If you’ve got a closet full of clothes and nothing to wear, you could probably make some room for new styles you love by getting rid of items you no longer use. And if your clothes, jewelry, shoes, or even home items are in good condition, you might also be sitting on a goldmine.
That’s because Poshmark, an app for resellers, lets you easily turn your gently used stuff into extra cash. Just take a photo, create a listing, set your price, and wait for your item to sell. Poshmark sends you a prepaid shipping label, so all you have to do is box up your item and drop it off at the post office.
To date, I’ve earned more than $5,700 on the platform, mostly from selling items I could no longer use. Some Poshmark resellers have made six figures, and one entrepreneur even brought in a whopping $1 million in sales. If you want to know how to make money, Poshmark is one of the best side hustles out there. The amount you can earn depends largely on what you have to sell, but certain strategies can help you maximize your earnings on the platform.
How I got started as a Poshmark reseller
Shopping has always been one of my favorite hobbies, but it’s also an expensive habit. I had to learn early on how to find the best deals, especially because I had an affinity for designer brands. By the time I reached my mid-20s, I had collected quite the assortment of clothing, shoes, and jewelry. I had also gotten curvier, so the majority of those items no longer fit me.
That’s when I discovered Poshmark. My first listing was a patchwork sweater from Free People that sold for $55. From there, I went on to list more than 250 items over the course of several years. A few times, I was even able to make a profit from new designer items purchased at a discount outlet. Since 2013, I’ve amassed more than 480,000 followers on the platform. Although I sell much less frequently than I used to, every new item I list gets a lot of attention due to my following.
How to make money as a Poshmark reseller from my experience
Being a Poshmark reseller can get a little competitive given they have around 8 million sellers. Here are some tips I use to become a successful reseller.
1. Define your aesthetic
The best way to get followers is to fill your closet with beautiful items that showcase your style — and then show those items off on Poshmark. Aim for a cohesive aesthetic in your photographs; use similar backgrounds and framing. If you aren’t sure where to start, look around at what other sellers do to get some ideas.
2. Choose clothes wisely
I suggest only selling items you can sell for $15 or more. Poshmark takes a flat $2.95 from items sold for less than $15 and 20% of items sold for $15 or more. So if you sold an item for $15, they’d take $3, which is the same amount they’d take if you sold an item for $5. Consider how much your time is worth, since you have to take time to photograph, list, and ship the item.
3. Engage
Be responsive to questions and feedback from other users. Allow notifications from the app so you know instantly when someone likes, comments, or purchases your items. You should also use the app to do some shopping of your own. Not only will this give you an idea of what’s popular, but you’ll also be more likely to get followers if you like and share other users’ listings.
In addition, you should share your own items as often as daily to make sure they’re appearing in search results. If your listing isn’t selling, consider making an offer to your likers. Poshmark allows you to advertise a targeted discount to people who already like your item. All you have to do is click “Price Drop” and then “Offer to Likers” on your listing. Make sure you knock at least 10% off your lowest offer in the past 90 days, or it won’t be shared.
4. Be strategic when pricing your items
Poshmark users love getting a good deal and will often make an offer before paying your listing price. That’s why you should always list items for about 20% more than what you’re willing to sell them for. If you’re not sure how much you can expect to get for an item, research other items from that brand. You can filter your results by items that have sold already, so you can see what people are willing to pay. This is especially important if you’re purchasing items at outlet or thrift stores for resale.
While you’re doing research, keep an eye out for ISO listings. ISO stands for “in search of.” Sometimes Poshers will post an item they’re looking for. If you have the item and are selling it, go ahead and tag them in your listing.
5. Include details
You want to make sure you’ve provided other Poshers with the information they need to make a decision about purchasing your item. That means you should write detailed descriptions in bulleted lists that are easy to scan. Include things like measurements, material, colors, and any special features. If your item has a flaw, include that info in the description and take a clear, close-up photo of the stain or tear.
