Hey There Big Spender! Poshing Like a Stalker

Hey There Big Spender! Poshing Like a Stalker

But don't be creepy about it!!

Think about it. Who has money to spend? Big spenders! How do you find the big spenders? Poshmark makes it easy for you (and me!!).

All you have to do is browse around and filter by price (anything over $100) and availability (sold). It's probably not a great idea to filter by dresses because you'll see a lot of one-time splurges for things like prom or wedding dresses. But someone who drops $100 or more on a blouse? Hello! You are my kind of buyer!


I wouldn't dare shout "Look at me, look at me!" We talked about not being creepy, right? But I am going to follow her and share 4-5 of her listings. She'll see me in her news feed and swing by my closet to be a good Posher and return share for share. And now she's in!

(And while you are at it, go ahead and follow and share the seller of that item too! She just made some cash and she has to spend it somewhere!)

That's it. You gotta let your closet speak for itself. Either she likes what she sees and browses around, or she keeps moving. If she happens to like one or more of your listings, don't ask her if she's interested. Don't tell her you offer great bundle deals. You can thank her for visiting (once, on one listing) but that is it! She will buy if she wants to. And the only reminder she'll need is the automatic notifications Posh sends when you reduce the price by 10% or more.

This same idea can be applied to whatever kind of buyer would like your closet. I have a few higher end items, so I am targeting the big spenders. But if you have lots of VS Pink, go ahead and search for recently sold Pink items. If you sell Free People, same thing, filter by Free People. You get the idea!

Happy stalking! Oops, I mean Poshing!



Shop my closet at https://poshmark.com/closet/corporatebarbie

Quick Start Guide for Sellers

How to get started on Poshmark - the basics for new sellers. 

Poshmark is more than online consignment, it is a social platform. So part of your strategy should definitely include being active in the community. I have written much on that, but this post is intended to convey just the basics so you can get started as quickly as you can. 

1. Read the rules. Make sure your closet is compliant. Most importantly, list only women's clothing and accessories. Don't list fakes or replicas. And don't take transactions offline. 

2. List at least 10 items. Make sure you have good lighting when photographing your items. Do not try to hide flaws! Use multiple photos. Include as many details as you can in your description. Do your research so you can include the original price and a reasonable asking price. 

3. Follow lots of people and they will follow you back!

4. Share, share, share. Share your own items and share other Poshers' items. Attend the parties (12pm, 3pm, and 10pm EST) and share whatever you have that is appropriate for the theme. This is the best exposure you will get until you build your followers. 

5. Be friendly. Do not pressure your potential buyers. Answer questions promptly. 

6. Have fun!

Your Lowball Offers Are Welcome

Really, they don't bother me. I know some sellers are insulted when they receive a lowball offer. Especially if it is unaccompanied by some sort of explanation or sugar coating along the lines of, "I just love your closet, but it's out of my price range. I hope you don't mind my low offer. I thought it couldn't hurt to try."

Some buyers use it as a strategy, hoping to meet in the middle. And some throw it out there hoping the seller will counter with her lowest price. Wouldn't you, as a seller, much rather have the make-an-offer process the mechanism through which you disclose your lowest acceptable price? We all know we aren't going to out that gem in the comments for all to see and take advantage of!

Someone sends me a "lowball offer." Someone asks if I trade. Am I offended? No way! I am grateful that person is interested in my item thankyouverymuch! You can't blame someone for trying. We all love a great deal. And you never know how motivated a seller is. 



What if your price is firm? "Thanks so much for your offer, but my price is firm." Or a way to possibly make a bigger sale, "Thanks so much for your offer, but my price is firm unless bundled."

What if it is so low, it isn't even worth countering? "Thanks so much for your offer, but my price is firm for now. Keep it in your likes to be notified when I decide to reduce the price."

Bottom line, don't ignore or offend a potential buyer. And remember your comments are there for all to see. So keep it positive!

https://poshmark.com/closet/corporatebarbie

Weight Gain? No Problem! How Poshmark Helped My Confidence.

Did you ever think about the benefits to buying and selling on Poshmark that go beyond the deals to be had and the extra pocket money? There are so many! But I have been thinking a lot lately about something that I really really love about shopping all of your closets. And that is accepting my body the way it is. 

