How to Make Selling Clothes on eBay a Success
Since joining the Fortune 500 ranks in 2006, eBay has steadily moved up the rankings. The success of eBay has allowed individuals, like Dr. Jennifer Lickteig, to use eBay as a springboard to create their own successful clothing businesses. Increase your chances of operating a successful eBay clothing business by following the steps of other successful eBay members.
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Instructions
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Choose a type of clothing that will sell. The top selling categories, according to eBay Central, are jeans, shoes, handbags and vintage clothing. Seasonal clothing is also a good seller. Because fashion trends change quickly, check eBay statistics on a regular basis to keep current on what is hot.
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Sell quality clothing that is new or gently used. Items should be free from stains, tears or threadbare sections. New clothes can be purchased from other eBay auctions or from manufacturers and close-out companies. Resell clothes can be purchased from second-hand stores and garage sales, or the clothes can come straight from your closet. Used or new, make sure you can be proud of what you sell.
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Hang the clothing on a mannequin or on a hanger hung from a hook on the wall. Your background should be one solid color. Place your camera on a tripod, and take photographs that show the clothing from every possible angle. Take photographs of any special features. Increase your chance of making a sale by using only clear, sharp pictures.
Place the photograph that best represents your clothing article in the gallery. Photographs attract buyers, and placing them in the gallery increases your exposure when customers do photo gallery searches.
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Start with a title that will identify the article of clothing. Because eBay is not like a store where customers browse, your title is what will bring viewers. Include the name of the article of clothing, brand name, size and color. Use search engine optimization on your title, and use as many keywords as possible. In "Starting an eBay Business," Weltman and Katt emphasize the need for descriptive nouns in your heading of 55 characters.
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Place your ad in more than one category to increase your exposure. Couple that with a well-composed ad that covers all the important qualities in a piece of clothing. Include the style, size, measurements, color and condition. Use words like "new, mint, vintage," with tags if they are true. Give an accurate description of the item to include with the photographs. Tell customers the benefits of owning the clothing you are selling. Again, use keywords so your ads are picked up by the search engines.
Make your ad's composition readable. Write short, concise sentences to describe the clothing, and use paragraph breaks. Weltman and Katt stress the need for complete, accurate wording and correct spelling. Make good use of bullets when listing the facts about the item of clothing.
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Prepare to close deals on your clothing. Ask for the sale, and then accept credit cards and PayPal to encourage buyers to respond. Charge reasonable shipping fees. Pack the clothes well, and ship them promptly. Gather good feedback, and develop a positive reputation. These actions will create an image of a professional, trustworthy eBay clothing seller, something buyers look for when shopping online.
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Advertise on your own. Use online listing sites, blog sites and social networking sites as a springboard for more sales. Remember to be tasteful. Once-a-week status updates will keep your eBay business on the minds of your friends. When you graduate from clothing sales to a clothing store, consider opening up a social site for your business. You are in charge of your own business. Increase your chances for success by letting the world know your clothing business exists.
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Tips & Warnings
Sell quality items so you can start the bids low.
Increase sale possibilities by allowing international buyers to bid.
Poor service will affect your sales.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit funky mannequin image by Gina Smith from Fotolia.com
