Starting an Online Thrift Store (Depop, Poshmark, Vinted)

Sourcing Inventory: Thrift Stores, Estate Sales, and Garage Sales

Your sourcing strategy determines your margins. Thrift stores (Goodwill, Salvation Army, local charity shops) are the most accessible. Visit 2-3 times per week, preferably on discount days (50% off tags of a certain colour). Look for: high-quality fabrics (wool, silk, cashmere), designer labels, vintage band tees, unique patterns, and items in excellent condition. Estate sales (estatesales.net) are goldmines for vintage home goods, collectibles, and furniture. Arrive early on the first day for best picks. Garage sales — negotiate bundles (offer $20 for 10 items). Wholesale thrift — buy unsorted clothing by the pound ($1-3/lb) from thrift store outlets or wholesalers like Blue Jeans Go Green. Facebook Marketplace — people often sell lots of clothing cheaply. Build a sourcing routine: 2-3 hours on Saturday mornings scouting, 1 hour on Tuesday for restocking. Track what sells (brand, style, fabric, colour) and focus your sourcing on proven categories.

Photography for Thrift Listings

Thrift item photos need to show condition clearly. Requirements differ by platform: Depop — aesthetic lifestyle photos on a clean background work best (lay flat on wood floor, hang on a white wall, or model the item). Depop is style-driven — great photos can justify premium pricing. Poshmark — white background, well-lit, multiple angles including close-ups of fabric and any flaws. Poshmark rewards "Poshmark Style" — modelled photos on clean backgrounds. Vinted — simpler photos accepted but clear shots of the item on a hanger or flat surface still sell better. Common rules: natural window light, clean background, photograph the label/brand tag, photograph any flaws honestly (helps avoid returns), and use a consistent grid layout for brand identity. A $15 ring light and a backdrop from Amazon significantly improve consistency.

Pricing Strategy for Reselling

Pricing starts with what you paid. Aim for 3-5x your purchase price. Paid $5 at a thrift store? List at $25-35. Factor in: platform fees — Depop takes 10%, Poshmark takes 20%, Vinted takes 5% (but lower selling prices). Shipping costs — $4-8 for most items. Your time — sourcing, cleaning, photographing, listing, packing, shipping takes 30-60 minutes per item. Price higher on Depop (brand-conscious buyers) and lower on Vinted (bargain hunters). Use dynamic pricing — lower prices by 10% every 2 weeks until the item sells. Use Poshmark's "Offer to Likers" feature — send a 10-20% discount to everyone who liked your item. Bundle discounts work well — "Buy 3, get 15% off" increases average order value.

Platform Fees and Which to Choose

Each platform has different economics. Depop: 10% selling fee + payment processing (3.3% + $0.45). Best for vintage, streetwear, and curated aesthetic items. Younger demographic (16-24), higher average selling price ($30-60). Poshmark: 20% for sales over $15, $2.95 flat fee for sales under $15. Best for branded fashion, shoes, handbags, and accessories. Older demographic (25-45), social/"Posh Party" selling model. Vinted: 5% selling fee + buyer protection fee (paid by buyer). Best for budget-friendly items, fast turnover, and casual sellers. No listing fees, lower prices ($10-25 average). Cross-listing: use tools like Vendoo, List Perfectly, or Flyp to list on all platforms from one interface — increases exposure by 3x with minimal extra work.

Shipping and Scaling

Shipping on resale platforms is usually label-based. Depop: you can use your own shipping (Pirate Ship, $4-8) or Depop labels. Poshmark: uses its own labels ($7.67 for items up to 5 lbs) — you just pack and drop off. Vinted: buyer pays shipping, you use a Vinted-generated label. When you sell 20+ items per week, streamline: buy poly mailers in bulk (100 for $10-20 on Amazon), keep a packing station with tape, scissors, labels, and mailers ready, schedule USPS pickups (free) so you do not have to go to the post office. To scale: hire a virtual assistant to handle photography or listing, build a sourcing team (pay friends $10/hour to thrift for you), and reinvest profits into wholesale inventory (buying lots of vintage items from eBay or wholesalers).

FAQs

How much money can I make thrifting?

Part-time (5-10 hours/week): $500-2,000/month. Full-time (30-40 hours/week): $3,000-10,000/month. Top resellers on Depop and Poshmark earn $100,000-300,000+ per year. Margins are typically 50-70% after fees and shipping.

What sells best on Depop?

Vintage band t-shirts, Y2K fashion, cargo pants, denim jackets, leather bags, chunky sneakers, and unique accessories. Depop buyers want items that are "not available on the high street."

How do I handle returns on resale platforms?

Depop and Poshmark have buyer protection policies that allow returns for items not as described. Avoid returns by: photographing flaws honestly, measuring items (especially waist and length), describing condition accurately, and packaging items carefully. Accept returns for store credit rather than refunds to retain revenue.