Over the past few years, I've been working on being more conscious about what is in my wardrobe + how much I really need. This has involved listing my pieces by category, observing what I wear, creating small monthly wardrobes, + letting go...all the while noting my comfort with the numbers + variety.
As the numbers have steadily gotten smaller, I've noted how this impacts my ability to focus on buying fair replacement pieces + also how it feels to my mind. Thrifting is always my preference when replacement becomes necessary since that clothing already exists. Budget is a consideration as newly made fair pieces often cost more in order to fairly compensate farmers + garment workers.
Working toward 25 (since August) mainly meant letting go of a few pieces that were then considered superfluous. Selling those pieces via eBay or etsy serves two purposes to my mind.
1. It is one way to get those pieces into the hands of someone who will use them (rather than ending up in a landfill or destroying a third world economy).
2. I earn a little money toward future purchases.
There has been some interest in the specifics of my budget, so I thought I'd really pull back the curtain + share...weird as that feels. (And it feels weird...vulnerable. I've debating posting this for weeks.) Needless to say, we are all individuals + this is just me right now. I am certain that next year, I will not have such a long list of items to sell (if any), because my fabric stash + my closet will not be this bloated thanks to the list.
As the numbers have steadily gotten smaller, I've noted how this impacts my ability to focus on buying fair replacement pieces + also how it feels to my mind. Thrifting is always my preference when replacement becomes necessary since that clothing already exists. Budget is a consideration as newly made fair pieces often cost more in order to fairly compensate farmers + garment workers.
Working toward 25 (since August) mainly meant letting go of a few pieces that were then considered superfluous. Selling those pieces via eBay or etsy serves two purposes to my mind.
1. It is one way to get those pieces into the hands of someone who will use them (rather than ending up in a landfill or destroying a third world economy).
2. I earn a little money toward future purchases.
There has been some interest in the specifics of my budget, so I thought I'd really pull back the curtain + share...weird as that feels. (And it feels weird...vulnerable. I've debating posting this for weeks.) Needless to say, we are all individuals + this is just me right now. I am certain that next year, I will not have such a long list of items to sell (if any), because my fabric stash + my closet will not be this bloated thanks to the list.
August ::
sold jumpsuit: +$142.15
sold tank top: +$31.01
sold rust + denim tops: +$80.45
sold rose tee: +$17.21
sold jeans: +$56.65
sold pattern: +$10.45
sold pattern + fabric: +$42.69
sold fabric: +45.00
sold sweater: +$40.00
(all of these prices include estimated shipping)
total :: +465.61
postage paid: -$59.93
eBay + etsy fees: -$26.88
Profit :: $378.80
Bought ::
fair, organic cotton leggings x2
fair, organic cotton intimates
saroulles sewing pattern
total: -$197.74
Balance: $181.06
It's clear that I did my closet clean out this month. The couple of items that didn't sell within a month of being listed on etsy were donated. Toward the end of the month, I listed some items from my sewing stash.
sold jumpsuit: +$142.15
sold tank top: +$31.01
sold rust + denim tops: +$80.45
sold rose tee: +$17.21
sold jeans: +$56.65
sold pattern: +$10.45
sold pattern + fabric: +$42.69
sold fabric: +45.00
sold sweater: +$40.00
(all of these prices include estimated shipping)
total :: +465.61
postage paid: -$59.93
eBay + etsy fees: -$26.88
Profit :: $378.80
Bought ::
fair, organic cotton leggings x2
fair, organic cotton intimates
saroulles sewing pattern
total: -$197.74
Balance: $181.06
It's clear that I did my closet clean out this month. The couple of items that didn't sell within a month of being listed on etsy were donated. Toward the end of the month, I listed some items from my sewing stash.
September::
sold pattern: +$22.68
sold pattern: +$12.48
sold pattern: +$14.42
sold fabric: +$20.74
sold pattern: +$10.58
sold boots: +$63.93
total:: +$144.83
postage paid: -$27.31
eBay + etsy fees: -$10.89
Profit :: +$106.63
Bought::
sarouelles fabric
elastic + thread
total: -$30.21
Balance brought forward:: +$257.48
I held back a pair of tall boots to list on eBay this month, because I felt the season to shop for them would be a bit more appropriate.
October::
sold fabric: +$45.00
sold fabric: +$36.61
total: +$81.61
postage paid: -$35.17
eBay + etsy fees: -$6.92
Profit:: +$39.52
Balance brought forward: +$297.00
I removed the unsold sewing stash items from etsy + donated them to a sewing resale shop.
