advice would be greatly appreciated

K

krichards

Registered Guest
If I were considering becoming an online seller of vintage clothing is there any advice that people could provide me
 
Prepare for some hard work. I think selling clothing online is one of the hardest things to do with seaching it out, cleaning & repairing, dressing a manni, photographing, editing, writing descriptions and then having it returned because it didn't fit.

However if you love vintage clothing you've come to the right place. Do you currently sell online?

chris
 
No, and I have no professional experience of vintage clothing other than I love it and am wanting to work for myself from home.

However, it's knowing the downfalls that help because it makes me realise that I need more experience in the industry, or perhaps I need to branch out into fashion in a more general sense.

Thanks for your help
 
I'm currently setting up a webshop so can agree with Chris - there's a lot of work involved. I estimate that it's at least half an hour of time to photograph, edit and upload each listing. On top of that is all the time of sourcing, negotiating, cleaning, mending, storing and sorting stock. You need to factor all of this into your costings so that there is something there for you, after you've paid for the stock and selling costs.

If you're new at this, you might like to try listing items on ebay or etsy first, so that you can get a feel for what it's like - I recommend that you spend time researching vintage clothing selling sites, asking yourself what you do and don't like about them. Many sites are unprofessional and do not encourage confidence in the buyer, or are light on photos or information - however, to provide these takes experience, skill and time. Many potential issues with buyers can be minimised through good store policies eg, returns policy.

Basically, if you're looking for a quick and easy way to turn a buck, selling vintage online probably isn't the way to do it. If you love vintage, and are keen to learn and get better at nurturing customer relationships, you may find yourself wondering why you didn't take it up years ago.

N
 
Starting small on an established site is a good way to go. Set a dollar limit on your stock investment, don't spend much on set-up and see if you enjoy it and realize some profit.

Hollis
 
I would agree with all the above advice. I have always loved vintage and began to sell on line about 3 years ago ( I started small on ebay). It is only now that I am starting to earn some reasonable money. It is incredibly hard work, and experience cant be bought so I am constantly asking for help on this wonderful site. In my opinion vintage need to be a passion or you will never get through the tough times. I will never give it up now as it has become a huge part of my life. It tends to take over if you work from home. I wish you lots of success if you choose to participate, its a wild ride! Linda
 
A couple of truisms to embed into your consciousness:

Just because it's old, it doesn't mean it's desirable enough to buy

and

You make your money when you buy
 
This post has been helpful to me as well! I'm in the same boat as you, krichards.

It stinks because I know I need better pictures, and I know I need a mannequin. Many people have very nice pictures in their signatures and on their Etsy. Do you guys just put up a sheet behind the mannequin or purchase studio time or what? Stupid question I know.....
 
I have a number of mannequins: about twelve I think and I still need more (a childs mannequin and a very small mannequin to display tiny sizes and pre-1900 garments).

As I have a vintage clothing shop, there are a few curtains that we are using as backdrops - the lay-by cupboard has floor length crimson velvet curtains, the back of the shop has ceiling to floor navy velveteen curtains and the fitting rooms have long rust red cut velvet curtains - so we're choosing different backdrops for each one but personally I think the best is to have a plain white backdrop whether that's a sheet or a studio.

If you don't have a mannequin, you might find that a model can do a good (sometimes a better) job but it's hard to sell clothes if you're just displaying them on a hanger or on the floor or bed.

Nicole
 
There is no such thing as a stupid question. ;) People who ask questions gain knowledge.

It is not necessary to have a full mannequin to sell clothing online.... but a molded "half-girl" is a good investment for much less money. I think it is much nicer to see a garment with curves than flat against a door.

