In 2008, the movie “27 Dresses” was a successful romantic comedy tackling an important issue; the clutter you must deal with after attending your friends’ weddings.
Having multiple bridesmaids’ dresses in your closet isn’t uncommon, and the worst thing is that you can’t reuse them for other occasions. So, they occupy precious space, and you’re not gaining anything in return. Does this sound familiar?
You’re in luck if you wonder how to resell bridesmaids’ dresses for a profit. Our team will explain how to make money from reselling formal gowns that are no longer needed.
- Is it Possible to Resell Dresses?
- What is the Value of Dresses?
- Things to Consider When Reselling Dresses
- Where to Resell Dresses
- What You’ll Need to Resell Dresses
- How To Resell Dresses: Step-By-Step Instructions
- Can You Make Money Flipping Dresses?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Similar Tutorials to Check Out
- Wrapping Up
Is it Possible to Resell Dresses?
Being part of your friend’s special day takes a lot of effort. Some websites like Wedding Bee offer great help to make you the best assistant to the bride on her special day.
After this happy occasion, you get to keep the dress, but you don’t have to keep it forever.
Reselling dresses isn’t only a smart decision to declutter, but it’s a good way to make some cash. If you’re a woman with an average group of friends, you probably have more than one bridesmaid dress you no longer need.
In addition, you might have your prom dresses, wedding dress, and other formal gowns that you can no longer wear.
What Kinds of Dresses Sell Well?
Most types of formal dresses sell well. This includes wedding dresses, bridesmaids’ dresses, prom dresses, engagement dresses, and cocktail dresses.
The dress has to be of decent quality because no one will buy a beaten-up dress when there are plenty of good models on the market. You should also make sure that it seems like a bargain to potential buyers, or you might not be able to resell it.
What is the Value of Dresses?
Dresses’ value is determined by several factors, including the brand’s name, designer’s name, design’s originality, material, and condition. A high-end haute couture dress will have a higher value than one that you got from a department store.
Do Dresses Lose Value Over Time?
Dresses and other kinds of clothes lose value over time. The deterioration of the material and age of the design can make a dress you bought for a high price sell for a significantly lower one.
Things to Consider When Reselling Dresses
Getting rid of the stuff you no longer need is therapeutic. It helps you make space for new stuff, so you can buy new things and get rid of items that are too old or no longer fit.
Some people can recycle old bridesmaids’ dresses, but if you’ve worn yours to attend a theme wedding, it might not be possible. In this case, you can resell it for cash after considering the following point.
1. Fabric and Design
Some vintage designs become more valuable with time, so if you have one, it will be a good idea to put it up for sale.
The fabric quality and any beadwork done will also make your dress look and feel more expensive. As a result, you’ll be able to sell it for a decent price. Bad stitching or worn-out fabric won’t be appealing.
2. Dress’s Condition
Waiting too long before you sell a dress might not be the best idea. Even if you no longer wear it, the fabric and sequin can deteriorate with time, so your dress won’t look appealing even if it was only worn once.
3. Repairs and Alternations
If you have had your dress altered for the wedding to suit your height or body, you should return it to its original status. This will encourage more people to buy it, so they can customize it to fit better.
You should also examine the dress thoroughly to see if there are any tears, holes, or stains.
A lot can go on on a wedding day, and you might have accidentally torn a part of it or spilled a drink on your dress. It’s crucial to attend to these issues before you put up the dress for sale.
4. Market Trends
Fashion experts say that fashion repeats itself every 20 to 30 years. So, you should keep an eye on fashion shows, TikTok, Instagram, and other online platforms to see what’s trending. A dress that your mother wore 30 years ago might be stylish and in high demand.
5. Current Prices
The price you paid years ago for a dress isn’t that significant when it’s time to resell it. You should study the market to see the average prices and set your dress’s price accordingly.
A ready-made dress you bought from a store will be more affordable than a designer dress. Special-request dresses might be more expensive but might not sell well because they’re unique.
Where to Resell Dresses
Although some people head to consignment shops, online marketplaces are easier and more accessible if you want to dress a special occasion or wedding dress.
You can resell used dresses on various online marketplaces and platforms to gain profit. When choosing a suitable platform, consider several factors, like the number of potential clients, ease of use, and security of payments.
1. Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace is currently one of the biggest online platforms. As part of the Meta experience, you can link your listings to a Facebook Page or Group and have a loyal following of brides and bridesmaids.
What Makes This Option Great
The potential reach of Facebook Ads is 2.11 billion users, meaning that at least several million interested buyers will see any dress you post.
The payment system is secure, so there’s no risk of scamming, and the platform is easy to use, encouraging more people to check it out when looking for second-hand or used dresses.
- Fees: Facebook has a standard charging system, where each seller pays 5% of the shipment price. If the dress you’re selling costs less than $8, you’ll pay a flat charge of $0.40.
- Payment Methods: Facebook listings are free of charge. Shipment fees can be paid using credit cards, debit cards, or PayPal.
2. Craigslist
Craigslist is the number one option for people who want to declutter because listing used items is straightforward and doesn’t take much time. It’s an affordable and fast way to sell your used dresses and make some decent cash in return.
