Styling Photos on Poshmark, eBay and Etsy

Selling items online has become more and more popular! The benefits of a flexible schedule, working from home, being your own boss, building your own business, plus so many others are what keep online selling an attractive option. And truly, anyone can do it regardless of education, talent, work history and numerous other criteria that "Corporate America" looks for.

I had posted last year about the differences between selling on eBay and selling on Poshmark. It was actually my most popular post! People navigate the internet to find more information about how to start selling online, and I am asked constantly about how to do it. So, this post is going to discuss how to style your photos to make them more attractive, more enticing, and ultimately...to help them sell!! After all, isn't that the ultimate goal! I am not a professional photographer, but you don't need to be either. These pictures were all taken with my cellphone, and edited with free online apps. All of the items included in them have sold except for a few so far. Hopefully with these ideas, your items will sell too!

The following are a pair of Anne Klein Boots. It can be hard to position them in a picture without trying to stand them up. However, why not just lay them down! People can visualize the heel height, the shaft height and the overall look. Remember however, to always include these measurements in your listing! I use a piece of white Mongolian fur as a backdrop, that I purchased from Joann Fabrics for $20. I edited the image with a free app called "PS Express" which is an Adobe product. It is my favorite app and I love the frames on it. Plus, I can easily adjust color and brightness, and so many other key features.

The following are a pair of Men's Tommy Bahama sandals. I took this picture on a hardwood floor and added some other men's items to it for some added "flair"!

Since we are on the subject of shoes, here are a pair of Vintage Justin Roper Boots. They are a little beat up and worn (which a lot of people actually prefer!) and so I edited the picture to have a bit of an "old time" haze to it. I placed the boots on top of a similar color trunk I have in my house.

Next up is a beautiful Ellen Tracy Maxi Dress. Due to the length, it can be a bit challenging to get a good picture. But, I laid it down on the Mongolian fur again, added some shoes and a hat for flair, and stood as far back as I could to get the whole dress in the picture. This was edited with a free app called "Pic Collage" but I still prefer the "PS Express" app.

The following dress is by Max Studio. It is absolutely stunning, but without a dress form to display it on, it would not look near as beautiful! It is a simple and very straight dress that needs to be shown on a dress form. Definitely invest in one! I bought mine on Craigslist under the "Arts and Crafts" heading for $60. You can also buy them at Marshalls, TJ Maxx, Homegoods and other places. However, make sure to buy a plain one in a neutral color!! Otherwise, it will look too "busy" and actually take away from the item you are trying to sell!

It is almost swimsuit season! Let me tell you, they sell very well! Just make sure they are new or at least, like new. I also do better with one-piece suits for my clientele. So, consider who you are selling to before you invest in swimwear inventory! I LOVE to style them on top of my Mongolian fur piece, and with a hat and sandals! This is a Vintage look suit that was a big seller for me. It is by "Sports Fashion" which I had actually never heard of before. But, what an adorable design! I used the Pic Collage app to frame it with a feminine, vintage look pink border. This suit sold in a few days!

If you have kids, you already know that they outgrow their clothes fast! My son is no exception. Plus...like most boys, he HATES to dress up! But, many moms still look for dressy clothes, regardless. So, I pulled together 3 of his very nice dress shirts by Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger. I folded them neatly and positioned them attractively together. This was the first picture in my Poshmark listing. I made sure to include another with the shirts opened.

Taking pictures of jewelry can be very challenging! There is so much detail and it is often hard to get clear, bright images that truly showcase each piece. These are Swarovski Hoop Earrings that are stunning! They are placed on a wine glass near a bright window. I didn't take this picture, but it would be easy to do. The image is very simple as you definitely want to keep the focus on the jewelry, not the background!

This is an Ed Hardy wallet that is so cute. The colors are very earthy and there is a lot going on (as is common with Ed Hardy :-) )! I positioned it on a floral centerpiece that I have on top of my kitchen table. It gets great sunlight there. I loved the colors complimenting each other!

Pants are another hard item to photograph. These are 2 pairs of Express Capri pants that are too cute! The plaid is great, and since they are exactly alike (except for colors), I decided to sell them together. I folded them in half at an angle and it works wonderfully! I do this with all of my pants. Since you can post multiple pictures, I do make sure to show a picture of them opened up as well.

