8 expert tips for making money reselling your clothes

With rising inflation costs and a shift in working situations, many Americans are looking for ways to make some extra cash. Reselling your clothes on consignment is a great way to declutter your closet, divert your clothes from unsustainable landfills, and make some money this year.

In this article, I’ll explore the benefits of selling on consignment and offer 8 expert tips for making money reselling your clothes in 2023. 

Why sell your clothes on consignment

Selling your clothes on consignment isn’t the same as selling or donating your clothes to a thrift store. Consignment stores actually pay you a commission for your clothes, whereas most thrift stores only accept donations. While thrift stores can be a good plan B if you have some clothing items that won’t sell well on consignment, we always recommend trying consignment first because it’s a great way to get extra cash for your items. 

There are lots of reasons to sell your clothes on consignment:

• It’s much more sustainable than throwing out or donating your clothes. (It’s estimated 62% of donated clothingends up in landfills anyway.) Learn more about why selling on consignment is good for the earth here.
• It keeps quality goods in circulation, giving other women the opportunity to purchase high-quality clothes (that may be a dream purchase for them) at a lower price point.
• You make money from cleaning out your closet and getting rid of your clothes.

If you’ve never been to a consignment store, check out these 10 smart reasons to shop secondhand to learn more.

8 expert tips for selling your clothes on consignment in 2023

1. Research consignment stores

Not all consignment stores work the same way. Different stores have different policies, commission rates, products, and aesthetics. You want to make sure the consignment store you work with fits your criteria based on payout, clothing/accessories selection, and overall experience.

Here are some tips for researching consignment stores:

• Look for specialty stores that focus on the pieces you’re selling. For example, Current Boutique focuses on designer clothes, shoes, accessories, and fine jewelry. Other consignment stores may focus on vintage-only pieces, jewelry, handbags, furniture, home goods, etc.
• Check reviews and testimonials about the store. Pay attention to reviews about both the shopping experience and the selling experience. The shopping experience is just as important, because if customers don’t love the store, your items probably aren’t going to sell.
• Visit the store in person if it’s local. Make sure it’s clean, organized, and has good displays.
• Browse the website online. Determine if you like the flow, layout, and current offerings.
• Compare consignment agreements and payouts. (We’ll discuss this further in #2 on this list.)
• Chat with friends and other consignors to see if they have any insights, personal experiences, or recommendations.

Ultimately, you’re looking for a consignment store that:

• Specializes in the type of items you’re reselling
• Has a reasonable commission rate
• Has an excellent reputation
• Offers top-notch customer service to sellers and shoppers

If you have designer items to sell, consider selling with Current Boutique. We offer competitive commission rates, easy drop-off methods, and a top-notch selling experience from start to finish. Our goal at Current Boutique is to get your preloved items in front of like-minded fashionistas who will give your clothes and accessories a second life.

Start your research with these 5 best websites to sell designer clothes online.

2. Understand the consignment process

Different consignment stores will have different policies and agreements. It’s a good idea to read the consignment agreement before choosing where to resell your clothes. Here are some things you’ll want to understand about a given consignor’s process:

The consignment agreement will outline the terms of sale, including:

• Pricing: consignment stores will determine the sale price based on fair market value for the item
• Percentage: this will guarantee you a certain percentage of the sale price
• Payment: this specifies how you will receive payment (check, store credit, cash, etc.) and when you will receive payment
• Unsold items: this summarizes the process if the consignor can’t sell your items after a certain time period

At Current Boutique, we are 100% transparent about our selling process. See our consignment agreement here.

3. Look for name brands in your closet

Although consignment stores have diverse specialties, most consignment stores prefer reselling well-known brands and designers. At Current Boutique, we only resell designer goods. It’s important to us that our customers can feel confident they are getting high-quality, stylish pieces whenever they shop with us.

High-end designers focus on quality. Consignment shoppers expect high-quality pieces. That’s why fast fashion brands like Fashion Nova and Shein rarely end up on consignment racks. Fast fashion can’t withstand multiple wears, washes, and changes of hand. Unfortunately, these pieces end up in landfills after just a few wears.

