How To Sell On Poshmark: The Ultimate Guide

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Is your closet bursting at its seams with clothes, bags, and shoes you haven’t worn in months, even years?

Or have you ever considered starting a reselling business as an additional stream of income?

If so, then have a look at Poshmark, your secret weapon for selling second-hand clothing, shoes, and accessories for extra cash!

In this article, we’ll show you how to sell on Poshmark, from crafting beautiful listings to setting prices and shipping your items to your customers.

This is the only guide to selling on Poshmark you’ll ever need, so grab a cup of tea and a notepad, and let’s dive into our Poshmark selling masterclass!

What is Poshmark?

Poshmark is a social marketplace for fashion where you can buy and sell new or used clothing, shoes, and accessories.

It’s simple to list items for sale on Poshmark – just take a photo, describe the item, and set your price. Once your listing is live, buyers can purchase your items directly through the app.

Poshmark also makes it easy to find items from specific brands or categories that you’re interested in.

Whether you’re looking for a specific designer dress for a special occasion or a designer handbag at a discounted price, Poshmark has something for everyone.

Poshmark has some impressive user stats that make selling on the platform a very attractive option. In fact, it currently has over 80 million active users and around 8 million sellers.

As we mentioned briefly in the introduction, the second-hand clothing market is booming and is set to double by 2025. In fact, the resale market is projected to grow 11 times faster than the existing retail market in that same period.

Gen Z and Millennials are both more concerned about sustainability than previous generations, so sustainable fashion and repurposing items are widely adopted across this demographic.

This is a driving factor behind the consistent growth of the second-hand goods market. Poshmark itself tends to have a largely Millennial audience compared to the likes of eBay, which appeals more to Boomers.

You can see this quick comparison between Poshmark and eBay’s demographics below.

How does Poshmark work?

With Poshmark, you can sell second-hand clothing to other people in less than 60 seconds. Snap a photo of the item in natural lighting, upload the image to Poshmark, provide a short description and pricing, and then share it with your networks.

Items that cost more than $15 will incur a 20% commission on sales. Anything priced under $15 is charged a flat fee of $2.95 upon the sale of the item.

As soon as your item has sold, Poshmark sends you a shipping label with the address pre-filled out so all you need to do is package the item and drop it off at the post office.

You can calculate your profit and margin when selling on Poshmark using our free Poshmark fee calculator. Note that Poshmark sometimes also charges extra fees for things like overweight shipping.

As a bonus, they collect and pay sales tax on all purchases so you have less to worry about when you sell online.

You get paid once the item has been delivered and marked as received. This is usually within three days of the item being marked as ‘received’ by the buyer.

Additional reading: How And When Do You Get Paid On Poshmark?

Poshmark is more of a social marketplace than eBay or Facebook Marketplace. Poshmark’s algorithm is largely ruled by user engagement, so the more active you are on the platform and the more enthusiastically you share your listings, the higher up you are likely to appear in search results.

Below is an infographic highlighting some interesting statistics on the platform and how central social sharing is to Poshmark.

We’ll touch on it a bit more later on, but you’ll come to understand that Poshmark is not just a platform to sell second-hand goods. There is a greater emphasis on social sharing and networking in the truest sense of the terms.

From Posh Parties to Posh Pop-Ups, there are plenty of opportunities to network and get your listings in front of the right people. This is what makes Poshmark a unique experience for both sellers and buyers.

Are you wondering whether it’s safe to sell on Poshmark? Then check out this article:
Is Poshmark Legit? Also, It’s a good idea to read Poshmark reviews before starting to sell on the platform, so you can get a better sense of what to expect and make informed decisions.

Who should sell on Poshmark?

Poshmark is the perfect platform for anyone who loves fashion and enjoys social media. If you’re looking to make some extra cash, or even start a small business, selling on Poshmark is a great way to do it!

Just about anyone can be successful on Poshmark, but there are a few groups of people who tend to do especially well:

1. Fashionistas: If you’re passionate about fashion and keep up with the latest trends, you’ll do great on Poshmark! People will be drawn to your stylish listings, and you’ll have an easy time finding things to sell since you’re always shopping for new clothes anyway.
2. Social Media Mavens: If you’re already active on social media and have built up a following, you’ll have a head start on promoting your listings and driving traffic to your shop. You can use your existing channels to share your Poshmark listings, and even host Posh Parties (more on that later) to really get things moving.
3. Busy Professionals: If you have a full-time job or other commitments that leave you with limited free time, turning Poshmark into your side hustle can bring in a decent secondary income.

