If you had told me a year ago that I’d be dipping my toes into the world of reselling, I probably would have laughed…and then gone back to styling another outfit.

Quote of the day: “Failure is the key to success; each mistake teaches us something.” Morihei Ueshiba

It’s not that I’ve never considered reselling clothes. I have a bunch of friends who sell on Poshmark, eBay, and the like, and while I’ve considered it, the amount of behind-the-scenes work has made me rethink the idea.
Maybe if I weren’t blogging, I would have done the traditional reselling, but I’ll give you some of the reasons below why I doubt those avenues would work for me.

Then, I saw this dude on TikTok with the handle @TheLazyThrifter and thought his concept sounded brilliant.

I hope you join my email Family. It’s the place where I share things even before creating on my blog. It’s also my space for fun and positive content. In addition, you also get my free eBook when you sign up, but that’s not the best part.
The best part is being part of my community, where we inspire and lift each other up.

Let’s Talk about Reselling Platforms

The reselling platforms like Poshmark, eBay, Mercari, and Facebook Marketplace all have one thing in common…you have to list everything.

What do I mean by listing it? In a nutshell:
–Photographing it in good lighting, as well as taking photos of it with a measuring tape, so buyers can be sure of the sizing.
–Listing it on their site. This includes finding the right words to describe it, as well as keeping the platform’s algorithm happy.
–Responding to questions and offers.

And the biggest part of this type of reselling is that you need an organized system for how you store the products after listing them.
Because when that sale comes in, you want to be able to find it fast to send it off.

For instance, check out this guy’s system on IG.
Some of the resellers I follow have talked about their pile of unlisted items…phew.

Now I know there are apps to help with much of this work. Heck, even AI can help with descriptions and such.
I always just thought it sounded like more than I wanted to bite off.

So when I heard about The Lazy Thrifter’s way of reselling, I thought maybe that would be the way to go.

The 3 Platforms I’m Using (And Why)

Instead of doing everything myself, I’m testing out three different venues that handle most of the work for me.

What this means is that I don’t have to worry about photographing, listing, communicating with customers, returns, or especially storing and organizing the items.

1. The RealReal (TRR)

This one is for higher-end pieces. I’d heard of the site in the past, but never really shopped it because I thought it was out of my budget range.
Spoiler Alert—there are many items under $100. And you can return items, although there is a restocking fee. Some items are final sale and aren’t returnable.

What I Love about this option:

• Easy to request a label, and you can send them anytime, from a single item to multiple items.
• Authentication for everything.
• They handle pricing and selling.
• It feels very “set it and forget it”.
• They are very communicative in letting you know when your items are listed on their site…not when items get sold.

What I’m learning:
Even though a designer may be on their accepted list, sometimes, they are only accepting certain types of items from that designer.
For example, for the brand Ralph Lauren Denim & Supply, they are only accepting coats, jackets, sweaters, and bags right now.

Stylist tip: If you want to purchase through The Real Real, you can find some “deals” on certain items.
If you want me to locate something for you, feel free to reach out.

Payouts on this site depend on the designer. Many of the things I have sent in could receive about 20% commission. There are some items that would get 40-50% commission.
Granted, someone has to buy it to get that commission.

Let’s compare that to the commissions I would get if you click on my links and buy something. They range from 1% (Amazon) to maybe 15%.

The advantage of The Real Real is that if they deem an item unacceptable to sell or it doesn’t sell within their window of time, it is sent back to you on their dime.

What I don’t love:

• It usually takes anywhere from 3-5 weeks for your shipped item to get listed on their site. This is the trade-off for having all the work done for you. Because if you were reselling on Poshmark, you could ideally have it up for sale the next day.
• The list of accepted designers does change from time to time, so even though I have learned some designers to send to them, the list changes often, so it’s smart to double-check when you are purchasing.

2. ThredUp

This site feels more like the everyday version of reselling. They accept a much bigger range of brands, and you have more control over pricing the items.

What I love:

• Great for the brands that aren’t accepted by The Real Real, although there are still some brands they don’t accept.
• No listing required, although you can edit the prices.
• You have 2 options for selling: standard or premium options.

What I’m learning

There can be a big difference between the standard and premium options for reselling.
When I first started, I only used the standard option, but as I’m trying to locate higher-end items, I now use the premium.

With the premium, you can opt for the extra charge where they will return items they don’t deem worthy.
The Real Real doesn’t charge for this detail.

I’ve also learned that you can go in and edit the prices either higher or lower. This gives you more control over the process if you want it.

Insider tip: Because many people use thredUp to clean out their closet as opposed to a reselling business, you can find some great deals on the site.

At first, I was thinking that my items weren’t selling because thredUp doesn’t record the earnings for you until after the return window has passed.
Once I checked the “pending sale” category, I was relieved.

Again with the commissions, it is dependent on the brand AS WELL AS the category. Cocktail dresses seem to get a higher commission than tops.

