How To Sell Clothes Online In 2024 (2024)

Understanding the best places to sell clothes online is an important step in turning your wardrobe surplus into cash. Below, we share what we believe are the most cost-effective online marketplaces, each catering to different styles and audiences.

Today’s online clothing market

According to the latest figures from Statista, more than a quarter (26.5%) of all clothing purchases among UK consumers are now carried out online. And the revenue generated by fashion e-commerce is projected to grow by 4.6% annually.

According to the same data, Amazon ranks as the leading platform for purchasing clothing items, with UK-favourites such as Marks and Spencer, Next and ASOS also among consumers’ popular retailers. A separate survey conducted by Royal Mail found that most UK consumers shopped for fashion ‘two or three times’ within any three-month period.

These statistics highlight that, if you’re looking to sell clothes online and you can get it right, there is a customer base that is both present and expanding.

How to start a business selling clothes online

However, to sell clothes online and actually make a profit takes planning and effort. It’s not just about having a top-notch collection of clothes to sell; it’s about understanding the market, identifying your niche and choosing the right platform for your business. This applies whether you’re just offloading used clothes from your own wardrobe or starting your own e-commerce empire.

Ideation and concept development

Start by brainstorming the type of clothing you want to sell. Are you looking at vintage, designer, sports or everyday casuals? Or are you planning to upcycle pre-loved clothes you will source cheap and improve? And if so, is this something you can scale? Understanding your product range is the first step in defining your business.

Conduct market research

Research is everything. Look into current fashion trends, potential customer needs and what competitors are doing. Use platforms like Google Trends to help you figure out what specific items people are searching for and check trending searches on social media. This step helps you understand the demand and positioning of your products in the market.

Choose the right platform

Decide whether to build your website or use existing marketplaces such as eBay or Amazon. Consider factors such as audience reach, cost and the level of control you want over your online store. If you use your own website, you’ll face a few more barriers without an already-established audience, but you’ll retain greater control.

Set up your online store

If you choose to build your website, focus on the design, user experience and the ease of navigation. For marketplaces, learn about their selling policies, fees and how to optimise your listings for better visibility. Will you take part in marketplace ads? For example, Etsy allows sellers to create sponsored listings, which can help bring you an audience if you have few sales.

Marketing and customer engagement

Develop a marketing strategy that includes social media, email campaigns and possibly collaborations with social media influencers. If you’re listing your clothes on TikTok Shop, for example, you can enrol affiliates who can create videos and do TikTok Lives, tag your product, and earn a small commission for each sale they send your way. Either way, it’s important to engage with your customers through these channels to build a loyal customer base.

Manage inventory and logistics

Organise your inventory and decide on your shipping and return policies. Will you dropship, where the manufacturer handles logistics? Or will you maintain an inventory at your home, office or garage?

If you’re selling on a site such as TikTok Shop, you’re required to have items shipped within three days. If this isn’t something you can reasonably do, you risk your shop getting shut down because TikTok will ding you one point per delayed shipment. Too many, and your store will be closed, and you’ll likely lose out on any accumulated money not yet paid out.

Best places to sell clothes online

Selling clothes online is a popular way to declutter wardrobes and earn some extra cash. It can also be a great way to launch a business, whether you’re dropshipping or making the clothing yourself. Various e-commerce platforms cater to different needs and preferences, offering unique features and benefits. Here’s a breakdown of some prominent options:

Vinted

Vinted offers a simple platform for selling used clothes. It’s soared in popularity in recent years and now has more than 16 million users in the UK alone.

Part of its popularity is its ease of use and the fact there are no selling fees (although fees apply to ‘spotlight’ your item and also when you reach a given selling limit). The buyer pays for the shipping costs as well as a ‘buyer protection’ fee of between 3% and 8% of the agreed purchase price plus a fixed charge of between 30p and 80p.

Selling on Vinted takes place exclusively through the Vinted app. Once you’ve uploaded your items and found a buyer, you’ll need to box it up, print the prepaid shipping label and take it to a Post Office or drop-off point within five days. When the buyer has confirmed they are happy, you’ll be paid.

Vinted is particularly suitable for those looking to sell gently used everyday clothing.

eBay

As one of the most established consumer-to-consumer (C2C) online marketplaces, eBay allows sellers to reach a vast audience. However, it’s not just consumers selling on eBay. People have made entire businesses using the platform.

It offers flexibility in how you sell; either by auction-style listings or fixed-price formats and is suitable for both casual sellers and those with more unique or high-end clothing items.

The key advantage of eBay is its extensive reach and the ability to set your prices. However, it requires more effort from the seller in terms of listing, shipping and customer interaction.

Depop

While Depop caters to a younger, trendier audience with a focus on unique and vintage clothing, it still has wide reach with 35 million registered users globally.

Depop operates much like a social media platform where sellers can create a following and interact with potential buyers. This means it’s ideal for sellers with an eye for fashion trends who are comfortable with social media marketing.

You can list up to eight photos (and have the option for uploading a video) before setting your own prices for your listing.

Shopify

For those looking to establish their own brand or online store, Shopify is one of the best e-commerce platforms, and not just because it’s used by millions of brands across 175 countries. It offers customisation, branding options and complete control over pricing and inventory.

While Shopify requires more initial setup and a monthly fee, it’s an excellent choice for serious sellers who want to build a business and have complete autonomy over their sales process.

While Shopify offers great autonomy and customisation for sellers, some customers express hesitation due to its relatively hands-off approach in dealing with fraudulent sellers; instances of buyers receiving no communication or products from a store, with minimal intervention from Shopify even after complaints, are notable concerns shared by many in online forums.

Etsy

Etsy is known for handmade and vintage items, and it’s a great platform for selling unique or artisanal clothing. It’s especially suitable for sellers with a niche product, such as handmade garments or vintage finds. Etsy’s audience appreciates the craftsmanship and uniqueness, providing a supportive environment for specialised sellers. However, it may not be the best choice for more everyday clothing items.

Bottom line

Whichever platform you choose to sell your clothing stock on, success hinges on matching your wardrobe to the right stage. It’s about more than just unloading clothes; it’s about finding the right eyes to appreciate the stories woven into your garments.