Reselling Bridesmaids Dresses

Do you have a closet full of bridesmaid’s dresses that you can never wear again? They just sit in the back of your closet, hiding away from the spotlight.

Then, your closet may be a treasure trove. Did you know that people are willing to pay top dollar for pre-owned garments?

If that piques your interest, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about reselling bridesmaid’s dresses.

We’ll cover the benefits and drawbacks of the venture, and some details of the selling process.

An Overview of Reselling Bridesmaids Dresses: A Primer

One of the best aspects of being part of a wedding party is getting to wear a bridesmaid’s dress. Yet, after spending the evening with all your friends taking pictures, you won’t be able to wear the garment again anytime soon.

So, you stick it in the back of your closet, hoping to get the chance to take it out for one more outing.

Sadly, the opportunity may never come. After a few weddings, your wardrobe will look like a shrine to past events.

If you’ve ever seen the movie “27 Dresses”, then you know exactly what we’re talking about.

For that reason, instead of letting the clothes gather dust, you can try to make a profit off of them.

That’s because there are many people willing to pay for second-hand bridesmaid dresses. So, reselling clothing can be an exceptionally lucrative gig.

How Much Can Reselling Bridesmaid Dresses Earn You?

According to Statista, the global second-hand apparel market was worth $177 billion in 2022. Luckily, that means it’s a massive industry, with plenty of opportunities up for grabs.

This is especially true when it comes to bridesmaid gowns and wedding dresses. That’s because these garments can cost an arm and a leg.

On top of that, most of the time you can only wear them once, on a wedding day. So, people from all over the country will look for pre-owned bridesmaid gowns and wedding dresses that they can get at a bargain.

For that reason, you should have no issues finding potential buyers. Yet, your earning potential will depend on the dress for sale you have available.

That’s because some designs are much more desirable than others. Plus, buyers will pay close attention to the brand name of the gowns.

So, if you can get your hands on a few designer dresses, chances are your profit margins will skyrocket.

Here are some of the most popular bridesmaid dress designers:

• Marchesa
• ASOS
• Adrianna Papell
• Hayley Paige
• Amsale
• Jenny Yoo

How Much Does it Cost to Start a Side Hustle Reselling Bridesmaids Dresses?

Just like launching any company, there are a few expenses associated with starting a resale business.

The cost of launching a bridesmaid dress side hustle can vary based on a few factors. For starters, you should think about storage expenses.

If you have a large catalog of dresses, you’ll need a safe facility to store them.

Other than that, there may be repair and alterations expenses. Since you’re selling pre-owned gowns, you’ll need to make adjustments to ensure it fits the buyer.

Besides that, it’s a good idea to invest in a professional camera. This will help you take high-quality images of the gowns to make selling them easier.

Finally, you have to take packaging and shipping costs into account. You’ll need special garment bags that can protect the dress while they’re in transit.

Where Can You Resell Bridesmaid Dresses?

Selling bridesmaid gowns and wedding dresses should be a walk in the park. Not only are there plenty of potential buyers, but you can also sell the gowns in many ways.

In this section, we’ll cover where you can resell the dresses.

Where to Independently Resell Bridesmaids Dresses

If you want to launch this side hustle on your own, there are a couple of ways you can go about doing that.

First up, you may choose to sell your dresses to second-hand stores or consignment shops. It’s fast and you can get cash for your gowns on the spot.

Yet, chances are you won’t get a fair sale price for the dresses. The retailer will probably pay you well under market value.

So, to maximize your profits, you can opt for an auction house. They’ll allow people to bid on your gowns and the highest sale price wins.

Finally, you can also opt for selling clothes online.

Gig Economy Companies That Help Resell Bridesmaids Dresses

Starting a resale business from scratch can be incredibly time-consuming. So, if you’d like to begin making money as soon as possible, consider joining a gig economy company.

It’s a business that can help you find potential buyers for your bridesmaid dresses. Thankfully, there are plenty of options for you to choose from.

For example, many people opt for reselling on eBay. That’s because the platform has millions of active users and boasts an auction service.

Other than that, you can try Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. However, it can take a while to sell your gowns on these platforms.

For that reason, it may be best to use a service that specializes in fancy apparel. You can try selling on Poshmark or the Vestiaire Collective.

Although, these platforms may charge you a listing fee and a payment processing fee.

Why You Should Consider Reselling Bridesmaid Dresses As a Side Hustle

There are several benefits to reselling bridesmaid dresses. Here are a few of the most notable advantages:

• Frees Up Space: One of the biggest benefits is that you get to clear out your closet of dresses you’ll never wear.
• High Demand: Since there’s a high demand for used bridesmaid gowns, you should have no issues finding buyers.
• Low-Effort: Once you list your dresses online, you won’t have to do much to keep the business running.

Problems With Reselling Bridesmaid Dresses for Money

Unfortunately, there are a few common issues with reselling bridesmaid dresses. Here are the top disadvantages:

• Preference-Based: People usually have specific requirements when it comes to bridesmaid gowns. So, if no one likes a particular dress for sale, it can sit on your shelf for months.  
• Inconsistent Income: With this side hustle, it’ll be tough to gauge your potential monthly earnings.
• Limited Inventory: Since you’re selling pre-owned gowns, you won’t have each dress in many sizes and colors. This may mean you can’t close every sale.

Frequently Asked Questions