How to Sell Footwear on Online Selling Platforms?
If you're venturing into online selling waters, the idea of selling footwear has likely crossed your mind. After all, it's one of the most lucrative categories on all multi-vendor marketplace platforms. But where do you start? We've prepared this beginner guide on how to sell footwear on online marketplaces – it will tell you everything you need to know in order to start your new online business.
How to Sell Footwear Online? Start by Choosing a Marketplace Platform
You can't start posting listings before you decide where to post them. Choosing your marketplace platform is one of the most important business decisions you'll have to make. All of the best online selling platforms have their own specifics, advantages, and rules sellers must follow. It's best to do some research before you opt for the one where you will start your e-commerce business.
Will it be a classic like eBay, or will you opt for something popular with younger generations, like Depop or Vinted? Either way, huge audiences on these platforms will make sure you sell out all your collections once you get a hold of how things work in the online selling business.
Build Your Own Shop With Shopify and WooCommerce
While we mainly focus on popular online marketplaces in this post, it's worth noting that you can also build your own website and start selling shoes there. If this is the route you choose to follow, you'll likely end up deciding between selling on Shopify and WooCommerce.
Shopify is an all-in-one e-commerce solution. WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin, meaning you need to create a WordPress website first, which can be complicated for those who aren't tech-savvy. On the other hand, Shopify is simple to use, even if you have no idea how to build a website.
Figure Out What Kind of Shoes Sell Best on Your Chosen Platform
Once you know which platform you'll post on, it's time to select the type of footwear you will offer in your online store. Some marketplaces are better for women's shoes, some are for athletic shoes, while others will have men's footwear among the best-sellers. For example, vintage shoes sell great on platforms like Vinted or Etsy. When it comes to sourcing the items you'll sell, you have several options, all on a different level of difficulty:
- Sourcing second-hand shoes at thrift stores, garage sales, and charity shops,
- Purchasing from a manufacturer or wholesaler,
- Using the dropshipping model,
- Creating your own branded footwear.
What Types of Shoes to Sell on Which Online Selling Platform?
Let's take a look at several of the best online selling platforms to help you learn what type of footwear sells best. We're starting with eBay, where you can sell anything from new sneakers and second-hand shoes to vintage and collectible footwear. You can't go wrong with this marketplace.
If you plan on selling designer shoes, we suggest Vestiaire Collective. Vinted would also work great for vintage designer footwear. For branded shoes, you can opt to sell them on Depop or Poshmark.
Curate Your Listings Carefully
When the time comes to finally post your first listing, you have to be smart. Keep in mind that the quality of the listing is what attracts a potential buyer. This is why item description is of the utmost importance. If you don't offer enough information on the footwear you're trying to sell, a potential buyer will be suspicious and likely give up on the purchase.
Be transparent – describe the condition of the shoes in question and offer any information you think the buyer might need. Additionally, the photos you post must be clear and informative and showcase the shoes from every angle. Remember that buyers want to have a clear picture in mind before they purchase something. You don't need professional-grade photo equipment – just make sure the lighting is good and capture shoes from different angles.
Learn How to Set the Right Price
Several factors should be kept in mind when deciding on the price of second-hand items. Consider your costs of sourcing the footwear, marketplace fees, if there are any (for example, eBay seller fees), and the pricing of your competitors. Marketplace guidelines can play an important role as well since the price can affect your visibility in the marketplace search results.
Don't Limit Your Potential as a Seller – Branch Out With Zipsale
Posting on one marketplace is smart when you're a beginner, but as you learn the ins and outs of the reseller's job, you will be able to branch out to other platforms and crosspost. This doesn't have to be complicated work, as there is an excellent crossposting tool that can help you.
Zipsale is multichannel listing software that helps resellers manage multiple inventories and organize their online stores effortlessly. Thanks to this excellent software for selling online, you can enjoy selling without much hustle. Sign up today and experience the beauty of crosslisting with reliable listing software by your side.
