Poshmark Seller Tools Ranked From "Must Have" to "Meh"
Are you starting out on Poshmark, but not sure what to expect to need? Or maybe you're leveling up your business from casual selling, but don't know how or where to upgrade your tools. Look no further! Cathy here, reseller and cofounder of ClosetWitch. I'm coming up on my 2-year selling anniversary this fall and have sold over 850 items of different types and with different challenges. These are the products I've accumulated over the years to help work with the variety of materials, conditions, styles, and flaws I've encountered, with an honest assessment of what's a luxury in selling vs. an absolute necessity. If you're new to reselling, do not, I repeat DO NOT but anything but the absolute must-haves on this list. It's hard to know in the beginning if this is the hustle for you, and the last thing you want to do is dump a bunch of money on products you might not need if you ditch reselling in a few months. But if you're moving a lot of inventory and loving it, consider some of the "nice to haves" on this list. Many have been huge time savers and made selling life more comfortable for me. They might be a Godsend for you too!
Note: these are all items I literally own, with affiliate links that will generate a few extra bucks for ClosetWitch if you purchase them. Please feel free to stray from this list as much as you want. Most products, except where noted, are likely to be a similar quality to what's available in your area, what's on sale, etc.
Tools You Might Not Need, But I Found Helpful:
Nice-to-Have Clothing Care Tools for Resellers:
Snag Remover
I can't believe I ever used to disclose snags in listings instead of just removing them. This little tool really comes in handy. If you're the type that only likes to list pristine stuff, grab one. If you're an as-is seller, you'll probably just want to skip this. There are lots of versions of this available by the way, and I have a few—but this one is the fastest and easiest to work with, in my opinion.
Iron-On Repair Granules
Another quick fix for sweaters with a weak spot, or dropping hems. Not mandatory, but so comforting to have on hand. Just learn how to use this stuff on inexpensive or personal items first, because there's a bit of a learning curve. And get parchment paper too!
Acetone
If you've ever bought athletic clothes with oil-based paint on them, this will get it out (unless it's like, saturated). Also, what's the deal with everyone painting in their Kuhl shorts and Athleta skorts? Stahp!! Bonus: if you ever get gel manicures, this is the only stuff that will take them off.
Iron
Sometimes steamers just don't cut it, especially with linen. If you don't have one of these in your personal closet, an inexpensive one should cover you. Look out for them at thrift stores!
Zipper Repair Kit
If you've ever found a Patagonia puffer coat with a zipper that just wouldn't zip, bring it home with confidence if you have this kit. I've only used it twice, but it's paid for itself in one use by making an otherwise useless big-ticket item saleable. It's great to have around for your own closet too. I cringe when I think about the $200 coat I donated a few years ago with nothing wrong with it but a bad zipper. Live and learn.
Nice-to-Have Storage/Organization Supplies for Poshmark Sellers:
Shoe Racks
Moderately a must-have, if you don't have an existing method for keeping your purses and shoes off the floor but within easy reach. This one's good from a quality and size standpoint, but it can be tricky for storing platforms and ankle boots because the shelves are close together. You can probably find something better for those styles if you sell a lot of them. Learn from my mistakes!
Garment Bags
Not necessarily a must, but if you're storing wool and cashmere coats over the summer in a closet or attic, especially in an old house, you may want the extra protection from months. I like adding cedar hangers too for extra moth and odor fighting properties.
Plastic Totes/Bins
I got these used on Amazon at the lowest price I could find, and they've held up. The most important thing is to find the size that fits your shelves (do NOT skip measuring) so that you don't end up with an awkward foot of wasted space above or between bins. Then LABEL them. Trust me on this. I know some people have a number system, but I have my own weird categories that seems to work for me (Light Jeans vs. Dark Jeans, Chunky Cardigans vs. Fine Knit Cardigans, etc.). Do what works for what you're selling, and re-evaluate when a bin or two seems to be over-flowing.
USB-Rechargeable Motion-Sensor Closet Lights
I used to store my inventory in a pitch-dark attic I had to crawl to get into (lovely!) with a very slanted roof. Just getting in and out of there was a nightmare, but feeling around in the dark with a flashlight was worse. I've since gotten a separate office space, but have relocated these to my actual very dark closet and they're great. Highly recommend if you're storing your stuff somewhere dark. You'll save a lot of time digging for things if you can read labels and see colors properly.
