How to sell your clothes on: all the apps & everything you need to know

We're now living in a time where the second hand market is booming. From charity shops, clothes swaps and kilo sales, people everywhere are up-cycling their wardrobes in the name of helping the environment and finding a one off piece that fits their style. So, if it's so popular, why is it so difficult to get your clothes sold? I've done my research and after a lot of downloading, uploading and ranking, I've put together an app by app guide on where to REALLY go to make some dollar from your denim...

It's all about the apps

Depop

DOWNLOADS: 1m + RATING: 3.5 stars on Trust Pilot

The one, the only, the most well known place to find an retro Nike jacket or a one off pair of sunnies, but is it the place to sell? I know a lot of people who have made good money from Depop but only from continual selling and buying. The thing about Depop is that, although it will have a bigger student base, it's difficult for people to find your items in amongst everything else, unless you're a repeated seller (and buyer!) which can help your account get more exposure. Put simply, if you want to start selling regularly and buying from the second hand market, set up an account and go for it! If you're having a one time wardrobe clear out and want to make some cash quick...maybe try somewhere else.

CHARGES: Depop take 10% of your profit and they charge a small fee for joining. (Plus PayPal fees)

Shpock

DOWNLOADS: 10m+ RATING: 4.5 stars through the App store and Google Play store

By far the most downloaded app here (not including Ebay), Shpock is the one that everyone has seen the adverts for but doesn't really know what it is? Yes, people are selling a lot of bikes and lawnmowers but there is a growing fashion and accessories section that you can make the most of. Being a location based app, it works best in bigger towns or cities for the obvious reason that there are more people but if you're a student in a city, this is perfect! The only downside to Shpock is that people are selling to make sales quickly and efficiently, meaning price isn't the main aim. If you're after £40 for a jacket you bought for £50, it won't happen but if you don't mind cutting down your prices in the name of a local sale (remember there won't be postage costs!) then this ones for you.

CHARGES: None!!

Gumtree

DOWNLOADS: 10m+ RATING: 4 stars on Trust Pilot

I always thought Gumtree was the one to sell your old bike on...but turns out this is really popular with people selling on their clothes too! It's a little tricky to find the right section but if you look under "For Sale" (in amongst headings like Motors, Jobs and Property) you'll find 131,059 results for "Clothes, Footwear and Accessories". It doesn't have the local focus that Shpock has though, so you may find that your buyers are a little further away but you'll have more choice!

CHARGES: Apart from the cost of postage on your items, none!!

Ebay

DOWNLOADS: 100m+ RATING: 4 stars on Google Play Store

Ebay is undoubtedly one of the top sites for selling but with SO many people selling SO many things, it can be tricky to be noticed and get those sales. If your items have a particular niche you have more of a chance but otherwise your items might get a bit lost along the way. The upside to Ebay, however, is the magic auction button, meaning you can get a bit more money if it's a big branded item.

CHARGES: They do take 10% of your profit

Vinted

DOWNLOADS: 500k+ RATING: 2.5 stars on Trust Pilot

Vinted is the same idea as Depop, but slightly less edgier. The idea behind the app is great as it's entirely clothes based meaning you won't be selling amongst your next door neighbours plant pots and a load of bike helmets... It focuses on high street brands with items from Zara, Mango, MissGuided and BooHoo being sold the most which, in principle, is exactly what a lot of us would be selling! Unfortunately though, I have to list this app as one to avoid after coming across it's reviews. Across all the rankings, people have complained about scammers and issues with seller protection. It's a shame!

CHARGES: It makes its profit buy charging the buyer a small fee instead of the seller - a really good idea!

