How I Made $800 In Two Weeks Using Carousell

I started selling my stuff online through Carousell to help pay my rent. In just two short weeks, I was up $800 and a lot less stressed financially.
How I Made $800 In Two Weeks Using Carousell

The reality of living in Toronto is that sometimes you aren’t going to make rent. The city is expensive and I myself was faced with that harsh truth recently.

Most 20-30 somethings residing in Toronto live paycheque to paycheque just to be able to enjoy some of the benefits the city has to offer – and I’m one of them. But I usually budget myself well enough that I don’t cringe with the passing of the first of each month. However, somewhere along the way I had spread myself too thin one month and realized I wasn’t going to make my rent. Not by much, but I was still going to come up short. So I needed to find a way to make some extra cash and fast.

That’s when I started selling my stuff online through Carousell. From old Kate Spade totes to Michael Kors bags, to Tiffany jewelry and designer shoes, I started selling my preloved clothing and accessories. And in just two short weeks, I was up $800 and a lot less stressed financially.

For those who don’t know, Carousell is a mobile classifieds app that makes selling your preloved goods easy. Carousell originally started in Singapore but has now spread to over 19 cities around the world, including Toronto. With over 57 million listings and counting, Carousell has quickly become one of the world’s largest and fastest growing marketplaces.

In today’s fashion industry, we are routinely pushed towards a culture of consumerism and “fast fashion.” We often buy things that we don’t need on impulse and very quickly find that there are clothes, jewelry, electronics and other items we no longer use or need. By buying pre-loved products, we engage in a more responsible and sustainable way of consumption. When we sell used items, we prolong the lifespan of said items while reducing waste and pollution.

Consider Carousell a mobile flea market. All you have to do it take a picture of what you wish to sell, post it, add a description and price-tag and then wait for offers. But while it all seems very simple to execute, there are tricks and strategies you can use to become a top seller. Here are a few tips I learned along the way to make $800 on Carousell in just two short weeks.

Know what the profitable items are

According to Carousell co-founder Marcus Tan, the most profitable items are fashion, beauty products and electronics. But the great thing about Carousell is that it caters to a wide variety of buyers with a variety of different interests. From die-hard Lego fans to comic book collectors to sneakerheads to purse addicts and more, there’s a good chance someone somewhere wants your used stuff.

Spend time taking good photos

The photos are the most important part of your Carousell ad. If the product doesn’t look good in the picture, I guarantee buyers aren’t going to make offers on it. If you take the time to make your photos aesthetically pleasing, buyers will take note of them while browsing and you’ll see your ads get more traffic.

Get creative with product names

Aesthetics aside, you can also make your post stand out with a clever name and description. Buyers are looking for information on whether or not to buy, so be cheeky and give them a reason to. Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes and think about what would make you want to buy your product.

Write exact details of your products

If you want to make as much money as you can as quickly as possible, it’s important to provide details on the items you’re selling. This includes product brand, item condition, defects, sizing and any other relevant information. In providing lots of detail, you’ll avoid having to answer multiple inquiries and see offers come in much faster.

Price your products well

Consider reviewing your prices if you aren’t getting any offers and remember to be reasonable. These are preloved goods so people aren’t going to pay retail value for them. It’s less about gaining a profit and more so about getting rid of the stuff you don’t need or use anymore. As long as I get the item out of my apartment and receive a decent price for it, I’m happy – and so is the buyer.

Be flexible with meet up times and places

If you can only meet up at one spot at one time on one day each week, you probably won’t have the best luck selling. Give buyers a few options for potential meet ups so you can find a time and place that works well for both parties. Chances are the buyer wants your item as badly as you want to sell it, so try within reason to be accommodating.

Take part in the Carousell campaigns

Carousell hosts a variety of campaigns each month including “Newest Items,” “Highest Rated Sellers,” “Fall Essentials” and “11.11” (items for $11 and under.) These campaigns usually see a huge surge in user activity so be sure to take part in them. During these periods, sellers have the opportunity to move many more items while buyers get to score some great deals.

What do you think about Carousell? Let us know in the comments!

Featured image: Instagram/@carousell.ca

Posts you might be interested in:

How I Got My Job: Jillian Vieira, Fashion Editor at The Kit
Does the Rise of Rental Clothing Mean the End of Shopping?
How I Afforded a Chanel Bag On A Budget
How I Got My Job: Jo Jin, Freelance Wardrobe, Prop & Off-Figure Stylist
How I Got My Job: Todd Cunningham, Marketing Director at Oliberté