success stories

Poshmark’s community is full of inspiring stories and we couldn’t wait to share this one with you. We recently caught up with Shawna, a.k.a. @sfconway, who has turned her closet into a booming business.

A former fashion buyer, Shawna knows style and now she’s honing her entrepreneurial skills with Poshmark. She’s gone from selling her own items to going “treasure hunting” to fill her Poshmark closet with amazing items from Free People, Alice + Olivia and more – and most items are brand new with tags! Success in selling has been life changing as she is now able to stay at home with her darling daughter and earn extra income on Poshmark.

How does she do it? Read on for how to take your selling game to the next level.

How long have you been on Poshmark and what drew you to selling your closet?

I’ve been on Poshmark for almost a year. I was about to go to a consignment store with a ton of clothes (name brand and with tags!) and then donate the rest. I decided to Google any other options for selling for myself – that wasn’t eBay – and found a few. After downloading a couple, Poshmark was the most streamlined and user friendly, and I loved the social aspect of it!

How have you used your retail buying background to become an all-star seller on Poshmark?

I have always had an eye for fashion! I treat selling stuff in my closet the same way I would buying for a store. I stay on top of trends and research price points, but above all, I help style pieces! What’s the point of buying an item if you don’t know how to wear it? Being able to communicate with women on the app is definitely what sets selling on Poshmark apart. I love hearing how a seller wore an item because it gives me styling tips, too!

You sell a lot of bundles in your closet. What’s your secret?

I give AMAZING bundle discounts – In just three months I’ve sold 438 items! My stuff goes quickly! I also have a ton of items listed and a lot of sell full outfits. I love selling complete looks! It’s such a compliment when I get tagged in a listing where a girl is showing off how much she loves her purchase. I try to maintain at least 100 items for sale in my closet. This increases your sales as well as opportunities for bundling. I also give returning customer discounts. You’ve gotta give back to the girls shopping your closet frequently! (Also, be on the look out for a sale! I have something special planned for the readers of this blog post.)

How has selling on Poshmark impacted your life? What has it allowed you to do?

I get to do what I love again! Leaving the fashion industry was a huge decision my husband and I made when I became pregnant. As much as I love working, I wanted to be home with my little one more. Now, I get the best of both worlds and I have the best buying assistant I could ever ask for. She’s a little fashionista – at 16 months she’s already picking out her own outfits!

What advice would you give to someone who wants to take their Poshmark closet to the next level?

Interact! I have met so many amazing women on this app that truly want you to succeed. We share each others’ products. If someone is looking for something in my closet but I don’t have their size, I’ll tag them in someone else’s listing who does have it. You’re not losing a sale, you’re gaining a new friend! She’ll remember you and return the favor.

As for power selling, gain a following of women who trust you AND your style. You have to go out there and find your inventory! It takes time, but it pays off. Sample sales are an amazing resource! If you don’t have any near you, consignment stores are a gold mine. I call it treasure hunting. Get to know your sales girls at these stores, they can let you in on new inventory and huge sales. People get rid of a lot of good stuff that’s still brand new! It really is a full time job, but the hard work pays off.

Our Poshers have made their closets into full-blown businesses and with the recent release of PoshMatch, business is booming, especially for Alexandra! Known as @alvictoria on Poshmark, you will find her shopping, sharing and making tons of sales (on sales on sales) using some very savvy strategies.

So just how does she do it? Thankfully, she’s spilling her secrets so you can start making some serious cash by selling your closet on Poshmark.

What is your favorite feature of the new release and why?

I have started making more consistent sales because of the new update, thanks to how easy it is to explore the brands you love as well as shop the shares of other stylish women! Because I focus mostly on designer items in my closet, the new brand search adjustments have been very helpful in directing new attention to my closet.

What strategies have brought you success in selling?

Even with all of the fantastic new updates with PoshMatch, I’ve always noticed that the more you share and the more active you are on the app, the more sales you make. After 2 years on Poshmark, I now use it as a small business and it works in my favor to be as active as possible and share other stylish closets as well. I also have to add how much I LOVE the new Price Drop Notifications! I have sold up to 12 higher priced designer items in one day because women who liked the item were notified (with a lower shipping rate) about the new lower price!

How has following brands changed the way you shop and sell on PM?

I have to admit that along with selling, I also do a TON of shopping on Poshmark. I spend a crazy amount of time looking for new steals and sharing new closets with my Poshmark pals! I also love being able to pass on deals I find that aren’t in my size or price point to my friends who I know would love them. The new brand follow feature and the “just in” addition has been tremendously helpful in introducing me to fab new closets and letting me be the FIRST to find items for up to 90% off of retail. Crazy, right?

Now that sharing is styling, how do you utilize this feature?

One of the most noticeable features of sharing with PoshMatch is the log of your own shares “kept on file” in your closet. I have always tried to keep my shares to only things that I think are super stylish, a great deal, or something I would love to wear myself. By having a way to keep track of my previous shares, it shows all of my followers what I think is stylish, and hopefully inspires them to follow along with my favorites!

What are some notable deals that you’ve gotten recently?

Okay, need I say more than “Chanel Espadrilles for over 50% off”? On my most recent trip to NYC, I was dying for a pair of them but obviously they’ve been sold out everywhere for months and are selling for up to $800 on eBay and other sites! Well, as I was doing my usual brand stalking with the “Just In” feature, I saw a glorious black and white pair in my size that had been listed within an hour of me discovering them. Of course I had to snatch them up as quickly as possible!

What advice would you give to someone wanting to make the most of Poshmark?

I talked about this a little bit at PoshFest 2013, but I honestly feel that Poshmark can be anything that you want it to be! The app definitely works for you based on the way YOU want to use it. For me, I recently decided to leave my corporate job in pursuit of other ventures, and Poshmark is now, more than ever, used as a small business! In addition to wonderful support from the Poshmark team, I honestly credit my success on the app to being active, honest, and fashion educated. I think the easiest way to maximize your sales within the app is to make sure to have beautiful cover photos, have at least 15 items listed in your closet, and to share, share, share as much as possible! Reality TV and cleaning have taken a backseat since my start on Poshmark. 😉

What types of items do you see as best sellers?

For me, I think that the most important thing to remember when selling on Poshmark is that women LOVE a good deal! And if it’s designer and over 60% off then you’re doing even better! I try to remember to keep my items as far away from retail as I can possibly stand in order to maximize my sales. Also, cute, styled items for under the $40 price point are always great sellers for me. As far as brands go, Michael Kors, Rebecca Minkoff, Vince Camuto, and Sam Edelman have always been big sellers in my closet. And I promise you, if you don’t know if it will sell, stick a cute styled cover photo on it and give some styling suggestions for different seasons and it will sell in no time!