You’ve got a problem: you’re sitting on a closet (or roomful) of sneakers that you’re never going to wear. The box labels are staring you in the face. You store all your shoes in their original boxes, which takes up even more space. You’ve got some classics, to be sure, but you copped them 5 years ago and have only taken them out a handful of times just to flex a pic of them on Instagram.
I’ve faced a similar dilemma. I too had a closet full of sneakers that I wasn’t wearing. Don’t get me wrong – I loved them all – but something just wasn’t sitting right. For one thing, my wife kept asking me what I was going to do with them? For another, I’m a huge fan of Marie Kondo’s book and really buy into the fact that “less is more.”
Your home is not a storage unit; it’s a place to unwind and relax. For a very few, that means happily staring at hundreds of boxes of Air Jordans and Yeezys – but if you’re married, living with someone, or flat out not a hoarder, you may want to consider thinning down your collection. Here’s how to resell sneakers, and spoiler alert, its a great way to start a side hustle and make some extra money.
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How to Resell Sneakers
For years, I swore I’d never sell any of the sneakers in my collection, especially the rare sneakers. I loved every pair of shoes, and every one of them brought me joy. But then, life kicked in. I had a kid. I ran out of room to store my shoes in my closet. I had bills to pay. It was time to make some tough decisions and start selling some pairs of sneakers I knew I’d never wear, nor did I actually really like that much. So, through some brutal trial and error, I entered the sneaker resale market and started selling my kicks. I made some mistakes along the way, but I also made some decent cash.
In recent years, the sneaker secondary market has exploded, transforming from a niche market into a lucrative business for many sneaker enthusiasts. If you’re passionate about sneaker culture and looking to turn your love for the world of sneakers into a profitable venture, the reselling sneaker business might be the perfect avenue for you. This guide will walk you through the key steps and strategies to succeed in the reselling industry.
Here are my recommendations for sneaker reselling.
Stay informed.
To succeed in the resale sneaker game, knowledge is key. Stay up-to-date with the latest releases, collaborations, and trends within the sneaker industry. Follow reputable sneaker blogs, social media platforms, facebook groups, and online communities to stay informed about upcoming drops and market value.
Build your network.
Networking is crucial in the sneaker community. Connect with other enthusiasts, join online forums, and attend sneaker events or conventions. Building relationships with fellow resellers, collectors, and buyers can provide valuable insights, tips, and potential business opportunities.
Choose the right sneakers.
Focus on popular sneakers, limited edition sneakers, and collaborations that generate high demand. Research market trends and analyze resale prices to identify which sneakers have the potential for a profitable resale.
If you love sneakers, you love all the sneakers you own. It’s tough to get rid of them and realize you’ll never see them again. That is actually partly true. You know that saying “if you love someone, let them go and if it’s really true love they’ll come back,” or however it goes? Well, the same applies for sneakers. Let go of them, and if you really miss them, utilize the internet and just buy them again.
That’s how I was able to start selling my sneakers. The first step was starting with the ones I just didn’t like at all, and it was easy. Then, I moved on to pairs that I was somewhat attached to, but once I saw the profit margins I was making on them, the extra cash made up for the slight feeling of loss I had. Once you’ve sold about 30 to 40% of your collection, you’ll realize you only miss about 5 – 10% of the pairs you had.
Marie Kondo also talks about this in her book. Most of the stuff we have is really just stuff. We hold onto it for one reason or another, but once we get rid of it, we forget we ever had it.
Understand sneaker grades.
When reselling sneakers, the condition matters. Familiarize yourself with sneaker grading systems, which often include categories like Deadstock (DS), New In Box (NIB), and Used. Be transparent about the condition of the sneakers you’re selling to maintain trust with your customers.
Believe me, I’ve tried to sell very nearly deadstock sneakers (VNDS) on GOAT, eBay, and Poshmark, and only made half of what they’d be worth if they were deadstock. If you’re really hard up for cash, give it a shot, but even sneakers that are rare do not sell well at all on any site.
I will say that, again, GOAT is probably your best bet if the sneakers still look relatively new. You can still list them and post additional pics to show any issues with the shoes. However, be ready to take a deep loss.
On eBay, you’ll get people trying to bid ridiculously low numbers for VNDS shoes – it’s actually pretty insulting. If you’re willing to part with them for half off or more, by all means go for it. However, just know that EVERYONE out there is looking for a steal, and they’re not going to overpay for a sneaker that’s already been worn. It’s basically like taking a new car off the lot – once it’s been driven, the value drops immediately.
Post your sneakers on multiple sites.
My favorite 3 online marketplaces, in order, are GOAT, eBay and Poshmark. There are plenty of others to use, but these are my three go-to’s to resell sneakers. All three have apps where you can quickly snap a few photos of your sneakers and post within minutes. Make sure you have bright, natural daylight and a clean background when you photograph your sneakers. This is particularly important for eBay and Poshmark, and less crucial for GOAT.
If your sneakers are deadstock (never worn), and relatively new (within the past 5 years), I’d highly recommend starting with GOAT as the first place. Yes, they take a decent cut, but the shipping and transaction process is seamless. eBay is a little trickier, as buyers can be shady and either never pay you or just disappear off the face of the earth at any time, so you have to be very careful.
