Since the Internet and advanced technology introduced online shopping and online payments, online businesses have been booming. Online marketplaces attracted a diverse range of sellers and buyers. Various products flooded the market. Each company's competitive advantage now lies in the uniqueness of its products and marketing strategies. Let's talk about a truly original and one-of-a-kind set of products you can sell in this article: vintage decor and items.
Vintage decor and items are difficult to come by, making vintage buying and selling even more difficult. On the other hand, those who sell vintage can attest to how worthwhile and profitable it can be if done correctly and wisely. Vintage decor comes in various styles, so there is much to discover and market if you sell vintage items. Selling vintage items, such as rugs, carpets, frames, hanging ornaments, clocks, table decorations, furniture, and so on, entails searching for items made 20 to 100 years ago. Anything older than that is already considered retro, while anything older than that is considered antiquity. When selling vintage, you should be aware of this basic fact.
Selling vintage online can be a great way to make some extra money. After all, who doesn't love getting their hands on a piece of vintage clothing or furniture for a fraction of the cost? But it's more complex than just putting your stuff up on eBay and waiting for the bids to roll in. It would help if you did a few things to ensure your vintage sale goes off smoothly.
How to Sell Vintage Online?
1) Research, Establish and Plan
There are a few things to consider when selling vintage online. You'll need to research the item, establish an asking price, and plan your marketing strategy. Here is an overview of all these three aspects:
- Research the Item. Before you list an item for sale, be sure to do some research on it. It will help you determine its value, rarity, and what type of condition it is in.
- Establish an asking price. Once you know the item's value, you'll need to set a price that is fair but also reflects the condition and rarity of the object.
- Plan your marketing strategy. Promote your sale regularly on social media and other web platforms. Also, include photos of the item and its packaging in your listings so potential buyers can look closer.
- Offer good deals. Vintage items sold online often come at lower-than-normal prices because they are seen as collectibles rather than daily-use products. Try to offer discounts of at least 10% off regular price tags, and consider setting a minimum price threshold below which your item will not be sold.
2) Know Your Brand
Vintage is trending, and with good reason. Not only are vintage pieces often unique and stylish, but they can also be affordable. However, you must understand your brand correctly. Here are some ways to work on your brand management strategies:
- Research your brand. When selling vintage, knowing what makes your items unique is essential. What makes them vintage? Is the fabric delicate? Are the colors vibrant? Once you know these things about your brand, you can create marketing materials that reflect this. For example, if you sell vintage gowns with delicate lace appliques, include photos of these details in your marketing materials. Likewise, if your items are made with vibrant colors and exciting textures, showcase those qualities in your ads and website.
- Be consistent with your branding. It's essential to keep your branding consistent across your marketing materials. It includes ads, website content, and even social media posts. If you change anything about how you present yourself as a seller of vintage, it can confuse potential buyers. For example, if you used bright colors and large fonts on one ad but have since switched to more muted colors and smaller fonts on another ad, it can lead people to think that the second ad is newer or more up-to-date than the first one. Keep everything consistent so buyers know who they're dealing with and what to expect from your brand.
3) Look, Explore and Shop
Looking to sell your vintage finds online? Here are some tips to start your vintage buying and selling:
- Look for vintage shows and events in your area. Vintage shows and events offer an excellent opportunity to meet other collectors, scout out potential buyers, and even sell your treasures on the spot.
- Create a vintage marketplace account with eBay or Etsy. It will allow you to list items for sale and track feedback and transactions.
- Use hashtags when posting vintage finds on social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter. It will help you connect with other collectors interested in the same items.
- Write descriptions that highlight the unique features of each item for sale. It will help potential buyers find what they're looking for faster.
- Make sure your customers feel valued and never hesitate to respond quickly to any questions or concerns they may have about your items or the seller experience overall. Feedback is critical in building good relationships with buyers, so make sure you always offer positive remarks when feedback is given.
4) Price, Package, and Ship
When we talk about selling vintage online, the most significant talking point is the price. Price is one of the main things determining whether the customer is interested in buying the product. After the pricing strategy, the packaging materials and shipping costs play their respective roles. Here are some of how these three barometers influence vintage selling and buying:
- Price your vintage items carefully to ensure you receive a fair price.
Image taken from Strikingly User’s Website
- Package your vintage items professionally and ship them quickly and securely to avoid delays in receiving payment.
- Use eBay's listing features to help optimize your Vintage item's title, description, and photos to increase its chance of attracting interested buyers.
