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In the secondhand clothing world, an all over print, known by its acronym AOP consists of a design that is repeated all over a piece of clothing typically a t-shirt. On the front and back, the image, design or text is plastered. These prints are often screen printed on cotton or polyester textiles.
Be on the lookout refers to items that you should keep an eye out for while you are thrifting. They are brands or types of items that sell extremely easily. Oftentimes BOLOs are items that you can post to Ebay or Poshmark and they will sell within a few hours. The list of bolo brands and items is constantly evolving. For a list of BOLOs I recommend Thrift a Life’s Guide
A brand collaboration is a partnership between two or more brands to create a unique product, collection, or campaign. It combines each brand’s strengths, reaches a broader audience, and offers benefits like increased brand awareness, shared marketing costs, and innovation opportunities. Collaborations can involve brands from the same or different industries, leading to unexpected and appealing combinations.
A grouping of multiple clothing items or accessories sold together at a discounted price, often used to move inventory quickly or attract buyers.
A minimal, versatile, and curated collection of clothing items that can be mixed and matched to create a variety of outfits.
A collection of historically significant or rare secondhand clothing items, often maintained for reference, research, or display purposes.
A clothing swap is a social event where participants exchange gently worn clothes, promoting sustainable and affordable fashion. Attendees bring items they no longer need and swap them for new-to-them pieces, thus extending the garments’ lifespan. Clothing swaps reduce textile waste, encourage community interaction, and offer an environmentally conscious alternative to traditional shopping.
The term “color blocking” refers to the use of two to three (if not more) strong, frequently incongruous colors in a single ensemble to create a captivating fashion piece.
A retail arrangement in which a store sells items on behalf of the owner, taking a percentage of the sale price as commission.
Cross-listing is the act of listing a single product on several online marketplaces. This increases the possibility that a customer will see your product and buy it. For resellers whose focus or niche is in a particular product category, this tactic is extremely effective.
The process of carefully selecting and organizing secondhand clothing items to create a cohesive collection, often focused on specific styles, trends, or aesthetics.
Deadstock which means new and never worn. Some people are very strict when it comes to their definition of deadstock, and shoes that have been tried on are no longer considered to be deadstock.
A supply chain management method in which the retailer doesn’t keep goods in stock but instead transfers customer orders and shipment details to a manufacturer, wholesaler, or another retailer, who then ships the goods directly to the customer.
A sale event where the contents of a home, including secondhand clothing and accessories, are sold to the public, often due to the owner’s death or relocation.
Excellent Used Condition
Inexpensive clothing produced rapidly to meet the latest fashion trends, typically associated with a negative environmental impact and low-quality materials.
A psychological phenomenon where people are compelled to make purchases because they don’t want to miss out on a limited-time offer, sale, or opportunity.
A sale event where individuals sell their unwanted items, including secondhand clothing, from the front of their house or out of their garage.
A technique used in photography to display clothing without a visible mannequin, giving the appearance that the garment is floating.
A grail, in the context of secondhand fashion, is a highly sought-after item that collectors, enthusiasts, or resellers dream of finding at thrift stores or flea markets. These items are typically rare, valuable, or have a significant cultural or historical importance. Grails may include limited edition designer pieces, vintage clothing with unique patterns, or iconic garments from a specific era. The thrill of discovering a grail lies in its rarity and the potential for substantial profit or personal satisfaction upon acquiring such a coveted item.
Many reseller Youtubers post videos of thrift hauls. Essentially it is just the collection of items (apparel and accessories) that they found at the thrift store. Haul connotes a meaning of a large number of items which can be subjective based on the individual. We denote thrift hauls or hauls in general as 10+ secondhand items found while thrifting.
The process of selling a large quantity of inventory, often at discounted prices, to quickly generate cash or make room for new merchandise.
A reduction in the original selling price of an item, often used to move inventory or make room for new merchandise.
New old stock. Often refers to clothing from the 90s or before that still has tags on it. Since it is old stock, it is essentially retired and can’t possibly be produced again.
New with tags
New without tags
The opposite of a BOLO. Some items are just a dime a dozen and have little to no resale value. Brands like Old Navy and other lower tier brands are definite NOLOs.
A phrase used by sellers to indicate they are open to negotiating the price of an item.
A pop-up shop is a short-term retail space where brands, designers, or resellers temporarily set up their business to showcase and sell their products. These temporary storefronts often occupy vacant commercial spaces or partner with existing stores to create a unique shopping experience. Pop-up shops are used to generate buzz, test new products, reach new customers, or capitalize on seasonal trends. The limited timeframe creates a sense of urgency, encouraging customers to visit and make purchases before the shop closes. Pop-up shops have become increasingly popular, especially among emerging brands and secondhand fashion retailers, as they offer a low-risk, cost-effective way to engage with customers and create brand affinity.