Further reading: 7 Foolproof Reselling Tips For Attracting Customers And Boosting Sales

Most profitable Poshmark products

There are a few product categories that tend to do really well on Poshmark. If you’re looking to make some serious profits on the platform, then you should consider selling items from these categories:

1. Clothing: Clothing is always in demand, so it’s no surprise that it’s one of the most profitable categories on Poshmark. There are tons of different types of clothing you can sell, from casual wear to formal wear, and there’s always a market for new or gently used clothing.
2. Shoes: Shoes are another popular category on Poshmark, and they can be quite profitable as well. Like clothing, there’s a huge range of different types of shoes you can sell, and people are always looking for new styles and deals on footwear.
3. Accessories: Accessories include everything from jewelry to handbags, and they’re often very affordable items that people are willing to splurge on. If you have some stylish accessories to sell, then you could definitely make some good profits on Poshmark.
4. Home goods: Home goods are always in demand, especially during the warmer months when people are doing more entertaining at home. If you have some nice home decor items you no longer use, consider selling them on Poshmark

Pro tip: it is worth noting that designer and vintage items in all the above categories tend to fetch higher prices because they’re sought after and hard to come by. So focus on more expensive products to bump up your margins!

Products that sell the fastest

The goal of starting a Poshmark store is obviously to make sales. So, it of course makes sense to sell items that sell fast. These are some items that tend to sell in a flash:

• Make-up, perfume, and skincare products
• Frankie’s swimwear
• Levi’s
• Sunglasses
• T-Shirts
• Mini Bags
• Bootcut and Flared Jeans
• Rings
• Coffee and Tea Accessories

Best-selling brands

In addition to niches that sell fast, some brands are more popular than others. Some of the most coveted brands on Poshmark include:

• Kate Spade
• Nike
• Lululemon
• Levi’s
• Polo
• Ralph Lauren
• Ray-Ban
• Off-White
• Louis Vuitton
• True Religion

And specifically for ladies:

You can subscribe to Poshmark’s monthly trend edit to get insights into trending items, trending brands, and the most searched-for items to try to plan your inventory and source items in line with what is popular.

Find your niche on Poshmark

If you’re looking to make some money on Poshmark, one of the best things you can do is to find your niche. A niche is a specific subset of the market that you are targeting.

Whether you’re selling clothes, shoes, or accessories, a good approach to finding your niche is to focus on a specific style or category that you’re passionate about. This way, you can build up a following of Poshmark buyers who are interested in what you have to offer.

For example, maybe you want to focus on selling vintage handbags on Poshmark. By focusing on this specific niche, you can establish yourself as everyone’s go-to store on Poshmark when they’re looking for specific brands or bags.

Another example is to sell custom T-shirt designs online aimed at a specific target group, such as military spouses or political organizations.

You’re not going to become a Poshmark success story if you grab all your old, scrappy clothes and post them up to sell.

The most successful sellers have a niche market. They know what their shoppers want and source items accordingly. Whether that’s out of their closet, friends’ closets, or searching local thrift stores for gems, turning your Poshmark store into a successful business takes more effort than simply putting a few listings online.

Suzanne Canon is the most successful Poshmark seller to date, raking in over $1 million in sales. The busy wife and mom of two started off selling clothing she no longer wore as a side hustle.

Within 5 years, Poshmark is now her full-time job and she runs a successful wholesale clothing business on the platform.

What not to sell

While there are so many avenues in terms of what you can sell, there are a few prohibited items that can land you in some serious hot water if you try to sell on Poshmark. These include:

• Illegal items such as drugs
• Knock-offs or fakes
• Medical items (including N95 face masks)
• Prescription medications
• Stolen goods
• Repurposed designer items (e.g. taking a tag from a designer bag and sewing it onto an unbranded shirt)

How to sell on Poshmark: tips for success

1. Adopt a business mindset

When you’re selling on Poshmark, it’s important to think of yourself as a business owner. This means having a professional attitude, setting clear goals, and tracking your progress. Doing these things will help you be successful on Poshmark and in any future business endeavors.

Whether it’s a full-time business or a side hustle, you should treat your Poshmark store like you would any business. Show up every day with the right attitude and approach your Poshmark shop with a business mindset.

