How to Sell Art and Handmade Items on Depop

How to Sell Art and Handmade Items on Depop

Depop has carved out a unique space in the world of e-commerce, attracting users who are actively searching for original, one-of-a-kind goods. This makes it an exciting platform for artists and crafters looking to turn their passion into a profitable business.

If you've been wondering how to sell art on Depop or how to get started with selling handmade items on Depop, you're in the right place. The platform's audience isn't interested in generic high-street trends; they want unique garments and accessories that reflect their personality.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from taking the perfect photo to managing your shipping and scaling your business with powerful tools. Let's dive in.

Can You Sell Art on Depop?

Absolutely. Depop is an especially useful platform for crafters and artists who want to sell their wares but aren't confident about where to start. The user base is actively looking for original goods that no one else will have, which is a perfect match for what artists and crafters are selling.

The audience on Depop wants unique items that help them express themselves, creating a suitable and eager market for handmade pieces. Whether you create custom paintings, unique jewelry, or handcrafted accessories, there's a potential customer base for you on Depop.

How to Sell Art and Handmade Items on Depop: A Step-by-Step Guide

Getting started is one thing, but succeeding requires a strategic approach. Following these best practices can make a significant difference in your sales and help you build a reputable shop.

Mastering Your Product Photography

Pictures of your items are arguably the most important factor in getting sales on Depop. High-quality visuals are essential for showcasing your art and attracting potential buyers.

Always make sure that the images of your item are taken in bright, natural daylight. This helps to capture the true colors and details of your work.

You should try to include as many photos as you can in each listing. The more photos you have, the better a buyer can understand the product they are considering. Experiment with different angles and compositions to highlight the unique features and textures of each art piece.

If your handmade item is fashion-related, like jewelry or a custom jacket, photos of you wearing the item are a big plus. This gives the buyer a clear idea of sizing and fit and can be the deciding factor between someone buying the item or passing on it.

Ensure that any photos you take look pleasing to the eye. Try styling the item the way someone might actually wear or display it. However, avoid including photos of you wearing the item on a night out or in a group picture. The look you should aim for is ‘pre-loved’ or ‘vintage,’ not simply second-hand.

For smaller items like accessories or jewelry, you can make your photos more appealing by adding some simple props. Consider popping in some flowers, a fashion magazine, or some lipstick in the shot. Using props to style your item can make a real difference in its appeal.

Writing Compelling and Detailed Descriptions

While a picture is worth a thousand words, a detailed description is crucial for closing the sale. Always give as detailed a description as possible when listing an item.

Be sure to include the item's sizing and any other relevant information. For crafters, it's vital to mention that the piece is handmade by you. This adds to its uniqueness and value.

You could even include one or two styling ideas for the item, helping the buyer envision how they might use or wear it. The more informative your description is, the fewer questions you'll have to answer before someone makes a purchase. This can also make the buying process less intimidating for a shy buyer.

Handling Shipping Like a Pro

Shipping can feel daunting for new sellers, but a little preparation goes a long way. If you're unsure about shipping costs, simply pop into your local post office and ask for some pamphlets on shipping estimates.

These pamphlets are free and incredibly helpful for beginners, ensuring you don't underestimate shipping costs and cut into your profits.

In your item's description, try to list both the national and international shipping costs. This transparency avoids further questions about shipping and prevents any mix-ups that might happen later in the transaction.

Boosting Sales with Discounts and Offers

Offering little discounts and offers here and there can be a great strategy for building your profile and selling items on Depop.

A popular and effective strategy is to offer a 10% Instagram follower discount. You can write in your item description and on your Instagram profile that if buyers message you on Depop with their Instagram username, you will apply the discount to the item they wish to purchase.

This tactic not only encourages sales but also directs people over to your Instagram profile, helping to increase your follower numbers as you build your brand.

Providing Excellent Customer Service

Good customer service is essential for building a strong reputation when selling handmade items on Depop. The key to excellent service is communication.

Be sure to answer all messages and comments promptly. Once a buyer makes a purchase, do not wait more than a week to ship their item. If there is a delay for any reason, let the buyer know in good time so they don't think you are unreliable.

Selling handmade items on Depop is a much more personal experience, and you'll find yourself communicating more with your buyers. Many buyers will repurchase from a seller again and again if they had a good experience.

A simple but powerful touch is to add a little handwritten note with each of your orders. It can be just a few words on a piece of paper thanking the buyer by their first name and wishing them well with their purchase. This simple, handwritten touch can improve someone’s buying experience and will always get great feedback.