Vintage

DOWNLOADS: 10k+ RATING: 4 stars on Google Play Store

(not to be confused with Vinted, like I did *oops*)

Vintage is a fairly new app but one that I'm very glad I found and might just be a great solution to our Vinted problems. It's not entirely clothes based but a lot of clothes and shoes are being sold on there and they have a location filter so you can sell and people can look for your items in your local area. Personally, I would call it a less well known but very 'vintage' based version of Shpock. If your clothes are a bit more out there or you like vintage styles, try selling on here! It's definitely better than Vinted and the reviews agree. It also features a nice simple app interface (easy to use) and has an inbuilt chat system to contact your buyers in the app.

CHARGES: None!!

Preloved

DOWNLOADS: 100k+ RATING: 4.5 stars on Trust Pilot

I got really excited when I found this! It's entirely location based again and had an emphasis on items being sold to be 'loved again' in effect. Unfortunately, no one seems to have taken on the idea of this yet in terms of fashion. I downloaded the app and had a look...a lot of cars, a lot of pets *cry* and not a single sign of clothes being sold. It's a shame because it's a really well built app too...

Using your social media

Facebook

No, you're not going to sell your clothes to your distant Auntie or that guy you used to work with. Facebook in general isn't used to sell items on, however, they saw the potential it has and created Facebook Marketplace. Here, you can upload under 'items' and list it in your local area. A more targeted way though, is to find sales groups, You can sell your clothes in these, be it student based or location based, completely free of charge!

Instagram

It might not seem like the most obvious place to sell your clothes on, but your followers are usually people you trust and people who live near you...exactly what you want in a buyer. Not to mention the fact that your friends are of an age and therefore will be into your kind of style! A lot of apps don't take age into consideration at all and a lot of Mums aren't looking for bodycon dress from BooHoo - hate to break it to you.

Use your stories to promote your items! You can provide a few consecutive photos with all the info you need, size, brand, condition etc, and repeat it as many times as you like. If you create a highlight you can keep the cycle going and encourage people to check it to see if items are still being sold. I've seen a lot of fashion bloggers do this and it makes perfect sense considering people follow them for their style.

How to promote your items properly

Top tips for listing your clothes

• Create a profile - whichever platform you have an account on, make sure you upload a photo, state your location and maybe create a bio if you can as this will ensure people can see you're a real person!

• Always provide photos of the item both being worn and hung up! Then people can see how the items fits but also see the front and back of the garment.

• Provide a picture of the label - either the one inside the garment or the retail tag if still attached.

• State the brand and size - it's good to include if it's true to size or not!

• Always state the condition, even if it's clear from the picture - if you've never worn it or only worn it once or twice, people are more likely to buy it!

How to take a good photo

1. Lighting is everything. Remember that dress that no one could tell if it was gold or blue? You don't want people to be second guessing anything you're selling. Find a room with plenty of NATURAL light and always take your pictures between 11am and about 3pm.

2. A clean background makes a difference. Use a blank wall if possible, or if your room is small, make your bed and tidy all mess out the way of the camera shot.

3. Always have a full length shot.If you're taking a photo of you in the item and don't have a boyfriend, personal assistant or housemate to take a photo for you, use a full length mirror. Try not to pose too much so the item looks natural on your body (especially for dresses) and place the phone over your face so your face isn't in the photo. It might sound odd, but it's not a selfie, it's a sales shot.

4. Hangers are your friend. For a picture of your clothes that isn't you wearing them, DON'T just lie it on a bed or chair and take a photo. Find a hanger suitable (aka, not too small) and find a wardrobe or a door. By using one of these as a backdrop you get a clean background and also, somewhere you can hook the hanger over. Sorted.

After all this, the one thing I've found is that there isn't one perfect app that we can use to sell our second hand items but by trying a couple of them out and using your social media too, you do have a pretty good chance of shifting those clothes and making some money. Whether it's selling after that wardrobe clear out, getting one or two items sold or starting up a regular selling and buying routine...I hope this post was useful for you!

I also now have a section on my blog for sustainable fashion - click here to have a look and find out a bit more about fast fashion, the second hand market and how we can all do our bit.

Thanks for reading!

Imogen