When it comes to the various sales channels available to sell apparel, resellers have a significant advantage over traditional retailers. This advantage lies in their ability to sell across multiple marketplaces versus selling exclusively on ones own site. There is certainly no shortage of vintage buyers, so it’s important to take advantage of as many channels as possible. This expanding strategy is made easy with a listing app, though even without one you can master multiple marketplace listings and sell vintage clothes online with vigor.
(For information on hands free garment measuring, scroll to the bottom or reach out to us here).
ASOS Marketplace
Secondhand clothing as the go to, versus first hand, began its popularity outside of the US. Although the US is starting to catch up, it’s taken a while for many to get past the stigma of secondhand being only for those who cannot afford full price. ASOS was one of the first online retailers to introduce a subsidiary company (ASOS Marketplace) with a focus on the circular economy. The ASOS Marketplace came about in 2010. It’s based in the UK and attracts millions of 20-35 year old’s each year. You’ll want to take advantage of this platform, considering their parent company brings in $2.5 billion in revenue each year, they have plenty to spend on making their Marketplace the best it can be.
Here are some of the details around listing on ASOS Marketplace:
- 20% commission taken when a product is sold
- Must follow their photography guidelines
- Dedicated account manager
- To apply to sell as a true boutique, must be selling your own line or truly vintage apparel (Y2K or older)
eBay
eBay was founded in 1995 and is one of the major successes to come out of the dot com bubble. eBay is now a major market place for preloved fashion. A recent article published by The Guardian noted resale fashion is booming during the pandemic. Some segments are up as much as 40%, making eBay a perfect place to sell vintage clothes online. eBay’s longevity means it has plenty of buyers on the platform and an easy listing process.
- Marketplace with over 182 million shoppers worldwide
- $0 fee for listing when you list under 200 items per month, $0.35 for each listing thereafter
- 10% commission taken when product sells
OfferUp
What began in 2011 as a competitor to Craigslist, OfferUp quickly became a resale clothing powerhouse. Where the other resale marketplaces on this list cater to a global market, OfferUp’s focus is selling items locally. Their commitment to peer to peer extends beyond buying and selling. For example, OfferUp works with over 1800 police stations throughout the US to establish well monitored community meetup spots to exchange goods purchased through their app. OfferUp operates within the US and is moving forward with plans to expand internationally.
- Posting to OfferUp takes less than 30 seconds using their app
- OfferUp takes a 7.9% commission on items sold
- They boast having over 35 million active users
- Acquired the peer to peer selling app Letgo in March 2020
Etsy
Etsy is an American eCommerce website focused on handmade or vintage items and craft supplies. Founded back in 2005, the name was derived from an Italian film founder Robert Kalin had been watching. He noticed they said etsi a lot, which in Italian means “oh, yes.” Kalin wanted a no-nonsense name for the business and Etsy was it. The platform is not dedicated to fashion but is a great place to list vintage apparel for sale given Etsy’s target demographic.
- $0.20 fee for listing items on Etsy
- 3.5% transaction fee + 3% payment processing fee
- Items will remain on site for 4 months
- Over 40 million buyers use the platform annually
Depop
Depop originated in the UK in 2011 as a dedicated fashion resale platform. It’s been touted as having social feel (similar to that of Instagram), which makes it popular among the Generation Z and Millennial audience. Depop is known around Europe and the United States for its wide variety of new and used apparel. The Depop community boasts over 21 million fashion stylists, designers, artists, collectors, vintage sellers, sneakerheads and more.
- Marketplace geared towards fashion
- Global expanding client-base
- Intuitive mobile app
Sell Vintage Apparel Online? Start Including Automation
If you’re in business to sell vintage clothes online, you most likely enjoy many aspects of the industry. Measuring garments is not one of them. The fun in vintage apparel is in making sales and enabling a circular economy. Therefore, reducing the number of manual tasks your team performs to get garments online is key to a better bottom line. Through automation technology like Capture, you’ll combine the photo and garment measuring steps into one. Additionally, you’ll list 30% more garments each day and even save a dozen or more hours each week doing it.
We’re interested in learning about your business and if Capture is right for you. Connect with us here.