How to Sell on Poshmark?
One well-known key to a successful online business is creating multiple sales channels. Putting all your eggs in one basket can be risky, particularly in a large marketplace like Amazon or eBay. You need stores on various platforms to tap into new markets and boost brand awareness.
Poshmark is one of the best marketplaces to expand to. It's growing fast, with over 8 million active users, and it introduces new product categories regularly. Many sellers love the app because listing products is easy, and prices are negotiable.
This guide walks you through setting up an account, filling your closet with the right inventory, and growing sales fast on Poshmark. We'll also outline the dos and don'ts for managing your inventory efficiently and maximizing the app's opportunities.
How to Sell on Poshmark: Everything You Need to Know
Here's a step-by-step guide to start selling on Poshmark. It covers account creation, product listing, and shipping. We also provided tips to simplify the process and reduce your potential costs.
Step 1: Create an account.
Download the Poshmark app on any app store. On the homepage, choose how you'd like to sign up. You can continue with Google (which requires choosing an active Gmail address) or sign up with Facebook or email.
If you choose to sign up with email, ensure the email address you enter is the most active. You'll get lots of notifications on this email, including new sales, promo updates, printable labels, and more, so it must be easy to access and one that you check every day.
To get started, enter your name and your email address. Then, click "Continue." On the next page, you'll enter a profile picture, a username, a password, country, and gender.
If another seller introduced you to Poshmark and gave you a referral code, enter it on the "Referral Code" tab to get $10 in Poshmark credit. You can use it to buy anything you want on the platform. Then, click "Create."
Tips:
- Before joining Poshmark or any platform, ensure you have a profile picture and payment method ready to avoid delays. If you don't have a profile picture yet, you can add one later, but make sure it's clear and professional to leave a positive impression on your audience.
- Use the same username you have on your other social media and marketplace accounts. You may have followers on other platforms who also want to follow you on Poshmark. Using the same username makes it easier for them to find you.
Your account is already set up, but Poshmark will ask a few questions to get to know you, including your preferred dress or shoe size and the brands you love. This will help them determine what products to show you when shopping on the app.
These are optional, so you can skip them by clicking "Continue." Poshmark will also ask you to connect with your friends on Facebook or other contacts to promote your store more easily. Skip it if you don't want to connect with anyone yet, then click "Done" in the top right corner of your screen.
Important:
When your account is set up, you'll receive many followers and private messages from other Poshmark users. Most of these people are scammers who target new accounts. They'll use all sorts of tactics to lure you outside the app so they can offer you their shady businesses.
Ignore them and focus on messages asking legitimate questions about your business. Make sure all communications and transactions are made on the Poshmark app. Never do business with other sellers or buyers outside the app where Poshmark can't protect you.
Step 2: Choose products to sell.
Poshmark was once a much smaller and more focused marketplace. It used to be only for women's clothes, bags, and shoes. Now, you can sell in many categories, including skincare, hair products, makeup, electronics, furniture, and more.
Important: Poshmark only ships parcels that weigh less than 10 lbs. You can only use Poshmark's shipping labels if your parcel is within the weight limit.
Whether you're a seasoned online seller or a total rookie, it's best to test the waters by selling items that you can source for free. For example, you can start by selling clothes, shoes, or bags that you no longer use but are still in good condition. You can also ask your relatives or neighbors for pre-loved items they're ready to let go and add to your inventory.
One great thing about Poshmark is it specializes in pre-loved items. You can try selling this type of inventory first and expand as your capital grows and your business gets off the ground.
Product research—that's the key. Check out the most popular items on Poshmark, the most active demographics, and how top sellers present inventory. You can learn a lot from navigating the marketplace, visiting individual stores, engaging with sellers and buyers, and comparing listings.
Tip: Start by selling one to two items daily and see how quickly they get sold and what made them sell quickly. Once you understand the process and what buyers like, you can start bumping up your inventory.
Step 3: Source your products.
Once you determine what products sell and what strategies work, it's time to grow your inventory. Arbitrage is the best business model for marketplaces that accept used items. It is the practice of buying products from one place for a low price and selling them on another for a higher price.
Check thrift stores and warehouses for bargains. You can also source your products from Target or Walmart. Many products on sale can be sold for two to three times their original price on Poshmark.
Tip: Before selling used items, ensure they're clean and presentable. You will also have to photograph them for your listing, so you need to prep them properly, particularly the pre-owned ones. If you're selling clothes, you might need to use a steamer to get rid of the creases. If possible, wash any laundry-safe items to remove grime and stains that make them look old.