Scaling Your Resale Business with Reeva

Once you've mastered the basics of selling on Depop, you might start thinking about growth. Managing listings, tracking inventory, and cross-listing to other platforms like Poshmark, eBay, and Mercari can quickly become overwhelming. This is where we can help.

Our platform is designed to accelerate growth for resale businesses, helping them scale with ease by simplifying and automating the most time-consuming tasks.

If you're looking to turn your side hustle into a full-time business, you need tools that save you time and maximize your sales. Don't just take our word for it; businesses that use our platform see incredible results. Vintage Vault WV increased items sold by 372% in just three weeks, and Nuzzydeals saw a 7x increase in sales.

Are you ready to see what automation can do for your business? Start your free trial of Reeva today and see how much faster you can grow.

Sell Smarter and Faster

We help you optimize your selling process to save you valuable time. You can turn photos into complete listings instantly. Just upload your photos, and we'll create listings with titles, descriptions, and prices.

Our platform allows you to publish your items to all your marketplaces, including Depop, Poshmark, and eBay, with a single click. No more switching between tabs and manually re-entering information. You can sell across all your stores effortlessly to reach more buyers.

FabFam, a resale business from Washington, shared their experience: "Reeva has cut my listing time by more than half. I can take photos, voice-to-text my details, and let Reeva handle the rest."

Save Time with Automation

Our platform offers a suite of automation tools designed to boost your visibility and sales without you lifting a finger.

Key automation features include:

• Automatically sharing your products on Poshmark to increase visibility.
• Sending personalized offers to potential buyers.
• Relisting stale products to keep them at the top of search results.
• Instantly delisting sold items across all platforms to prevent overselling.

AlistairBP from Georgia told us, "The feature I use 100% the most—and couldn't live without—is the AUTO-DELIST feature."

Grow Your Business with Ease

We provide the management tools you need to grow and scale your business effectively.

You can update and manage hundreds of listings in bulk, track sales and profits with powerful business analytics, and even give team members access with multi-user account options. Our platform also includes built-in accounting tools to help you keep accurate records.

TUFFNY from New York said, "I've cut down my admin time by at least 30%, which has allowed me to source more products and expand my offerings."

Growing a resale business is easier when you have the right tools. Try Reeva free for 7 days and let us handle the tedious work so you can focus on what you love—sourcing and selling.

Comparing Depop to Other Platforms for Handmade Goods

While Depop is a great place for handmade items, it's wise to diversify your income streams. Here's a quick look at how other platforms stack up for crafters.

Etsy

Etsy is a marketplace with millions of customers specifically looking for handmade products. It's a lot more targeted than other platforms and comes with great selling tools. Optimizing your listings for search can lead to passive income. However, Etsy has its cons and should be treated as a "side dish, not the main course" in your overall business strategy.

Amazon Handmade

Amazon is a massive marketplace with a few ways to sell, including Amazon Handmade. While this initiative was created for artisans, some sellers report getting better reach and more visibility on regular Amazon. Using Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) can also be a huge conversion booster, as your products get the Prime label, which means faster, free shipping for many customers.

Shopify

Shopify is widely considered the best place to sell handmade products online if your goal is to build a strong, memorable brand. It allows you to control and customize the entire shopping experience. People are more likely to remember your shop and become loyal customers. The biggest disadvantage is that you have to bring your own traffic, which can be challenging. However, it offers the best recipe for long-term success.

eBay and Facebook

Generally, eBay is not a great place to sell handmade products. It's a sterile platform geared toward commodity products, and sellers face extreme pricing competition. It's not the place to build a memorable brand.

Facebook Marketplace is similar to Craigslist, with many people selling used items. It's not ideal for setting up a branded shop. Some sellers find success with private Facebook Groups, but this is a closed ecosystem that requires constant engagement and isn't suited for impulse buys from strangers.

Conclusion

Selling your art and handmade items on Depop can be a rewarding venture. The platform's audience is eager for the unique and original products that crafters and artists create. Success comes from focusing on the details: taking beautiful, well-styled photos, writing informative descriptions, and providing excellent customer service with a personal touch.

As your business grows, you'll find that managing listings, inventory, and sales across multiple platforms becomes your biggest challenge. This is the point where manual processes begin to hold you back. By leveraging automation, you can save dozens of hours on administrative work and reinvest that time into sourcing, creating, and scaling.

Our platform is built to handle the complexities of a growing resale business. From AI-powered listing creation and one-click cross-listing to automated delisting and powerful analytics, we provide everything you need to grow faster. Businesses that use our tools see their sales increase, their listing speed improve, and their administrative work decrease significantly.

Ready to stop juggling spreadsheets and start running your business with ease? Start your free 7-day trial of Reeva today and see how simple scaling can be.