Refers to clothing items, particularly denim, that have been intentionally worn or damaged to achieve a secondhand or vintage aesthetic.
A term used to describe clothing items that have been previously owned and worn.
The formation of small balls of fibers on the surface of a fabric, typically caused by friction during wear or washing.
The practice of renting clothing items, particularly high-end or designer pieces, for a short period instead of purchasing them, which often involves the circulation of secondhand items.
The process of fixing or restoring damaged secondhand clothing items to make them wearable or sellable again.
Reseller Arbitrage is a product sourcing strategy for reselling items, where you profit from a price difference between two or more platforms. Retail arbitrage in this context refers to the process of purchasing products at a discount from resellers on one platform such as Poshmark or Whatnot and then listing that product on a different platform such as Ebay in order to make money.
The act of shopping, especially for clothing and accessories, as a means of improving one’s mood or emotional state.
Return on Investment (ROI) is a financial metric used to evaluate the efficiency of an investment, comparing the gain or loss generated relative to the initial capital invested. It is calculated by dividing the net profit by the initial investment, typically expressed as a percentage.
For example, if you purchase a vintage t-shirt for $10 and sell it for $50, your net profit would be $40 ($50 selling price minus $10 initial cost). To calculate the ROI, you would divide the net profit ($40) by the initial investment ($10):
ROI = (Net Profit / Initial Investment) x 100
ROI = ($40 / $10) x 100
ROI = 4 x 100
ROI = 400%
In this example, the ROI is 400%, indicating a significant return on the initial investment, as you made four times the amount you initially spent on the vintage t-shirt.
An online platform or physical location where individuals can buy and sell pre-owned clothing items, such as Depop, Poshmark, or local consignment stores.
A unique identifier for each distinct product or item, used to track inventory.
An approach to fashion that prioritizes sustainability, ethical production methods, and long-lasting, high-quality garments.
This term is synonymous with the action of using Ebay’s filter of “sold listings”. When trying to figure out the price of an obscure item, many resellers go to Ebay and filter to see only sold items to see what others have sold a similar product for in the past 90 days. Additionally, sold comps are not limited to Ebay as platforms such as Mercari, Poshmark, and StockX all have their versions of sold comps.
Sourcing is reseller slang for shopping. Many professional resellers don’t want to sound like they are just out shopping, when in reality it’s hard work. That’s why the community has coined the term sourcing when going out to the thrift stores, flea markets, or general public to look for items.
Inventory is considered stale if it hasn’t been sold in 90 days. Some might think that is too short of a period if you have a niche that is very unique and requires the right buyer to come along. Stale Inventory is really just inventory that doesn’t sell in the time period that you are generally accustomed to. We can say that inventory that is over a year old is definitely stale.
The movement toward producing, consuming, and promoting clothing in an environmentally friendly and socially responsible manner, which often includes secondhand fashion.
This term endearingly refers to the Goodwill Outlet, which is Goodwill’s final destination for donated items before they are dumped, recycled, or baled for export. “The bins” is pretty much just that, they are large blue, plastic wheeled bins that are filled with (sometimes not so gently) used clothes, toys, electronics, home goods, books, and more. These items are sold by the pound and offer deeply discounted prices from the item’s original retail price.
The process of purchasing items at a low price, usually from thrift stores or garage sales, and then reselling them for a profit on online marketplaces.
The process of predicting and identifying upcoming fashion trends based on consumer behavior, market research, and cultural influences.
True to Size
Upcycling is the method of transforming an item so that it is superior to the original. In the case of clothing, this frequently entails taking an item that doesn’t fit or is stained or torn and repurposing it into a wearable item. Items that are found in the trash or purchased at a thrift store or a combination of the two, can be used for upcycling.
Very Near Deadstock. A term to describe the condition of sneakers when they are almost like new. Shoes that have been lightly worn no more than a handful of times can be considered VNDS.
Refers to the difference in clothing sizes from previous decades compared to contemporary sizing standards, often requiring size adjustments or conversions.
The process of acquiring large quantities of preowned garments at a discounted price from various sources such as thrift stores, consignment shops, or specialized suppliers. These sources often offer bulk deals or reduced prices to encourage the purchase of a significant volume of items.
Resellers, vintage clothing stores, or sustainable fashion brands may choose to source secondhand clothing through wholesale channels to obtain a diverse inventory at lower costs. By buying in bulk, these businesses can often negotiate better prices per item and gain access to a wider variety of styles, sizes, and eras.
A design approach that aims to eliminate textile waste during the production or consumption of clothing, often involving the use of secondhand materials or repurposing discarded garments.
You need to know these acronyms and common terms if you want to make it in the clothing resale game. Even if you are just a casual shopper, knowledge is power.
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