I somehow made more than $2,000 in just over a year on Poshmark — a popular clothing resale app targeted toward millennial women, for those unacquainted –and thought I would impart my wisdom on to all of you! If you already know how the app works, feel free to skip to the tips and tricks portion. Or, read the whole thing! Whatevs!! 

Getting Started 

1| Pre-order boxes from USPS (they offer free box delivery!) before you start listing. Keep in mind there are restrictions on what types of USPS boxes you can use to ship items once they sell — Priority Mail, flat rate only — so having the correct boxes delivered to you in advance is, in my opinion, the easiest way to handle shipping. I use these for garments and these for shoes/bags. I also like these envelopes because they slip easily in the USPS blue mailboxes. Do yourself a favor and order 10 of each in advance so you’re ready to roll when the green comes in! You can use a normal, unmarked box, however, this limits Poshmark’s ability to track the package, and heightens the risk your item could be, literally, lost in the mail. 

Also, ensure you’ll have access to a printer in order to print shipping labels. 

2| Snap a few photos of the item you’re selling. Ensure the photo is taken in a well-lit environment with a plain — preferably white — backdrop. Model if possible. 

3| After you’ve uploaded pictures of the garment from multiple angles (3-10 pictures are ideal, depending on the product) fill out the listing details. This includes the item category, size, brand, color, and whether it is new with tags (this is subject to verification.) For higher-end items (think J.Crew and up) I also provide a photo of the tag so the buyer knows it’s legit. 

4| Provide a description. This should include details or notes on if it runs small or big, material/pattern/texture, measurements when applicable, and any stains, rips or damages. 

5| Provide the original price and determine your asking price for the item. This does not need to be exact, however, should be a realistic amount. Search the item to get an idea of what other buyers are offering. Remember that Poshmark keeps 20 percent of your total sale.

Your First Sale 

Sales can be made one of two ways — either a user selects ‘Buy Now’ on one of your items for the price it’s listed, or, more commonly, when you accept an offer a potential buyer makes on something in your closet. For the latter, you have 24 hours to either accept an offer from a user or, counteroffer a different amount. Should you choose not to respond to the offer, it will become null after 24 hours, and you will not be able to accept it.

1| Print the shipping label included in the email confirmation. Once an order from your closet has been completed, you will have seven days to ship the item. I recommend shipping earlier rather than later, as your average shipping time is disclosed publicly on your ‘Seller Stats’ tool, and taking a long time to ship can ultimately impact your seller rating. 

2| When packing your item, it’s common — but not necessary! — to include a card and tissue paper. I haven’t noticed this having a huge impact on my sales, but it could, theoretically, encourage repeat buyers. Also, be sure to double and triple tape EVERYTHING so that the item does not fall out of the box. 

3| Drop the package in a USPS mailbox or at a post office within 1-6 days of purchase. After day seven, the buyer will be given the option to cancel the order, and many do. I seriously recommend finding a post office that offers easy drop off for prepaid boxes — it will save you a ton of time! You can also schedule a package pickup if you know you’ll be home during the day. 

4| Check for confirmation. You will receive a confirmation email once the item is checked in with the post office (typically within 24 hours of drop-off) and again when it reaches its destination. From there, the buyer will be given five days to accept and rate the item, or, open a case against it. After five days, the earnings are automatically added to your Poshmark account even if the buyer does not provide a rating. 

Buyers can open a case if they found something to be wrong or unsatisfactory with the item you sent. Should this occur, you’ll have the ability to communicate your side of things with a rep through the app and/or via email. I’ve only had this happen twice — once when an item didn’t fit the buyer and once when an item fell out of the box — and in both instances, Posh allowed me to keep the earnings. That said, it is important to disclose any pre-existing damages, alterations, rips, or stains in the description of your item — this will help reduce buyer dissatisfaction, keep your seller rating high, and save you a lot of hassle in the long run. 

5| Reap your rewards. You can opt to have your earnings transferred to your bank account, or keep them in Poshmark and use them toward a purchase of your own. More on my tips for buying on Poshmark coming soon! 

