Selling Vintage Clothes

B

bluebell

Registered Guest
Hi
I have been collecting vintage clothes for some months now and wondered if it was worth while selling them.

Can you make money out of selling or is it just really a hobby? ( not like I would part with any of MINE):hysterical:

What are the best ways to sell and where and how do you workout what to charge for them?

I hope you dont mind me asking so many questions.


Thanks

Bluebell
 
Hi Bluebell,

I think the answer to your question depends on what you have to sell.

I would begin by researching labels and styles. Then maybe do a search for completed listings on ebay and other websites. That would give you some indication of value.
 
He he, I was just hoping that my love for vintage clothes might actually create the money I spend on buying them... or it it just a dream:)
 
You won't make a lot, but several people do live off of their vintage sales earnings. You have to have great presentation, accurate and full descriptions excellent pictures and a good reputation/feedback. That's what you present to the public. Behind the scenes you have to be organized, efficient and a self-starter. You have to treat it as a business if you want it to be just that. Those of us that do vintage sales as a job work well more than the average full time work week, when it comes down to it. Oh, and we do it because we love it!

If you are unsure, start by offering one or two items and see how it goes. This is the slow season on ebay, but there are still buyers out there for good quality, in season items. (leave the furs for late fall)
We can help here if you have questions, just post a pic of the item.
Jenn
 
hi.. bluebell.....:hiya:

i have just turned my hobby into a business......i started collecting the first time round over 20 years ago..... and a year or so ago i started putting the odd item from my collection on ebay.....so now i buy ...sell and also keep items....
the reason why i turned it into a business..... is that i know i am not going to make mega bucks.... but to keep it legal with the taxman....as they do watch ebay and car boot sales.. fairs etc.... and know in my luck they will pick on me ..lol.... plus people are sooo quick off the mark to dob you in... if you have offended them etc...plus its a way of funding the items i do want to keep..

test the water first by selling an item on ebay... and see how it goes.....
good luck if you do decide....
 
Thanks for the help, I would love to sell vintage clothes I have always loved the sixties and seventies. Are sources of vintage clothes hard to find? I tried my local charity shops and a couple of vintage fairs but no luck in the charity shops and the fair were expensive and not great quaility or quantity in seventies items.

I mostly collect Ossie Clark dresses and started by my mum leaving me a couple when she died a few years ago. I live in England and finding Ossie Clark dresses can be difficult any tips in where to look in the UK?

Thanks again

Bluebell.
 
an ozzie clark dress sold for £156. at the weekend on ebay... a plain one... nice though...

with finding the 'big' names in local charity shops etc yes they are very few and fair between, its the sinario right place right time.....but they are out there...
 
I did find that retail prices in the UK are quite a bit higher than in the US. You might be able to you can turn that to your advantage. I understood why my UK buyers are willing to pay the shipping - the costs are still not bad for them.

Generally speaking there are 2 markets for vintage - the wearers and the collectors. There are also theatre and film and the museums but the first two will be the bulk of your customers.

What you might try as a strategy is to decide how much you can put in this venture (not more than you can afford to lose) and then invest that in small amount of stock and a simple setup and see how it goes. I will tell you that it was about 3 years before I took any profits (or pay) out of my business. I kept plowing the proceeds back into better quality inventory and a better set up.

I swear it takes more time and energy to find good stock than to get it ready and sell it!

Hollis
 
Bluebell, the problem with being in the UK is that we had two world wars on our doorstep.
The 2nd one which destroyed a lot of things plus rationing kept on into the 1950's and then the economy took a nosedive after the war, so finding earlier things can be VERY difficult over here and you may find dealers here less than forthcoming in where to find things as all of us have the same problem with finding sources (hence the higher retail prices than in the US)! :)
All I can say is learn as much as you can so you can spot a hidden treasure. I found a Worth dolman from the early 1880's the other day that was misdescribed.
Keep combing the shops, go to fairs, etc.
Good luck and you will find that it becomes VERY addictive!

Lei
 
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