If you’ve ever wandered into a fast food joint, you may have come across the staff flipping burgers in the kitchen. But guess what? Flipping burgers isn’t the only thing people are doing these days. Now, you’ll come across not just chefs but fashion enthusiasts flipping things too…except they aren’t tossing burgers around all day. Instead, they’re flipping clothes.
But what does it mean to “flip clothes”? What are the benefits, and is it possible to make money off of it?
If you’re looking for the answers to these questions, keep reading. We’ve got plenty of helpful tips and interesting information related to clothes flipping, below!
The Art of Clothes Flipping
Clothes flipping began as a viral TikTok trend in 2020. But now, it’s grown beyond being a mere fad. Recently, many people have taken clothes flipping to the next level by cultivating it into their very own home-based business.
There are two types of fashion flipping methods out there. First, there are clothes flipping, where old items from one’s closet are upcycled into new outfits. These outfits are either sold off or added back to the collection.
Then, there’s thrift flipping, where shoppers thrift unbecoming clothes and alter them at home. The result is a stunning, new ‘fit that’s resold at a higher price.
How to Make Money by Cleaning Out Your Closet
Imagine getting paid to clear out your old clothes. Sounds spectacular, doesn’t it?
Here are some popular ways to make money by cleaning out your closet:
1. Sell Online on Preloved Clothing Websites
The internet is riddled with sustainable fashion options. Platforms like Depop, Poshmark, and Facebook Marketplace are all about buying and selling preloved clothes. So, if your closet could use a little cleaning out, why not list your preloved ‘fits on these websites?
There are strings attached to Poshmark for example, but you can offset surcharges by using a cross-listing app to post your items. On top of that, they also provide uncomplicated shipping solutions, which facilitate and speed up the selling process.
Depop works best for a Gen Z target market. It lists plenty of vintage clothing and streetwear. So, if that’s what you’re selling, go ahead and sign up now!
But if you’re looking for a platform with absolutely no strings attached, Facebook Marketplace is the place to be! It charges nothing from sales and provides plenty of feasible shipping options. However, Marketplace isn’t compatible with cross-listing apps. As a result, it’s less popular amongst serious sellers. However, Marketplace remains common amongst occasional resellers and those who have managed to build a niche buyer following.
2. Host a Garage Sale
If selling online isn’t your jam, why not host a garage sale instead?
Simply send out an open invite by posting on your social media accounts and putting up flyers around the neighborhood. If all goes well, you’ll have people flocking to your garage sale as soon as you open up the gates!
3. Sell Your Clothes to an In-Store Reseller
Sure, you can always drop your clothes off at Goodwill for free. But wouldn’t it be better to sell your preloved articles to a professional, in-store reseller instead?
Start by searching for local resellers in your area by browsing store listings online. You can also try talking to any contacts you may have within the local fashion market. Or, you could drive up to your neighborhood’s most popular thrift shop and ask if they purchase flipped clothes.
The best part about selling to an in-store retailer is the minimum hassle you’ll have to go through when turning in your items. Giving a store owner your clothes will shift the burden of successfully advertising and reselling clothes to another (more experienced) party. Plus, if you don’t like the amount they offer you, you can always bargain for a higher price!
Tips for Flipping Clothes Online
Here are some useful reselling tips to help maximize your online clothes flipping experience:
- Rework old outfits by updating them to match current trends. You can also purchase thrifted clothes and edit them with a sewing kit and new decals. Think of it as a fun, new DIY project. Snap pictures under good lighting to ensure they look their best. Remember, the closer your picture uploads look to the real thing, the higher their chances of selling!
- Use a mannequin to help define each clothing article’s shape and cuts. Fully understanding the clothing’s dimensions can help buyers make quicker decisions.
- Invest in a quality camera. Remember, online customers won’t be able to assess clothing quality and design in person. Hence, any pictures you upload should be good enough to help potential buyers get a feel of what you’re really selling. So, make sure you’re working with a camera that brings out the best in your clothes!
- Write detailed product descriptions to help buyers understand the products better.
- Organize your inventory effectively – messy listing won’t get you far!
- Use a cross listing app to seamlessly manage seller uploads across multiple apps and sell stuff online.
Sustainability In The Fashion Equation
Let’s not forget how important shopping sustainably is, especially considering the looming climate crisis.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 85% of pre-loved clothes end up in landfill sites across the country. The fashion industry as a whole contributes to a staggering 10% of the world’s carbon emissions – that’s more than the UK’s carbon footprint as a whole!
To help counter this problem, many shoppers have begun investing in preloved clothes. In other words, consumers are moving towards prioritizing secondhand or flipped clothing.
As an added benefit to being ecologically sustainable, shopping preloved is cost-effective and more affordable than buying ‘new’ clothes – and clothes flipping is an excellent way to boost your bucks with a few simple steps.
Final Thoughts
Selling preloved clothes can help you make a stable income if done right. After setting up a simple store on any of the platforms listed above, grow your brand until you’re ready to launch an independent website. Doing so can help you maximize orders, hire new employees to help with alterations, and revolutionize the sustainable fashion movement!
Shopping for preloved fabrics can also help reduce the fashion industry’s carbon footprint. It’s a good thing we’re already on our way to achieving this goal, seeing how the secondhand market is currently valued at $36 billion. If the positive shift towards sustainable fashion continues, this industry is projected to reach $77 billion by 2025.
Not only is that an ideal statistic considering the climate crisis, but it’s also a great sign for the clothes flipping industry. In other words, sustainable fashion is on its way to taking over as the primary choice for shoppers everywhere. Naturally, that means now is an ideal time to start flipping your clothes.
So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to start clearing out your closet!
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Gilles Couvreur is the founder of Crosslist, a productivity tool that allows sellers to list quickly on the world’s largest online marketplaces. In his free time, he loves to share simple tips that help resellers reach more customers.
