Running an online clothing reselling business can be an incredibly exciting and profitable venture in today’s virtual world, but it requires careful management and the right tools to ensure success. From taking great pictures to managing finances and effectively marketing your store, there are several essential tasks to handle. Luckily, there are plenty of tools to help you along the way. To make the most of the move to sustainable shopping, you’ll want to ensure you use the best tools available for your reselling business. In this blog post, we will explore the top six tools that you need to be successful at managing and maximizing the potential of your online reselling business.

1. Cameras and photo-editing

When it comes to selling clothes online, captivating visuals are crucial. Investing in good photography tools will allow you to showcase your garments in the best possible light and attract potential customers. Consider using a DSLR camera or a high-quality smartphone with a reliable camera app to capture sharp and well-lit images.

If you don’t have the best camera, don’t fear – there are hundreds of editing tools out there to help. We’d recommend Snapseed and VSCO to edit from the convenience of your phone, or Canva and Designify for editing on your computer. Adobe Photoshop is also great, but can take a bit of practice. Props and attractive backgrounds can enhance the overall appeal of your photos, but try to make sure they are consistent for a professional look.

Keep in mind what a buyer will want to see when shopping for clothes, and you’re well on your way. We have a whole blog post on taking the best pictures of your clothes with all our top tips in one place, so be sure to check that out for some more helpful info!

2. Managing finances

As much as we’d like to spend all day buying mountains of vintage clothing and designing funky photoshoots, keeping track of your finances is absolutely essential for any business. This might seem daunting if numbers aren’t your thing, but do not worry – there are plenty of free and easy tools to use to help you keep on top of your books. Utilizing reliable financial management software such as QuickBooks or Xero can simplify tasks such as invoicing, expense tracking, and generating reports.

These tools enable you to monitor your income and expenses efficiently, helping you make informed decisions about pricing, inventory, and profitability. They offer easy-to-follow tutorials and make managing your finances so much easier. It might seem like a lot to get your head around at first, but with the right tools and a bit of practice, you’ll be a boss in no time.

3. Responding to customers

Effective customer management is key to building long-term relationships and ensuring customer satisfaction. How you communicate with customers will vary depending on what platform you use for your store. If you’re based on a reselling app like Depop or Vinted, you’ll be communicating with the in-app messaging feature. With a website, you might have a messaging platform or stick to email comms. It can be a lot to keep track of, but CRM software, such as HubSpot or Zoho CRM, can really help you organize customer data, track interactions, and manage customer inquiries.

With a CRM tool, you can provide prompt responses to customer queries and resolve issues efficiently, improving customer loyalty and driving sales. For online clothing resale especially, you want to make the most of social media. Definitely aim for a Social CRM software that integrates your social media channels too, as this will allow you to keep track of all your communications and engagement in one place. There are loads of free resources such as courses and videos online to help you get started with CRM software, so make the most of what’s out there to help build those relationships with customers and get profits booming. 

Another key benefit of using CRM software for your reselling business is the ability to maintain a centralized customer database. By storing customer information, including contact details, purchase history, and preferences, you can access valuable insights about your customers. This information can be leveraged for deciding what stock to buy, personalizing marketing campaigns, running targeted promotions, and providing exceptional customer service. All of these factors should ultimately build stronger relationships with your customers and get them coming back!

4. Marketing tips and tools

To reach a wider audience and boost sales, effective marketing is vital. Fortunately, marketing is easier now than ever by harnessing the power of social media. Using social media to your advantage is crucial for any online clothing reseller. Most of your buyers will be active social media users, so you can really make the most of this by using these platforms for your marketing, and often for free! From simply posting sneak-peeks of your latest drops to running promotions and competitions, social media has a host of great marketing tools at your fingertips.

We have blog posts on everything you need to know for marketing on Instagram and TikTok, two of the biggest platforms out there right now, but don’t forget about Facebook and Twitter either! We highly recommend using multiple platforms to increase visibility, but remember to make sure your branding is consistent across them all. This will help you look like the professional you are to potential buyers. Tools like Hootsuite, Buffer, or Later can help you manage and schedule your social media posts across multiple platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. By strategically planning and automating your social media content, you can engage with your audience, increase brand awareness, and drive traffic to your online store.

You can also make marketing easier for yourself by using marketing automation platforms like Mailchimp, Klaviyo, or HubSpot Marketing Hub, which allow you to automate email campaigns, segment your customer base, and personalize your communications. Use these platforms to send targeted promotions, discounts, and product updates to specific customer segments, which will increase engagement without having to do the maths yourself and manually contact buyers! Trust us – this will save you a lot of precious shopping time.

5. Shipping and delivering products

Efficient and reliable shipping and delivery services are critical for an online clothing reselling business. Delivery is one of the key topics in reviews for online clothing stores, so you’ll want to get this one right! It’s important that you send your items out well-packed so pieces arrive safely, and promptly so buyers don’t get impatient. This can be made easier by using shipping platforms like ShipStation or Shippo that integrate with multiple carriers and offer features like label printing, order tracking, and automated notifications. These tools can help streamline your shipping process, saving you time and ensuring a smooth customer experience. Shipping multiple sales daily can be a lot to keep on top of, so using shipping tools will make things easier for you when business is booming!

6. Reliable sources for your clothing

Even with the best photos and marketing in the world, you need great pieces to start with. Finding the best secondhand and vintage pieces for your business can be hard, especially when buying in bulk. Bulk-buying can really help to keep your finances down, and with Fleek this has never been easier. Using a reliable wholesaler to source your clothing can help you find the best pieces for less and make good contacts in the industry. You can find hundreds of verified sellers on our website and app, and it couldn’t be easier to find what you’re looking for with our easy search bar and virtual handpicks to get exactly what you need in a bundle while still keeping costs down. You’ll also have peace of mind with Fleek’s buyer protection policy that protects you on every purchase. With everything you need in one place, Fleek can make sourcing amazing items for your reselling business simple. 

Running a successful online clothing resale business requires a combination of effective management, excellent customer service, and strategic marketing. This can be made easy by leveraging the right tools to streamline your operations, enhance customer experiences, and boost sales. Investing in the tools we’ve mentioned above, as well as finding a reliable wholesaler, can make a huge difference in your business’s growth and profitability and will make managing your business so much easier. Don’t forget to check out our blog for more helpful tips to boost your online reselling business, or just drop us a message at hello@joinfleek.com.