Selling Your Vintage Items Online

Being a thrift store addict for over 20 years, I have collected many vintage items. From my favorite vintage wool plaid blazer, to my husband's attic full of old books, to the art deco lamp in our living room, we have a ton of experience with vintage and antique items. I do wear vintage on a daily basis, and most of the times it's an old piece of jewelry that seems to make my outfit "pop". There are some things, however, that I buy strictly to resell, and reselling at a profit is the tricky part.

There are quite a few websites dedicated to selling vintage, and I have had some success with them. I will fill you in on two of them, with which you may already be familiar. But the topic here is not where to sell your vintage items, but a few little tricks on how to get them seen on the world wide web, and ultimately, how to sell them.

Let's start with one of the most popular websites for vintage, Etsy.com. Etsy is a unique marketplace, and is certainly a feast for the eyes. Just click on their homepage and the colors and dreaminess are untouched by any other. The website is made up of artists and vintage sellers only. Etsy is not an auction site, where potential buyers place bids, but rather a marketplace. You simply register, set-up your shop, and begin filling it with all of your goodies. The trick is to get people to come in and see your specific site. Networking is the key.

Naturally, eBay is an option for listing your vintage goods. However, items seem to sell for lower than acceptable prices, lately. Also, their fees can get expensive. It is good to have a lot of items listed at once, so that your potential buyer will have the option of "browsing". Listing just one vintage item won't get you very far - the person shopping will click on your item, find that it's not exactly what they are looking for, and with no other option, will wander away. Listing, for example, 25 different items at the same time is a better way to go. You'll get a more varied audience of shoppers and hopefully, everything you list will end with a successful winning bidder. One downfall to eBay is that it has become overcrowded with sellers. It is difficult to get your item seen in the vast sea of eBay. That's where networking and standing out from the crowd come in. How do you do that, you ask? Well...

Your one-of-a-kind vintage ball gown may certainly be special and worth a lot of money. It may be rare, in mint condition or made by a popular designer of the time. It may also get lost in the pile of other vintage gowns, and that's where details come in to play. What is it that sets yours apart from the rest? Is it the price, the condition, the maker, your photos? Right! Photos are the KEY...make sure you have many (at least 4 or 5) clear photos showing your item. The more photos you have the better. Check out other seller's photos and compare. A photo can say more than your description, if it is clear and shows the relevant points of your item. Labels, hemlines, soles, interiors, all of that matters to vintage buyers. Don't shortchange yourself by being frugal with your photos. In the end, your photos could sell your item for you! Especially, check out the vintage sellers on Etsy. They have some of the best photography that I've seen of vintage items. Very creative, very unique, and very crisp and clean. In 9 times out of 10, the photo sells the item! .

Blogging is a popular activity. There are many free blogging websites, that will help you set up your own space on the world wide web, allowing you to share your opinions, thoughts, creativity, advice, pretty much anything you are into. There are many beautiful blogs about vintage, and most of these resellers have regular giveaways and freebies. Simply sign up to follow their blog, and check in daily or weekly. Usually Mondays are a good day to see what's new on the blogs - advice, Etsy alerts, what's hot in vintage, etc. You can hook up with these vintage resellers via Twitter. Just start following and tweeting, and soon you'll find just how many successful and devoted vintage resellers are out there, just like you!

Twitter is an amazing connection tool. It is free and simple to use. Post your listings daily, and watch your "hits" grow. I get such pleasure out of tweeting a link to one of my items, either on Etsy or eBay, and then going right back to that listing and seeing the number of viewers skyrocket! It is very rewarding, knowing that your efforts are being fruitful. It is especially useful if you are trying to sell an item that may be a hard sell, or a unique item that not many people are searching for. Twitter gets the word out! Also, there is a wonderful network of vintage sellers who use Twitter daily. They are a great group to connect with, and will even "retweet" your listings for you! If you're just a part-time seller, such as myself, I recommend tweeting your listings once a day.

Facebook is a great site to use to gain followers and to show off your listings. Create a page for your Etsy or eBay shop, and post your listings daily. Then go back to Twitter and tweet your Facebook link! It's all about getting your items seen. If no one sees your gorgeous vintage pieces, no one will be able to buy them .

Tweeting a link to a Treasury  http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d3cdfb627498eef12c35056/black-and-white-winter   that you're included in, and posting it to your Facebook page, are two smart moves. This let's your potential buyers and followers/friends know that others love your item and have included it in a collection made by them. To help spread the word, using Twitter and Facebook are free, and reach a broad audience (one you have followers/friends). This will eventually bring you closer to the sale. Networking and marketing are the two most essential elements in driving traffic to your item. Twitter and Facebook are both excellent, free venues. Take advantage of them.

It does seem overwhelming at first, but once you get in the groove, you'll take advantage of these and other opportunities. And, if you have a success story that you would like to share, please email me - I would love to hear from you!

.