I Make 6 Figures a Year Selling Thrifted Clothes Online: Here’s How I Do It
Written by
Martin Dasko
Edited by
Amen Oyiboke
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One popular side hustle that has emerged in the last few years is flipping stuff and reselling vintage goods. The goal is to find an item at a yard sale or wherever you go looking for products to sell for a higher price online.
A recent story about how a thrift shop reseller found a $3.99 vase worth over $100,000 brought to light the possibilities that could exist in this space. If you know what you’re looking for, you can make some decent money from reselling thrift items. One category that’s gaining traction is vintage clothing, and we will explore how one person turned their love for thrift shopping into a business.
Brenda Christensen, CEO at Stellar Public Relations, Inc., a fashion writer, and the former owner of an LA vintage clothing store called Vintage Diva, shared how she made six figures annually by selling thrift clothes online. We will examine how Brenda Christensen made six figures annually from reselling thrift clothes and provide tips on how you can get started with this idea.
Making Six Figures Selling Thrifted Clothes Online
“I launched one of the first e-commerce platforms in the industry and leveraged my knowledge in technology and married it with my background in clothing, textiles, and retail,” said Christensen. “I had a knack for anticipating style trends and sniffing out bargain vintage designer labels.”
If you can spot a bargain and know what to look out for, you can turn your love for vintage clothing into a real business.
How Do You Know What To Sell?
“I have a trained eye for quality garments and how they are constructed. For instance, vintage pieces have attention to detail and finished seams – a dead giveaway,” Christensen said. Knowing what to look for will make the difference between a hot seller and a dud.
What Does It Take to Sell Thrifted Clothes?
“It takes a devotion and passion for vintage clothing – there’s a lot of footwork involved in discovering a quality garment, but it’s very rewarding to snag items that rare finds, like a treasure hunt,” she said.
How Can Someone Start Selling Thrifted Clothes Online?
“I recommend researching and following those in the vintage thrifting influencer community on platforms like Instagram and others. You can learn a lot from those who are already successful, and they frequently share their secrets and tips online,” said Christensen. Before you attempt to resell used clothing online, you’ll want to invest the time into learning about trends and what to look out for so that you don’t waste your money on items that don’t flip.
Can You Sell On eBay?
“I used eBay as a lead-generating marketing tactic to lure buyers to my site.” If you want to go all the way with selling thrifting clothing, you can set up your own platform and then use established marketplaces for your marketing.
What Items Always Sell?
Christensen shared that anything Couture or designer label sold easily and quickly. The trick is to be persistent enough to search through shops, markets, and other yard sales until you find these items.
What Are The Worst Items To Sell?
“Shoes are a tough sell as they can rarely be altered to fit. Sizing was more standardized decades back, so it’s important to be aware that a size 12 in the ’60s would be a size 4 or 6 today. I used to provide measurements of garments, shoes, and accessories in both inches and centimeters for a global market,” she said. You’ll want to keep this in mind as you shop for items to resell.
Why Did She Stop Selling Thrifted Clothes Online?
The online business went so well that it led to her opening a physical location in Los Angeles where she would sell vintage/thrift clothing. Then, a buyer from a top NYC vintage shop wandered into the boutique one day and ended up purchasing her entire inventory. The buyer shipped everything back to Manhattan to sell at a 100% markup since vintage clothing was hotter there. The online business turned into a traditional shop which led to a decent pay day.
What Are The Best Platforms For Selling Thrifted/Vintage Clothing?
The good news is that you don’t have to start your own e-commerce platform if you want to get into this business. You also don’t have to deal with frustrating inquiries and logistical struggles from selling on eBay.
Here are your best options for selling thrift clothes online if you want to try out this side hustle…
Depop
Known for its interface similar to Instagram, this platform is aimed at the younger Gen-Z crowd, with 90% of its users under the age of 26. You can post your photos and create a unique listing. The platform will take a 10% cut in sales prices. With the ability for buyers and sellers to communicate with each other, it’s no wonder this platform has over 30 million users.
Poshmark
This user-friendly platform allows you to upload and sell used clothing. They take a flat fee of $2.95 for products under $15 and 20% of anything over that amount. Poshmark is popular because it allows for pricing freedom and encourages haggling, so you can bargain with potential buyers.
Etsy
This well-known global platform isn’t just for arts and crafts, as you can list your vintage clothing there. While the process to open an Etsy shop is a bit more intensive, you can open a temporary store to clean out your closet. Etsy charges a 6% commission fee (plus $0.20 for a listing fee and other credit card fees) for your custom shop where you can list your items. You can also sell other vintage items or handmade goods in your shop to turn this into a thriving business.
These are just the most popular options at the moment for selling thrift clothes online. You can always test the waters in your local community with Facebook Marketplace.
Closing Thoughts
If you have an eye for fashion and enjoy thrift shopping, you can make some decent money from selling second-hand clothes online. Hopefully, this article gives you the motivation to start that new side hustle.
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