What Makes This Option Great
If you want to start a reselling business where you resell formal gowns, this platform can work for you.
It doesn’t charge anything for listings, but you can pay $25 to make your ad more visible. This is how Craigslist makes money and can help you reach a bigger audience.
- Fees: Normal listings are free.
- Payment Methods: No payment is needed.
3. eBay
If you already have an eBay account, you can list your used dresses for free and get some money in return. It lets you list your items in the auction-style or Buy It Now format. So, you can get the best price for your old dresses.
As a new seller, you’ll have limits on the number of items you can list every month.
New sellers are limited to listing 10 items with an overall value of $500 in sales every month. But these numbers keep changing, so you should check out the platform regularly to see if you can list more items.
What Makes This Option Great
eBay is a good choice for first-time users because the interface is straightforward. You also gain access to many potential buyers who might be interested in buying your clothes.
- Fees: If you’re sticking to the free account and its limits, you won’t have to pay anything to list your bridesmaids’ dresses. After listing 250 items, you’ll be charged $0.35 per listing. Most transaction fees are around 13.25% of the final price or a flat rate of $0.30 per order.
- Payment Methods: Your fees will be deducted from the payout.
What You’ll Need to Resell Dresses
Whether you have a pre-loved bridal gown or a party dress you want to sell for a profit, you’ll need to do the following things.
- Examine your dress for any tears, stains, or holes to have it fixed before putting it up for sale.
- Dry-clean your dress to ensure it’s germs-free for the next person to buy.
- Hire a professional photographer or take professional photos of your dress. Dresses always look better on models, so ask a friend or hire a model to show the dress’s elegance.
- Have the dress wrapped to be shipped.
- Study the market to assess the dress’s price compared to similar store items.
- Choose a platform to offer your bridesmaid dress for sale.
- Ship your dress to the buyer.
How To Resell Dresses: Step-By-Step Instructions
If you’ve decided to get rid of old special-occasion dresses, you should follow these steps.
1. Get Your Dress Ready
This includes cleaning the dress and fixing any holes. Alterations might make your dress harder to sell, so consider returning it to its original state. Take your dress to the laundry to have it dry-cleaned and take professional photos to show its elegance and beauty.
2. Study The Market
Before listing a dress for sale, you should study market trends to see if it’s worth the effort. Some old dresses can be in high demand, while others would be useless to sell. You can see the price of similar dresses to choose a fair price for yours.
3. Pick a Platform
After evaluating the pros and cons of each online marketplace, you should pick one to list your used dresses. The sale price should include any transaction or shipping fees to guarantee that you have a good profit.
4. Ship Your Dress
Choosing a reliable platform to sell your dresses guarantees that the process will be easy for you and the buyer. After receiving your money, you should ship the dress and ensure it arrives in good condition, as this will help build your reputation as a professional reseller of wedding items and formalwear.
Can You Make Money Flipping Dresses?
You can make money flipping old dresses by finding good deals and selling formalwear for a profit. Many people are unaware of the treasures in their closets, and if you can get suitable dresses, you can make some cash reselling them.
What is a Dresses Resale Business?
This is a good business idea that might suit you if you have several formal dresses you don’t need or have access to them. The idea is to get good-quality yet affordable dresses that people no longer need and then clean and restore them to sell them for a reasonable price.
Is Reselling Dresses a Good Way to Make Money?
Flipping dresses can be a good side hustle because people always look for elegant yet affordable items. Formalwear can be expensive, and if a bridesmaid is looking for a dress to wear only once, she wouldn’t want to pay a lot of cash.
Old dresses won’t sell for the same price you paid when you first got them. So, if you’re trying to resell your formal gown for a higher price, you’ll fail. Yet, it’s better than having several dresses in your closet that no one uses.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who Traditionally Buys the Bridesmaid Dresses?
Traditionally, the bridesmaid herself or her parents pay for the dress. Yet, some brides and even grooms prefer to pay for these special gowns.
They want to make things easier for their friends, so they wouldn’t want them to endure the extra cost. If a bride mentions nothing, then the bridesmaid will pay for her dress, and she also gets to keep it.
Is it Normal for the Bridesmaids to Buy Their Dresses?
Bridesmaids typically buy their dresses as they get to keep them at the end. Some brides choose to make things easier for their bridesmaids, so they pay for them instead.
Similar Tutorials to Check Out
Selling old stuff that you don’t need is an intelligent decision. Here are some excellent ideas to try out.
- Resell Bridesmaid Dresses: If you’re a bride and you have the dresses you bought for your bridesmaids, you can resell them after the wedding.
- Resell Engagement Rings: If you have access to old wedding or engagement rings that people no longer need, they can represent a lucrative opportunity for someone looking to buy an affordable one.
- Reselling Supreme: Supreme Streetwear is in high demand, and you can resell your old items for a profit.
Wrapping Up
After a special occasion, there’s no need to keep old dresses for years. You can resell engagement, wedding, and bridesmaids’ dresses for a decent price and use the new free space.
If you know someone struggling with the clutter in their closet, don’t forget to share this article with them. We would like to hear what you think in the comments section.