2. Be a goal-getter

One way to set yourself up for success is to establish some goals. What do you hope to achieve by selling on Poshmark? Do you want to make a certain amount of money? Sell a certain number of items? Once you have some goals in mind, you can start planning how to achieve them.

Another important aspect of running a successful business is tracking your progress. This means keeping track of the items you sell, how much money you make, and any other pertinent information. This data can help you see what’s working and what’s not, so you can adjust your approach as needed.

3. Offer the best customer service

Finally, be responsive to any questions or offers from potential buyers. If someone is interested in one of your items, they’re more likely to buy it if you’re quick to answer their questions and negotiate a fair retail price.

Being an attentive and responsive seller will stand out from the competition and increase your chances of making a sale.

4. Quality check your items before listing

It is always good practice to first carefully check items for defects before listing them on Poshmark. You are unlikely to sell items with holes, stains, or other wear and tear.

Give items a wash and iron before taking your pictures or where relevant, wipe them down or polish them. Your buyer doesn’t want to receive a musty garment with lipstick on the collar, so washing and pressing before shipping will leave a good impression.

If there is a minor defect, you should disclose this in your description so there are no nasty surprises for the buyer upon receipt. Transparency is key here!

5. Take good pictures

Another tip for selling on Poshmark is to take great photos of your items. Potential buyers will want to see clear, well-lit pictures before they commit to buying anything. If you can show off your items in the best light possible, you’re more likely to make a sale.

Seasoned sellers also recommend taking pictures of themselves modeling the items as this gives buyers a better idea of the fit to better visualize what the item will look like.

The same goes for home decor. Snap some pictures of the item in use because people are visual beings and can develop more of an attachment to an item when they can picture it in their home or wearing the item to an event etc.

Another recommendation is to add videos to your listings. Buyers love listing videos! It helps a potential buyer see the movement of the item and get a better sense of what they may be buying.

Regardless of your equipment, always endeavor to take the best possible pictures. Once you start making a decent income on Poshmark, it’s advisable to invest in some photography equipment and props like a light ring, lightbox, mannequin, and so forth.

Poshmark allows you to upload up to 16 images and 1 video. To make the most of your image section, follow these tips:

• Take pictures from a number of angles
• Capture some close-ups and include close-ups of any defects
• Get close-up images of the fabric and trims
• Get a picture of the front and back of the item
• Don’t be shy, take a picture with the item on or holding the item to give the buyer a better idea of the fit and/or size.
• Take a picture of the label or tag

To help guide you as you’re getting started, here is a Poshmark listing from ‘thesavvycloset’. You’ll notice the seller has modeled the jacket and has also included some close-up images of the material, the Lululemon label, and a neutral background. This seller’s images tick all the boxes.

6. Price competitively

There is no point in selling on Poshmark if your inventory is going to sit there for months on end without any sale. The secret to making fast sales on Poshmark is competitive pricing.

To find the right price, run a Google image search of the item you’re selling and take a look at the prices of similar items on various platforms. Pick a middle-range price to sell your items fast. There is no margin in no sale!

7. Write descriptions that sell

It is really important to write good descriptions that contain keywords people may be using when shopping on Poshmark. For example, you should mention the brand, shape, style, color, and any other relevant details in your description. You can also make use of Poshmark’s built-in style tags such as “vintage” to make the item more searchable.

Don’t think like a robot, think like a shopper. Most shoppers search for exactly what they are looking for, for example, a “vintage Chanel handbag” or “cashmere sweater”. Using long tail keywords is more likely to land you on the results page than stuffing the title and description with single keywords.

Some things to avoid include emojis, abbreviations, and irrelevant search phrases like “trendy shirt.” It is unlikely people will search for “trendy shirt” but are much more likely to search for “band tee shirt” for example.

We also recommend including measurements in your listing descriptions. It can automate the buying process and help you avoid unnecessary messages asking for measurements.

For tops and jackets, give the bust measurement and shoulder-to-shoulder measurements. For bottoms, include hip, in-seam, and rise measurements.

Lastly, for dresses, do include bust, length, hip, and waist measurements. See below an example of a seller who included measurements in their description of a pair of flair jeans.

