While eBay started out as a platform for selling used items via auction, Shopify had a different start. Therefore, eBay sellers who want to expand their success onto the Shopify platform are curious if it’s a good place to sell clothes online, especially used clothes.
A clothing business is a formidable choice given the demand for clothing and fashion items, particularly women’s clothes. If you plan to set up your own online store selling clothes online, you’ve come to the right place.
At ZIK Analytics, we aim to help online store owners make data-driven decisions that will bring them closer to success. Using our tool does not guarantee immediate success when you sell online. Still, our goal is to provide valuable data insights to give you more confidence about selling used clothes online or in any other niche.
I will provide the tips and guidance you need about your chosen business model to build the foundation of a successful Shopify store.
Can you sell used clothes on Shopify? Keep reading to find out!
Key Takeaways
- Selling used clothes on Shopify is allowed as it is not among the identified prohibited items to sell on the e commerce platform.
- Checking the Shopify Acceptable Use Policy is a good place to start to help you determine the best products to sell, especially when you want to sell used items.
- Finding reliable suppliers online and offline is crucial in getting good quality used clothes to sell online at a competitive price.
Article Overview:
Key Takeaways
Can You Sell Used Clothes on Shopify?
Tips to Sell Used Clothes on Shopify
Create a Niche
Sourcing Your Used Clothes on Shopify
Marketing Your Used Clothing Store
Summary
FAQs
Can You Sell Used Clothes on Shopify?
Yes. Shopify allows any online store owner to sell used clothes on its platform.
Like other online marketplaces, Shopify has certain restrictions on what you can or cannot sell. The best place to start is to read the Shopify Acceptable Use Policy.
According to its website, Shopify aims to become the leading ecommerce platform by providing merchants with the tools and technology required to set up an online store. Once you create your Shopify store, you can use it to sell physical or digital products.
That said, the Acceptable Use Policy details that certain illegal or banned products or activities are prohibited under the ecommerce platform to ensure compliance with its terms in the use of services.
Therefore, any products (physical or digital) promoting any prohibited activities will not be allowed when setting up an e commerce store.
- Child Exploitation – any products or images that depict child exploitation or abuse.
- Harassment – any products that threaten a specific individual or group.
- Hateful content – any products or images that condone violence or hate toward a specific group based on their race, nationality, ethnicity, age, or sexual preferences.
- Illegal activities – any products or images that facilitate the sale of contravene items or any illegal items prohibited by law.
- Intellectual property – any products or images that infringe on copyright and trademark of the said goods and services.
- Malicious items – any products that distribute harm or disrupt operation when in use, such as malware or phishing software.
- Confidential or protected information – any products that contain protected, sensitive, and identifiable information about an individual or group, or any products that violate existing data protection laws.
- Self-harm – any products or images that promote self-harm.
- Terrorist – any products or services that support and promote terrorist organizations and activities.
Based on this list, the sale of used clothes on a Shopify store is not among the list of prohibited items. Therefore, you can sell used clothes online on your online store as Shopify allows. You may refer to Shopify Markets Pro’s expanded list of prohibited items.
Tips to Sell Used Clothes on Shopify
Can you sell used clothes on Shopify? I mentioned above that it is allowed since it is not explicitly stated as among the prohibited items to sell online in your Shopify e commerce store.
Therefore, it’s to move on to providing tips on selling used clothes on Shopify if you want more sales and success with your clothing business.
Women’s fashion and clothing items are among the top sold items on the e commerce platform. Generally speaking, selling clothes is one of the best ideas because they are consistently in high demand.
But if you want to focus on the niche of selling used clothes on Shopify, make sure you know the best tips and strategies to achieve success and make more money on this e commerce platform.
Create a Niche
While selling used clothes to make more money on the Shopify e commerce platform is attractive, be aware that there is also a high level of competition on the platform. If you want to sell more used clothes, you must find your niche for your clothing business.
For example, I suggest you identify an underserved market segment or a specific target audience in the clothing business industry to attract more customers to purchase from your online store. In addition, you can also target an eco-conscious audience since they would rather buy used clothes to contribute to environmental preservation.
It’s no secret that manufacturing new clothes can significantly impact the environment, and used clothes are an excellent way to support eco-friendly selling practices online.
Specializing in used clothes online is an excellent idea to attract more potential customers, especially those seeking unique clothing items at a lower price.
Sourcing Your Used Clothes on Shopify
The most crucial step in setting up your own online store and selling used clothes online is sourcing the best products. It’s worth noting that just because you are selling used clothes does not mean that you don’t have to undergo quality assurance.
The most important factor when selling used clothes on Shopify is finding a supplier to source used clothes or vintage items. You have a few options for sourcing used clothing to sell online via your own online store.