Over the years I have fluctuated between a size 2 and a size 12 and that doesn't even count my two pregnancies. I am pretty sure my happy healthy size is between 6-8. If I am over or under that something is wrong. Size 12 = stress and poor time/life management. And size 2 = anxiety and fear. I will explain in a bit. 

But first let me tell you why I am embracing where I am now, which is on the heavier side. And it has been like this for about 2 years now. I am ok with it. First of all, because I know it is a reflection of this current stage in my life and secondly, because I now know that every size is beautiful. And you all are living proof of that. 

Before I joined Poshmark, my fashion inspiration came from magazines. And my shopping experiences consisted of clothes displayed on mannequins or modeled by perfect bodies in catalogues and on websites. When I got dressed, I saw something very different in the mirror. It did not match my perception of what those clothes would look like on me. And I judged myself harshly. And unfairly. I am normal and you all helped me see that. 

Those models are size 4-6. So ofcourse the clothes look great on them. Poshmark is different. I love buying a size 12 dress that I found in a size 12's closet. If you can rock it, I can rock it. And I love the confidence of all of you ladies who model your listings. You are seriously gorgeous, no matter what size. I see all of your beauty and confidence and realize that I have been judging myself too harshly and holding myself up to an unattainable ideal. 

Even at my healthiest, rowing two hours a day and doing weight workouts on top of that, I was a size 4-6, and pear shaped. And I hated my hips. Then I thought I was huge when I got up to a size 8 the first time. I hated myself and all of those lunches at Taco Bell. 

Then I lost some weight and everyone who saw me told me how great I looked. I was down to a size 2, even in the hips!! And this was post-baby! The truth is, I was going through a divorce at the time. Best diet ever - devastation and anxiety. I don't recommend it.

And where I am now is a combination of hectic schedule, both me and my husband, 3 kids and a blended family, and crazy stress at work. So you can see that the last thing I should be worrying about is my body. That would just add to the stress. So I've got to work with what I've got. Another plug for Posh - I am able to purchase a whole wardrobe, in what I hope to be this temporary size, without breaking the bank! And when I get back to a healthy weight for my body type, I can pass these gorgeous clothes on to someone else who will love them as much as I have. Win win. 

I am a little hesitant to share this with you, in case I fail, but maybe it can help hold me accountable, so here goes. I found a dress that I couldn't resist. I had my eye on it for so long, but didn't dare purchase because it wouldn't fit me right now. It went on sale, and I couldn't resist, so I bought it, promising myself that I will fit into it dammit!!

 

And I told the seller, @mykidsfault, who has an amazing closet BTW, so now I have someone in my corner cheering me on! That was about a month ago, and I have lost 7 pounds, so I am on my way!! And I am doing it by eating well and squeezing in a little exercise. Nothing drastic, so it is sustainable. But in the meantime, thank you Poshmark for helping me embrace the body I am in, no matter what size. 

Keep an eye out for my size 10-12 clothes. I am hoping to post them some day soon!!

Visit my closet at https://poshmark.com/closet/corporatebarbie

Full Disclosure

Here is the deal. You can sell almost anything, as long as you are completely honest about the condition. Of course, for branding purposes, you might not want your closet to be associated with damaged goods. But once in awhile, you might have an item that, while not in great condition, you know someone might want it.

I have made some great purchases, knowing in advance that they had imperfections. And I have been unlucky to receive a few items that were not well-described. My philosophy when buying is that unless specifically noted, I should expect the item to arrive clean, without odors, stains, or tears. In fact, this is pretty much the only reason I have ever given anything other than a five star rating. If the gorgeous DVF dress you have listed has an imperfection, I may still want to buy it. But if you sell me that dress, no matter how great of a deal I got, I will not give you a good rating if it shows up with a hole in it that you did not disclose.

One of my favorite purchases ever is a white North Face jacket. The seller noted imperfections, took pictures, and even messaged me after my purchase to make sure I read her description and was aware of the imperfections. It was a great price, and I was ok with the wear that she had described. I was so pleasantly surprised when I received it that the wear and staining were nowhere near as significant as I thought. Wouldn't you rather be pleasantly surprised than majorly disappointed? Of course the listing with the full disclosure is going to get a better rating.