Zip Lock Bags (1 Gallon and 2 Gallon)
Everybody has their own system, but especially since I started out storing my clothes in an attic, carefully folding and sealing them in ziplock bags has really worked for me for me. They keep bins tidy while maintaining visibility, and I don't have to worry about moths or smells-absorbing. I don't love using all the plastic, but since I re-use bags after selling items, it's been pretty low waste so far. Just don't make my mistake and get cheap-y off-brand bags. The zippers or seams bust and you'll have to rebuy pretty much immediately.
Nice-to-Have Shipping Supplies for Poshmark Sellers:
Tissue Paper
I love black and white with gold stars for the witchy theme of my closet. But honestly, the possibilities are endless, and it's a nice touch that helps your buyers feel like they're opening a special gift.
USPS Tyvek Priority Envelopes
I keep at least 50 of these in my workspace at all times. They're incredibly versatile, quick to work with, and fit so much easier in my big tote for trips to the post office than boxes do. And they're free! That said, if you have nice condition shipping or boxes laying around from online purchases, use those! USPS materials are not mandatory if you can recycle stuff that would otherwise get trashed and is in decent shape.
Thank-You Stickers
I try to creatively fold my items in tissue paper so that I can skip tape and simply seal with a sticker. Polite yet thrifty, and sustainable too! I have a weird pet peeve about the "thank you for supporting my small business" stickers I see a lot--I think a simple thank you is much nicer. Bonus: I'm still not through a single roll of these despite using them on every order I've ever shipped.
Kraft Paper and Roll Dispenser
A must have for stuffing shoes before shipping, and filling space in boxes so items don't bounce around. I've also used this to pack bulky items, like big coats, that my tissue paper sheets can't quite make it around. You can probably buy sheets too, but I find the big rolls more efficient to work with and easier to get exactly the size you need. That said, this roll is kinda big for the dispenser, so it gets easier to use as you use it up. But, I'm cheap so, it's the bigger, economy-priced roll for me.
Folding Boards
I thought these were a must have at first, but once I learned to fold in thirds without them, I generally don't bother reaching for them anymore. They're nice to have! The one I originally bought isn't available anymore, but this one's the most similar and lowest price.
Dymo Printer and Labels
At a certain level of selling, you truly are losing money on the time and printing supplies you consume printing shipping slips on ink and paper from your home computer, cutting them out, and then taping them on with shipping tape. Since the Dymo uses thermal printing, you will never, ever have to change a stupid ink cartridge. While I wish I didn't have to have this physically connected to my computer to use it, it's been incredibly consistent and the rolls have lasted forever. I'd recommend it for a not-super-spendy yet solid printing choice.
Nice-to-Have Tech Supplies for Poshmark Sellers:
External Drive
Key for backing up your photos, which you absolutely do not want to lose. I also use mine to just back up my phone and computer from time to time in general, just in case.
Nice-to-Have Photography Supplies for Poshmark Sellers:
Backdrops and Clips (if you have a way to hang already)
If you have a well-lit white wall (like in front of a big window) in an area you can work out of, pop a hanger on that bad boy and call it a day. But if your office is quite dark, your walls are distractingly painted or papered, or you work a lot at night, a lighting and backdrop set up may be worth the investment for you. I mostly find control over color temperature to be the biggest benefit to using these. Item colors look true, and my photos are consistently lit throughout my closet. Not a must, but worth it for me after a year of reselling and annoying photo edits. Note: if you don't have a way of hanging your backdrop and you also need lights, you might just want to get the kit linked in this post that has everything.
Product Photo Boxes
These are definitely a "nice to have" and only recommended if you have the space to set it up and leave it, because it's annoying to put up and take down. But the quality of the photos you will get is unbelievable. I regularly get people asking if the photos I have are of the real shoes or stock photos on Poshmark because they're that professional.
Lighting and Backdrop Kit In One
Spendy, but if you have a space you can leave this assembled, it's a huge time saver to have your lighting be perfectly consistent every time.
Soft Box Lighting Kit
Again, only recommended if you have space to leave them undisturbed, since it can be annoying to take down and put back up. Soft boxes give off more diffused light than umbrella lights, and they won't stab you in the eye as easily! They're essential if you don't have a reliable source of natural life, or have to shoot after hours. Note: The ones I own and have linked above don't seem available anymore, but something similar would probably work just fine.