Your Own Closet
The first and most obvious source would be from your own closet. If you have plenty of used clothing you want to get rid of but are in good condition, you can sell used clothes online.
Selling your clothes on Shopify is especially good if your used clothes are in good condition or rarely worn. Selling fashion items, such as used clothes, on Shopify is potentially profitable since you may have items in high demand or coveted by other fashion enthusiasts.
Therefore, you can try selling them on your e commerce store instead of throwing them away. You could make lots of sales from these products if you know how to price and market these used clothes.
Online Supplier Websites
You can turn to online suppliers to source used clothing for your Shopify e commerce store. Several online supplier websites are available to source cheap used clothes to sell online.
Vinted is one example. This website specializes in fashion clothing and is a good place to start if you want vintage items and fashion clothing. Another website to look for used clothes to sell online is ThredUp.
This website sells used clothing from various brands.
Of course, eBay is one of the top online marketplaces for used items, especially used clothing. Therefore, you can use it to find products for your clothing business on Shopify e commerce platform.
You can get a competitive price on eBay for used clothes and potentially make more sales and profits via your own online store.
Other websites you can look into for sourcing used clothes online are Poshmark, Depop, and Tradesy. Regardless of which website you use to source used clothing and sell used clothes online, picking good quality used clothes is crucial.
Quality is important when you sell used clothes online, so your customers would be willing to pay a good price for those vintage items. In addition, you can command a good profit margin when you sell used online high-quality clothes.
Offline Sources for Used Clothes
Aside from the online suppliers for used clothing, you can look at offline sources when buying and selling used clothes on Shopify.
Flea markets are a good place to start when you want to save money and sell used clothes on Shopify. This source is an excellent choice for finding unique used clothing items you won’t find elsewhere, especially when buying new clothing.
When buying at a flea market, it is best to set your expectations low and keep an open mind. Don’t come into a flea market with certain expectations because you will be disappointed if you cannot find what you want.
Instead, being open will help you find potential hidden gems.
Secondhand stores, or thrift stores, are also a great option when you are looking for secondhand clothing to sell on your own online store. Unlike buying in retail stores, you will find many clothing items you can sell online.
Again, keep an open mind because you’ll never know what you will find. You can determine what used clothing to add to your e commerce store depending on your target audience and what you expect them to wear.
It’s a great approach to differentiate your e commerce store from other stores on Shopify.
Marketing Your Used Clothing Store
The best tips to ensure success for your clothing business on Shopify are to market your products and drive traffic to your online store. If you want more sales, you must let people know your store exists!
The first step is to create a well-designed online shop that showcases your products to your target audience. Your e commerce store must create a good first impression on your customers.
Make sure you design it with one of many store themes available via Shopify.
You can choose from free and premium themes so that you can design your own online store according to your budget. Don’t fret; Shopify’s free themes are visually appealing, so you can still create an attractive e commerce store for your clothing business.
You must stay organized when designing your e commerce store. Make it easy for your customers to browse your products by creating different categories to make it easier for them to find a specific product.
And provide detailed descriptions of each product, particularly the condition and price. You must also use the right colors and themes to reflect your brand.
You may set up an email marketing mailing list for your target audience. Give potential customers a chance to opt-in to your mailing list so they will be notified about sales, promotions, and if you have new products in your online store.
Email marketing remains one of the best ways to drive traffic to any website, and you can leverage this tool to make more money when you sell used clothing on Shopify.
Summary: Can You Sell Used Clothes on Shopify?
Yes, you can sell used clothing on Shopify. It is a thriving industry, and there is always a demand for fashion and clothing items, particularly used clothes.
Take advantage of this demand to make extra money for your own online store.
Take note of the tips I provided here to help you build a strong foundation to ensure the success of your clothing business despite a competitive market.
FAQs
Is selling clothes on Shopify profitable?
Yes. The clothing and fashion industry is profitable, whether you sell new or used clothing. The secret to success in the fashion and clothing business is to find your niche. A good price strategy also makes your business profitable as you can attract more customers to buy used clothing on Shopify.
Can I sell used items on Shopify?
Yes. Selling used items on Shopify is an excellent way to make extra money on the e commerce platform. As long as these items do not violate the Acceptable Use Policy on Shopify, then they are allowed on the platform.
Is Shopify good to sell clothes?
Yes. Shopify is a leading e commerce marketplace and is among the best alternatives to eBay when selling used clothes online or any other used items.
Can you make money by selling used clothes?
Yes. Selling clothes online, particularly used clothes on Shopify, is potentially profitable since you can get them cheaper and sell them on Shopify for a profit.
