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
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If you’re looking to buy or sell used clothing, you’re in luck because the secondhand market is booming. With traditional retail stores dropping like flies, it’s opened up a chance for the resale market to grow, and people have been noticing.
There’s a whole slew of resale websites that have popped up in the last few years, some of which like Depop, are even opening up their own brick and mortar stores. Cash in and save – take a look at the best resale websites and apps to shop secondhand right now.
What originally started as a social network where reader’s of PIG Magazine could buy and sell things, quickly caught on and grew into a global selling space. Not only is it a great place to score second hand, but it’s also a marketplace for designers and artists.
The RealReal is hands down the best online place to sell or buy luxury items. They carry all the big name designers and every item has been authenticated before it’s put up for sale. While it works on a membership basis, meaning you need an account to shop or consign, it’s totally worth it!
thredUp might be the world’s largest online thrift store with over 30,000 different brands like J.Crew, Anthropologie, Kate Spade, and more for women, kids, and teens. Better yet, the discounts get as deep as 90% off, so it’s definitely the right place to look if you’re searching for a bargain.
Poshmark is another massive online marketplace for buying and selling used clothing, including big named designers like Gucci and Burberry. But, what’s most enticing about the site is the fact that they offer prepaid shipping labels. *Disclaimer: be wary of fakes
Carousell is free to join and boasts ease, claiming it only takes 30 seconds to post an item. Simply snap a photo and upload to the app to start selling. Being one of the OG’s when it comes to resale sites, we put the app to the test and made $800 in two weeks.
While Facebook is privy to all the happenings in the online community, it only makes sense that they would follow suit with their own Marketplace. Different than your typical resale groups like Shop My Closet, for example, you don’t need to be added or join; you can simply post something and have it advertised for free to a massive audience.
When it comes to selling and buying luxury brands, Tradesy is right up there with Poshmark. The community boasts up to 70% off designer and even offers $25 off your first purchase. Better yet, they provide prepaid shipping labels to sellers, as well.
If you know any other resale websites, make sure to share with us in the comment section.
Featured image: Instagram/ @carousell.ca
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For almost a decade, popular online thrift store ThredUp has had a very successful run in the U.S. and is now setting its sight on Canada.
ThredUp believes that there are many Canadians who want to be stylish and save money at the same time. This is practically StyleDemocracy’s mantra, so you better believe we’re on board with this concept.
The only downside is that industry insiders believe that the market is already too congested as there are fast fashion retailers and companies like StyleDemocracy for ThredUp to compete with.
ThredUp has been successful so far. They are on track to sell more than 10 million items a year, and have done so by focusing on women and children’s clothing and offering it at up to 80% off retail.
But with companies like Peacock Parade and Beyond the Rack unable to capture Canadians attention with thrift style products, we wonder if ThredUp will be able to mirror its American success in Canada.
No news yet as to when the online thrift store will officially launch in Canada, but we’ll be sure to keep you in the loop.