Guest Feature: 5 Tips for a Successful Closet Cleanout with Orchid Grey

It’s hard to believe that we’re already on the cusp of fall. I’ve had the September issues on my coffee table for a couple of weeks now, and while I’m being careful to not wish summer away, I can’t wait for the shift in style that a new season offers, especially autumn. Layers, boots, and plenty of texture — after a long, hot summer of one-piece dressing and sandals, fall makes the act of getting dressed feel fun again. If you’re like me and pack away your off-season clothes (a smart decision if you’re also dealing with a too-tiny closet), the cooling days of late August mean it’s almost time for the Great Closet Switchover. I’ll soon be rummaging through bins and boxes in search of the sweaters, jackets, flannels and boots I boxed up months ago, and making a list of the must-haves I hope to buy for the months ahead (suede miniskirt, anyone?). The transition into a new time of year isn’t just great for personal style though, it also happens to be the perfect time to plan a major closet cleanout.

Why clean out your closet from season to season? Besides allowing you the opportunity to take stock and see exactly what you already own making shopping for what’s to come more streamlined and intentional, detoxing your closet a few times per year lets you clearly steer your personal style in whichever direction you please. Think about it: if you haven’t worn a fit-and-flare in years, but your closet is full of them, there’s no room for the new silhouette or color that you love (not to mention, there’s likely someone out there who would be ecstatic to find those pieces for a steal on Poshmark!). Reselling your castoffs also ensures less landfill waste, and those extra bucks in your Poshmark account make it easy to refresh your own wardrobe with gently used pieces when the time comes. Not sure where to start? Check out my five tips below for executing a successful closet cleanout, and then share your own!

1. Plan Ahead

While a full wardrobe overhaul is tempting to just jump right into on a Saturday afternoon, I’d advise against it. I’ve made this mistake countless times and usually what I’m left with is a giant mess, flagging motivation and more disorganization than when I started. Plan a few days in advance to give yourself time to gather supplies, even better, pencil it in. Set aside a full morning or afternoon (whenever you feel most productive), more if your wardrobe is large and your intent is a major cleanout. Be honest with yourself, if you feel you need a full day, take it.

On the day-of, brew a fresh pot of coffee (or pour yourself a glass of wine if it’s after noon), grab some snacks, and crank your favorite Spotify station. This should feel like a party, not a chore!

2. Gather Supplies

If you’re still using plastic hangers, now is the time to upgrade. I prefer velvet slimline hangers, which are gentle on clothes while providing a non-slip grip and save you serious space (clutch if you’ve got a small closet). I also have a small arsenal of sturdy wooden hangers, which I use for heavier jackets and for displaying special items on the back of my closet door.

Along with upgrading your hanger situation, get your hands on three large bags (I love the blue bags from Ikea for this). You’ll need one for clothes to keep, one for clothes to sell, and one for donations.

If you’re not already packing away seasonal clothes, but want to start, grab a few large plastic or cardboard storage bins, some masking tape, a sharpie, and some cedar blocks (found in the closet section of most big box stores).

Make sure your full-length mirror is handy, and if you’re really in fall cleaning mode, you’ll want a vacuum or broom and duster close by, too.

Success Story: How She Made $5,000 in 30 Days on Poshmark

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.

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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?

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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!

Power Tips from a Power User

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Hi Poshmark friends!

I’m Cris from the fashion and lifestyle blog, My Fashion Juice. On the Poshmark app, I’m known as @myfashionjuice. Today, I’m taking over Poshmark’s blog to share some tips to my fellow Poshers out there. As one of the Suggested Users and long time Poshers, I am constantly asked how I reached over 2 million followers and get a lot of sales.

Here are some tips:

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Your cover photo means everything. It’s the first thing that people see when they browse through their feed. Your cover photo shouldn’t just be attractive, it should stand out from the rest. Make sure your photos are clear and your items are well presented, with the right color.

At the same time, add as many photos as you can to give your buyers a 360-view of the item. This gives buyers more confidence when shopping your closet and minimizes inquiries about how the back or side looks, etc.

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I’m always amazed with Poshers who get creative with their listing. Those closets that strike you most are obviously the ones you remember and visit every time. Take a cue from @maymayscloset who hangs her items against a chalkboard/wall and writes interesting phrases and/or descriptions about the item she’s listing. Extra points for her beautiful handwriting!

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I always tell my fellow Poshers to share their listings at least three times a day. Believe me, it’s effective. Sharing is like advertising. If you’re not sharing your items to your followers and to Posh Parties, then it’s like selling secretly in the dark corners of the web! How would they know what you’re selling if you’re not actively advertising?

So remember to share regularly. It only takes 5 minutes or less during your break time! And when people share your items, listen to @tammyk289 and try to share back. I try to share at least 5 to 10 other people every time I’m on the app. Not only will they appreciate it, but they will remember you and share your items regularly.

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No matter what commenters or potential buyers say, even if it’s something negative about your listing, always keep your cool. Be nice and be professional when responding to all inquiries. At the same time, respond to comments in a timely manner and always ship out your sold items on time.

Follow these tips and sooner or later, you’ll find yourself with a growing number of followers and sales. And make sure to join me tonight as I host the “City Chic” Posh Party! Hope to see you there!

Great Photos = More Sales.

Having amazing pictures in your Poshmark listings is one of the most important parts of creating a great listing. But don’t fret – read these simple tips to make the most out of your photos!

1. Style your Covershot

Your Covershot is the very first photo in your listing – and first impressions definitely count, so be sure to wow potential buyers by including a gorgeous Covershot in your listings! We find that if you wear your item in your Covershot to show how you would style it, the chances of selling your item are much greater.

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2. Pick the right setting

Where you take your pictures is as equally important when creating a listing. You want to be sure that what you’re trying to sell is what stands out – not the pile of clothes sitting on your bed in the background!

If you’re taking your photos at home, we suggest picking an area of your house that’s clean, free of clutter, and has natural light beaming through.

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3. Take clear, bright photos

One of the most-convenient things about Poshmark is that you can snap the photos for your listing using your phone (easy-breezy!). And while the camera on the phone is pretty amazing, the lighting and coloring of the photos can sometimes be less-than-ideal depending on the environment in which the photos are taken.

This is why snapping your photos in natural lighting is preferred, but we know that’s not always possible. Luckily, there are plenty of apps that will quickly correct the exposure and tone of your pictures, such as Snapseed, Photoshop Express and VSCO Cam.

4. Include a variety of photos

We strongly encourage including as many photos of the item you are trying to sell to give potential buyers a better idea of what the item really looks like from multiple angles. Some ideas of the photos to include in your listings are:

  1. A clear styled shot of the product on you.
  2. A full front shot of the product lying flat or against a clean, contrasting surface.
  3. A full back shot of the product lying flat or against a clean, contrasting surface.
  4. A detail shot of the product, showing any special details or pointing out any possible minor defects or wear.