Clean Out Your Closet!
I adore fashion and I always have. My two main closets are jam-packed, overflowing with ball gowns, business attire dresses, and cocktail dresses from years of galas and business events. The amount of red and satin busting out of my closets could be seen as borderline ridiculous. Yes, my 13th book is titled Ball Gowns to Yoga Pants: Entrepreneurial Secrets for Creating Your Dream Business and Brand. However, let’s be honest … I (like many of us) have been living in my yoga pants much more lately! My gowns and dresses should be worn by others who will appreciate them.
Just think about it … Don’t you have many items in your closet that have been just sitting there which could bring others joy?
Extra Cash in Your Bank Account
Donating to great clothing nonprofits such as Dress for Success or Treasure House Fashions is pretty typical for me. However, I recently found myself at a pivotal transition time in my life, and I desired a little more cash flow. I bet you are reading this right now, and thinking that you too could use a little more abundance and a more organized closet!
Run a Small Business Solo or With Your Family from Your Phone from Home
I went through and determined which pieces that I no longer needed in my life that were still in pretty pristine condition. Then, since I am a business-minded woman with a teen son who has a knack for photography, I recruited him. I explained to Jacob, “Yes, you will get a commission. For each dress that I sell that you took the photographs for, I will give you a small percentage of what my profit is for the sale.” I was able to help teach my son the basics of business with a tangible reward of money for something that he is saving up to purchase.
What were our steps to get the Poshmark store started? I sat my 13-year-old son down with the Poshmark® app. I showed him how I found the price that a person would 
typically pay for the item for sale at its original retail price online. We determined what price I would fairly resell the dress for. Then we used the online calculator to determine taxes, Poshmark’s percentage, shipping, and then the profit. Of course, Jacob then had to calculate the percentage to determine his commission.
Then came Jacob’s work as he snapped multiple angles and details of the dresses in good lightin. We uploaded the images to an app called Photo Room in “Batches” to get the collections of pictures to have nice backgrounds and to crop them for the image squares on Poshmark®.
The images were then uploaded. The “Listing Details” for each item including the description, size, brand, and color were added. Plus, I wrote any specifics that the buyer may need to know such as it if the dress is “NWT”, (which stands for an item that is new with tags that has never been worn) or if the was a small imperfection.
I set up “My Closet” and then “Shared” my clothes with “My Followers” online. After a few tutorials and a little trial and error, I was up and running. I got my first order the next day, used a free USPS Priority Mail box, and the Poshmark-generated the shipping label. I shipped it out wrapped nicely inside the box and it was received within three days by the happy customer. I like how customers can write a “Love Note” to say that it arrived and what they liked about their purchase.
Share Your Common Interests with a Like-Minded Community
I quickly learned that shoppers and sellers on these apps communicate differently than on social media channels such as Facebook or Instagram. However, there are absolutely different niches in the Poshmark community such as the vintage clothing space. There are Posh Parties to attend online. By “Sharing” others collections and your own will raise your status on the app and get your store and what you are selling noticed. Like other social media channels there are “Followers” who can see your online closet and those people 
who you are “Following”. As most many online sites, there are ways to “Like” an item that you think is great and leave comments. You as the seller can do special “Offers” for those who leave a heart next to an item that they like, which can help you to sell your wares. Its gamified to let you know when you are doing well with your store (for example, I have earned “Top-Rated Seller” and “Posh Mentor” badges) due to my activity on the app. Once you start to find others with similar interests, you can support each other’s stores and your sales can grow.
You Can Start Today with Little to No Capital
As a business owner, I know first-hand how daunting financially it can be to start up a company. There are so many things to consider from the building to employees. If you do a resale shop online and use your own closet to begin the little online store, there is so little overhead. With time you may want cute little stickers that say, “Thank you for your order”, postcards to leave note for your customer, or cute packaging; but, when you start doesn’t have to be fancy.
It all begins with going and checking out the shops. I would be thrilled to see you browse/share from my online closet and I would like to support yours as well if you decide this is something that you feel would add value to your life.
Join me on Poshmark—my favorite app to buy & sell fashion and more. You can save up to 70% off of top brands! For a limited time, use my code SHELLIEHIPSKY to save $10: https://posh.mk/Vcy5wFZdMmb
