Demystifying Re-selling: Tips for starting a Depop or Vinted storefront

Daisy Culleton lifts the lid on re-selling by sharing her tips and tricks for starting a successful Depop or Vinted storefront.

Do you dream of sifting through mountains of vintage clothing? Do you get a little rush of euphoria every time you find the perfect piece in the charity shops? Do you aspire to be part of a community that’s helping drive forward the sustainable fashion revolution? Or do you just fancy getting rid of the pile of unwanted clothes that’s been sitting in the corner of your wardrobe begging to be worn? If any of these sound like you, then perhaps you should consider creating a storefront on a second-hand selling platform such as Depop or Vinted.

Navigating a new app can often feel a little daunting so I’ve compiled a list of tips to make your potential venture into the digital world of Depop and Vinted that little bit easier. But before I reveal all my tricks, let’s first consider which particular platform may be best suited to your unique re-selling needs.

Vinted versus Depop: Which one should you pick?

At first glance, Depop and Vinted appear to ‘offer the exact same services, connecting second-hand clothing sellers with buyers’. However, structurally and aesthetically, both applications implement a slightly different approach to re-selling.

Depop is built with businesses in mind, and as a result, its algorithm is rather competitive. To make it to the top of Depop’s algorithm you will need to include thorough descriptions and high-quality photographs. Therefore, if you’re looking to establish a storefront selling an organized collection of vintage garments then Depop might just be the ideal space for you.

Vinted on the other hand offers a more transactional experience, as it prides itself on the ease and accessibility with which buyers can purchase items. As a result, Vinted’s algorithm does not favour a particular style of re-selling, for this reason, Vinted is best suited to those looking to re-sell casually, as opposed to those looking to operate a small business on the app.

If all this chat of algorithms has got you a little confused, then perhaps visualise Vinted as your local charity shop. Much like a charity shop, you might have to scavenge through various bric-a-brac but eventually, you will find the perfect item for a great price. Meanwhile, Depop resembles a funky curated vintage shop. You might have to invest a little bit more of your money into the piece, but you can be sure that you will want to show off your latest trendy purchase to everyone.

A photo of a charity shop that is full of second-hand clothing. Image Credits: Prudence Earl on Unsplash.

Just remember whatever app you choose to create your storefront, whether it be Vinted, Depop or even eBay, you are helping the Earth by promoting conscious fashion consumption. With the world estimated to consume about ‘80 billion new pieces of clothing every year’, second-hand selling apps have never been as important as they are now. In fact, according to WRAP, the creator of the Clothing Longevity Protocol which helps businesses produce longer-lasting clothing, extending the life of clothes by just 9 months, ‘would reduce carbon, water and waste footprints by 20-30% each’.

Tips for a successful Vinted or Depop:

So now we have explored what both apps have to offer, here are the tips I promised:

Packaging: Remember to save any packaging materials from deliveries you receive in the post, such as cardboard boxes, poly mailers and bubble wrap. Re-using these materials will benefit you financially as it will prevent you from having to purchase any new packaging materials when a sale is completed. Additionally, by reusing packaging material you’re helping the environment by expanding the lifespan of both packaging and clothing that is already in circulation. Vinted reported that ‘by reusing packaging originally intended for single-use, Vinted sellers have prevented more than 17 kilotonnes of CO2e’. However, if you do find yourself needing to purchase brand-new packaging materials, then I strongly encourage you to buy from companies that specialise in creating eco-friendly and biodegradable packaging such as Green Planet Packaging.

An example of the amount of cardboard waste that is generated through single-use packaging. Image Credits: Michael Jin on Unsplash.

Backdrop: Even if you’re just looking to free up some space in your wardrobe, it can be beneficial to consider photographing your items against a plain white backdrop. A white backdrop is a standard for product photography as it prevents any background clutter from stealing the show. There is no need to buy any tools or props to achieve this look, simply hang your items against a plain wall or surface in your home.

Lighting: Good lighting is also essential, as it will ensure that the colour and condition of the items are accurately represented. You can’t beat natural lighting, however, if you do want to invest in lighting equipment, Facebook Marketplace has plenty of affordable second-hand options.

Sustainability: In recent years both Depop and Vinted have been infiltrated by a sea of re-sellers who source their garments through unethical drop-shopping sites, so it’s important to boast about the role you are playing in the sustainable fashion revolution. You can do this through the item’s description, your bio and perhaps even through your username. It will help make other users aware that you’re selling for the right reasons.

Protest placards promoting sustainable fashion. Image Credits: Cherie Birkner on Unsplash.

Pick a niche: This is particularly important on Depop, as it will help you stand out in what can only be described as a saturated and crowded marketplace. Identifying your profile niche early on will help you scope out your target audience, and in turn, will enable you to build a community of loyal buyers. Your niche may include focusing on a specific era or style of clothing.

Use the app as a buyer: Lastly, if you are still finding yourself a little unsure of how to navigate your chosen app as a seller, then consider using the app first as a buyer. This will give you a great insight into how the app operates and how the transaction process works. What’s more, this will allow you to add a cool piece of second-hand clothing to your very own wardrobe.

About the Author: Daisy Culleton is an American Studies and History graduate from the University of Nottingham. She has a keen interest in both Art and Environmental History.