How to Sell Vintage Clothing Online
It might be hard to imagine that old or used clothing items can make you any money.
The truth is that if you know how to sell vintage clothing online, you have a reliable revenue stream.
In 2021, the estimated global market value of secondhand clothing and vintage garments was $96 billion.
Experts believe this number will balloon to a whopping $218 billion by 2026.
The vintage clothing business is big, and it will only get bigger.
So, here’s how you can get a slice of the huge fashion industry pie using online platforms like Etsy.
What Is Vintage Clothing?
As you explore the world of vintage garments, you will encounter confusing terminologies.
So first things first — what do we mean by the word “vintage?”
When applied to clothing items, it means something that is at least 20 years old but no more than 100 years old.
It is important to keep this in mind because you will also come across retro clothing items and antique garments.
The term retro is reserved for clothes that try to mimic the vintage style but made within the past two decades.
These items are also known as “repro,” which is short for reproduction.
On the other hand, an antique is secondhand clothing over a hundred years old.
It is harder to find, and you typically see it in a museum or an enthusiast's personal collection.
So if you hear people use these terms interchangeably, do not make the same mistake as there are distinct differences.
Why You Should Start a Vintage Clothing Business
There is a lot of upside to selling vintage clothing online.
You have seen the numbers, and they do not lie; the demand is there and will keep on growing.
Note that the soaring popularity of vintage items is driven mostly by younger consumers.
A recent survey shows millennials and Gen Z are the most active customers of vintage resellers.
Around 42% of them are willing to buy secondhand clothing on a regular basis.
The proliferation of online marketplaces or online selling sites might have much to do with it.
Another possible reason is that selling vintage items reduces waste and is more eco-friendly.
When you start email marketing or reach out to your target audience, you might want to keep this in mind.
That said, many vintage shoppers also go to thrift shops to buy vintage items.
In any case, there is still a lot of room for you to participate in the vintage clothing reseller game.
Even if there are other players in the market, it’s highly unlikely that you would have similar selections of vintage items.
So if a potential shopper sees something on your online selling site and likes it, you will probably close the deal.
In addition, since you are selling vintage clothing online, you can reach vintage shoppers all over the world.
All these things mean that vintage clothing businesses are here to stay.
Now is the best time for you to jump on the vintage clothing brand bandwagon.
Things to Consider Before Selling Vintage Clothes for a Living
Now that you’ve seen the benefits of selling these niche items online, it’s time to discuss the trade risks.
You need to keep some things in mind about the challenges facing vintage clothing businesses.
At the top of the list is sourcing clothing for resale.
While vintage items are often bestsellers on online selling sites, they can be hard to come by.
Remember that there is a finite number of vintage items in the world trying to meet an ever-growing demand.
Next, you need to consider how vintage sizing compares to the modern-day size.
Current standard sizing charts are different from vintage sizing charts, which could be problematic for your target audience.
Unlike in thrift stores, people won’t be able to try your niche item on to verify if standard sizing applies to it.
So unless it’s just for their personal collection, you might end up with many returns if you’re not careful.
Aside from standard sizing issues, you must also consider repair, garment care, and storage.
You would not want to hand a sub-standard niche item to a customer.
How to Sell Vintage Clothing Online
After weighing the pros and cons of starting an online vintage store, you’ll see that it is a viable niche.
If you are ready to join the ranks of successful vintage clothing resellers like Emilie Martin, this step-by-step guide might help.
1. Look for a Viable Niche Segment
One of the many reasons a typical vintage business is lucrative is that it serves a specific market.
That said, there are actually several different segments for you to choose from.
For instance, some online vintage stores specialize in evening wear, while others focus more on a particular price point.
Some might sell vintage dress items from certain decades, while another might sell vintage dress products based on style.
Thrift stores are in a similar situation. There are thrift stores that focus on toys, while there are those that offer home decor.
The point is that you should find a viable niche segment that will let you focus on certain niche items.
2. Raise Funds for Capital
Once you have decided which niche item to specialize in, you can start thinking about how to fund your vintage business.
While you can get things started even with a small capital, you would still need cash on hand.
That is because you have to buy the products for sale as they become available, so you have something to sell.
Only then can you organize your inventory into collections by type, era, or other categories.
The good news is that you have many options for raising capital for your vintage business.
You can take out a business loan, look for an investor, or try crowdfunding.
3. Source Vintage Clothes
Before you can start sorting inventory into collections by category, you must first find clothing for resale.
An excellent way to start is by scouring nearby thrift shops.
You would have to be patient, and you won’t be able to collect tons of products for sale.
