If there’s one fashion trend that consistently keeps coming back into style; it’s vintage. People love the nostalgia and elegance typically associated with clothes of the past, and entire clothing companies like Modcloth are trying to capitalize off the trend with vintage reproductions and inspired clothes. If you have vintage clothes in your home that are still in good shape, you can easily jump on the bandwagon and make a buck or two by selling them through a variety of outlets. Not sure where to get the best deal for your items? Check out these excellent resources for selling vintage clothes.
Buffalo Exchange
Buffalo Exchange is a nation-wide chain of thrift shops that specializes in vintage clothing. If you’re looking to make some quick cash off of your 50’s party dresses or 80’s blazers, Buffalo Exchange is definitely the place to do so. If you have a Buffalo Exchange in your area, give them a call to see what kind of items they are currently looking to purchase. They’re inventory is seasonal, so it’s best to sell items relevant to the current season (coats in the winter, miniskirts in the spring or summer). Simply take your items to the purchase counter, give them some time to sort through and choose the items they wish to purchase and then decide if you want your payment in the form of cash or store credit. It is important to note that you will not make as much selling at Buffalo Exchange as you might through other options, since they keep a large percentage of the profit, but few other resources are as quick and easy for selling vintage as their shops.
Etsy
Etsy is an online marketplace for vintage and handmade items, and is perhaps one of the greatest places to sell vintage clothing. You can open your own shop with a custom virtual storefront and then sell your items at a price chosen by you. You choose the shipping rate and simply wait for your item to be purchased. Etsy has a variety of unique search functions within the site, making it easy for customers to find your wares. If you feel comfortable with appraising the value of your vintage goods and want to try to sell them for a set price, Etsy is the best place to do so online.
eBay
eBay is an online auction house where sellers can choose a starting bid and auction length. The seller then just waits for customers to bid on the item. On the one hand, eBay can be great for selling vintage because there is no limit to how high customers might bid. On the other, you may not get as much money as you had hoped for through eBay if only a few customers bid and the price does not raise high above the starting price. In recent years, however, eBay has added a “Buy It Now” function where sellers can choose an exact price and sell the item to the first person who agrees to purchase. The seller can charge the customer for shipping, and eBay keeps only a small cut of the final sale price.
Craigslist
Craigslist is an online classified site that allows sellers to post items they are interested in selling to people in their area. Customers can then search the listings and arrange pickup or delivery with the seller. There is an entire board on Craigslist specifically for clothing, making it easy for customers to find your vintage boots and blouses should you post them to the site. The biggest benefit of Craigslist is you don’t have to deal with shipping and can meet in person with the buyer.
Antique Malls
Antique malls can be an excellent place to display and sell vintage clothes, especially for clothes older than 1975. You can rent a booth at your local antique mall, hang and arrange the clothes and then wait for the antique mall to notify you of a sale. The mall will typically keep a portion of the sale, but selling at a mall takes away most of the work for you after the clothes have been put on display.
