly keep in mind the skit the place Larry-David-as-Bernie-Sanders recommends protecting the little button within the baggie that comes with pants. He is proper: An merchandise with a lacking button will seemingly fetch a a lot cheaper price. (While you record the merchandise, be aware that the additional button might be included with the sale. It exhibits the client you are accountable.)

So long as you’ve got a needle and a few matching thread, you may exchange a button or mend a gap. Taking the burden of restore off the client can improve the worth (perceived and precise) of what you are promoting.

A measuring tape is one other staple. Patrons will virtually positively ask for measurements on pants, particularly in the event that they’re denim. And figuring out your individual measurements is useful when looking to your holy grail classic Levi’s.

In case you’re feeling formidable, you might wish to put money into a stitching machine. This can be a should for thrift flip TikTok fanatics, however it’s additionally good to have one available for extra concerned repairs, like changing a zipper. (It is easy, I swear. Purchase a zipper of the identical colour on Amazon and discover a DIY video.) It’s best to nonetheless inform patrons concerning the patch job, however it’s higher than dropping the “damaged zipper” bomb.

Saving your packing containers and mailers will save your ass

Do lots of on-line purchasing your self? Reuse that Amazon packaging as an alternative of paying for brand new mailers. I’ve acquired orders in previous Sephora packing containers and Goal mailers and have by no means minded, and I do the identical myself (inside motive — skip the tattered ones). Many patrons buy secondhand as a result of they worth sustainability, so that they’ll admire a store that does not let packaging go to waste.

Get conversant in transport

As TechCrunch author Ingrid Lunden famous in a 2019 piece about Depop, “patrons usually don’t appear to anticipate the identical type of transport, monitoring, or supply professionals showing at their doorways” as they’d for big-box purchases. They perceive that you simply, a fellow common human, are dealing with transport, and usually tend to be chill about it — so long as you attain out and clarify any delays.

Virtually each resale app works with USPS to create printable transport labels, that are paid for by the client except toggled in any other case. Poshmark makes use of a flat transport price, whereas Depop and Mercari supply a number of choices primarily based on weight. UPS and FedEx are additionally choices on Mercari and are typically barely cheaper than USPS, relying on the merchandise’s weight.

It is sensible to make use of a kitchen scale to weigh packages and select a label accordingly. In any other case, you threat the publish workplace sending your package deal again if it is too heavy.

Promoting charges defined

Although itemizing an merchandise is technically free, every platform sometimes takes a share of your sale to cowl different charges.

Observe that these numbers aren’t set in stone. Each Mercari and Depop have not too long ago gone by phases the place they ditched the promoting price altogether, simply to switch it with an alternate sort of cost. Generally, they return to the previous mannequin, typically they do not.

Here is the promoting price state of affairs for the large apps as of April 2025:

• Depop not prices its earlier 10% promoting price and as an alternative prices sellers a cost processing price (3.3% of the transaction quantity plus $0.45, and patrons a U.S. market price of as much as 5% of the acquisition value). Allegedly, this enables sellers to maintain barely extra of their revenue.

• Mercari prices a flat 10% promoting price and prices patrons a flat 3.6% purchaser safety price.

• Poshmark prices sellers $2.95 for gross sales underneath $15 and 20% for gross sales of $15 or extra. It is fairly steep, IMO.

• eBay promoting charges vary from 10% to fifteen.55%, relying on the product class and closing merchandise value. Clothes, sneakers, and equipment include a 13.25% promoting price, whereas sneakers particularly are at 8%.

• Vinted additionally not prices a straight up promoting price, as an alternative charging patrons a 5% purchaser safety price plus $0.70.

Probably the toughest capsule to swallow within the on-line promoting recreation is that you simply most likely will not make the quantity again that you simply paid. An merchandise might be new with tags and patrons will nonetheless most likely must see a cheaper price to be satisfied to purchase from a random particular person as an alternative of the model’s official web site. See how different sellers are pricing related gadgets and hold put on in thoughts.

Coping with lowballing

In some unspecified time in the future, you are sure to come across a potential purchaser who gives an quantity so low, it feels offensive. A $10 high is already cheap, however somebody will inevitably attempt to get it for $7 (figuring out rattling nicely that, after transport, you may make about $2).

Making gives generally is a helpful tactic when finished respectfully. Some customers do make truthful solutions that will not halve your revenue, and acquiescing might encourage an extra-sweet assessment. In case you completely aren’t right down to haggle, be aware within the description that your asking value is agency.

The supply characteristic on the large promoting apps makes it simple to ship decrease costs to customers exhibiting curiosity in your merchandise. Patrons and sellers can negotiate by sending counteroffers, and sellers can even nudge patrons first by sending gives to individuals who have preferred the merchandise.

Keep in mind: Good critiques matter greater than follower depend

Getting eyeballs in your profile relies upon much less on follower depend and extra on high quality photographs, fast transport, and responsiveness to patrons’ questions. Cowl these, and stacked optimistic critiques are seemingly in your future. Whether or not your purpose is to construct a following or just eliminate stuff you are not feeling, the guidelines above might help get your gadgets bought shortly — and get that money into your checking account.