Miscellaneous Nice-to-Have Reseller Tools:
Sticker Removers
Honestly this isn't really that necessary for reselling but it's come in so handy for thrift life. Save your nails! They're great for getting price tags off the bottoms of shoes too.
Goo Gone
Samesies--great at removing sticker residue, especially this kit that has the scraper included. I also highly recommend these for repurposing jars and such for your workspace by getting the label leftovers off.
Visual Timer
So helpful for staying on task and seeing at a glance the little pie wedge of time before the Post Office closes rapidly shrinking.
Water Tracking Bottle
Okay hear me out, this is very reseller friendly, and it's the only thing that's ever been able to get me to drink 8 glasses of water a day, every damn day, for a a literal year. And I even successfully bumped that up to a gallon a day while training for a 15k in July. As a confirmed germaphobe, I really like the no-touch cap-opening, while the vertical straw set up makes it easy to sip while in the car on the way to the thrift store or even while sweater shaving with one hand. I can then throw it in my bookbag, and again, the mouthpiece is clean. The whole thing comes apart for quick and easy cleaning, which I do every other day (with rinses throughout the day) because 1. I'm a germaphobe, again, and 2. I can't live without this. Stop leaving water glasses all over your house as you move from task to task! I've gotten three other people in my life to start using it and they're also raving, so, I'm particularly confident that you'll be thrilled with this recommendation. Okay I'm done now, thanks for coming to my TED talk about this bottle!
Refurbished Air Pods
Again, I'm cheap, so I got these at the lowest possible price. These are great for the same reason I love my water bottle: they're simple, travel everywhere with you, and they stay the hell out of your way. I used to constantly knock my wired ear buds out of my ears while reaching for items at the thrift store, so I'm spoiled now and refuse to go back to anything else. I pair them with a handy external battery case thingy when I have long thrifting days to make sure I can keep both the Air Pods and my phone juiced up while I'm hunting.
Compression Socks
Weird, but once you compress you can't... dress... without compress? Okay that didn't work, but trust me on this--if you're on your feel all day, you won't believe how much better you feel with some foot and leg compression. I discovered these while starting running and trying to cope with shin splints, and I haven't really looked back. Bookmark these for fall when you can hide them under your pants. You're welcome.
iHome Bluetooth Adapter
Okay this is another weird one but I can't hold back, I love this so much. You know how at the thrift store you find tons of those old iHome speakers that were designed for old ipods and iphones with 30-pin charging docks? This turns those into rocking bluetooth speakers that you don't need to plug your phone into to use. For $25 you can turn a $5 set up from the thrift into an amazing sound system for your photo or packing area (and truly, these old speakers are often great quality). I use mine for music and audio books while simultaneously using my phone to take pictures. Obsessed. And what a great way to keep these outdated but still so useful sound systems out of the landfill. Pass it on!!
Tools I Consider a Must-Have for Poshmark Sellers:
Must-Have Clothing Care Tools for Poshmark Sellers:
Standing Steamer
Absolute 100% must have. Note: I don't have this steamer. I'm not linking to the one I have because I don't like it! (The hose is annoying and always forcing me to twist my arm in weird positions). So take this particular rec with a grain--I've just heard other resellers rave about this model and it's on my own wishlist if/when my current steamer kicks the bucket. I can't believe how long I struggled with a handheld steamer. Never again. You won't regret an industrial rolling steamer. Try adding a little vinegar to the tank for extra germ and odor fighting power! It will keep the water in the tank fresher too if you go a couple of days between steamings. This is yet another item you'll appreciate too for your own closet. I'm very grateful to have it on days I'm frantically trying to get out the door for an even and discover my husband's suit is a rumpled mess and my dress is creased. Game changer!
Stain Remover (Spot Treatment and Spray)
Must have. I'm sure some recipes out there work great, but the amount of stains (even old ones) I've been able to get out with Grandma's secret have truly astounded me. This is great to have around for your personal closet too. Use the spot stuff for little marks, the spray for general dinginess (gray armpits or brownish jeans hems). And do NOT put anything in the dryer after using--this stuff has often pulled off miracles for me after two or three treatments on crazy stains, but drying garments in the dryer that haven't completely had the stains come out will just lock the discoloration in. Be safe and hang up, you'll thank me!
Bulk Febreeze and Unscented Odor Remover
I categorically give everything I sell a quick mist with my own blend of unscented and scented odor remover in a glass spray bottle. I find just using Febreeze alone leaves too strong a scent for some folks, but a mix adds a lovely, uniform clean smell that neutralizes and other possible scents that the clothes may have picked up from around the house... especially because I like incense.
