For a while, I had a pretty reliable income stream thanks to Poshmark. It started out with half a grand in Poshmark sales, then I crossed the thousand dollar mark through a combination of selling sites. And then…nothing.
It was the perfect storm: I was super pregnant and Poshmark opened the selling floodgates. Once they started accepting listings for children’s and men’s clothing, it felt like Poshmark turned into only a slightly more curated version of eBay. Plus, I lost the ability to see my toes. Simply put, I put online selling on hold.
If you follow me on Twitter, though, you know I’m back at it. You probably saw some seriously disturbing “after” photos. See, I was under this supreme delusion that I had decluttered my closet. Then, I finally found a few seconds of free time and realized just how wrong I was. Now, I’m determined to breathe life back into my closet and crank out some Poshmark sales.
So I started with shoes. In all honesty, it took me longer to determine which kicks to part with than it did to make a sale. Within a half hour of my first listing, I landed an offer. So while I don’t know that I have it all figured out, here’s my plan for getting back in the selling game on Poshmark.
Make a Listing & Check it Twice
Just like Santa Claus, folks. Your listing is all prospective buyers have. This is not the mall. There’s no kicking off one shoe, excitedly jamming a foot into a new possibility, and then teetering over to the mirror to check it out. There’s no harsh lighting above a fitting room mirror (can I get an amen?). There’s no friend to dash your dreams with just the right amount of honesty. There’s just a single listing. That’s all buyers have to go on.
Tempting as it may be to be incredibly brief, I always include at least a few sentences. Don’t just describe the item, sell it. It’s not just a bow, it’s a darling bow. A two-inch heel? It’s chunky and quirky, sturdy and comfortable, stiletto and sexy. Remember why you loved the item to begin with and tell your buyers. Bonus points if you use correct terminology. That sale I scooped up so fast? The leather had a slight patina. It’s the fashion gods’ honest truth, and it also sounds a lot better than saying slightly worn.
More is More
Thanks to Marie Kondo and her origami-clothes-folding magic, the world is abuzz with less. Live with less. Less is more. Minimize. Simplify. Get rid of your ish. While that’s certainly where I’m headed with my closet in real life, that isn’t what Poshmark is all about. Buyers are flying blind, or at least it can really seem that way. To build a buyer’s confidence in you as a seller, especially if you are just starting out, you want to list and list some more. Ideally, you want to rack up sales and five-star ratings, but if you’re just getting started, start with all that you’ve got. Multiple listings will give buyers a better sense of your size, your style, and other items that may interest them.
If you are a true glutton for punishment and have items listed on multiple sites, or if you take a page out of my playbook and commit to donating items that don’t sell after a certain amount of time, don’t delete your Poshmark listing. Instead, I add the word SOLD to the title and change the price to Not For Sale. This way, I can still showcase my style. Plus, it sends a subtle nudge jab in the ribs that any other listing of mine could be scooped up any second because I’m selling on other sites, and I’m just that good. Wink.
Don’t Let Money Go to Your Head
We’re all here for Poshmark sales. If you weren’t looking to make a little money, you would likely have corraled all your clutter and dropped it off at the nearest Goodwill faster than you can read this post. But let’s be serious. You’re going to make a little money. The secret is to make a little money over and over again. Even if you’re selling designer duds, even if you’re passing along precious heirlooms, do not expect to make a small fortune. Could it happen? Sure. Is it likely? Not even.
If you want a dose of reality, take a few of your duds to Plato’s Closet or Clothes Mentor. If you think that walking away with less than half of what you paid for something on Poshmark is painful, try making less than $4 an hour. Ouch.
Keep your prices reasonable, brace yourself for a counteroffer, and be willing to accept. That sale I scored a few minutes after my listing went live? I agreed to part with my shoes for $17, instead of $20. Would I have liked an extra $3? Sure. Was I going to lose a sale—plus a chance to land another five-star rating and a boost to credibility—over it? Been there, done that, and it absolutely isn’t worth it.
Final Thoughts on Poshmark Sales
I’m determined to get back in the Poshmark sales game. Why? To put my money where my mouth is and earn another couple hundred dollars to pay down our debt. Okay, fine. To come to terms with the fact that after five years of home ownership, I have to actually share the Master bedroom closet with my husband.
So Tell Me…What are your secrets for selling online, Poshmark or otherwise?
I have never sold on Poshmark before, so I’m grateful for these tips! I particularly like the one about adding SOLD to the listing you donate so you look more in demand. I think I might try cross listing to both Poshmark and eBay, and see how they compare. Really interested to see how the audience is different on Poshmark. Excited! But for now I’m trying to decide if I should list under my blog name or a different one…Pros and cons for both!
I want to start doing this at some point. Not sure if it’s the case everywhere, but down here Goodwill has sales every other weekend. I could scout for good labels. Still kicking myself for not grabbing up the 8 pairs of Lucky jeans I found that didn’t quite fit me. I would’ve spent maybe $6, and I’m sure I could’ve turned a nice profit on those. Though the lighting in our house leaves something to be desired…
Oooohhhh this is a super idea. Our local place has a sale every Sunday.
On Poshmark does it matter which brands you’re selling? Have been doing a decent amount of cleaning out with ThreadUp lately, but the returns are terrible. But it’s also pretty much zero work.
It doesn’t matter. In fact, I probably have better luck (or about the same) with things that aren’t designer brands. I toss everything in a Thredup bag after a month or so on Posh.
Haha! Out of my element here. I’m woefully ignorant when it comes to Poshmark. But I do admit, getting something for your unwanted stuff is better than another Goodwill run. Best of luck, Penny.
You’re the best, Mr G! And we definitely schedule pick-ups with our favorite charity when the Poshmark sales stall.
I’m impressed by the work you put into the posts. I’m in the Get-It-Out-Of-My-House Boat. But that’s because I’m lazy and I have not fully admitted that I live where I do. I haven’t fully settled in and I’ve been here for nearly 3 years.
I’m newly in the Poshmark game and feel like I’ve already adhered to most of your tips, but my sales are slow. Any “get it out faster” ideas?? We also did a “sell your stuff” roundup a couple of months ago: https://areweadultsyetblog.wordpress.com/2017/10/16/how-to-sell-your-things-online/
Probably the easiest way to make sales is to do price drops. For the past year or so, I’ve found that likes don’t seem to translate to sales anymore. An item can have zero likes and it will sell a week or two later. It never used to be like that!
One of the things I learned is if someone shares your items, share theirs, build up a network and be open to good offers and price competitively.
These are tons of great tips. And I think being open to offers is so important. Once I started to realize that I wasn’t on Posh to turn a profit, but to simply get rid of things I no longer wanted, I think I found a lot more success. I know there are people who flip or sell through boutiques, but that isn’t my current jam.
I also write SOLD (and mark as not-for-sale) on my Poshmark listings when they sell on other platforms. I’ve been wondering if anyone else does this or if it’s a good idea. I’m just trying to build up my closet as much as possible right now and so I’ve been keeping my sold listings up just so I don’t get discouraged by my numbers going down lol! And also because I totally agree, it gives shoppers a peek at what other stuff you’ve sold and makes you look like a hot salesperson (I hope!)
I do the same thing! Yup 🙂 And I think many other sellers do as well. It’s a great idea, IMHO, because it lets people see your style. Good luck selling!