Step 4: Photograph your products.
A successful product listing on Poshmark takes more than just optimized content. It also requires stunning images. Poshmark allows sellers to upload up to 16 photos and 1 video per listing. This may seem like too many, but you can maximize it by taking pictures from all angles, capturing some close-ups, and including photos of defects.
You must set aside a few hours for the photo shoot and post-processing. Take the photos during the day for the best natural lighting. Pictures taken at night usually appear duller, even after editing. Consider investing in different types of light to create a better environment for the photo shoot.
Tips:
Avoid props or backdrops; they only make your product images look messy. Stick with a white background to make all the details of your products pop. However, backdrops may come in handy if you're taking lifestyle images to capture the tone and emotions you want to evoke.
Remember to shoot a video of your products. Many buyers want to see what they look like live. The video should cover every surface of your products, including the labels, damage, and packaging.
Step 5: List your products.
Log in to your Poshmark account and select "Create Listing." The first thing you'll be asked to do is to upload the photos and the video you've taken. Depending on the order in which your images are saved on your device, you might need to rearrange them on the app by dragging and dropping to place the best ones in front.
Next, add a title. This title cannot be longer than 80 characters, spaces included, so make sure it provides buyers with all the information they need to decide, such as the brand name, the product's distinct features, size, and color.
Elaborate on the title in the description, divulging all the necessary details, such as the product's dimension, condition, material, and more. Then, choose a category and a subcategory. While you may decide not to include a subcategory, it's better to do so to provide buyers with more information. The more details you provide, the fewer questions they have to ask, and the easier Poshmark's algorithm can show your products to the right audience.
You must specify whether you sell single or multiple items per unit. Meanwhile, the size options depend on the product type. Poshmark will also ask if your product has a tag to determine whether it is brand new or used. If you answer "yes," they'll ask if it's a boutique item. This is a special category on the platform that requires a separate application to access.
Then, enter the brand, color, and tag style. You can choose more than one color but not too many, so it's best only to select the most prominent ones. As for style tags, these are terms that best describe your products. They can help buyers find your product listing more easily.
Here comes the most critical section of your listing—pricing. You need to enter the original price (MSRP or what the product costs when brand new) and the listing price. If you can't find the original price and don't want to guess, just enter "0," and it will show as blank on your listing.
Researching the ideal pricing for your product is crucial because it will define how much profit you can make. You can check out how much the same product costs on other platforms and decide on a price from there. However, if you're doing arbitrage, always choose a higher listing price to make a profit.
One way to do this is to search images with Google. Go to your newly uploaded product images, right-click on one of them, and select "Search image with Google." Then, drag your mouse across the image to specify which elements you want to search on Google.
Your goal is to know the precise name of the item. Once you have it, you can search Poshmark for similar products. Of course, you should consider the condition of your item. You shouldn't price it as if it were brand new if it has been used, regardless of how rarely.
Next, decide whether or not to give your buyers a shipping discount. Poshmark will provide you with four options: $5.95, $4.99, free, and no discount. Shipping discounts attract more buyers, but you must retain sufficient profit to offset them. Lastly, tag your item as "for sale" to make it available on the platform.
Step 6: Bump up your inventory.
Poshmark takes a seller's consistency very seriously. They don't want "out of stock" items on their platform. You must be capable of maintaining and growing your closet to secure visibility for your listings. The more inventory you have, the better your chance of getting more traffic.
The usual practice is to list two to three products daily, gradually increasing to five to seven as your store expands. While this might seem overwhelming for beginners, it's standard on Poshmark. Therefore, having enough inventory to list for a month or until you start getting sales before signing up is vital.
Think about it: if you are to choose between two clothing stores—one with barely anything on display and the other brimming with all kinds of apparel—where will you go? The more options you give your buyers, the more likely they'll find what they want.
Step 7: Promote your listings.
There are several ways you can promote your closet. The first and arguably most effective is sharing your listings with your followers on the platform. To do this, log into your app, click your profile in the bottom right corner to open the menu, and look for "My Closet." Click it to show all your inventory.
At the bottom of each inventory, there will be three functions, the rightmost being "Share." Click it and choose "My Followers" at the top portion of your screen. Doing so will advertise your products to your followers and increase your listings' ranking.
