Hi Oddies,

I’m spending these early weeks of September cleaning out my apartment. I’m separating things into three piles: keep, donate, and sell. Today, let’s talk about the sell part.

If you have bags of stuff to get rid off, I’ll share some ways you can earn cash from those items.

Bookmark these two quick ways:

• Poshmark: I’ve made over $1,000 selling clothes on the platform. It can take some time so I usually do this at night while watching TV. I’ll respond to messages and list new items around the house.

• Trashie: I found this website that gives you gift cards when you mail them your old clothes. I’ve never used it before but it seems like a good idea — the downside is you have to pay to ship them your clothes.

Share

10 Ways to Make Money from Selling Your Old Clothes

1. Vintage Clothing Curator

What it entails: Sourcing, authenticating, and selling high-quality vintage clothing.

How to make money: Buy vintage items at low prices and sell them at a markup.

Potential earnings: $30,000 - $100,000+ per year, depending on the scale of operation.

Skills needed:

• Knowledge of fashion history and trends

• Ability to authenticate vintage pieces

• Eye for quality and condition

• Marketing and sales skills

Getting started:

• Research vintage fashion eras and styles

• Start by selling your own vintage items online

• Visit thrift stores, estate sales, and flea markets to source inventory

• Set up an online store or sell through platforms like Etsy or eBay

2. Upcycled Clothing Designer

What it entails: Transforming old clothes into new, trendy pieces.

How to make money: Purchase used clothing cheaply, redesign and alter them, then sell at a higher price.

Potential earnings: $20,000 - $60,000+ per year, depending on creativity and marketing efforts.

Skills needed:

• Sewing and garment construction

• Fashion design skills

• Creativity and trend awareness

Getting started:

• Learn basic to advanced sewing techniques

• Start experimenting with your own old clothes

• Create a portfolio of your upcycled designs

• Sell at local markets or online platforms

3. Clothing Flip Reseller

What it entails: Buying undervalued clothing items and reselling them for a profit.

How to make money: Source clothing from thrift stores, clearance sales, or wholesale, then sell at a higher price.

Potential earnings: $1,000 - $5,000+ per month, depending on time invested and inventory turnover.

Skills needed:

• Knowledge of clothing brands and their value

• Understanding of current fashion trends

• Basic photography skills for listings

• Negotiation skills

Getting started:

• Research popular clothing brands and their resale value

• Start with a small inventory and reinvest profits

• List items on platforms like Poshmark, Depop, or Mercari

• Build a following on social media to showcase your items

4. Personal Wardrobe Consultant

What it entails: Helping clients declutter their closets and sell unwanted items.

How to make money: Charge hourly rates for consultations and take a commission on sold items.

Potential earnings: $30,000 - $80,000+ per year, depending on clientele and location.

Skills needed:

• Fashion knowledge and styling skills

• Organizational abilities

• Interpersonal and communication skills

• Basic knowledge of clothing resale markets

Getting started:

• Gain experience by helping friends and family

• Create a portfolio of before-and-after closet transformations

• Network with local fashion boutiques and stylists

• Offer free initial consultations to attract clients

5. Costume Rental Business Owner

What it entails: Collecting and renting out vintage or unique clothing items for costumes.

How to make money: Charge rental fees for costume pieces or full outfits.

Potential earnings: $20,000 - $100,000+ per year, depending on inventory size and location.

Skills needed:

• Knowledge of costume history and pop culture

• Inventory management

• Customer service skills

• Basic clothing repair and maintenance

Getting started:

• Build an initial inventory of unique and vintage pieces

• Create a website or partner with local theaters and schools

• Advertise your services for Halloween, theme parties, and productions

• Consider specializing in a particular era or style

Share

6. Clothing Swap Event Organizer

What it entails: Organizing events where people can exchange their old clothes.

How to make money: Charge entrance fees, sell refreshments, or take a commission on high-value item swaps.

Potential earnings: $500 - $3,000+ per event, depending on scale and frequency.

Skills needed:

• Event planning and management

• Marketing and promotion

• Networking skills

• Basic fashion knowledge

Getting started:

• Start with small events among friends or in your community

• Partner with local businesses or venues for space

• Promote your events on social media and local event listings

• Consider themed swaps (e.g., designer items, vintage, or seasonal clothing)

7. Secondhand Clothing Exporter

What it entails: Buying bulk secondhand clothing and exporting it to countries with high demand.

How to make money: Purchase large quantities of used clothing cheaply and sell in bulk to international buyers.

Potential earnings: $50,000 - $200,000+ per year, depending on scale of operation and market connections.

Skills needed:

• Understanding of international trade regulations

• Logistics and shipping knowledge

• Negotiation skills

• Market research abilities

Getting started:

• Research countries with high demand for secondhand clothing

• Connect with local charities or thrift stores for bulk purchases

• Learn about export regulations and shipping procedures

• Establish relationships with international buyers or marketplaces

8. Clothing Repair Specialist

What it entails: Offering repair and alteration services for vintage or valuable clothing items.

How to make money: Charge for repair services and upsell by offering to sell repaired items on consignment.

Potential earnings: $25,000 - $60,000+ per year, depending on skills and clientele.

Skills needed:

• Advanced sewing and tailoring skills

• Knowledge of different fabrics and repair techniques

• Customer service skills

• Basic business management

Getting started:

• Gain formal training in sewing and tailoring or build experience through practice

• Offer services to friends and family to build a portfolio

• Partner with vintage clothing stores or dry cleaners

• Create a website showcasing your repair skills and before-after examples

9. Luxury Consignment Shop Owner

What it entails: Operating a boutique that sells high-end secondhand clothing on consignment.

How to make money: Take a percentage of the sale price for each item sold.

Potential earnings: $50,000 - $200,000+ per year, depending on location and inventory quality.

Skills needed:

• Knowledge of luxury brands and authentication

• Retail management experience

• Customer service and sales skills

• Marketing and social media savvy

Getting started:

• Research your local market for high-end consignment demand

• Secure a retail space in a suitable location

• Build relationships with potential consignors

• Create a strong online presence and consider offering online sales

10. Clothing Rental Platform Entrepreneur

What it entails: Creating an online platform where people can rent out their clothing to others.

How to make money: Take a percentage of each rental transaction.

Potential earnings: Highly variable, from $10,000 to $1,000,000+ per year, depending on the platform's success.

Skills needed:

• Tech savvy or ability to work with developers

• Understanding of sharing economy business models

• Marketing and user acquisition skills

• Fashion industry knowledge

Getting started:

• Develop a business plan and secure funding if necessary

• Create a user-friendly website or app

• Start with a specific niche (e.g., designer dresses or vintage wear)

• Build a community of users through marketing and partnerships

Leave a comment

🙏 How to Support Odd Jobs Newsletter:

Jen Glantz here! Your support of this newsletter means a lot to me. I write and run this on my own.

To keep it an honest and spam-free place, I hardly ever run ads. So if you’d like to help keep this newsletter up and running, consider becoming a paid-subscriber.

You’ll have access to workshops (on-demand and live) and my coaching services so I can help you brainstorm and execute your own odd job or side hustle. Thank you, endlessly!

Odd Jobs is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.