I sat down with Tara to get the inside scoop on how she grew her Poshmark account into a business, racking up over 117,000 followers.
Many summers ago, when I started my Poshmark account, I had the dream of selling my entire closet and starting fresh. Little did I know exactly how hard that would be! Selling new or gently used clothing on Poshmark requires the skill and savviness that my good friend Tara Masjedi possesses. Tara and I were roommates during our BRIC study abroad program and have become close friends ever since. I vividly remember one of our first conversations together being about Tara’s Poshmark empire and how she has sold hundreds of items since signing up for the platform. I tirelessly pried her for information on how I could make my account as successful as hers- what was I doing so wrong that I couldn’t sell my middle school impulse purchases? I interviewed Tara on the blog so that you could get in on all of the advice she has given me over the years. You’re welcome in advance! Give her Poshmark-Instagram some love to keep up with her latest finds and scroll all the way to the bottom of this article for a little discount courtesy of Tara!
Hey Tara, tell us about yourself!
Hi everyone! My name is Tara Masjedi, and I run my own clothing resale business on many different platforms such as Mercari and eBay, but I primarily sell on the Poshmark platform!
Why did you start selling clothes online and how long have you been doing it for?
I started selling clothing online when I was 14 (in 9th grade) as a way to make money for myself so I could buy the things I wanted without the help of my parents. Independence has always been a big part of my identity and creating my own source of income was the best way to help me get started. Since then, it’s been 8 years that I’ve been selling clothing online!
What do you look for when you buy clothes to resell?
The first thing I typically notice or look for is brand. Once I identify a quality brand- which, in my mind, includes contemporary brands such as Vince, Rag and Bone, and All Saints-, I’ll examine the item to see if there are any signs of significant wear, stains, or holes. In addition, I try to pay a maximum of $10 per item I source. Most of the items I purchase are from the bins of consignment shops, which means they are priced by the pound, so I typically end up paying around $1-2 per garment.
Is sustainability and recycling old garments important to you?
Absolutely! With every garment I purchase secondhand, I know that I am helping to reduce the impact of the fashion industry. Fashion is the second-most polluting industry in the world and fast-fashion definitely exacerbates the environmental impact. I try to purchase as much as I can from sustainable brands such as Patagonia, but also work to repair garments that may not necessarily be as sustainable but can be given a whole new life with a little bit of TLC!
What do your margins look like?
It really depends on the type of garment that I’m selling, but I always break even with every item! I calculated a 570% average margin for the sale of all of my items.
How have you grown your following?
A lot of the growth I’ve experienced around my following is from consistently not only sharing my own listings but also sharing the listings of other sellers! If there are buyers who are obsessed with a specific brand- how I am with Lululemon and Tory Burch-, they will constantly be checking newly listed items under that brand. By offering low or reasonable prices for highly demanded brands, you can quickly grow your following and gain traction as more buyers develop interest in the other items you have listed. Also, specifically for Poshmark, I started selling less than a year following the inception of the app.
How do the different sites that you use to sell your products compare to each other and which is your favorite?
The three platforms I mainly use to sell clothing are Poshmark, Mercari, and eBay. Poshmark is definitely the most fashion-focused platform, as it was created for the intent of reselling solely clothing and accessories, whereas on eBay and Mercari, you can sell anything you can think of. In terms of fees, Poshmark takes 20% of every sale, Mercari takes 10%, and eBay takes a 10% fee if your item sells plus a 3% fee from Paypal for processing the payment. I think each platform has its own pros and cons because the users on each vary. Sometimes I’ve tried to sell something on Poshmark for months, and, when I post it on Mercari, it instantly sells. I would say Poshmark and Mercari are pretty close for me as I have developed a following and have sold quite a bit on each platform, but eBay is definitely a website I am working to list more on.
What are 3 pieces of advice you would give to people interested in starting to sell clothes online?
One of the biggest things I’ve learned over the years is that, for resale, you need to remember you aren’t shopping for yourself; you’re shopping for the customer! There are times where I will look at something and think, I would never wear that, but you need to consider current trends and brands your customers are interested in. In addition, don’t feel defeated if it takes a while to make sales! There are times where I’ve gone weeks without making a sale, and then, all of a sudden, I’ll get a few orders! The key for the entire process is patience. Finally, I would recommend starting small if you’re interested in reselling. It takes a lot more patience than you think to list items, so start with a few pieces and then gradually expand- if you have the room for it!
What is your favorite brand or designer?
I have quite an obsession with Lululemon and Tory Burch! They are both such quality brands, and using these platforms also helps me find killer deals!
Where to find Tara:
Instagram: @tara.posh.candy114
Use code CANDY114 on Poshmark to get $10 off your first purchase!
Ursula D. 