Skint? No room in the cupboard for your new sales buys? Take a lesson in making money and space with our guide to swapping, selling and exchanging your fashion faux pas.
You’ll be sure of good footfall at this perennially busy south London car-boot. Its scale is vast, and sellers range from locals clearing loft junk to serious secondhand traders. You can pre-book a pitch online or arrive on the day and queue for a ‘walk-in’ pitch priced at £10 for a table-sized area.
www.batterseaboot.com Battersea Park rail. Sundays.
Seasoned car-boot trader Mercedes Simpson (co-founder and director of Paper PR) shares savvy seller knowledge
1. ‘A table and rails are essential: they make for much easier browsing and you can often charge more if you have a tidy display.’
2. ‘Always have a float of change – there’s nothing worse than losing a sale because you can’t break a 20.’
3. ‘Don’t bombard people as soon as they approach your table. If people think you’re desperately trying to flog them your old rubbish, they will often walk away.’
Founder of vintage designer emporium High Fashion Society, Yoanna Hanchard, offers valuable advice.
1. ‘Choose a reputable shop with an online presence like High Fashion Society. It’s the easiest route to reaching a lot of people.’
2. ‘When selling designer items, make sure you have an authenticity card and original dust bags. These will help determine the price and heritage of the item.’
3. ‘Build a reputation. Buyers are reluctant to part with money unless purchasing from a trusted seller.’
Joanne Walters, founder of Mrs Bear’s Swap Shop, suggests good swapping practices.
1. ‘If you bring good quality, you’ll take home good quality. You’ll also receive more stamps for swapping.’
2. ‘Don’t be afraid to try a new look or experiment with your style – you can always re-swap items next time!’
3. ‘If you’re coming with a friend, get them to look out for pieces that will suit you too while they rummage the rails.’
James Stewart, director of consumer-to-consumer selling at eBay, has top tips for selling through online auctions.
1. ‘Timing is key. Listings that end in the middle of the night will be seen by fewer people.’
2. ‘Make sure you’re on hand after the sale to provide great customer service. This will ensure positive feedback.’
3. ‘Use your mobile for ease. The eBay app is free and you can list an item in just 60 seconds using barcode technology.’
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