Before the pandemic, I was only home on weekends and had limited time to actually pack up a pair of sneakers and drop them off at the post office. I once sold a pair of AJ1’s to a buyer on eBay and only had a small window of time to ship them out before the post office closed on Saturday. The post office is closed on Sundays, and then I was gone all week for work, so that was my only chance to send the sneakers off to the buyer. The buyer hadn’t paid yet, but I took a chance and dropped the shoes off at the post office since eBay sends you their address.
In good faith, I figured the buyer would pay any minute. Also I figured eBay would have my back if the buyer never paid up. Well guess what – he never paid, and eBay DOESN’T have your back if you’re a seller. Moral of the story: wait until the buyer pays you before you ship, and don’t expect eBay to help you if there’s any issues with the transaction. Ratings matter on all these reselling sites, so you want to make sure you ship as soon as possible, but you also don’t want to get burned.
Poshmark is cool if you have a pair of kicks with high resale value that you don’t want to give away for a low price. I’ve listed high-end denim on their app and let them sit for months until I got the price I wanted. There’s no time limit like there is on eBay, so if you’re not in a hurry, it’s a good way to get the best bang for your buck. Beware: Poshmark takes a HUGE cut the higher the price. I once sold a pair of jeans for $250 and they took $50!
Price your sneakers strategically.
Pricing is a critical aspect of successful sneaker resale. Consider factors such as rarity (limited-release sneakers), condition (ie. brand-new shoes), and market demand (most sought-after shoes) when setting your prices. Research similar listings and recent sales to determine competitive prices with a profitable price point.
Buy shipping boxes ahead of time or re-use boxes you have.
I made several rules about this one: If I got a new pair of kicks in the mail, I had to use the shipping box those kicks arrived in to sell a pair I already owned. That made it very easy to print out a label when they sold on GOAT and tape it right on to the shipping box I had and save on overhead costs. After a while, I ran out of boxes so I started using other boxes I had from Amazon and Walmart. Not only are you saving money on buying boxes, you’re also saving the earth and being cost conscious.
After those boxes ran out though, I bought 25 cardboard boxes and gave myself a goal of using up all 25 on reselling my shoes. I am currently still in this process and have about 10 to go.
Buy a printer.
Again, GOAT is the best at this for me – they provide you with a free UPS label that you can print out straight from your phone if you have your own printer. eBay’s default shipping is USPS, which for me is not as great since you have to go to the post office which I talked about earlier. With UPS, I can just drop the box off at my local hardware store, which has much better hours.
Now that a lot more of us are working from home, it makes printing things at work virtually impossible. So, if you don’t have a printer already, I highly recommend investing in one to make the whole label situation easier.
Set attainable goals.
For me, it was going from about 150-175 pairs to 50 pairs. This took me a while to pull off. In fact, I’m still thinning down my collection from about 75 pairs down to 50. You’re going to make A LOT of trips to the post office, or your nearest UPS dropoff location.
I’m at the point where I have pairs that I just have to give away because nobody will pay $20 for them, or they mean too much to me and I just can’t part with them yet. But, on the bright side, I sold about 100 pairs of sneakers, my home is a lot tidier, my wife doesn’t glare at me anymore, and I made some cash.
I can also start focusing on pairs that I’ve always wanted over the years but just missed out on or couldn’t afford at the time. And, for those pairs that I regret selling, sites like GOAT and StockX and eBay become bigger and more robust by the day, so I know I can just hop on there at any time, pull the trigger, and snag that pair back at any time.
Who knows, it might even be the exact pair I sold. That’s all part of the fun of sneaker buying and selling.
Provide excellent customer service.
Building a positive reputation is essential for a long-term successful business in sneaker resale. Communicate clearly with buyers, respond promptly to inquiries, and ensure a smooth transaction process. Satisfied customers are more likely to become repeat buyers and recommend your services to others.
Also, remember reselling sneakers is a business, and like any business, it’s important to operate ethically and within the legal framework. Respect release dates, avoid counterfeit products, and adhere to the terms and conditions of the platforms you use for resale.
FAQ’s
Is sneaker reselling profitable?
While sneaker reselling has proven profitable for many, it’s important to approach it with a realistic understanding of the challenges involved. Success often requires a combination of market knowledge, dedication, and a willingness to adapt to the ever-changing dynamics of the sneaker industry. As with any business venture, there are risks, and individuals should carefully consider their level of commitment and the potential return on investment.
Limited-edition releases, collaborations, and highly sought-after sneakers often generate significant demand and hype. Reselling these types of sneakers can lead to higher profits due to their exclusivity.
However, the sneaker market moves quickly, and timing is critical. Sneaker prices can be volatile and subject to change based on market trends, celebrity endorsements, or other external factors. Resellers should be prepared for fluctuations in the value of their inventory and need to be aware of release dates and restocks to maximize profits.
Are you allowed to resell sneakers?
There are generally no legal restrictions on reselling sneakers, provided that the sneakers are authentic and obtained through legal means. Reselling sneakers is essentially a form of commerce, and individuals have the right to sell personal property, including footwear, as long as they acquired the items legally.
Selling counterfeit or fake sneakers, on the other hand, is illegal and can lead to serious consequences, including legal action and damage to your reputation. Always ensure the authenticity of the sneakers you are reselling. And using trademarked logos or branding in a way that could mislead buyers or violate intellectual property rights may lead to legal issues.
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