Hey Guys could I pick your brains please?

F

fashion-Mayhem

Registered Guest
Hi all im Kelly and Im from sunny UK :)
I have been selling clothing online for around 4 years and as a business just over 2.
Over this time I have been selling some vintage as I get quite a lot of it in, but just lately Im getting masses of it and I have to say I love it.
I would really like to learn a little more so I can be a Good Vintage seller
Just a few questions if anyone could help please?

What kind of condition does a vintage item have to be in?
Ie where do you stop and throw it out cause you are never going to sell it?
Some items I can repair easily and are barely visable, but will people still buy items that have visable repairs or marks?

I have been offered some designer Jean Varon dresses and the lady just said to make her an offer.
How do I figure out how much to offer/pay for them?
If I offer her £10 each an sell them at £50 is this fair?

Whats the longest you have had an item for sale for? and do they always sell eventually?

Have you sold anything on Etsy?? if I got just 1 sale on there and I would be delighted

Thanks so much for your time and im so looking forward to using this site, its fantastic and I cannot wait to learn more xx
 
Hi Kelly,

Welcome to the VFG. I'm from the (sometimes) sunny UK too. A lot of questions here, and they don't have straightforward answers. Some of these things you will get a feel for the longer you are in the business.
What kind of condition does a vintage item have to be in? Ie where do you stop and throw it out cause you are never going to sell it? Some items I can repair easily and are barely visable, but will people still buy items that have visable repairs or marks?
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It depends on the item, it depends on the buyer, and it depends on nature of the damage. Rarer items will still be sellable with significant damage. Some people don't mind wearing things with a few marks/repairs, some do. Obviously the better the condition, the easier it is to sell, and the better price you will get. The longer I've been trading, the less likely I am to buy something that has a lot of damage. It's important to be clear in a listing about damage or repairs, otherwise your reputation will suffer.
I have been offered some designer Jean Varon dresses and the lady just said to make her an offer. How do I figure out how much to offer/pay for them? If I offer her £10 each an sell them at £50 is this fair?
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This is always a hard one, you have to work out what is an acceptable profit for yourself, given the time and expense you put into your business - remember you will have costs associated with selling, such as ebay/etsy fees, cleaning fees, plus the time it takes to repair, clean, photograph, measure and list (I'm assuming you sell online).

She can always refuse your offer, and you may then negotiate, so start low. It sounds harsh, but I wouldn't think about what's 'fair' for her. Think about what works for you as a business person. If you can't agree a price that you are both happy with, she can keep them and try and sell them elsewhere, that's her choice. How much she is likely to accept depends what is motivating her sale. Is she just clearing her wardrobe and happy to get something, or is she out to make money? If you think you can sell them for £50 each, and she wants £40 each, then you are probably going to think it's not worth it to you. If she accepts £10, you'll probably feel pretty happy with that. Where you draw the line between those two is up to you.

It's important to work out what you think you can sell for, and base your buying price on that, which it sounds like you've already done. If you haven't already seen them, remember to check them over thoroughly for condition, as that will impact your selling price.

Some people have very unreasonable expectations of what a vintage trader will pay them for their clothes, so don't be surprised if she wants more than it would be acceptable for you to pay. Work out your cutoff point before you start. Negotiating a buy like this is a whole skill in itself, so think of it as a learning experience.
Whats the longest you have had an item for sale for? and do they always sell eventually?
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Odd question. Whether something will 'sell eventually' depends on price, desirability, etc. Also seasonality - you don't sell many swimsuits in December (except to Australia!).
Have you sold anything on Etsy?? if I got just 1 sale on there and I would be delighted
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I don't sell on etsy (yet - I'm planning to), but lots of members here do, and do well there. It's about getting a following I think.

Good luck and keep learning!
 
Thank you so much for your reply Ruth, very helpful indeed
The question about how long you have an item for was really to give me an idea on how long I should hold an item at a certain price....eg. at the moment if I have an item 4-5 months I stick them on ebay as a £1.99 start auction just to get rid but im not sure wether I should be holding them longer

Theres so much to learn its quite over whelming,,but then again a couple of years ago I had never heard of Karen Millen, or Jaeger :rolleyes:

Liked you on Facebook too xx
 
Thanks for the like!

The question about how long you have an item for was really to give me an idea on how long I should hold an item at a certain price....eg. at the moment if I have an item 4-5 months I stick them on ebay as a £1.99 start auction just to get rid but im not sure wether I should be holding them longer
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I think this is a personal decision. It partly depends if you need the cash, or the space! But do think about seasonality. I have a nice winter dress that I didn't manage to sell last year, though it got lots of interest (I sell both online and in vintage fairs). I've put it away until next winter. If it doesn't sell next winter then I might consider auctioning it.
 
What kind of condition does a vintage item have to be in?
Ie where do you stop and throw it out cause you are never going to sell it?
Some items I can repair easily and are barely visable, but will people still buy items that have visable repairs or marks?
Click to expand...

Many people (myself included) will also purchase older items in total disrepair for salvage purposes of the trim and fabric. Also
people purchase for pattern and study. Items from the 1800s to 1940s seem to be the most desirable

I'm with Ruth on her comments on your other questions :)
 
I agree with what everyone has said. Even if a 1920s dress for example is not wearable it could be used for study, for dress designers, for the use of the pattern, the material that is salvagable, or even just to admire it's beauty. But make sure you always describe the condition and any flaws the item might have. What might be unrepairable to you might not be such a difficult job to someone else. :)

I do sell on etsy, only since November, and it took a few weeks to get my first sale, but once I started to get people watching my site and listing a lot of items, I started to get more and more sales (between 1-4 sales on a good week). I mainly sell 60s and 70s too so it's not like I have rare 1930s gowns which are highly desirable.

I have had items that did the first go round (4 months) without selling and then as soon as I renewed the listing they sold! It's all about seasons, price, desirability, and how many other of that type are for sale.

Good luck!
 
Never thought that people might want the stuff thats no good to me, I have been throwing it in the bin :oops:
Will see if I can find someone local who I can give them to
I havent got very much on Etsy to be honest but I havent had a sale in 6 months so it kind of puts me off a bit...but I shall keep trying xx
 
A good rule for beginners such as yourself is....Don't throw anything in the "bin", not until you have researched it well, or found someone who might want it for study. After being in the biz for a long time, all dealers and collectors shudder to recall the things we passed by or tossed away when we were new and still learning, and that we now know have value. This is especially true of antique and very vintage (which to me is pre 1960s items), or damaged items with labels and that are well made and good fabrics .

So much great clothing and other items have been lost when tossed! Remember that fashion historians often won't care as much about condition, as they really want to study the construction and materials and just see the style. Of course, this goes for hats too!

Eventually you have to develop a respect for the garments and the designers, not just a want to make money, and that is what will help you to be a better dealer.

Best of success!
 
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