8. Be upfront about defects

We’ve mentioned it before, but this is an important one to remember if you hope to build a positive reputation on Poshmark. Slight damage or wear and tear doesn’t mean you can’t sell an item on Poshmark. There’s a big difference between a gaping hole and a small stain. Regardless of how small the flaw, you need to be honest about it in your description. To do this, you should:

• Capture an image of the defect(s)
• Be honest about stuck zippers, stains, tears, or other flaws

This way, you can avoid the headache of returns, payment delays, and angry customers.

9. Market your Poshmark store

The most successful Poshmark sellers actively market their stores on various social networking platforms and by other creative means. Poshmark encourages its users to use social media to amplify their listings.

Connect your various accounts, like Facebook and Instagram, to Poshmark in the settings section. You can also add a link to your Poshmark closet in your social media bio. You also need to add hashtags like #MeetthePosher, #PoshPackages, and #ThePoshLife to your posts for Poshmark to find and feature your post with its extensive online community.

There are frequently themed in-app shopping events, called Poshmark Parties, at 9 a.m., 12 p.m., 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. PST on Poshmark. You should get ready for them by scheduling your listings in advance and also reaching out to the host of the party to ask them to consider spotlighting your item. These events are a great way to network and get more eyes on your listings.

You could also offer incentives like a 10% or shipping discount to encourage shoppers to purchase your products.

You can also opt to offer bundle deals. For example, buy 3 items for 20% off or along those lines. This helps to generate more sales and interest in your collection.

If you’re wondering how to bundle on Poshmark, it’s a straightforward process: you can create a bundle by selecting multiple items from your closet and sending the offer to the buyer, allowing them to purchase the bundled items with the specified discount.

10. Consider Poshmark authentication

Poshmark offers an insurance option called Posh Protect, which will refund the same amount as the item is valued. If a high-value item has not been authenticated, it will be sent to headquarters for examination, and if certified authentic, will be delivered accordingly. If not verified, the customer will be refunded.

11. Package your items properly

There’s just nothing worse than being excited about receiving a package only for it to arrive creased and in shoddy wrapping. Or having to wait forever for it to ship! If you want to know how to sell on Poshmark successfully, your attitude toward shipping will either make or break your store.

When you receive an order, remember the buyer wants to receive their purchase as soon as possible. Make an effort to send it out the same day if you can or the very next day so it gets to them quickly.

When packaging your item, put some thought into your packaging. Poshmark recommends sellers ship items using the free Priority Mail USPS boxes. You can add a personal touch inside the box with tissue paper, ribbons, stickers or thank you cards. This is a great way to put a professional touch on your orders and keep customers coming back for more.

See how the below seller packaged the item in tissue paper with a ribbon and specially printed tag. As a buyer, you’d be happy to receive such a neat and attractive parcel. A word of caution – you should keep track of expenses like shipping supplies and thank you cards, and work these into the cost of the item!

12. Handle returns professionally

Although there are generally no refunds, customers can open a case if they do not receive their item or if it’s not as described on the original listing.

Buyers can’t request returns in Poshmark if items don’t fit or they’ve changed their minds. Part of the 20% fee Poshmark charges on each sale goes towards customer relations, which includes handling customer requests for a return.

Once a case is opened, the seller will have to choose whether it should be mailed back at no additional cost to either party (with a prepaid return label) or denied and earnings released to the seller.

To avoid disputes, do thorough quality checks on your items before shipping, package neatly and securely, and of course ensure you disclose any defects in your listing description (such as a mark or small tear for example).

If a shopper does wish to return an item, go through the correct channels and try to handle it as professionally as possible so they can’t badmouth your store.

Sometimes it’s best to suck it up and refund the order so you don’t have to deal with a buyer who is impossible to please and could taint your store’s reputation.

13. Understand how cancellations work

Buyers can cancel an order within three hours of purchasing your item via the Buy It Now button. If an item was purchased by sending and accepting an offer, that purchase is always final.

However, if you do not ship the item within seven days of the purchase, a full refund must be issued to the buyer.

You are able to cancel the order between purchase and shipment for any reason, such as if you’ve changed your mind about parting with the item, you should contact the buyer as soon as possible with a valid reason for the cancellation.

If you keep these things in mind, you’ll be well on your way to success as a Poshmark seller! We’ve also covered some other useful tips here, straight from the mouths of some of Poshmark’s most successful sellers!

How to sell on Poshmark: step-by-step

The most popular way to start selling on Poshmark is via their app. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to list and sell items using the Poshmark app.

