7 best apps to start selling clothes online

Selling second-hand clothes soars in popularity

The second-hand market has grown in popularity in recent years as consumers increasingly look to shop sustainably. This trend was accelerated during the coronavirus pandemic, with eBay reporting a 30 per cent rise in sales of second-hand goods between March and June 2020.

Top clothes selling apps

If you’re looking to make a side hustle out of selling clothes online, whether that’s second-hand, vintage, or your own designs – here’s seven of the best apps and websites you can try.

1. Depop

Buying and selling clothes on Depop is a fast-moving trend for Gen Z. The second-hand fashion app was recently bought by Etsy for 1.6bn dollars and boasts over 30 million users – 90 per cent of whom are under the age of 26.

The app is free to use and is designed to feel a lot like Instagram. You upload pictures with a description and buyers can curate their homepage by liking pictures. It has a personal feel as sellers model their own clothes and accessories.

Sellers are charged a 10 per cent fee from Depop, plus 2.9 per cent + 30p transaction fee.

For more tips, read our guide to selling on Depop.

2. eBay

When it comes to selling clothes on eBay, you’ll be entering a marketplace with more than 24 million active buyers in the UK.

As a professional seller, you have to pay an ‘insertion fee’ to list an item. This is normally 35p. Then when an item sells, you have to pay 10 per cent of the final sale price, including postage. There’s also a transaction fee if the buyer uses PayPal, which usually takes 2.9 per cent of the total sale price, plus 30p per transaction.

3. Instagram

Selling clothes on Instagram is a great choice if you’re an established brand or have a wide range of products to sell. You need to create a shop and then catalogue your products, either using Facebook or another commerce site like Shopify or Big Commerce.

It’s free to use the app as a seller, but you’ll need a good following to reach customers. The selling fee is five per cent per shipment, or a flat fee of USD 0.40 for shipments of USD 8.00 or less. You might also want to pay to promote your posts.

For more, read our guide on how to create your own shop on Instagram.

4. Etsy

Thinking of selling handmade clothes on Etsy? While it was traditionally a marketplace for everything from art, craft, and homemade candle businesses, now you can use the website to sell second-hand or homemade clothing too.

You’ll need to create your own creative shop to list your items. Charges start with a 15p listing fee, a five per cent transaction fee, and a four per cent plus 20p payment processing fee.

For more tips, read our guide on how to sell on Etsy.

5. Vinted

Similar to Depop, Vinted is simple and free to use if you’re looking to sell men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing. You just need to upload a photo of your clothing, describe it, and your listing is live.

It says there are no selling fees (these are added to the price for the buyer) and there are millions of active users buying, selling, and even swapping clothes.

6. Asos Marketplace

More established sellers might choose to set up a boutique on Asos Marketplace for anything from vintage and 90s clothing to your own designs.

It operates a subscription model, so you’ll need to fork out £20 a month to become a seller, but you’ll have unlimited listings and access to an account manager. It’s free to list but Asos takes 20 per cent commission on every sale. It’s worth bearing in mind that sellers need to list a minimum of five items and follow strict photography guidelines. You also need a Business PayPal account.

7. Hardly Ever Worn It

Hardly Ever Worn It (HEWI) is another place where you can buy or sell new and used clothing. It’s designed for luxury fashion so it’s a great option if you’re planning on selling designer clothes.

There’s no charge for registration and listing but you’ll be charged 18 per cent of the final sale price (plus VAT on the commission). If you’re already an established business then you might be able to operate as a professional seller with your own boutique, however this is only available by invitation. You can find out more by reading HEWI’s FAQs.

Consider getting insurance

Even if you’re just starting small and selling clothing from your bedroom, it’s important to protect your business venture from the start. Public liability insurance is designed to protect you if someone is injured or their property is damaged as a result of one of your products. You could also consider stock cover if you’ll be storing a large amount of stock.

Useful guides for small businesses

• How to register as self-employed
• How to start an online shop
• How to start a clothing business: a nine-step plan

Are you thinking of selling clothing online? Let us know in the comments below.