November::
Bought::
thrifted cashmere sweater: -$76.29
Returned::
above sweater (found 3 holes): +$76.29
Balance brought forward: +$297.00
December::
sold sweatshirt: +$74.89
sold fleece: +$79.08
total: +$153.97
postage paid: -$18.40
eBay fees: -$15.90
Profit:: +$119.67
Bought::
wool "fleece": -$115.50
Balance brought forward: +$301.17
sold pattern: +$22.68
sold pattern: +$12.48
sold pattern: +$14.42
sold fabric: +$20.74
sold pattern: +$10.58
sold boots: +$63.93
total:: +$144.83
postage paid: -$27.31
eBay + etsy fees: -$10.89
Profit :: +$106.63
Bought::
sarouelles fabric
elastic + thread
total: -$30.21
Balance brought forward:: +$257.48
I held back a pair of tall boots to list on eBay this month, because I felt the season to shop for them would be a bit more appropriate.
October::
sold fabric: +$45.00
sold fabric: +$36.61
total: +$81.61
postage paid: -$35.17
eBay + etsy fees: -$6.92
Profit:: +$39.52
Balance brought forward: +$297.00
I removed the unsold sewing stash items from etsy + donated them to a sewing resale shop.
November::
Bought::
thrifted cashmere sweater: -$76.29
Returned::
above sweater (found 3 holes): +$76.29
Balance brought forward: +$297.00
December::
sold sweatshirt: +$74.89
sold fleece: +$79.08
total: +$153.97
postage paid: -$18.40
eBay fees: -$15.90
Profit:: +$119.67
Bought::
wool "fleece": -$115.50
Balance brought forward: +$301.17
I thank all of the buyers of these items from the bottom of my heart! I hope that they prove to be useful treasures in their new homes.
A few observations:
1. Brand name items often have better resale potential. That brand name offers better search visibility. This knowledge got me thinking about whether it is then beneficial to purchase brand name items in the first place...with this in mind. I'm not sure about my conclusion, however...because brand name items cost more in the first place. The actual dollar amount lost in selling may be a smaller percentage of the overall price...but may be about the same amount as that lost on a not brand name item. In any case, donating a thrifted item back to the thrift store almost always "costs" less than reselling a bought-new item.
2. If we let items languish in our closets unworn...we are getting nothing out of them + they are just going out of style. If I am not wearing a piece now, it's best to let someone else wear it...and there might be a few dollars in it too.
3. Gotta swallow the pride sometimes. If someone is willing to pay $50 for the boots I paid $99 for...even though I listed them for $75...at a certain point $50 is better than $0. Accept the offer graciously.
4. I can't spend time thinking about how much money I spent on an item + how little I am selling it for. It is just not possible to sell a piece for enough to repurchase it in most cases. If an item does not suit or fit, I return it right away for a full refund. If I wear it, I receive a benefit from it + this benefit has monetary value. When I sell something, I treasure the money in my pocket + try to learn from the purchase/sale. Just a few of my lessons/notes to self from the items I sold this time:
A. Tall boots are just not "me".
B. I just don't have the patience for non-stretch jeans.
C. Rosey colors next to my face make me look like I have a permanent sunburn.
D. Stiff, high collars make me feel like I have a very, very short neck, which I don't.
5. Being able to sell a few things now + then is helpful for me.
6. I also like purchasing from eBay + etsy. Full circle.
Ok, this post is a mile long. Time to stop.
Love,
Jane
A few observations:
1. Brand name items often have better resale potential. That brand name offers better search visibility. This knowledge got me thinking about whether it is then beneficial to purchase brand name items in the first place...with this in mind. I'm not sure about my conclusion, however...because brand name items cost more in the first place. The actual dollar amount lost in selling may be a smaller percentage of the overall price...but may be about the same amount as that lost on a not brand name item. In any case, donating a thrifted item back to the thrift store almost always "costs" less than reselling a bought-new item.
2. If we let items languish in our closets unworn...we are getting nothing out of them + they are just going out of style. If I am not wearing a piece now, it's best to let someone else wear it...and there might be a few dollars in it too.
3. Gotta swallow the pride sometimes. If someone is willing to pay $50 for the boots I paid $99 for...even though I listed them for $75...at a certain point $50 is better than $0. Accept the offer graciously.
4. I can't spend time thinking about how much money I spent on an item + how little I am selling it for. It is just not possible to sell a piece for enough to repurchase it in most cases. If an item does not suit or fit, I return it right away for a full refund. If I wear it, I receive a benefit from it + this benefit has monetary value. When I sell something, I treasure the money in my pocket + try to learn from the purchase/sale. Just a few of my lessons/notes to self from the items I sold this time:
A. Tall boots are just not "me".
B. I just don't have the patience for non-stretch jeans.
C. Rosey colors next to my face make me look like I have a permanent sunburn.
D. Stiff, high collars make me feel like I have a very, very short neck, which I don't.
5. Being able to sell a few things now + then is helpful for me.
6. I also like purchasing from eBay + etsy. Full circle.
Ok, this post is a mile long. Time to stop.
Love,
Jane
