My Poshmark Side Hustle

How I made over $1,000 on Poshmark by cleaning out my closet

I have had a Poshmark account for over three years, but it wasn’t until the last year or so that I actually started making sales. For those of you who don’t know what Poshmark is, it’s a marketplace where people can sell both new and used items they no longer want.

About a year ago, I was moving out of my apartment, and I really needed to get rid things that I was no longer wearing. I was shocked when I found myself wanting to get rid of items that still had the tags on it. I mean, talk about a waste of money, right? That’s when I thought I would take my Poshmark account seriously, and try to make recoup some money.

As I mentioned before, I had Poshmark for a few years at this point and hadn’t made a single sale. There’s a reason for that: I put no effort into my online shop. My pictures were awful, I didn’t share my posts, and my prices were unreasonable. If I was going to sell anything, I needed to take it seriously…and that’s when the sales started flowing in.

Here are some tips I used to make sales on Poshmark.

Know what sells

Before you start listing items, you need to make sure you aren’t wasting your time. Do your research on Poshmark by looking at completed listings. If that brand or item hasn’t sold, chances are, you won’t find success selling it either. Brands that I have found success selling on Poshmark are Gymshark, Athleta, J. Crew, Nike, Lulus, Ralph Lauren, and American Eagle.

With that being said, there are some items I listed that I was shocked sold so quickly including, spandex shorts, lace halter bralettes, used sneakers, and even a FitBit. That is to say, research can only go so far. If you list something at a reasonable price and offer it to those who like your listing, you might just be surprised at what sells.

Take good pictures

This should go without saying, but I did not follow this advice to start, so I’m emphasizing it here. If your pictures don’t look great, no matter how awesome your item is, it’s not going to look great (and likely won’t sell). I have found this to be true especially with used items. Buyers don’t want to buy dirty or old items, so you need to be especially careful when you’re listing used items.

Take pictures in well-lit rooms and show all angles. If there are any defects, this is where you need to show it! Be honest in your listings and photos; buyers won’t hesitate to return things if you leave out flaws.

List new items frequently

I have found that listing 7 new items over the course of 7 days instead of all at once provides better results for my Poshmark closet. Disclaimer: I have no idea if there is an algorithm to back this up, it’s just what I have found in my own sales. It’s also less exhausting to do it that way, because let’s face, listing items takes time and by the 5th item, you might get a little lazy in your listing. Don’t do that; just spread it out.

Share your items daily

This is so important! It wasn’t until I started sharing my items every day that the sales started to roll in. If you don’t share, they just sit in your online closet unseen for the most part. If you want to get more eyes on your listings, which will eventually translate to sales, you need to share your listings.

Be strategic with your pricing

This is a skill that is going to take some time to develop. When I list items, I always list slightly above what the average listing price is. The reason for that is because then you have room to negotiate. Most people won’t buy things outright from your closet; they will send you offers. If your item is already priced very low, you lose that opportunity to negotiate and risk selling at a lower price than you should.

Another thing I’ve noticed that sometimes works is raising the price much higher than you think it will actually sell. This has worked a handful of times that I raise a listing’s price by 25-40%, and within a day it has sold. Sometimes when your listings are priced very low, buyers think there’s something wrong with the item, and it becomes less desirable, whereas if it’s priced high, intrigue is generated, and it becomes more desirable. Again, this doesn’t always work, but if you have a great item that isn’t selling, it’s worth a try.

Share other sellers’ listings

If you want to get more eyes on your closet, “befriend” other sellers. When you share someone else’s listing, often they’ll return the favor and share yours. It’s a quick way to get new people to see your listings.

Be responsive

If someone leaves a comment on your item, respond as soon as you can. Even if they don’t purchase the item, chances are someone else scrolling through might have the same question and appreciate the additional information.

Be patient

Finally, you need to be patient. This is often overlooked in a side hustle, but it’s arguably the most important. You need to give yourself time to build up a following on Poshmark before the sales start rolling in. Especially in the world of Poshmark, post sale you still need to ship the item, and then the buyer needs to accept the item after they receive it. Depending on how quickly you ship the item, you might not see the profit from that sale for over a week.

Create a good foundation (aka closet), take good photos, share your listings, and WAIT. Be smart with your listings, and be a good seller. At the end of the day, if you’ve put in the work upfront, the sales will come in, and you can absolutely make money on Poshmark.

Are you selling on Poshmark and have found success other ways? Let me know in the comments!