How to Make a few Extra Coins Reselling (The Sustainable Way)
Waiting in-line early in the morning to pick up a bargain from a clothes sale has become a thing of the past. Platforms such as Poshmark, eBay, Amazon, Depop and Etsy have made it possible for anyone to buy or sell products at a competitive price from the comfort of their home.
Technology has given businesses and individuals access to build a brand online and literally sell anything. Now-a-days anyone can earn money online and over 41% of Generation Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) ‘plan to become entrepreneurs’ and ‘use technology to work more efficiently’
Source: Depop Economics
Ultimately, social media has offered businesses power to maximise their reach, so it’s no shock that fast-fashion companies like PrettyLittleThing and Boohoo are on the rise and iconic brands such as Forever 21, House of Fraser are failing to keep up. The fast-fashion industry produces just ‘over 1 billion garments annually’ and will continue to increase as it’s estimated that the ‘apparel consumption is expected to rise by 63%, from 62 million tons today to 102 million tons in 2030’.
So, what’s all the fuss about?
Due to social media we are exposed to so many options that consumers often feel pressured to keep up with the latest fashion trends resulting to addictive buying behaviours. Over time this results to large amounts of unwanted clothing which will eventually be thrown out and sent to landfills, negatively impact the environment.
Some serious consequences to the environment include producing high levels of waste that will eventually end up in landfills. The fast fashion industry produces ‘63% of clothes from petrochemicals that are synthetic materials that can’t be decomposed’. In addition, the ‘industry emits 1.2 billion tons of CO2 per year’, affecting the air we breathe and the climate we live in.
Photo credit: Fairfashioncenter.org
Unfortunately, the impact of the earth can’t be changed be the flick of a finger however if you’re reading this, hopefully you want to become more conscious of your actions and contribute to sustainability. But before you frantically start to over-analyzing your life you may want to read up on Marie Kondo.
Marie Kondo is a guru of personal organization. Kondo believes that ‘The goal of tidying is to make room for meaningful objects, people and experiences’. After listening to numerous Kondo forums and talks it is clear that you need to change your mind set to keep only meaningful items in your life, items that ‘create a spark or joy’ and if the item doesn’t, you need to remove this item but in an eco-friendly way.
The advantages of reselling
So, once you’ve Marie Kondo’d your wardrobe, you need to move your clothes onto the next stage of its journey. Instead of throwing it out, give it to someone else, who will appreciate it, and prolong its lifespan.
Donating is one way to recycle the item if you no longer want it. After the Marie Kondo show aired on Netflix in North America, it was reported that in early February several Goodwill donation centres in northern California had to close for donations “due to the overwhelming number of donations”. Donating is great to give back to the community as well as recycle an item.
Although donating is one to delay items going to landfills; reselling is also an option.
By using platforms such as eBay and Poshmark, you could turn a simple side hustle into a full-time job. I started reselling my stuff from a very young age, now I live and breathe it.
So, you want to start reselling? … great! Do it the sustainable way....
Many people are starting to come to terms with ‘thrifting’ and purchasing preloved fashion which is how you can get involved; by selling the clothes you don’t want. However, before you start, there are elements to reselling that can be unsustainable like packaging or constantly traveling to post office.
By incorporating these sustainable methods guarantees a contribution to sustainability while earning some extra dollars:
Travel - Instead of driving out of town to donate or post or pick up items, simply walk, and reduce your carbon footprint while supporting your local stores.
Reusable bags – When you are on your thrifting adventures, make sure you pack a reusable bag. I always use the same hand-made bag and avoid using single use bags.
Repair and Reinvent – If you see holes and tears in the clothing don’t throw them away, try your best to reinvent it, create something new and if you can’t, give it to someone that can!
Packaging – When you are ordering packaging check whether it’s biodegradable or made from recycled plastic that can be recycled again. Customers will generally throw packaging in the bin, however make it clear that the packaging is recyclable so it encourages the recipient to recycle.
Bundle it up! Offer bundles, to reduce packaging and the amount of trips to post it; and also helps to promote your other items.
So, there you have it… a simple way to start earning while recycling fashion the sustainable way. If you want to find out more about reselling, follow my journey on Instagram @fashion_reseller_diary.