On the other hand, high-quality designer pieces are a great investment because they withstand the test of time. They can be worn, washed, resold, and worn again for decades to come. They’re made of quality materials and impeccable craftsmanship, which always go for top dollar.

Check out these 15 bestselling brands that you should resell on consignment.

4. Clean and repair clothes before selling

Speaking of quality, consignment stores usually won’t take damaged, ripped, or heavily worn clothing. At Current Boutique, we care about our customers and want them to feel like they’re buying new clothes –with all the excitement and sustainability of buying secondhand.

Well-maintained clothing and accessories will catch the eye of consignment buyers because they’re more likely to sell for a higher price. Our buyers are trained to triple-check items to ensure we only resell the highest quality items for our customers.

If you have only gently- or mildly-used pieces, put in a bit of elbow grease to bring them back to life. You don’t have to go crazy repairing and cleaning your clothes, but removing stains, washing, ironing, and steaming can go a long way to boost the perceived value of your clothes.

5. Sell with the seasons

Like traditional stores, consignment stores tend to stock and sell seasonal items. It’s a fact of life at all fashion retailers that a sundress sells better in May than in September. If you want your clothes to sell quickly and for a higher price, we recommend bringing in seasonal items at the beginning of each season.

However, if you’re cleaning out your closet in spring and have winter items to get rid of, you don’t have to hold on to them for a year. Many consignment stores (like Current Boutique) will still accept your items, but you may have to be patient with an extended selling period.

6. Buy clothes with good resell value

The process of reselling your clothes starts when you first buy your clothes. Clothing is an investment. When you make a purchase, you want to focus on buying high-quality, designer pieces that will hold their value. There are two reasons for this:

• Designer pieces are generally more timeless and high-quality. This means they’ll last longer in your closet, so you’ll get more wear and use out of your hard-earned money.
• Designer pieces generally hold more value than fast fashion or boutique pieces. Most designer clothing (like Gucci or Theory) will have better consignment store re-salability in the future than box store brands (like Target brands) or fast fashion brands (like H&M).

So, when buying clothes, think long-term. How much use will you get out of this piece, and would you be able to resell it in the future?

Do trendy pieces resell well on consignment?

Classic, timeless pieces like a white button-down or little black dress will always sell, no matter the year, season, or changing trends. Moreover, “vintage” and unique pieces will also sell well. One of the reasons shoppers love consignment stores is because they’re always a treasure hunt. You never know what you’re going to find: you might discover a limited-edition Oscar de la Renta or a discontinued Kate Spade purse. One of my favorite parts of running a consignment shop is seeing all the stunning, unique gems that come through the door and the progression of history and humanity through fashion.

Still, that doesn’t mean you can’t resell trendy items on consignment. For example, leather was a hot trend in winter 2022, so we told our consignors to bring in all their leather pieces to get top-dollar. Recently, modernized Y2K has been hot, so we’re seeing a surge of Barbie pink and Viva Magenta flying off our shelves. Fashion trends are cyclical, so many pieces you own from a few years ago might be back in style by next season.

7. Take care of your clothes

If you want your clothes to retain their value when it comes time to resell, they need to be in good condition. The better you treat your clothes while you own them, the more likely they’ll be in sellable condition if and when the time comes. Respecting your clothes equals a higher resale ticket price. Learn how to care for your clothes with these 10 easy hacks to make your clothes last longer.

8. Be patient

Your clothes probably aren’t going to sell overnight. Consignment stores take time to sort your pieces, determine which they’ll accept, ensure they’re clean and ready for sale, and display them on the sales floor. You then have to wait for the right person to spot it in-store or online. It can take several weeks for your clothes to sell, so don’t get discouraged. If you’re concerned after a few weeks or months, don’t be afraid to reach out to the store for an update on your garments.

Don’t make the mistake of rushing the process. Going with the “easiest” option without doing your research could mean you’ll miss out on a better deal or experience. We’ve chatted with too women who first tried the “easy” way of ThredUp or Poshmark, and it ended up being a frustrating experience with small payouts. Then, they sold with Current Boutique, and we saved them a lot of headache… and made them a lot more money!

What are you waiting for? Sell with Current Boutique to start making money on your preloved pieces.