So, your sack or bale arrives and you're unsure about how to market what's in it to your customers. When authentic vintage clothing has travelled across the world it can look a bit worse for wear. It could have been in transit or storage for years and unfortunately that can make items creased and dusty. The sheer amount of vintage clothing that comes through our doors means we can't prepare garments ready for sale, so it's up to you give them some love, care and attention. A massive part of selling pre-loved garments is to make sure you prep them properly. It goes without saying that a customer will be willing to pay more for a well presented garment, meaning more money in your pocket.

KEEP IT FRESH
You don't need us to tell you that vintage clothing sells best when it's fresh. It's always best to clean and steam your vintage finds; firstly to get rid of any marks or dust and secondly to make sure 'that' vintage smell doesn't linger. It will always work in your favour to provide your customers with freshly laundered clothing.

IRONING THINGS OUT
After laundering your vintage garms there's a chance you'll have to tackle those pesky creases. We totally understand that ironing is a chore we'd all rather avoid but trust us when we tell you how satisfying it is to transform the look of a sweater simply by ironing it. It's totally worth spending some time fixing up your stock so it speaks for itself when you come to photograph it. We find that steaming or ironing is essential and can easily add value and make you more profit. If someone sees an item that is shown as instantly wearable your shop immediately becomes more marketable and professional. 

PICTURE PERFECT
One of the most important aspects of selling is presentation and marketability. You've already jumped through one hoop by making a garment look it's best, now to make sure that translates through your photographs. Following a few simple steps can give you consistency which is vital to building your brand image.

To create a consistant theme throughout your shop we recommend a solid white background. This makes it super easy to lay out clothing and makes a perfectly clean backdrop for your photographs. We'd recommend using a Foamex board which you should be able to pick up from your local sign fitting company cut to size for next to nothing. We get great results from using an iPhone camera which also makes it really easy using the 'square' size setting to create images that are Instagram or Depop ready. A 'vivid' filter gives your photos a great finish and keeps them looking vibrant without taking away from those details you want to show off. Using these techniques on every post keeps things consistent and gives your business that put together vibe.

You've gone to the effort of making sure your stock is looking fire so it's worth taking the time to get some photos that do it justice. The white board helps massively with this but being meticulous with the positioning of the items and the camera angles gives it that edge. Avoid creating shadows by holding the camera high and highlight any details that will draw attention. If something is branded make sure the customer can see it, if there is a statement detail make sure it's in eye shot. 

Lots of sellers use models to show off items which is a great way to show how things look being worn. Do consider though, that this could limit your market audience. If your feed is filled with clothes being worn by male models, you could inadvertently deter female customers. This is another reason why a neutral background is a great way to display your stock as it can widen your customer base and help make you more sales. 

GET SELLING GUYS!!