You’ve seen or heard about all the “sick flips” other people are making on items you are interested in. You have seen how people go to thrift stores to find old knick-knacks, only to put them online with a shiny price tag and make over four times what they originally paid for it. You’ve seen T.V. shows where old guys or young gals go all around the land searching for “junk” to fix up and sell. That one guy you know from high school makes a living off of just selling sneakers out of his three-car garage… Sound familiar? Then you’re in the right place.
Hi! I’m Kaitlyn,
And I’m here to help! I’ve been getting asked quite a lot lately, “How does reselling work?”, or, “How do I start reselling like what you do?”. And today, I am going to help you put those training-wheels on your bike.
I’ve been reselling since 2017, and Revive Me Shop has been my storefront for just over three years now. I’m not a veteran by any means, but I’ve gotten a firm grasp of what it takes, and lots of connections I’ve made along the way. And today I decided that the world needs more people willing to salvage for their goods, which is why I decided to share the aforementioned information with you! So, thanks for being here, and let’s get started.
How to start reselling today: A simple guide to get your feet wet in the modern world of resale
So, you’ve decided to resell stuff. That’s awesome! Welcome to a new way to view the world! There’s some basic guidelines that will ensure your success, and prove not only to be lucrative to yourself physically, but mentally as well. Reselling in a successful manner is very similar to starting and running your own small business, which I discuss below. So, whether you want to start reselling or just start your own shop, this post is the place to be. Let’s dive in!
First, figure out what you are going to resell.
It may seem like a no-brainer to ask this question, but when you are just starting out, it can be the kind of thing that “makes” or “breaks” your morale when it comes to making sales. If you don’t know what you want to sell, how are you going to develop your selling portfolio or attract the right customers?! It’s not just by sheer luck that people go out and buy a specific item; they go because of the reputation and the promise of what they will find there. Think of it this way: You don’t visit the hardware store to buy jewelry, right? Same goes for your inventory and what you are trying to sell. Make an outline of what you want your shop to resell, and build up from there!
You don’t have to know what you’ll be selling over time, or know right away. But, that being said, give yourself enough flexibility to make those changes if you so choose later on! Give yourself a starting point. You may want to resell: computers, clothes from your closet you no longer wear, designer handbags, collectible figurines, old antique knick-knacks, lamps, etc. The list goes on and on, believe me. But, just sitting down and saying: “This is where I’m starting at”, is such a crucial point in establishing yourself and your resale business.
Finally, consider how much you like or enjoy said item you are wanting to sell. It was a no-brainer for me to start selling clothes, as I had become addicted to it at such a young age, and was constantly working retail jobs in high school. I enjoyed the longevity of buying a clothing item, and then when it no longer served me, I was able to flip it around and onto the internet for someone else to cherish. There is so much that can be resold out there, so don’t be afraid of getting creative! You want to sell old magazines and books? You want to paint hand-drawn flowers on clothing? You want to rebuild old computers into great working conditions? You want to buy cute drinking glasses to resell? It’s all possible; all that is in the way is you. Make a decision. Think on it. If it slides off-the-tongue with ease, it’s probably a decent place to start.
Making a unique name for yourself and your resale business is a great idea to gain traction and notoriety amongst people online! Think of something that encapsulates what you want to sell, or perhaps a cute nickname to go along with your product type. It can be as simple or clever as you wish! Revive Me Shop was the name I chose simply because I wanted to give my items a “revived” chance at a good life. It may not have been the best name I could have thought of, but it’s served me well!
At first, I started reselling clothing, shoes, and jewelry out of my own personal closet. It seemed to work well for me at the time, then when I was comfortable, I branched out. From books to retired home goods, I was exploring which options I enjoyed reselling. Some items didn’t work as well as intended. Some items needed a whole-new approach, but in the end with some hard work, ended up working fabulously with my storefront. And some items have been my “bread-and-butter” ever since I started. It’s different for everyone; don’t be afraid to experiment when you are comfortable!
Next, put your “work-gloves” on and put in the work:
Out are the days where you were interested in buying something from the “Classifieds” section of the newspaper, going by a few measly words of a description written by the seller. It’s 2022 babes, photos and videos are your best bet at getting things gone!
