Selling on Depop is about to get much easier and, well, more profitable. Starting July 18, the online resale platform will drop seller fees for all Unites States users, a change that happened for United Kingdom sellers earlier this year. This update will remove the 10% charge that historically came with selling items through the app.
The brand says it's offsetting the cost via a small marketplace fee when you shop, which went into effect on July 15. According to a press release “the marketplace fee will support continued investment across the Depop marketplace including in Depop Protection, customer support, platform improvements and growing the community.” Some of those improvements include better and more tailored search, easier listing options, and post boosting, according to the platform.
This update is, of course, intended to bring in more sellers to the platform (which already boasts approximately 35 million registered users) and in turn, much more clothing. “We want to invite as many people as possible into Depop’s circular fashion community, and we’ll achieve that by making the experience easier, more rewarding and more inspiring than ever," Kruti Patel Goyal, Depop CEO, said in a press release.
In 2018, the EPA estimated that “the recycling rate for textiles in clothing and footwear was 13 percent.” A staggeringly low number when you consider that many of the textiles we buy are ending up in landfill or shipped to the Global South. So more options to extend the life of clothes are important to consider, even if there are some barriers. On Depop especially, there is still some work you need to do to make sure your clothing and accessories find a new home.
Ahead, a few top sellers give their tips for selling and making the most out of your Depop shop.
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“My first suggestion to new Depop users would be to invest in good photography and sustainable, ‘timeless’ product when sourcing. Second, styling and modeling each item makes a big difference for selling items faster and gives your buyer a more curated shopping experience. Third, list items with consistency and be sure to keep your eyes on Depop microtrends — these help inform what a buyer is looking for across the marketplace.”
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“Some of the best advice we can give to any new Depop seller is consistency. We’ve been selling for years, but once we became consistent with posting on Depop, our sales became consistent as well. We make sure to include strong product imagery and write engaging descriptions of our items, which has led our buyers to feel more confident buying from our shop. We are active on the app everyday and make sure to answer any questions our buyers have in a timely matter.”
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“Find what’s true to you and experiment within that. Finding your intersectionalities and diving into what merging them together can look like will lead you to your personal style. Remember, Depop is a true peer-to-peer marketplace so, a lot like social media, it’s easy to find other people within the same world of your interests and style. It can create the opportunity to build connections with people online.”
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“Just have fun with it! That’s the main thing. Source what your eye gravitates to and play around with your profile until the aesthetic [is] right where you want it. When starting out, it’s all about showing who you are and what corner of the platform you want to be a part of. Experiment with different backgrounds, photo angles, and even throw in some models too. Keep uploading and trust that your niche audience will find you!”
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“Don’t be intimidated by other sellers having a large volume of inventory! Start small and work your way up with items you already have in your closet that no longer serve you a purpose. Everyone grows at their own rate! Just be authentically you and the sales will follow."