Gentle Detergent
I get a huge jug of Woolite and just keep refilling my little one so I can keep it right by my bathroom sink. This is a must have, in my opinion, and I go through it like crazy when working with sweaters.
Depillers/Sweater Shavers
This is a complete must have--for your personal life, too! The designer sweaters I've saved that were pilled and slightly shrunk, but were revived with a Woolite sook, gentle stretch, and sweater shave? You truly wouldn't believe it. Honestly, I have a love-hate relationship with this depiller. I've bought it three times now, and it's either had the cord port clog so badly with lint that the cord keeps falling out, or broken the latch on the lint repository. But it's the absolute fastest to work with, and very powerful. I recommend NEVER unpluggling it so that lint can't get into the cord connections, and unlatching and relatching the lint bin very carefully.
Lint Rollers/Refills
Absolute must have. Get a huge pack, you'll use them, and don't bother with anything that's not labeled for pets--it's just ridiculously superior and keeps sticky much longer. I honestly can't believe the number of items I've bought from other sellers that arrived covered in pet hair. There's no excuse for this! They'll make your black and navy items look terrific in photos too. I got both the horizontal roller that comes with refills and then this vertically shaped one to keep in my photo area since it's better suited for use on hanging items.
Must-Have Shipping Supplies for Poshmark Sellers:
Packing Tape and Scotch Tape
Self explanatory. I get the cheapest I can find, which smells appalling, but seems to do the job.
Must-Have Storage/Organization Tools for Poshmark Sellers:
Garment Racks
Must have. Resist the urge to get the folding ones (like this motherfucker, DO NOT buy this), unless you're a very lean reseller. These will bend and collapse on you when full, and are best for handling just a few items at a time.
Matching Hangers/Pants Hangers
I consider these a must at a certain level of reselling. Consistent and non-attention grabbing hangers keep the clothes the focus and make your closet look more professional on a whole.
Weighted Tape Dispenser
I felt so extra spending money on this but there's truly no other good way to tape something with one hand and hold it closed with the older. Period.
Miscellaneous Must-Have Tools for Resellers on Poshmark
Self-Locking Tape Measure
Essential. One that stays open when you pull it is a nice touch that makes it easier to work with hanging clothes.
Scissors
Get good sharp ones, and lots of them! Between price tags and loose threads, you'll want some in your packing and shipping area as well as where you take photos.
A Needle and Assortment of Thread
Even if you're just reinforcing a button, it's great to have supplies on hand for any incidental issues with clothes that aren't quite "flawed" but need TLC. I got mine from my mom and the thrift store. It's nice to build a collection of nice quality thread over time rather than stock up on the cheap stuff, but do what you need to do!
Must-Have Photography Tools for Poshmark Sellers:
A Camera That Allows You to Adjust Exposure and White Balance (in my case... a phone)
This may very well be your phone! My ancient Samsung S10e does this beautifully. In fact, I bought it refurbished exactly for this purpose. Just make sure the camera/lens don't have flaws! I recommend using your phone if you can for plain ergonomics (it's exhausting holding up a DSLR for hours), but access to shutter speed and white balance controls will save you tons of time in post production and make it easy to get clean, well-lit photos that represent color accurately. One of my favorite YouTubers, Thrift-a-Life, is actually where I got the Samsung S10E idea from and breaks this down brilliantly. The whole series is worth watching:
Specialty Must Haves:
Must-Have Tools for Resellers Who Sell Shoes on Poshmark
Leather Care Supplies
Some must-haves if you work with leather: leather cleaner and/or wipes, Dr. Marten's balm (ONLY the old stuff--find it on Ebay, it's worth it, one tub lasts forever and works on everything), suede conditioner (this really revives and deepens colors after a brush), suede brush (I've had mixed results with suede erasers, but they usually come in cheap kits with the brush, which is handier), and magic erasers for sneaker soles (I get insane amounts of these because I use them all over the house too).
Shoe Display Inserts
I've found plastic inserts a bit of a must have for strappy shoes—they just present them so much better, and obviously they're reusable. Shoe stuffing is mandatory, though you can get away with using newspaper, tissue paper, or craft paper easily.
Am I missing anything? Drop suggestions below!
-Cathy@ClostWitch
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Cathy Vandewater
Cathy Vandewater
Cathy Vandewater