How to Start Selling and Making Money on Poshmark

You’ve been hearing an awful lot about Poshmark… maybe you’ve even shopped on the app before. But now you’re ready to sell, YAY!! I love selling online. I have been selling on every platform out there full-time for about six years now. And Poshmark is definitely one selling platform that you have to know how to work. Have you read about how people start buying and reselling and quit their job to resell full-time?? Well, if that’s your dream (or if you just want a couple of extra hundred a month- that’s okay too) you’ve come to the right place. Here you will find how to start selling on Poshmark and how to become successful at it in your first month.

Here is the complete guide to start selling on Poshmark. (and start making money)

So to begin there are 5 steps to start listing on Poshmark.

1. First, start off by downloading the app or go to the website. Okay, that was simple. (Because you most likely have it if you’re reading this.)
2. Next is to create an account. Choose a username. I have the same username throughout every platform that way I only need one business card.
3. Add photo. The background image is just for cuteness. (Background image size: 320px x 160 px) And the profile picture can be of your logo or your face. (Profile image size: 170px x 170px)
4. Add bio. This is just a tiny paragraph that tells a little something about you.
5. List an item. This is where it gets fun! It’s super easy to sell on Poshmark. Just add your title, description, item specifics, original price, and asking price.

Taking pictures

Good pictures are what makes your items sell. Try to find natural light. I have found that about 7-10 am in my eBay room provides the best lighting for pictures. Poshmark has an option to filter your pictures. Sometimes I like to filter the first picture if it makes it look better, just make sure it doesn’t change the color of the item. If you take your pictures before you list, make sure you use the square option in your camera. Make sure you take pictures of every angle possible. You get 16 images. 16!! Use them. The more you take now the less buyers will message you asking for extra information.

Do you need a mannequin?

So the answer is no. You don’t need a mannequin. If you are first starting out and you don’t want to invest very much money in your Poshmark business, take pictures with a cute flat lay. Use a fluffy white rug on a wood floor. I use a mannequin so I can show the buyer what the size is and what it looks like on. At one time I had three different mannequins… no. That was so unnecessary. I recommend just buying a white mannequin or “dress form”.

Do you need a backdrop?

Yes. (Unless you just decided to stick with the white fluffy rug) I recommend a white or wood-look background. They are pretty inexpensive on Amazon. I am super happy with mine. I bought a white cloth one and I’ve had it for about 4 years now. I might try a vinyl one next so it would be easier to sweep. (I’ll let you know how the vinyl one goes… I might just end up getting the one I know is good and lasts a long time with much use!!) It’s popular right now to get the wood backdrops. You can decide which you like better but I know I love the white because with no filter it gives off a perfect light gray that I can even use with white shirts!

Add description

I have a pre-written description that I keep in the notes of my iPad. I include the title, brand, size, measurement, and any flaws. Make sure you add if they are any flaws. Buyers want to know now rather than having to ask you for a return.

Always add measurements! Buyers will ask you for measurements if you don’t add them.

I recommend making a sample description. Save it in your notes on your iPad, phone, or computer. Then when you list something, just copy and paste it to the description. Then change and add information as needed. My template is ready to where I only need to add the brand name, size, measurements, material, and any additional information.

Adding the original price

This is just something Poshmark does. There is a required “original price” area. You can look up the brands you aren’t sure about, but most of the time I just guess. When you look up the item you’re selling to see how much it is selling for, you can see how much other sellers are putting their original price as. You can also go to the website of the brand and see how much the shirts are going for.

Fees

So. Poshmark is the worst about final value fees of all platforms. They charge 20% of what it sells for. That’s double what eBay and Mercari charges. BUT, it’s free to list on Poshmark. And right now I pay $60 a month for my eBay store + 10% eBay final value fee + 3% transaction fee. If you were to list on eBay without a store, it costs $0.35 a listing. Sounds cheap but it adds up. So depending on how much you list, 20% Poshmark fees might add up to be close to what eBay charges including insertion fees.

Be active

When I first started Poshmark, I only had three items listed and I never opened the app. But one day one Victoria’s Secret jacket sold for $65! I had no idea what Poshmark was about. That sale made me want to look into it more. The more I listed, the more I figured out you have to be sharing your items to your followers daily. (And if you can share it to a party even better!)

At first, I was following everyone and sharing people’s items… no. None of that matters. Just share your own. When you share someone else’s item, not every many people see it so it’s most likely not worth your time. But sharing your own items is very important. Every time you share your listing it gets updated. Not only do buyers like to see recent items but every time you share it your listing goes to the top of the page on your follower’s home page and when someone is searching for that brand.

How to share:

There is a little button on your items that have two arrows. Click that and you will see that you can share you your followers or individual people.

Joining parties

Parties happen several times throughout the day. You don’t have to “join” them but they can be great to get your items out there and seeing other sellers items. Parties go by category or theme and you can only share such items to them.

For example “Best in Makeup Party” will only allow sellers to share makeup to the party. No shirts, shoes, pants, etc. allowed.

Shipping your item

You need a little thank you card with every purchase. Print them out at home or order from Vistaprint. (Click here to get $20 off $40 anything from Vistaprint.com!) I like to write a personalized note on the back of my cards such as “Thank you”.

When an item sells, I always wrap it in tissue paper and add my card. Buyers don’t like when they get a box or package in the mail with their new item stuffed in there with no paperwork of where they bought it. Package it nicely and add a card so they remember to leave feedback and shop again!

Packaging it nicely means a lot to the buyer- I always receive feedback that says something about how they loved my packaging!

You can order free boxes from usps.com to ship out Priority Mail (1lb+), or you can buy cute poly mailers from Amazon. (There are SO many cute ones!!)

When you go to print your shipping label, first weigh it. If it is over 5lbs you need to buy an “upgraded shipping label”.

You can schedule a pick up on usps.com, or drop it off at the post office. It is important to ship out your items the next (if not the same) day that the buyer bought it. This will make sure the buyer is happy!

How can you increase your sales on Poshmark?

Here are a few tips to boost your sales on Poshmark:

• Use great lighting when taking pictures! Buyers want to clearly see the item.
• Make sure your covershot photo catches buyer’s attention.
• Carefully review your item while listing and include additional photos showing any wear or stains.
• Write a thorough description for your listing by including the item’s condition, color, size, material, measurements, and any wear or damage.
• Share your listing with followers or friends on Poshmark or other social media.
• Join Posh Parties and share listings in your closet related to the party theme.

Poshmark encouragement

Don’t give up. Maybe your items aren’t selling. Or sometimes you will get upset because an angry buyer wants to return an item. Or you may not make as much as you wanted on an item that sold. The more you sell, the more you figure out what works for you. 

Just a few tips:

• Don’t invest too much on each item, because you make money at the buy.
• List items just a little more than what they have been selling for. Then don’t be afraid to send out offers.
• Keep your inventory organized as you list. This is key to reselling. Check it out: How to Organize your eBay Inventory
• Ship items that sell during the day every night. Don’t put it off until the morning. Then set up a pick up on usps.com so you don’t have to leave your house. Check it out: How to Ship Items on eBay
• Retake your pictures and change up your title if your items are not selling. Check it out: How to Take Good Pictures

One thing to remember: if you don’t list, you don’t last. The more you list = the more you sell = the more you make. So don’t give up! Keep listing because reselling works.

Leave your Poshmark $10 promo code in the comments for other to use!! (You get $10 and they person who uses it gets $10!!)

Have you started selling on Poshmark yet? What do you love about Poshmark? Do you love another selling platform better? Do you have any pro tips to share? Comment below!