Of course you will need to price the item accordingly, but you should be doing that anyway. You won't win over repeat customers with unfair prices!

I had a great buyer this week give me five stars on a necklace after I specifically offered to cancel the order for her. When I was wrapping it up, NWT, I saw that there was significant tarnishing on the back. She told me to ship it anyway. And then she came back with that rating!! Guess who now has a $25 credit in my closet? Yep, I like to take care of my customers. And I really did feel terrible that she purchased an item that had wear that I hadn't disclosed.

I also made a sale awhile ago on an item that was in pretty bad shape. But it was a cute little Coach purse and I couldn't bring myself to throw it away. I honestly didn't think it was even in good enough shape to donate. But I listed it, and made sure in the description to specify that it was in bad shape, but I thought I would take offers on it before throwing it away. Someone was thrilled to find that bag, and offered me $20 for it. Win win!

I also learned the hard way to shop closets from smoke free households. It is really hard to get the smell of smoke out of clothing, especially wool. I am ok with pets, but not everyone is. So it might be a good idea to disclose that you have pets in your listings if you do.

So what do you do if you miss something? You make it up to her!

I think what it comes down to, is that you want to set it up so that the only possible complaint your buyer could have is that the item didn't fit. And even that can be headed off by providing measurements.

No surprises, unless they are good ones! And always strive for good reviews and repeat customers.

Check out my closet at Poshmark.com/closet/corporatebarbie

A Negative Review!

Oh the horror! How dare she?! She got a great deal, and I packaged it so nicely! She is ruining my perfect record of excellent reviews! 

I know how you feel, Ladies. Before you react, let's think about this. First, let's all take a deep breath and recognize that a three or four star rating is not, in fact, a negative review. Without specific guidelines, each individual approaches reviews differently. 

Some people are super generous and automatically rate five stars, unless there is a glaring offense. And some people consider all purchases average, unless you go above and beyond, like wrapping in designer paper and including a free gift. Performance reviews in the working world are like this too. All that really matters is the recognition for things you have done well and the suggestions for ways you can improve. 

What is the point of a review anyway? Is it to show other potential customers what a good seller you are? Kind of. But primarily, it is a tool to help you improve. 

I know there are unfair or unkind reviews. For example, a negative review from a buyer because the item did not fit. We all know that is on her, unless you provided inaccurate measurements. Or a buyer who expected overnight shipping and was angry that it took 2-3 days to arrive. We are not Amazon prime!

But, by design, reviews are supposed to be a feedback tool. How can you as a seller improve? Were there imperfections not noted in your listing? Was the lighting misleading and that blue dress is actually white? Did your packaging fail to protect a fragile item?

You need to know these things so you can take them into consideration when preparing future listings!

And if you handle the feedback graciously, you may even win over a repeat customer. 

What do you do when you get a review that is shy of stellar? Please don't tell me that you coerce (bully) your buyer into a better review. If her review was fair, and provided useful feedback, then you have no right to tell her that her review is ruining your perfect record. That just tells her that you care more about your image than you do about your customers. 

If you get an average review, make sure you thank your buyer for her purchase. Just like you would a five star review. 

What if you get a bad review with no specific feedback? You can phrase it however you want, but I suggest something along the lines of, "Thank you for your purchase and for taking the time to rate it. I am sorry you were not completely satisfied. I am always trying to improve and would be grateful for any feedback you can give me."

And if you get negative feedback that is justified, maybe the condition of the item was poor and it was not noted or obvious in the photos. I suggest you try to make it right with your buyer. Give her options. Remind her that Poshmark will facilitate a return for items misrepresented. And if she wants to keep it anyway, offer her a great discount on her next purchase. Share her closet. Something. Just let her know that her satisfaction is important to you. 

Welcome the feedback embrace the feedback. Improve from the feedback. 

And because we are buyers too, be thoughtful in your own ratings and feedback. Give specific and constructive advice on how your purchase could have been better. Your seller will appreciate that. 

 

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