These are absolutely stunning vintage gloves that I sold on Etsy! They are on top of my dining room table as I really like my table runner as a backdrop. The floral centerpiece also adds some nice dimension!

Makeup can be challenging, especially lipstick. I wanted to show the tubes, but I also wanted people to see the colors as well. So, I stood them up (which took some balancing alright!) on top of my Mongolian Fur backdrop again. I angled the photo nicely and shot the photo from the side. It is edited with the free Pic collage app once again.

Scarves do sell! But, it makes a HUGE difference how they are displayed. Here again, you really need to invest in a dress form. It truly makes all the difference! This pretty scarf is by New York & Company. I love the polka dots and apparently, so did everyone else as it sold very fast!

The next item is one of my most favorite Vintage purses that I sold on Etsy. It is a tiny purse with gorgeous leopard detailing at the top. I laid it flat on top of a chair I had in the dining room and it worked just great!

Next up is a beautiful Nicole Miller Tote that I placed on my dress form. Again...this is another reason you need a dress form! I actually take most of my larger handbag photos with it. It allows the bag to be positioned well and also allows the viewer to see most of its detail. I used the PS Express app to edit the color, brightness, and to also add a frame. I like a very clean image and this is what that app does! On another note, this is taken in my office. The color on the wall is my favorite paint color by Sherwin Williams called "Tinsmith". I actually have another earlier post in this blog about that color...check it out http://asinglesupermom.blogspot.com/2014/03/my-love-hate-relationship-with-paint.html

Lastly, here is an absolutely precious Santa Dress! It is laid flat on top of my Mongolian Fur backdrop and I added a bow from one of my Christmas packages :-). It looked cute with the dress, so I thought I'd add it for some flair! This dress was also a popular item. Just make sure to list it in late October or so, because you want to always remember to list your items during the right seasons for better sales opportunities!

Hopefully these photos will give you some ideas about how to style your items. There are so many options out there! Be creative, and add your own touch. Just remember, don't make your background so busy that it steals from the actual items you are trying to sell!!! If you have any questions at all, leave a comment and I will be happy to answer them. Happy Selling!!

eBay Verses Poshmark?

I am often asked about my experience selling online. Though I've been an eBay Top-Rated Seller for 16 years and have had very positive experiences (for the most part) during that time, I've recently discovered Poshmark, and I must say, I love it! Though Poshmark is not as "user-friendly" as eBay, I've still been very pleased with my experience and actually prefer it to eBay.

I have been both a seller, and a buyer on eBay. Much has changed over the years as eBay strives to refine its practices and policies. The feedback system was a pioneer in the eCommerce industry when it first rolled out, and has since been copied by many other online selling sites. It partners with Paypal which makes things even smoother, and the buyer protection programs in place are phenomenal. I have often thought that the seller protection could be better, but for the most part, it works.

There are many aspects of eBay that I find "user-friendly". I will be talking about some of them now and hopefully it will shed light on the subject for those of you still perplexed about how to sell. There are many tutorials on there that will help "newbies" get started. Once you create your first auction template, you can save it to be used for future auctions...easy! You can either post from your computer, or if preferred, your mobile device. It takes a little longer than Poshmark to create your auction, but it also has more information available for potential buyers to see. They also have a Global Shipping Program that is available to experienced sellers with top ratings. This is a great feature as it allows you to sell to people all over the world, yet eBay handles the difficulty of greater shipping costs and customs forms. You are able to sell a multitude of items verses only ladies fashion items and cosmetics as Poshmark states (new update 3/5/17 is that Posh now allows mens items, and kids items). Believe me, I do see many "unsupported" items for sale on Poshmark, but it is because the moderators haven't caught them yet. The community is growing so fast, it is practically impossible. As far as fees go, they are both just about the same. Posh charges a flat 20% commission on all of your sales, unless it is under $15 and then it is $2.95 per sale. eBay has a tiered commission structure based on final sale price. They also stick you with Paypal fees, but they are minimal. I must say, I love that Poshmark generates a shipping label for you and you just print and ship. It costs the buyer $5.95 and sometimes that is quite high if it is just 1 item (new update 3/5/17 reflects a higher shipping cost of $6.95), however, other times it is a super deal! eBay definitely has more tools in place to fight against fraud and poor behavior. I have had lots of success when I call them directly and share my issue. Posh, on the other hand, has nothing like that and it can be very frustrating. They have an email address, but it takes several days to get a response, and often times the response is fairly general. You can message buyers directly on eBay, but you can only leave public comments on Posh directly under a seller's listing. Search tools on eBay are 100% better than Posh as you can filter items by price, color, location, etc. This saves tons of time!