Many Poshers will also ask for a picture of a model wearing your item. It’s best to model it yourself if you feel comfortable, but a picture taken from a retailer’s website will work too.
6. Provide great customer service
Always be kind and responsive to other Poshers, and offer a bundle discount to encourage people to purchase more items from your closet. Ship your items promptly and include a thank you note. If you have extra items, such as jewelry or accessories, that you want to get rid of but can’t sell, keep those around to include in your packages as a special surprise.
I’ve had repeat customers come back to my Poshmark closet to make a second purchase. I always provide repeat customers with an extra special deal, because I know they’ll keep an eye on my closet when I list new items. You can even tag previous customers when you add a new item you think they might like.
7. Become a Posh Ambassador
The best way to get new followers is to become a Posh Ambassador, which you can achieve by following the tips above. To qualify, you’ll need to:
- Share at least 5,000 items from other seller’s closets
- Share your items a minimum of 5,000 times to your community
- Have at least 50 available items listed in your closet
- Make at least 15 sales
- Maintain a customer rating of least 4.5 stars
- Maintain an average ship time of fewer than three days
Once you’ve reached Posh Ambassador status, Poshmark will recommend you to new users. That’s how I continue to accrue more followers every day, even though I’m not posting new items.
Managing your Poshmark business expenses
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How to start reselling on Poshmark
It can seem overwhelming at first to set up an account and start selling clothes to strangers, but Poshmark makes the process simple. Anyone can set up an account using their Facebook, Google, or Apple credentials, but here’s how to become a Poshmark reseller.
Get familiar with Poshmark
Before jumping in headfirst, I suggest getting to know Poshmark. Search for items in the categories you have to sell and see how they perform. Pay attention to likes, comments, and what sells. This will help you determine which items collecting dust in your closet may make you money and which may be better for the donation pile.
Find items to sell
I suggest going through your closet to find items to sell first. After you gain some experience, you may dabble in going to the local thrift store or finding items on clearance you can resell, but for now, use your items to see how the process works.
Prepare and photograph your items
If the items spent the last year in your closet, consider washing and ironing them to make them look their best. You want your items to photograph well, so find an area with natural light and where you can take pictures of the items from multiple angles.
Give a title, description, and price
Next to pictures, the item’s title, description, and price determine how fast it sells. Look at the keywords other sellers use when you search for items similar to what you have to sell to determine how to get more people to see your listing.
Next, focus on the description. Be as detailed as possible, including any information about flaws, whether the item is new with tags, slightly worn, or any other condition. Be as upfront as possible in your description.
The final step is the price. See what other sellers ask for their items and price accordingly. You may decide to price the items the same, higher, or lower. The right answer depends on how well the market responds.
Ship fast
When someone purchases your items, do what you can to ship the items quickly. Poshmark allows sellers seven days from the date of purchase to ship items. If you don’t ship the item by the 8th day, buyers can cancel the order. The faster you ship, the better the reviews you’ll get, and the more likely it is your listings will show up in search results.
Since buyers pay the shipping and Poshmark provides the prepaid label for USPS Priority Mail, your only task is to box it up and get to the post office.
Bottom line
Don’t be surprised if your items aren’t worth what you thought they would be. I’ve sold items purchased at discount stores for double what I paid for them, but I also had to let a $250 dress in perfect condition go for just $30. It wasn’t a popular designer on the platform, so I had to lower the price so it would sell. The important thing is that you come out ahead on average. That’s easy to do if you’re selling used items, as it’s basically pure profit. I’ve found that you’ll get a much better price for your items on Poshmark than you would by selling them at a secondhand store.
Be patient, especially if you’re just starting out. List your best items first, and don’t expect them to sell right away. Share your items daily for a few weeks, and if they don’t sell, consider offering a price drop. With a little patience and some hard work, I think you’ll find that Poshmark is an awesome community that is a great option when considering how to make extra cash. And if it’s not for you, there are plenty of other reselling platforms out there to consider — one reseller makes $2,000 a month selling on eBay!
Happy Poshing!