5) Have a Good Social Media Presence
Before selling anything online, create a solid social media presence by posting pics of your vintage finds and tagging relevant accounts in your posts. Since you are a business owner, you must be aware that we are living in a world of social media that is constantly evolving. Hence, we must coincide with their trends and ensure our business follows them. Here are some ways to create a social media presence for your online store:
- Have a professional website. The first step in having an excellent social media presence is taking care of your website. A well-designed and well-made site will help you stand out from the competition and promote your products more effectively. Use plenty of high-quality images, fonts, and layout elements to make your site look professional.
- Use social media platforms correctly. Once you have a great website, the next step is to figure out how to use social media platforms effectively to market your vintage items. Each platform has its own set of rules and etiquette that you need to learn to be successful. For example, Twitter requires shorter tweets with lots of actionable information, while Pinterest favors visuals over words. Make sure to research each platform thoroughly before starting to use it so that you can create content that will resonate with people on that platform.
- Offer valuable content. One of the most important things you can do for your social media presence is offer valuable content that people will want to read. Whether it's articles about vintage fashion trends or tips for selling vintage online, provide exciting and helpful information for your audience. It will help them feel like they're getting their money's worth when they visit your site or follow you on social media.
- Be human. The critical factor in having a successful social media presence is being human. People love interacting with likable individuals passionate about eCommerce products and trends.
6) Take High-quality Photos of Your Products
If you are selling vintage online, you will want to take high-quality pictures of your products. It is essential if you are selling items that may be damaged in shipping or if they have been stored away for a while. You want to ensure that potential buyers can see the quality of your product and that it is in the same condition as when it was sold. To take good pictures of your products, follow these tips:
- Use a good camera. If you need a good camera, invest in one. A good camera will help you take better pictures and give you better resolution.
- Get darkly lit shots. When taking pictures of objects, it is vital to get them evenly lit so that the colors look natural. To do this, set your camera up on a tripod and use a shutter speed setting of 1/125th of a second or slower to create dark shots with accurate colors.
- Try different angles and perspectives. When taking pictures of products, try different angles and perspectives to show off the detail and features of the product. For example, try photographing an item from above or below so that viewers can get a better idea of how it looks when displayed on a shelf or tabletop.
- Take close-ups as well as wide shots. Including wide shots (to capture the entire product) and close-ups are essential.
7) Familiarize Yourself with SEO Techniques
If you're looking to set up an online store that sells vintage items, there are a few things you'll need to do to optimize your website for search engine ranking:
- Being a website owner, you must ensure that your site is well-designed and easy to navigate.
- Ensure your items are correctly tagged and categorized so shoppers can find what they're looking for.
Image taken from Strikingly User’s Website
- Be sure to use search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to help boost your site's visibility on the web.
By following these tips, you can create a successful online vintage shop.
Benefits of Selling Vintage Decor:
Selling vintage decor online has many benefits. First, vintage is in high demand, and many buyers are looking for it. Second, because vintage is an often collectible item, it can be sold at a higher price than other pieces of furniture or clothing. Third, because so much time has passed since most vintage pieces were made, they tend to look newer and more updated than new pieces. Finally, because vintage is often one-of-a-kind, sellers can find buyers interested in purchasing only their specific piece of vintage decor.
Selling Vintage Items on Your Strikingly Website
Image taken from Strikingly
Strikingly is one of the best website builders to sell vintage products online. All you need is to register on our platform and become part of our free plan. Free plan users can build an essential eCommerce website with all the fundamental features. Similarly, you can sell vintage decor by building a professional website on our platform. Here are the steps in selling vintage decor on Strikingly:
- Sign in to Strikingly.
- Open your Strikingly Editor and select the "Add Store" option.
- Add the Store Section.
Image taken from Strikingly
- After adding your store section, hover over it and click "Add Product."
- This will allow you to add products by entering the name, description, price, and images, allowing you to begin selling vintage items.
Image taken from Strikingly
- This is one of the layouts we have previewed for you when you add all of the items you have for your vintage buying and selling.
You can expand your online store and even change the layouts. Strikingly provides many templates to choose the one that best suits your needs. You can even include a background to match better and highlight your products.
Conclusion
If you're passionate about vintage fashion and want to start selling online, follow these tips for success. Firstly, take some time to research your competition and learn what they are doing well (and could be better). Then, focus on creating a unique shopping website on Strikingly; this will set you apart from other sellers. Finally, be patient - building up a following and generating sales volumes sufficient to cover your costs can take a while. Remember: Vintage isn't dead! There's money in vintage fashion if you know where to look.
Vintage buying and selling is not an accessible business, but it can be highly profitable in the long run. We hope you found this article informative and helpful in starting your own online business selling vintage decor and items. Remember that you don't have to do everything on your own. With the right partners, you help yourself and arm your company with the tools it needs to succeed in the industry you've entered. Sign up now and let Strikingly be the first of those trusted partners.