1. Download the Poshmark App from the Apple Store or Google Play Store. If you prefer to do it via their website, you can navigate there on your laptop or desktop.
2. Follow the simple prompts to set up your Poshmark profile. You can sign up for a Poshmark account using your Facebook login or email address. Once you have an account, you can start creating listings. Once you’re logged in, go to the “Sell” tab and click “List Item”. You’ll be prompted to choose a category for your item – select the one that best fits what you’re selling.
3. Now it’s time for the fun part – taking photos! Make sure to take clear, well-lit pictures of your item from all angles. If possible, use a neutral background so the focus is on the product. And don’t forget to upload at least one video of the items to give potential buyers a better idea of what they’re looking at.
4. Write a catchy title and description for your listing. Next, you’ll be asked to enter some information about your item, including the brand, color, size, condition, and price. Be as specific as possible so buyers know exactly what they’re getting.
5. Choose a price for your item. Keep in mind that Poshmark takes a 20% cut of any sale you make, so price your items accordingly.
6. When you’re finished, click ‘List Item’ and your item will be live on the site!
7. The last step is to get sharing! The more active you are on the platform and your socials, the more Poshmark’s algorithm will work in your favor.
8. Eventually, you’ll be fielding offers for your items. You can choose to accept an offer or send a counteroffer if you feel someone has lowballed you.
9. When a sale is conclusive, you can print out the pre-filled shipping label.
10. The next logical step is of course checking the item before shipping. If it is clothing perhaps iron out any creases and fold neatly. If it is a bag or shoes, give them a wipe-down. Package the item neatly and add your personal touch with tissue paper, ribbons, etc. Then post the item off to the buyer.
11. Once shipped, a buyer has three days in which to mark the item as received. After this period, the order will automatically be marked as received.
12. Once the order is marked as received, you will normally receive your money within 3 days. For your convenience, you can opt for funds to be transferred directly to your bank account.

Consider selling on other marketplaces

We’re big believers in not putting all your eggs in one basket. When it comes to starting a successful online business and selling as much as possible, as quickly as possible, we recommend selling on more than one platform.

When you cross list your items to other marketplaces, you’re instantly widening your pool of potential buyers by getting your items in front of more than one audience. Perhaps you sell knitted throws on Poshmark. But not every person looking for a knitted throw is necessarily on Poshmark. However, if you also start selling on Depop, Mercari, and eBay, you have a much better chance of making way more sales than if you were only selling on Poshmark.

Further reading: How To Cross List From Poshmark To Mercari And Vice Versa

In fact, sellers who list items on 3 or more marketplaces enjoy up to 156% more sales than their counterparts who only sell on one. That’s a huge difference in sales volume.

Selling on multiple marketplaces also allows you to take advantage of different selling strategies. For example, on Poshmark you can list your items for a fixed price, while on eBay you can auction off your items.

This gives you the flexibility to try different selling methods and see what works best for you. Side note: if you’re keen to get started on eBay too or want some tips to boost your store’s success, check out our comprehensive guide to selling on eBay.

The bottom line is that selling on multiple marketplaces is a great way to reach more buyers and make more sales. So, if you’re looking to maximize your earnings, be sure to list your items on Poshmark as well as other platforms.

We bet you’re rolling your eyes because that sounds like a lot of work, right? Imagine how long it’s going to take to manually upload hundreds of listings to each marketplace. Too much effort, right?

Wrong! Crosslist can save you hours of time by making the process of listing across multiple platforms seamless and painless. Cool, so what is Crosslist then?

Crosslist is a cross listing app designed to help sellers on various marketplaces scale their businesses and speed up the process of listing on multiple marketplaces. If you’re interested, have a look at how Crosslist works, or have a look at one of our in-depth tutorials on how to cross list from one marketplace to another, such as Poshmark to Facebook Marketplace.

The key takeaway

Learning how to sell on Poshmark is a great way to make some extra money or start growing an online business. Whether your goal is to free up some space in your closet or to create a profitable business, Poshmark is a great platform to make it happen.

If you approach your Poshmark store with a business mindset and put some effort into your photographs, listing descriptions, and customer service, you too can be well on your way to potentially raking in six-figure earnings like those who have gone before you!

The key to scaling your Poshmark store will be to cross list on other marketplaces, so keep that in mind when planning where to market your products.