Selling Kids’ Clothes on eBay – 10 Winning Tactics

Selling kids’ clothes on eBay might seem like a natural work at home option for a mom like yourself. You might already have closets full of clothes your children have outgrown and you’re ready to clean house. Or, you might already be an eBay shopper of children’s clothing and understand the how online buying, and selling, works. But like all online selling platforms, if you expect to be successful, you need a strategy. For kids clothing, these are the 10 tactics I use.

1. List What Sells

Head over to eBay and look at what already is selling. Enter “kids’ clothing” in the search bar and then scroll down the left-hand sidebar. Click “Condition: Used” and “Show Only: Sold Listings.”

Take note of what is selling and the price those items receive. You will probably notice a lot of name brands and TV and movie themed items. No-name pieces s usually sell for very little (but don’t discount those pieces though because there is something you can do with them and I’ll tell you a little later).

As a tactic, you’ll probably want to concentrate on the name brands because that’s what most moms are looking to purchase. (Use search to look up by brand, to verify.)

2. Keep Sourcing Prices Low, Low, Low

Going along with the above tactic, once you go sourcing you’ll want to keep yours by prices low. Kids clothing doesn’t bring big money. But if you can sell each of those pieces for five times or more your costs, kids clothing can be profitable.

Yard sales have been one of the best places for me to find kids clothing on the cheap. I generally can pick up items for $.50 or Other places I like to shop are at the Goodwill outlet and at thrift stores on 50% off days.

3. Price it Right

Selling kids clothes on eBay is often more about quantity then high, individual prices. 100 sold listings at $4-$5 profit each is still a tidy little some at the end of the month. If you stay in line with what similar items are selling for on eBay you can keep your kids’ clothing line moving out the door.

You should also be looking to getting repeat customers so make sure you are offering good quality and prices. Another thing to keep in mind shipping cost if you are offering free shipping. That will needed to be included in your overall listing. If you provide what they want and need at affordable prices they’ll come back.

One last thing about price. If you decide to use an auction instead of fixed pricing, make sure to start your item at the lowest price you’re willing to accept. eBay keeps pushing the “start your auction at 99 cents for best results,” but I’ve was burned with this idea early on and feel it is no longer viable.

4. Provide Awesome Photos

One of the best things you can do to help your sales, along with the right pricing, is providing lots of photographs. You are allotted 12 photos without paying anything additional when you list on eBay. So use them.

Make sure the items are laid out attractively, your lighting is good and you get lots of details. You don’t need a fancy camera. My choice lately has been my iPhone instead of my 35mm digital camera. So much easier. Here are the areas I like to pay attention to:

• Full shot, front and back
• Brand and size tags
• Close up shots of graphic details
• Details and embellishment
• Buttons, zippers (open and closed), sleeves/cuffs.

5. Supply Lots of Details in the Listing

While photos are your number one selling tool, don’t forget to give lots of details to your buyers. But make it easy to read and understand. I like to use bullet points that include brand, size, special details, and measurements. Just like for my adult clothing that I sell, I add measurements because one brand’s girls size 6X is another brand s’size 8. These are the measurements I include:

• Shoulders: seam-to-seam
• Armpits: seam-to-seam
• Waist (with and without stretch if its elastic)
• Length: shoulders-to-hem (for shirts and dresses)
• Inseams for pants

6. Point Out the Flaws

While most of the time you don’t want to sell items with flaws, sometimes with clothing it happens. It might not matter to some buyers, as long as you point the flaw out in both the details and photos. That one mom who’s been scouring eBay for a vintage Strawberry Shortcake top for her daughter might be perfectly happy to find it has a faded shoulder. After all, she’ll just cover it with a sweater. One time I sold a pair of girls snow pants with a black mark on the knee (that wouldn’t come with washing). But to the mom who bought it during one of coldest winters on record was happy to get it. I discounted the price by a little, but not much, and that might be another option to keep in mind.

One time I sold a pair of girls’ snow pants with a black mark on the knee (that wouldn’t come with washing). But the mom who bought it during one of coldest winters on record was happy to get it. I discounted the price by a little, but not much, and that might be another option to keep in mind.

7. Sell in Lots

Many sellers lot together same size pieces of clothing to sell. Buyers seem to love this option, too. This is an especially good strategy baby and toddler size and when you can get a lot of pieces for cheap. The lot will bring you a bigger profit than selling them individually. It’s also a good way to use some of those no-name brands by combining them in with branded pieces.

8. Coordinate Outfits

Just like selling lots, you can increase your profits by selling matched outfits. And it’s fun to do. It’s another way to use up some of those no-name pieces, too. You might put together a pair of plain pants or shorts with one or two themed tops, such as Batman and Spiderman t-shirts. It ups the saleability factor when you can make the listing abit more unique.

9. Offer Seasonal Clothing

Sometimes changes of seasons come fast and parents aren’t ready. That happens especially with winter clothing. All of a sudden mild weather turns bad and there’s not a winter jacket or a pair of snow pants to be found at the local store. That’s why they turn to eBay. And that’s why you need to be ready. Also, those items, especially winter wear bring the best prices on eBay. Look for those items in the off season when you can pick them up cheaply.

10. Package Everything Up and Have it Ready to Go

While this is not a sales strategy, it will help your sanity when your kids’ clothes finally sell on eBay. Especially if your listing contains multiple items. It also helps you to get it ship fast once it sells and keeping up your fulfillment time is become increasingly important on eBay.

Kids clothing is just one of many categories you can sell in on eBay. And make a very good work from home income.It’s one of my streams of income and one that earned me money fast. For more about selling on eBay, check out eBay For Dummies.

Meanwhile, happy selling,