Made to be worn
It happened, the connection between you and your favorite DRYKORN piece has faded. What was once your trusty companion is now collecting dust in your closet. If it is that moment, we think it's time to make space and pass your garment on. After all, clothes are made to be worn. In this resale guide, we provide you with a simple overview to get you started in the realm of resale.
First: Expectation Management & Categorisation
First of all, it has never been easier to resell clothes than it is today. However, it’s important to manage your expectations: Very few items can be sold for anywhere near the price you paid for them. For most items, you should expect a loss in value of around 90 %. Of course, this isn’t always the case – ultimately, it depends on whether you can find a customer who’s willing to pay your asking price.
If you have a lot to sell, it’s best to sort through your clothes and organise them into different categories in advance, for example by value. This allows you to assess your chances of selling them beforehand, weed out items that are likely to be hard to sell, and adjust your expectations accordingly. As well as basic factors such as personal taste, condition and size, there are certain categories that generally sell well.
„Do-Sell“ products
- Timeless classics
- High-quality garments
- Unique vintage pieces
- Sports- and active wear in good condition
- Sweatshirts and hoodies
- Accessories
Navigating the “No-Resale” zone
You should not resell garments that fall under one or more of the following categories:
- Counterfeit fashion items: If you have come across counterfeit fashion items, you should not contribute to their commercial distribution.
- Heavily damaged items or underwear: You should refrain from reselling these products and send them to a recycling system if you no longer want to wear them.
- Trendy fast fashion: In theory, you can resell such items. However, it will be difficult to find a customer and set a reasonable price for the clothes as they were already very cheap when new.
High-end products
Just because an item falls into one of these categories doesn’t necessarily mean it will sell easily. Designer clothing, for example, faces the problem that private individuals are reluctant – or even afraid – to buy a counterfeit item because of the high prices. An original receipt, packaging and hangtags can make the difference between ‘buy’ and ‘don’t buy’ for those interested in second-hand designer clothes or limited-edition trainers.
Online Resale
The most accessible way to sell second-hand items is via online platforms. These are often self-explanatory and easy to use, but there are a few basic principles to follow here too:
- Take good photos that show the item as it really is.
- Point out any flaws or defects.
- Write an accurate description that includes, at the very least, the size, fit, condition and any special features.
- Protect your personal details online by using only secure payment methods and not responding to any enquiries that aren’t strictly necessary for the sale or purchase of goods.
Step by Step to Secondhand
In summary, here is our checklist you can work with for your journey into second hand:
- In my opinion, there is a customer for the product.
- The product can be classified in one of the “Do-Sell” product categories.
- The returns I think I can achieve justifiy the effort.
- The product does not meet this criterion:
- The product can be donated to a charitable organization (RECYCLING GUIDE).
- The product must be fed into a recycling system (RECYCLING GUIDE).
- The product does not meet this criterion:
- I have chosen the right platform for my sale.
- I have adequately protected my personal data.
- There are suitable photos and a meaningful text.
Chances are high that garment resale will become a new hobby once one has started, quickly influencing one's shopping behaviour: Second-hand sellers often take resale chances already into account when purchasing new garments.