The next step in your reselling journey should be to have a pile or a selection, or heck, even just one item that you are ready to resell. Make sure that it is in its best condition; clear any dust or hair or whatever from it. Bring it back to “showroom quality” if you will… And then, whenever you are ready, begin the photoshoot!
You don’t need a fancy camera or lighting setup or studio space, all you need is a phone and a clean background to set your items on for photos. (You can even go outside and shoot some gorgeous photos!). Set it, lay it, prop it, stand it, etc. it in a way that will showcase it beautifully in a standout first photo. (This will take some time to get used to; play with it until you are satisfied!)
After you’ve got the “attention-grabber” photo, take some other photos of your item showing other sides, possible flaws or features, and the back for good measure. If your item has any specific information on it, like a clothing tag, or serial number, or ISBN, or anything like that, add a photo of that to your collection of photos to ensure the buyer has all the details they need!
If it’s a home decor item, an electronic item, or anything that may raise some questions, it’s a great idea to take photos with the measurements of your items to add to the listing, as well as any photos showing that your item works in the intended way. People are full of questions, put their minds at ease beforehand and include it in your photos!
My thoughts on the photo process is this: “If I were looking at this item as a listing, what would I like to see included?” “What are the measurements of this piece?” “Does it work in the intended way?” “What does all four-sides look like?” “What questions will the buyers have if I don’t show or list it?”
Some selling platforms now support video uploading for listing items, so, if that is something that interests you, and you don’t mind taking up the storage and uploading, consider recording a short video with an overview of your item!
This may be one of the few times I advocate for this, but, check your phone! See how you did taking your first round of photos! If they need some help; i.e: they are too dark, too light, or not the right color, don’t be afraid to go into an editing app and make some slight adjustments. And I mean slight. Don’t alter the photo so much nothing looks the same, it wouldn’t be genuine to the buyer and would be misleading instead.
This step is so important, as it allows you to hone in on the photography skill needed to resell, along with showing you some potential errors or flaws in the item! (I’ve done this numerous times; where I don’t see a stain on a piece of clothing until I check the photos! It’s irritating, but it happens!).
When you think you’ve got a good batch of photos, (minimum of 4; maximum of 12) per item, then you should be ready to take on the next step, listing your items for sale!
Now, choose how you want to resell your items.
I wish I could tell you the hard part is over, but I’m afraid your challenges are still ahead of you. There are quite a few decisions to be made, but I promise you, finding the right options for you will be the most rewarding in the end!
There are three main ways to resell your items online: by selling them through third-party selling platforms, selling through Instagram or Facebook via the Shopping feature, or by creating your own website.
*My preferred method!
Third-party selling platforms, like eBay, Mercari, Depop, Facebook Marketplace, Poshmark, Tradesy, Grailed, Kidizen, and others are an excellent way to start reselling. Each platform has a “niche” product market, so do some research into which ones would suit your product. Most are free to use, but take a small fee when you sell an item.
These websites are structured so that you can easily sign up, add your items, sell them and ship them with ease. Each website has its own community of people looking to buy or sell, so checking them all out on your own time probably wouldn’t hurt either!
Want more information on each of these websites with less hassle? Check out my blog post here to go in-depth into each individual website and the pros & cons associated with each.
Selling through Instagram or Facebook can be a fun way to list items while curating a more social way of shopping.
You create photos featuring your products, and then using the app, you are able to create a catalogue of all items that are available for sale currently in your shop.
Having an Instagram business account means also having an adjoining Facebook business page, so setting these things up may take some time. To my knowledge, they are not automatically connected via the same inventory catalogue, so you may be relisting on both platforms in order to sell through each.
Creating your own website is not as daunting as it used to be. With various website building tools, like WordPress, Shopify, Wix, Square Space, and many others, creating your own website to resell items from can be a breeze!
The immediate downside of this, is that you have to go through all the steps to build the website before being able to actually sell from it. You may end up selling your items for more profit without the worry for selling fees, but it may take a lot more upkeep to keep it up and running smoothly. Plus, you have to attract your own buyers to the website, so understanding how to draw the people in is also a crucial tool in a successful selling website.
