PRICING AND INVENTORY
How to Price Second-Hand Clothes for Resale
Pricing second-hand clothes is a balance: high enough to cover costs and earn a profit, low enough that items sell within a reasonable time.
A consistent method beats pricing each item by feel.
A PRICING METHOD
Five steps.
Know your floor
Calculate your break-even price per garment.
Check the market
Look at what similar items sell for in your channel and area, not just what they are listed for.
Set price bands
Group items into a few bands, such as basic, good and premium, so pricing is quick and consistent.
Adjust for condition
Use your inspection grades to move items up or down a band.
Plan markdowns
Decide in advance when and by how much slow items are reduced.
PRICE BANDS
An example banding.
Bands are examples; set your own price for each band from your floor and your market.
Basic
Everyday items in good, clean condition with no notable features.
Good
Well-known styles, popular categories or very good condition.
Premium
Standout pieces: unusual, vintage-style or in excellent condition.
Bundle
Lower-value items sold together to move volume.
MARKDOWNS
Plan reductions.
A clear schedule stops stock going stale.
- Tag items with the date they went on sale.
- Reduce after a set number of weeks, then move to bundles.
- Track the effect on sell-through.
COMMON MISTAKES
What to avoid.
- Pricing below break-even to sell quickly.
- Ignoring fees, which differ by channel.
- Pricing everything the same regardless of condition.
- Never reviewing prices once set.
NEXT STEP
Pricing from a real cost?
Your pricing floor starts with the cost of stock. Send an enquiry to get a quotation for your requirement.
General guidance for planning purposes. Examples are illustrative; outcomes depend on your own market, stock, prices and costs.