Tips + Tricks

1| Model dark clothing and jeans. It can be hard to see lines, seams, textures, fit and potential rip/tears on darker garments. 

2| Always provide length measurements for skirts and dresses. Keep a tape measure in your underwear drawer so you know where to find it when you’re listing items. If you’re modeling an item, you will get asked your height by users about a million times, so it helps to provide that information in the description, as well. 

3| Give detailed descriptions of patterns and textures. For example, instead of saying ‘plaid’ use keywords like madras, Blackwatch, gingham, checkered, Herringbone, and houndstooth to attract buyers on the prowl for a specific look.

4| Keep the in-app categorizations vague. The system will prompt you to select sub-categories for products. For example, you can list a dress as a mini, midi, or maxi dress, or, simply file it under ‘dress.’ I actually find the latter is more helpful, as narrowing the category can lessen the number of people who see your product in general. 

5| Name-brand items tend to perform better than boutique and lesser-known items. If you’re selling something from a well-known, high-end brand (think Tory Burch, Lilly Pulitzer, Vineyard Vines) then you’ll want to make sure to mention that in the item title, description and select in when setting up the listing. Conversely, for items from discount brands (think Forever 21, H&M, Boo Hoo), it’s best to leave that out of the description and title, as many buyers will assume they can purchase a new version of the item for a similar price point. For high-end items you purchased from lesser-known brands, taking time to harp on the quality and where you purchased the item will help instill confidence in potential buyers. 

6| Offer a bundle discount. To create a bundle discount, head to ‘My Seller Tools,’ then ‘My Seller Discount.’ From there, you can set item and discount thresholds based on what you think makes the most sense for your closet. FYI: My discount is 15% off for two items or more. 

7| If you are offering a bundle discount, make sure to mention it in descriptions — and model items together! For example, if you’re selling a skirt and wedges, wear them together in the item’s cover photo, and mention the percentage the user will save if they opt to purchase both. 

8| Price items 15% higher than you’d like to receive, and 25% higher than what you’ll accept. The majority of my sales included some sort of offer negotiation.  I calculated the average price paid by the buyer was 20-25% lower than my asking price, so it’s better to aim high. 

9| That said, be mindful of price thresholds. Remember that users can filter based on price, so instead of charging $26 for something, charge $24 so your item won’t be hidden from interested buyers who chose to see items for $25 or less. 

10| Share your items and others’ items often. When a user searches for a product, the app shows items in the order they were last shared, as opposed to when they were listed. So, there’s incentive in continuing to share products even after they are listed. Also, I’ve noticed the algorithm seems to reward activity from sharing the items of other users, too, and I’ve often made sales during periods when I’ve been most active liking, sharing and engaging on the app. 

11| Use private offers and re-engage with users who expressed interest in one of your items. Apart from staying on top of questions and comments users leave on your items, you can also make anyone who creates a bundle with your items a private offer to help encourage a sale. To do this, hit the double hanger icon in the right corner after receiving a notification that someone has created a bundle, click ‘View Dressing Room,’ then click the blue offer button. From there, you’ll be able to offer a special price — or, another incentive, like free or discounted shipping — for that user only. 

12| Keep all items you have “on the market” in the same, safe place. Mine are in a box under my bed, along with my USPS boxes, so everything is ready to go once I make a sale. 

13| Remain mindful of holidays and payday. Be sure to share pricier items on Friday mornings when users are feeling looser with their money. Keep holidays in mind, as well. For example, share swimwear a few weeks before Labor Day, plaid and red items a few weeks before the first day of December, etc. iPhone reminders are clutch! 

14| Make sure to reorder boxes in advance. Remember, USPS takes their sweet time delivering them, so be sure to stay on top of things! 

15| Don’t forget: beauty, hair, and menswear are fair game, too. I love purchasing samples of items I’m thinking about trying on Posh, and many don’t mind if hair and skin gently used. … and please don’t resell used makeup. Please.