Ok, now I will share some things about Poshmark. Actually, many of these tips can apply to eBay as well. There are so many things to share and it is hard to cover it all in this short blog post! Before I started selling (which was just the end of Januray 2016) I'd read all kinds of reviews about it. I must say, had I just gone by what I read, I never would have started my closet on there! The reviews were horrific! But, many times people only post the negatives about something. I've seen that happen numerous times, even when I had my own retail store. Well, I LOVE Poshmark. I might not like some aspects, but just like a relationship, you accept the good with the bad :-). In the few months I have been selling, I've sold almost $1500 worth of items, have top ratings, and am one of their top 10% sellers! (New update 3/5/17 reflects a selling total of $8000 and still a Top Rated Seller!). This has been an exciting journey. It's been equally exciting to sell my "previously loved" items, and be able to use that cash to purchase new loves! I have gotten some fantastic deals and have met some amazing ladies. These are a few things I have learned, however, that have helped my sales and have given me valuable experience:

1. You MUST "follow" others, "like" other items, and continually add items to your closet, or at least "bump" up items frequently. It is all about "engagement" as this boosts your sales tremendously!

2. Take very clear, bright, uncluttered and as professional as possible pictures. People want to see things as if they were looking in a store catalog, not a garage sale ad.

3. Research your items before you list them! Look at what other 'Poshers" are selling them for, and price yours accordingly. Remember, people want deals! Don't be too greedy with your items, and be willing to negotiate!

4. Make sure you list your items as accurately as possible (note flaws, stains, rips, etc). Just like eBay, this will come back to bite you if you don't!

5. Link your closet to Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, Tumbler, etc. This will boost your sales incredibly! You can also add a handy "closet widget" as I have on the first page of my blog that shows items you currently have for sale and will update in real time.(New update 3/5/17 shows that about 70% of my sales are from buyers who have seen my items through social media)!

6. Sort your closet as often as needed to bump "for sale" items to the top, and keep the "sold" items on the bottom. Buyers will appreciate this.

7. Don't list junk and old styles! Ladies prefer current designer labels and not things you can find at Walmart, etc. or that are more than a few years old.

8. Ship your items out within a couple of days. No one likes to wait a long time for you to finally send them their things.

8. Tag the buyer under the posted item they just purchased and thank them for the sale, also letting them know when it will be shipped.

9. ALWAYS have a "bundle discount"! You will DEFINITELY sell more this way. I do 20% off 2 or more items, and sometimes extend that deeper to change things up a bit. (New update 3/5/17 is Poshmark now allows buyers to create bundles and make an offer on it. I have sold quite a bit because of this as well).

10. Don't list items in your closet that are not Poshmark supported. Make sure you are clear about this beforehand. Take time to read the rules and best practices.

11. Pack your sold items carefully and with a nice touch. Wrap them in tissue paper, and include a handwritten thank you. You can throw in a "gift with purchase" too. You will get repeat customers this way for sure!

12. Make sure your items are clean with no odors like smoke or pet smells...AGH!!

13. Don't immediately reject an offer even if it is a lowball offer. I have had to learn this, as I initially would get annoyed and just hit "reject"! I've learned to always counter-offer, because many times they will accept it.

14. Make your closet appealing to the eye. I actually have mine color coordinated (my home closet is like that :-)). Ladies have commented on how much they like to see it this way.

15. Participate in Posh Parties and add your related closet items to them accordingly. This will also boost sales!

16. Follow others who have "liked" the same items you have. They will usually follow you back, and they will then be able to see styles that are similar in your own closet (provided you have some).

Well, I could keep going on and on, but hopefully these tips and this feedback will be helpful for now. Feel free to post any questions and I am happy to answer them (to the best of my knowledge). I wish you the best in your selling whether it is on eBay or Poshmark!!