What I don’t love

• I thought the standard vs premium selling options were confusing. It wasn’t until I started following resellers that I figured it out.
• Even though a brand is listed as accepted, for some items, they will tell you that unless it sells for more than $20, it won’t count toward your earnings.
• The communication about your items is not as good as TRR, but I’ve learned to check it myself.

3. Uptown Cheapskate

This one is immediate gratification. They call themselves an upscale resale shop, and they purchase certain items for cash (or credit).

What I love:

• You get paid upfront (cash or store credit)
• No waiting, no wondering
• Great for trendier, current items (even brands not accepted with TRR or ThredUp)

What I’m Learning

This store tends to have a younger demographic (although both Rob and I have shopped there in the past), so I think about that when I pick up certain items.

What I don’t love

• They are very selective. Just because it’s cute doesn’t mean they’ll take it.
• Basically, if they accept it, I will only get $5 cash for the item. This means I have to take into account how much I paid for the clothing.
• Very seasonally based, but then again, that’s what sells.

What I’m Learning (So Far)

I’m still very much in the beginner stage of this reselling journey. I told myself I’d give it a year to try it out and see if it tickles my fancy. Because I’ve found that experience trumps everything.

Because it’s easy to look online and think everyone is making tons of Money doing this effortlessly.

The best thing is that there are accounts on all of the social media sites that share what they know. They share some of the back-end information with thredUp and such. They share the brands that work for them to sell, and they share what brands to ignore.

Here are my big lessons:

• Reselling requires a different eye
  It’s less about personal style and more about market demand.
• Brands matter…a lot
  Some labels sell quickly, others just sit.
• Condition is everything
  Just because the thrift store is selling it doesn’t mean it’s in good condition.
• Patience is part of the process
  Especially when you’re not in control of pricing or timing.
• Sometimes they are wrong
  Even sites like TRR and ThredUp make mistakes. I’ve seen skirts listed as dresses and such. If you have a good eye, it can be beneficial to take advantage of these errors.

Keeping my costs super low for thrift purchases is ideal since I may only get a 20% commission.

The Why

Many (including my husband) ask me why I’m doing this.

It boils down to the fact that I like to shop, and we know that I don’t need anything, as my closet is stuffed.
Plus…

It’s stretching my brain in a new way.
Truthfully, it’s a whole new animal than my normal thrift shopping. Not only do I look at the brands, but I also search through all the colors. This is different from when I search for myself, because I usually only shop for the colors and styles that I love.

The other big difference is the price. Sure, I’d pay $10-20 for a dress that I like even at the thrift store, but if I’m reselling it, that may not make sense.

One of the mottos of reselling (and I agree) is that we are keeping great items out of the landfill.
It feels good to know that pieces I find can go on to be loved by someone else.
And it doesn’t hurt if I can make a coin or two in the process.

In fact, after Cathie and I went to the bins, it was a bit depressing to me how clothes are so disrespected. Thrown on the floor, and not cared for at all. Especially when I saw a handknit sweater that someone had lovingly made…just thrown away, and now it’s not valued.

Final Thoughts

This reselling journey is still unfolding for me, and I have a feeling it’s going to evolve as I learn more.

I’m telling myself that I don’t need to have it all figured out to begin.
In fact, my Tai Chi instructor used to say that it’s important to realize that when you first start something new, you WILL suck at it.

I feel very lucky there is loads of info on the social media platforms, but some of it needs to be taken with a grain of salt.
Brands that resellers say sell well, could be mostly for Poshmark. I’m trying to learn that if I am going to do this, I should make a profit, right?

I know Rob is keeping track of the number for this reselling journey and I’m in the red right now. But then again, that’s no different than when I started blogging.

Did you think blogging was free? It can be quite an investment as I pay for my domain name (www.jtouchofstyle.com), my blogging platform (how it gets online), my email service, as well as other charges here and there.
That’s why I always appreciate your support, whether that’s buying me coffee, shopping through my links, or even just sharing my content in any way possible.

FYI, I’ve started sharing a video of what I’ve bought for my sourcing, on Facebook and YouTube.

Did you like what you just read?

Consider buying me a coffee as a thank you. The best gift you can give a content creator is the gift of sharing or supporting. You could share this article on Facebook, or Pinterest or even email it to a friend. Thank you so much for your support!!

Jodie Filogomo is a retired cosmetic dentist and fashion blogger behind Jodie’s Touch of Style, where she has been helping women over 50 experiment with style in fun, creative ways for over 12 years.

Find out more about the crew, because we love to showcase all ages, body shapes and women who love different styles.

The post Simple Thoughts with My Reselling Journey (Without Doing All the Work Myself) appeared first on Jodie’s Touch of Style.

Jodie Filogomo Fashion Stylist

Jodie's Touch of Style showcases how it's never too late to look great including other older women and myself talking about fashion, beauty, and lifestyle issues.

As a retired dentist, Jodie takes her love of clothing and shopping and has come to find her superpowers in styling the same item in many ways. She is also a huge advocate for embracing our age and bodies. Getting old is a wonderful thing and learning to love ourselves while it happens is very freeing.

Looking great can happen no matter what age, shape or budget, as we show on Jodie's Touch of Style.