Last week, we discussed HOW to resell your used pageant wardrobe. In today’s episode, I’ll give you a break-down WHERE to sell your wardrobe and give you insight to all the best websites to make it easy on you.
The main things to consider when choosing a site to sell from are:
+ Fee to list and sell
+ Size of audience
+ Insurance/Guarantee
+ Ease of use
+ Readiness to ship
In general, sites that provide an opportunity for reselling make money from the seller because they are providing you the forum to sell and the marketing. It’s either on the front end by changing a flat listing rate, or on the back end by charging either a flat rate, or more commonly a percentage of the money you make. If you’re selling a $100 cocktail dress, 6% is $6. If you’re selling a $1,000 gown, it’s $60. If the flat rate is $6/month, and you’re selling a 1,000 gown, that could be a better deal for you as the seller. So, do your math.
If you have a low risk tolerance or you don’t know if it will sell, the safe route is to only pay when you get paid, however this doesn’t mean that these sites bring the most amount of eyes onto your wardrobe.
For that, consider the size of the audience. If there are tons of people on this Facebook group and lots of activities and you see “Sold” next to many of the dresses, that could be a good sign that it’s working.
Another important aspect is a seller and/or buyer guarantee or insurance. E-bay has this. If there’s a problem with the product not being delivered on time or as per the post, or if the seller’s payment bounces or something crazy, there are things in place to protect both parties. It’s a lot better than shipping someone a piece and then waiting an eternity for them to never send you a check. Or, to buy a dress when the buyer tells you they’ll have it to you in a week and it never arrives…see what I mean. This is important.
The ease of the transaction is vital. The backend of any web transaction is extremely complex, but they are designed to be secure and smooth. If it’s not, don’t use it. For me, e-bay is super confusing. I’ve sent 2 cell phones out to buyers on eBay before they confirmed the purchase and one didn’t even want it…not e-bay’s fault, but I jumped in too soon and didn’t know what I was doing. So, be sure you are comfortable with the site, the process, and the payments before committing to anything.
Finally, your timing is crucial. Don’t post something on a site if you aren’t able to ship it when someone buys it. Like, if you’re going out of town for 2 weeks or you have the flu or it’s tech week for your dance school, it’s gonna be tough to watch your email for questions and purchases. Be ready for someone to buy it – cleaned, packaged, and prepared to ship immediately.
At the bottom of this post, I’ve included a list of 10 websites and several Facebook groups for you to consider when buying or selling used wardrobe. There are consignment shops, e-bay types, and even wardrobe rental options. I haven’t used any of these myself so I can’t speak from personal experience on these, but I know that it has worked for lots of my pageant sisters. Just, please do your due diligence to vet these to make sure it’s right for you. It’s definitely a fun experience to see someone in the same gorgeous gown you only wore once. It makes you want to cheer for them extra loud!
And, that, ladies is how you win a pageant.
Resale Websites:
- Pageant Resale.com
- Crown Formals
- The Glass Slipper
- My Pageant Rental
- Pageant Rack
- AliExpress
- PoshMark
- Rent the Runway
- TBDress
Resale Facebook Groups & Pages:
- Pageant Upcycle
- Jovani, MacDuggal, Sherri Hill, Tony Bowls, La Femme Pageant Resale
- “Go Bling Yourself” Pageant Resale
- Pageant-Prom Resale
- Pageant Resale Clothing
Resale Sites for Young Pageant Girls:
Contact Information
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