The fashion industry is a juggernaut, both globally and in the UK. In 2021 alone, clothing retail sales grew by an astonishing 12% – illustrating more clearly than ever that fashion is an expenditure many people are more than happy to make.
But fashion tastes and habits have recently begun to collide with a number of real-world events, including the emerging climate crisis. As the carbon footprint of high street fast fashion becomes ever more apparent, more consumers are buying consciously – seeking out second-hand items and boosting the popularity of vintage style in the process.
This has given rise to fashion re-selling as a popular form of side-hustle for the fashion-conscious. Whether you burn through outfits at a rate of knots or are building a successful business of your own re-selling older finds, platforms like Depop and Vinted are the perfect place to find the right buyers. But how can you ensure your resale business is going from strength to strength as it should be?
Up Your Photography Game
Selling second-hand and vintage clothes online is a visual game, first and foremost. Naturally, buyers will need to see the style of clothing before they buy, but they will also want to know the condition and quality of the clothing ahead of putting their money towards it.
As such, the pictures you take of your stock should be as clear and well-lit as possible. Any blemishes or damage should be documented for transparency, to avoid potential complaints and returns later on. Tempting as it may be to simply take a smartphone picture of the item on its hangar over the wardrobe door, spending a little more time on composition and lighting can make the clothing look much more ‘appetising’ to people on the app.
Branding, Listings and Calls to Action
Establishing your ‘brand’ is also crucial to increasing sales. Having a name or logo of sorts can help you set your accounts apart from others, in a number of ways. Not only can you use branding in your account profile picture and photos, but also include it physically in the orders you ship. Business cards can hold your information, and even a discount code or exclusive offer to entice buyers back to your profile.
This is a ‘call to action’, another thing that can be used to great effect in your listings. In your product descriptions, you could include a sentence or two inviting browsers to check other listings of yours – expanding the reach of all your listings in the process.
Be Kind, and Be Honest
Lastly, customer service is everything – even through apps like Depop and Vinted, which are arguably the service themselves. By approaching your customer engagement generously and equitably, you can ensure any complaints are smoothed over quickly. If an item is damaged in transit, you might win a customer’s loyalty by sending a new item free of charge; likewise, arranging returns can be a kind way to engage with buyers, and keep them interested.
