8 Tips to Make Money on Poshmark

I remember a friend of mine telling me that she just sold something on an app called Poshmark. I had never heard of the app before and was skeptical to say the least. Then she told me that she had made around $1000 just from selling her family’s clothes they no longer wore. $1000?! I was intrigued.

I went home and uploaded a few workout clothes that I never worn. A few days later I had my first sale and I’ve been hooked ever since! 

I’ve used the app for two and a half years and have sold over 850 items! The money I have made on Poshmark has provided some extra spending money for things like vacations, trips to Target and freshening up my wardrobe. Especially now as a stay at home mama, it is a great way to help make a little extra money to contribute to our family!

I can’t recommend it enough as an easy and fun way to make a few extra dollars! If you create an account for the first time and enter my username (ShopWithShelley) we will both earn a $5 Posh credit to shop with! You can signup online here, or download the app on your phone.

Poshmark is a great app, but it isn’t one where you can simply list items and forget about them. However, with a little effort you can be very successful and make some extra money!

Here are my top tips for being successful on Poshmark:

1. Have great photos

First impressions matter! Photos are the first thing that people see. A nice, well lit photo will attract buyers and make them want to look in your closet.

You can choose to model your clothes, take a flat lay photo, or simply photograph your item on a hanger. 

What type of photos you choose to take depends on your personal preference. All types of photos can be successful! Just choose the kind that you like the best, be consistent and take great photos.

Tips for taking great photos:

• Use natural lighting whenever possible
• Make sure the background of your photo is clutter free!
• Make sure the majority of the item is visible in the cover photo
• Include 6-8 total photos of your item (I take pictures of the front, back, size tag, fabric content tag, and any unique details or flaws)

2. Make your items look desirable

It doesn’t matter how good your photographs are—if the item you are trying to sell is dirty or wrinkled, you are going to have a much harder time selling it!

I wash all of my items using unscented detergent, let them air dry and then steam them (much easier than ironing!). I use this steamer. You can also use a fabric shaver if an item has a few pills.

With that being said, think about the items you are listing – would you honestly purchase the item? If the item is extremely outdated, has pilling, is shrunk, faded, etc, I recommend choosing to discard or donate that item instead.

3. Write descriptive titles & listings

Make your titles and listings descriptive! Use as many descriptive words in your title as you can. I always list the brand, item type and any unique patterns, colors, etc. Putting “cute shirt” in the title won’t help buyers who are searching for a specific item.

Title example: Free People neon embroidered boho coverup dress

Your descriptions should also include a lot of detail. This prevents you from getting a million questions about your item and your buyer will know exactly what they are getting. The format I use is: item description (try to include keywords that your buyer might be searching for!) Measurements (bust, length, inseam) and condition. I also include the fabric content if I did not include a photo of the tag.

Description example: Adorable and unique embroidered flowy swim coverup by Free People. Could also be worn as a dress! ~37″ long (at shortest point– longer on the sides due to shark bite hem) and 42″ bust. New without tags; tiny hole where safety pin attached the tag to the coverup. I think it will close upon washing. In otherwise excellent condition. 100% cotton. 

4. Be honest

Nothing will ruin a buyer’s experience like a dishonest seller! Be truthful when listing how many times you wore it; don’t list something as new with tags if it’s not. Also, look over your garment well and list every flaw. Just because an item is flawed, doesn’t mean it won’t sell! An honest seller = a happy customer!

5. Don’t get attached to items

I’m not saying you should give your items away for $3.00, but if someone makes a reasonable offer—accept it! Know what your items are worth. In general, used items sell for approximately 40% of retail value and items that are new with tags sell for about 60% of retail value. Price your items a little higher than you would like to sell them for to make room for offers and price drops. People want to feel like they are getting a great deal!

6. Use the tools that Poshmark has to offer

Features on Poshmark are there for a reason. Using features such as the price drop tool and making an offer to likers will definitely help your sales. Users get notifications every time the price is reduced, so it will remind them about your item and may lead to a sale!

7. Share, share, share!

Speaking of features that Poshmark has…make sure to share your items frequently! If you can only do ONE thing on Poshmark– make sure to share your items. Every time you share your items, it makes them appear towards the top when someone searches for that item. I personally aim to share my entire closet around three times a day. 

8. Package nicely & ship quickly

Poshmark suggests to “Pack your items nicely with a personal thank you note for your buyer” in their shipping instructions. How you do this is up to you, but simply throwing your item in a box with no protection will likely result in an upset buyer!

Personally, I store my items in a clear plastic bag. I then wrap the item in tissue paper, tie with a ribbon and add a thank you note! I then place the item in a polymailer, attach the label and make sure to drop it off at the post office in 1-2 days!

You don’t have to spend a lot of money or time on shipping supplies. I often reuse tissue paper or buy it in bulk when I find a great deal! Spending a little extra effort is worth it– I find that my customers tend to appreciate when their items are nicely wrapped and often become repeat buyers!

I hope these tips help you have a successful experience selling on Poshmark! This post didn’t go into much detail; if you have additional questions about the app, please leave a comment and I will do my best to help!