There are many on here that have mini studios for taking photos and fantastic backdrops and lighting. I am not one of them......so I will wait until someone else comes along to answer that for you;

Gail
 
You can also try to tell your friends that you are selling vintage items. Surely you will encounter people with the same interest as yours. Then word will spread out and then you will be surprised that more customer will ask for your product. You can also engaged on social networking sites and post your items over the web. Vintage lovers will be happy to know you more.
 
love it

I've been in love with vintage clothes for as long as I can remember. I've started quite the collection. Any time I found something in a thrift store I would pick it up and tell myself that I would alter it to make it fit. Of course these clothes have sat in my closet for years and years and years with no alterations. I finally decided to take my knowledge and love for vintage clothes and start an online clothing store. Now I get to purchase beautiful pieces regardless of their size and post them in my store. It has been the most gratifying, fun thing I have done in years. I started the my etsy store in April and it is gradually increasing in traffic and business. My best advice for you is to buy what you love. I always ask myself if I would wear it. If the answer is no, I simply don't buy it. Also, check for flaws. This has been my biggest mistake. I seem to find something in a thrift store that is incredible and I get so caught up in how amazing it is that I don't catch a stain or a flaw. ALWAYS check and double check before you buy it! Stop and examine! Otherwise you are just throwing away your money! It is so much harder to sell a garment if their is an imperfection. Lastly, have fun. Love it because you will spend countless hours scouring thrift stores and estate sales and find nothing. Patience is your friend!
Edited by Admin. Please read the posting rules at the top of this forum about friends posting links. Thank you
 
I think Nicole's time estimate may actually be on the conservative side. After all, she's a pro, and perhaps has forgotten how very long it takes to inventory the item, set-up the mannequin, get decent shots (especially when you're working without a permanent photo studio or remotely professional set-up), measure the items (the only part I really dislike), and then upload all the information to your site. That doesn't include the finding, cleaning, repairing, etc. But I love it! I'm glad I'm not relying on it to feed my kids or pay my mortgage, but I really enjoy it and have met so many interesting people in the process -- sellers, buyers, and colleagues.

As for the mannequin -- you can find them at a reasonable price if you look around. Here in Atlanta I managed to find a company that had hangers for cheaper than even the on-line places (I'm a bit OCD and everything has to match, even though I work out of my home). On one of my trips there, I mentioned I needed a mannequin, and the lady said that in the warehouse they had a whole batch of "slightly scratch and dent" mannequins for about $60 each!! Perhaps there's a similar outfit near you? Check the phone book/on line for "store fixtures." I found a reasonably priced dress form on eBay. It's an armless body on a stick, basically, with the advantage that you can pin clothes to it to create the proper fit, rather than having to use clips -- but not useful for anything with sleeves). And check Craigs List because you when a local store closes, they sell all their stuff, including the mannequins, racks, etc!
 
I am pretty new to selling vintage clothing online myself, and would definately not have wanted to start out my online selling career in this field. I started to (and still do) sell on ebay, and have done that for a few years. It has taken nearly that long to get to the point where I could make living at it. Now I am moving into my true love, vintage clothes, but wouldn't feel comfortable doing it if I hadn't learned so much selling other stuff first. There is so much work involved with the vintage clothes, as others have pointed out, and you really have to know your stuff, since so many of the buyers are so knowledgable. I reccomend starting with something you know well, just to learn the ropes.
I have been very suprised about a number of things, including what is involved with dealing with all the different personality types you get as customers. I have had very different experiences with people who shop on ebay versus those who shop on etsy. There seem to be much friendlier people on etsy. One last thought, picture taking is definately my downfall, and by far the hardest thing for me to feel satisfied with. It is totally different taking pictures of clothes than it is taking pictures of shoes or other small stuff. No matter what I do, I can not get good pics, so any advice, knowledge, and or practice you can get on that will really help too!
 
BTW Falls Avenue Vintage Fashion, that article is fantastic! Great writing and so, so true!
 
Thank you Villa!

I don't think anyone is ever satisfied with their photos. I've been experimenting for a long time now and still detest my photos which aren't that bad meaning they're clear and close-up but not outstanding when lumped in with lots of other listings. I got that macro stuff down at least. I want an all white background but I don't have a single clear wall I can use. I'm looking for a white screen or shade I can pull down, thinking that might work well but I haven't been able to find the right size for a good price.

I started on ebay too (think we all did) and hated it, liking RL much more. I began with only costume jewelry and now I do mostly VCA because I can find better deals on clothing than jewelry in my area. The only thing I knew about vintage clothing a few years ago was that I loved it.

Happy selling! :)
 
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