That said, it will get you started in the right direction for your vintage business.
Most thrift stores get a new batch of items on specific days.
Try going on these days, so you have the chance to choose the best vintage brands.
You could also look out for estate sales in your area.
Sometimes, a good estate sale is a treasure trove of amazing vintage clothing brands.
Another option is to work with wholesalers. You have to be extra careful when choosing items for sale, but you will enjoy wholesale pricing.
Just look out for the zipper placement, the fabric used, style, and other vintage style elements.
If possible, enlist the services of a vintage expert or a more experienced vintage clothing reseller.
Vintage experts and industry veterans know the ins and outs of how to get the best products for sale.
4. Sort Inventory Into Collections by Category
Once you have a number of good products for sale, you can start organizing them.
You can sort inventory into collections by decade, season, style, or other categories.
It can be a bit tricky if your current batch of items is a bit of a mixed bag, but it is doable.
Consult with a vintage expert if you know one. Alternatively, you can try one of the many apps for clothing stores to sort your vintage clothing brands and products.
If possible, do photo shoots while you’re at it, so you have images to use on your online selling site later.
Use a simple lighting kit if necessary and have a nice photo studio setup to come up with great photos.
5. Set the Sale Price
After putting together your selection of vintage brands and products, it’s time to figure out their retail price.
Determining the sale price is critical because it will decide how much profit you will make.
So you need to consider all the cost components, from overhead expenses to the sale price you paid.
Make sure your sale price covers all of them, so you do not lose money.
That said, standard rules for pricing products usually do not apply to the vintage business.
You must consider each item separately based on rarity, demand, condition, and other factors.
Again, a vintage expert would be a big help here, so approach one if possible.
6. Build Your Vintage Clothing Online Store
At this point, you are ready to work on your online site for your vintage business.
In this step of the process, you will learn to appreciate minor details like using a simple lighting kit and having a mini studio setup for your photo shoots.
These photo shoots will play a big part in how your site will look.
The better the quality of the images, the more likely you can convert visitors into buyers.
Of course, you must stock up on the most popular vintage brands to close the deals.
Other than doing the kickass photo shoots, building your virtual thrift shop is pretty straightforward.
You just have to choose a platform to launch it from.
Facebook Marketplace is one of the many options that you could try.
What makes Facebook Marketplace effective is that most people know it, and it has powerful algorithms that you could put to good use.
There are other vintage marketplaces for you to consider, but Etsy would be your best bet.
Etsy plays host to many unique items, so a vintage clothing reseller like you would feel right at home here.
You will completely control the graphic design elements, so ensure you create a vintage vibe.
Having a vintage vibe helps you stay on-brand, which makes it easier to draw potential customers.
Another thing to like about Etsy is that it offers different ways for you to increase sales for any batch of items.
The platform will do much of the work for you if you find a viable niche.
7. Use Email Marketing and Other Strategies
Once your virtual thrift shop is operational, you should get the word out.
Send a message to your email subscribers every time you get a new batch of items.
Email marketing is one of the more effective tools not only for selling vintage clothing brands but e-commerce in general.
In fact, many successful sellers use email marketing to convert email leads into paying customers.
Take a page out of their book and let email marketing do its magic for your brand.
Also, try rewarding repeat customers by allowing them to see new items or specialty collections first.
Keeping a list of email subscribers or customer accounts will be useful here.
Aside from generating email leads, you should also explore social selling channels.
Social audiences are very involved and would make great brand ambassadors if you manage to convert them.
8. Manage Deliveries and Shipping Costs
To be a successful reseller, you can't just meet customer expectations. You need to exceed them.
One way to do this is by adopting a sustainable nature of operations.
Remember that many of today's vintage shoppers are young people mindful of how brands impact society and the world.
When you send packages to customers, use eco-friendly materials or reusable garment bags.
This way, your ideal customer will be pleasantly surprised.
Also, ensure you have ironed out any potential issues with your standard sizing.
For tops, it would be best to include specific chest measurements and neck opening measurements so as not to have problems with customers on sizing.
You may also consider using a size chart app.
Doing this help minimize the number of returns. That said, make sure that you have a clear return policy.
Sell Your Wares on Etsy
If you want your vintage business to really take off, use Etsy as your launching pad.
Etsy is home to some of the unique items on the market today, so your products would fit right in.
If you do not have a seller account yet, sign up now and get 40 listings for free.
Selling Made Easy
You do not need rocket science to know how to sell vintage clothing online.
Just follow the steps that we outlined for you, and you’re good to go.
Also, make sure that you choose Etsy for your vintage business.