This can be tedious if you have dozens or hundreds of listings in your closet. Fortunately, Poshmark allows you to apply filters to your inventory and select multiple items to share at once. This prevents items you don't intend to share, such as those not for sale or with incomplete listing details.
Important: Poshmark doesn't automatically select all items in your inventory. You must scroll down to prompt the system to choose the products beyond your current view.
You can also promote your products outside the platform. For instance, you can share the link to your closet on social media sites or feature it on your Instagram Reels or YouTube videos. Word of mouth is also an effective marketing method, especially if you're trying to reach out to people close to you.
Good news for sellers—Poshmark is beta testing a paid marketing tool called Promoted Closet. This tool allows sellers to promote their listings the same way they promote their posts on Facebook or TikTok. Poshmark will promote their listings for seven days for a fixed rate.
Types of Activities You'll Get in Your Closet
- Full-price sales: This is when buyers purchase your products at the price you set, which is what you would expect on any e-commerce platform. On Poshmark, this isn't the usual way of buying products. Buyers and sellers are allowed to negotiate the price.
- Offers: Buyers can negotiate the price by offering a lower price. Depending on how it affects your profit, you can decline, counter, or accept the offer. If you think the offer is too low, you can make a counteroffer to ensure you'll still hit your minimum target profit.
- Likes: When buyers click the heart button on your items, Poshmark notifies you. This feature is helpful because it identifies potential customers interested in purchasing your items, making it a good idea to send them offers.
Step 8: Pack and ship your items.
All products are shipped with USPS priority mail. This means USPS gives priority mail packaging to Poshmark sellers for free. You can use your own packaging, but taking advantage of this perk is more practical.
To get the free shipping supplies, you can either go to the nearest USPS store and request them or order them online. To order online, go to USPS.com, select "Stamps & Supplies," click "Supplies," check the filter option that says "Free Shipping Supplies, and look for the specific items you need.
Important: Do not choose Priority Mail Express envelopes or boxes, even if they get mixed up with the free shipping supplies. These envelopes aren't for free.
Once your items are packed, it's time for shipping. On Poshmark, shipping costs are $7.97 for any item that weighs no more than 5 lbs, including the packaging. A portion of the price goes to purchasing the shipping label from USPS. You can download this label on your phone or computer and print it on any thermal or inkjet printer.
What happens if your package weighs more than 5 lbs? The shipping setup page offers an option to upgrade your label. A popup will show you the different weights and their corresponding costs.
- 6.0 lbs for $4.50
- 7.0 lbs for $9.00
- 8.0 lbs for $13.50
- 9.0 lbs for $18.00
- 10.0 lbs for $22.00
There are no available labels for parcels heavier than 10 lbs., so consider splitting parcels that weigh above the maximum weight limit. When rounding off the weight, always choose the succeeding, larger number to avoid future charges or a failed shipment.
After packing your items, drop them off at any USPS mailing box or in your mailbox if your parcel will fit in it. If your package is too big, you can schedule a pickup on USPS.com. Select "Quick Tools" beside USPS's logo, and click "Schedule a Pickup." Then, complete the form. Of course, if there's a USPS store near you, you can personally take your parcels to them.
Final Tips
- Get out of the mindset of buying items to resell, waiting for them to sell, and then replenishing your inventory. That's not how it works on social marketplaces like Poshmark. You need to keep adding new inventory even if sales are low.
- To speed up sales, make sure you're selling the correct brand and style. Do extensive market and product research inside and outside Poshmark. Use advanced tools to obtain the most accurate data to inform your product sourcing decision.
- Pay attention to seasonal changes. Apparel is Poshmark's main product category, and it's seasonal. You won't sell anything if you keep listing products in the wrong season.
- Optimizing your titles, descriptions, and tags makes your products easy to find. Use words that the average buyer would prefer using to search for your products. Avoid irrelevant tags.
- Describe your products honestly and in detail. Buyers frown upon vague titles and descriptions. They are not on the app to read between the lines or interpret jargon. Get straight to the point and use simple English.
Grow Your Sales on Poshmark Today!
The secondhand apparel market has been bullish since 2021. Social marketplaces like Poshmark are the perfect place for rising entrepreneurs to grow their clothing business. As its product categories expand, diversifying into new niches will become easier.
Poshmark's flexible landscape enables productive engagement between sellers and buyers, simplifying product sharing and price negotiation. Soon, multi-channel integration will be introduced, further streamlining sales and marketing between your stores. Now is the perfect time to set up your closet.