Want to hear from a real-life small business owner using their own website to sell inventory? Check out this discussion with Jade Victoria, co-owner of Hello Souls Crystals, to hear her experience with website building and management!
The Final Step: Shipping
This is your last time seeing the item that you sold, so sending it off with proper packaging and safety measures should be just as important as all of the above steps!
It will take some time to learn which packaging materials are best for which products, so do not fret if it seems tedious at first! Again, keep in mind with every package you pack, how YOU as a buyer would like to receive the item! Don’t send out breakables with no stuffing, or shoes in a loose bag, or even wadded-up clothing. Make it so that the item will arrive as good as when you placed it in the container!
Pack your items as soon as you can, don’t make the buyer wait! One of my favorite parts of shipping is that you can reuse old materials! If you get regular Amazon packages, make a pile and save them for when you need to ship something else!
From this picture here, I ended up sending a pair of earrings in the small yellow envelope, which has bubble-wrap on the inside. The compost bin box had a small purse inside, which I wrapped in tissue paper and secured from moving with leftover shipping bubble/air cushion things. And the tissue-wrapped box on the left was an old perfume box that had a pair of jeans wrapped in tissue paper inside. You can be creative with these things; And you don’t have to go and spend all of your money buying shipping supplies like poly-mailers and blank boxes right away! There’s absolutely nothing wrong with saving and reusing boxes and bags for shipping!
My one piece of advice would be: if you are shipping anything in a box, make sure it doesn’t have much if any, room to wiggle or move or be thrown around when it gets closed! All you need to do is a little “shake-test” to make sure it’s secure, and if it isn’t, pack it full of newspaper, tissue paper, paper towels, plastic air bubbles, heck, even fabric pieces. It truly doesn’t matter, just so long as the item is secure when you put that tape on the seal and send it out the door!
As for knowing which company you are shipping with, that is just as important! USPS, UPS, and FedEx are altogether different, and if you send your package down the wrong channel, it may never return to you or see your buyer! When using all of the third-party selling platforms mentioned above, they provide you with pre-made shipping labels, and clear instructions on how to ship the items once they have sold. Do your research when deciding on which platforms to sell on and what shipping options they offer! Mercari offers the seller to choose which price to set shipping, along with which carrier to use. Poshmark soley uses USPS for packages 5lb and below. Every platform is different; and the same could be said for how you are meant to ship out your sales!
To learn about the various selling platforms and how they operate, check out my descriptions of each of them through the blog post here!
Once the shipping carrier has retrieved your item and has scanned it into the computer system, your job is finished… for now!
In the modern world of buying and selling online, it has become a part of the transaction for the buyer to rate the seller and their product. On some websites, they require the seller to also rate their experience with the buyer. This allows for everyone to have responsibility for the package going from one place to another, while also maintaining accountability for every party to be good humans. Plus, then this rating can be publicly seen by other potential buyers, and it boosts your credibility!
Make sure your buyers give you a rating, give them one back if it’s required, and get your $$$! Each pathway of reselling is different for this step, but the rating ensures that the buyer did in fact receive the item you sent, so check in on the website/app/platform that you made the sale on to check on the progress if you haven’t gotten paid for it yet!
Also, SHIPPING TAKES TIME! You will not send it out tomorrow and expect it at your buyer’s address the next day. It’s not going to happen, and you are not Amazon! Be patient, and work on other management of your online presence while you wait for your payday to arrive!
So, there it is. The big, ugly, complicated process of online reselling… It’s really not so bad if you think about it…!
As I mentioned many times above, it will take time to get used to and learn these various things in order to efficiently and effectively resell online. It won’t be a “paint-by-numbers” kind of experience, where if you follow everything above you won’t have any issues. You will try, you will fail, you will learn, you will get frustrated, and you will, in the end, succeed!
I speak solely from experience, so I know what the journey ahead of you offers. But I promise, through dedication and steady work, you’ll find the fruits of your labor paying off! You are your own boss in this kinda world, make yourself work for the reward you want in the end! I wish you nothing but the best of luck in this new exciting endeavor!
Until we meet again, much love & take care, – Kaitlyn ❤️
