Selling Shoes on Depop: A Complete Guide

Selling Shoes on Depop: A Complete Guide

The global sneaker resale market is booming, and savvy entrepreneurs are turning their closets into cash. If you have pairs of sneakers you no longer wear, or if you have an eye for trends, you could be sitting on a significant source of income. One of the best places to start this journey is Depop, a dedicated platform for buying and selling fashion.

Selling shoes on Depop can be a simple way to make extra money or even the foundation for building your own brand. With over 30 million active users worldwide, your listings get immediate visibility on a massive scale.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from your very first listing to scaling your operation. We'll cover how to sell shoes on Depop, what sells best, and how to handle the crucial final step of shipping shoes on Depop. We will also introduce you to the tools that top resellers use to accelerate their growth and automate their business.

Why Selling Shoes on Depop is a Smart Move

Depop offers a unique environment that combines a marketplace with a social network, making it an ideal platform for fashion resellers. Setting up your shop is incredibly easy, and the potential for growth is immense.

One of the biggest advantages is the cost structure. It is completely free to list items on Depop. You can list as many sneakers as you like with zero upfront fees, which lowers the barrier to entry for new sellers. You only pay a 10% fee when an item actually sells, making it a risk-free venture.

Beyond just making extra money, Depop empowers you to build a personal brand. The platform encourages creative expression, allowing you to experiment with special photography and unique styling to make your shop stand out. Whether you want to get rid of a few things here and there or create an entire small store, Depop provides the flexibility to resell as much or as little as you like.

How to Sell Shoes on Depop: A Step-by-Step Guide

Getting started on the platform is a straightforward process. Depop has streamlined the path from having a pair of shoes in your closet to having cash in your bank account. Here’s a simple breakdown of the process.

1. Set Up Your Shop: The first step is to download the Depop app and create your account. This is your digital storefront and your entry into the marketplace.
2. Snap and List: The core of selling on Depop is the listing process. You'll need to snap photos of your sneakers, create a listing that calls out their features, and set your price. You can list an unlimited number of items for free.
3. Get Seen and Sell: Once your sneakers are listed for sale, they become visible to 30 million active Depop users around the world. The platform's large user base means your items have a high chance of being discovered by an interested buyer.
4. Get Notified: When a buyer decides to purchase your item, you get pinged immediately. Depop’s smart notifications ensure you never miss a sale.
5. Get Paid: After a sale is made, you get paid within a few days. This quick turnaround allows you to manage your cash flow effectively and reinvest in your business if you choose.
6. Ship It Out: The final step is to send the item off to its new owner. Prompt and reliable shipping is key to maintaining a good reputation on the platform.

For any questions along the way, Depop provides helpful tips and a detailed Frequently Asked Questions section to help sellers get started and troubleshoot any issues.

What Types of Shoes Sell Best on Depop?

Depop is a versatile marketplace that caters to a wide range of styles and tastes. This means you can sell many different types of sneakers successfully. The key is to know what shoppers are looking for.

You can start by simply listing every pair of sneakers you won't wear again. Beyond that, certain categories tend to perform exceptionally well:

• Special & Limited Edition Sneakers: Hype is real. Collectors and fashion enthusiasts flock to Depop to find exclusive releases they might have missed.
• Designer Sneakers: High-end brands hold their value well and are always in demand. If you have luxury sneakers, Depop is a great place to find buyers willing to pay for quality.
• Vintage & Rare Sneakers: Nostalgia sells. Unique, retro, and hard-to-find sneakers from past decades are highly sought after by those looking for a unique style.
• Preowned & Secondhand Sneakers: There's a huge market for gently used sneakers. Selling preowned items is not only profitable but also a sustainable choice that appeals to many Depop users.

To identify top-selling sneakers for men and women, you can use a combination of your own instincts, market research, and staying on top of trends. Keeping an eye on current fashion and sneaker culture will help you figure out what will do well on the platform.

Preparing Your Shoes for a Successful Sale

Before you even think about taking photos, proper preparation is essential. The condition of your item is paramount to making a sale and earning a positive review. This process involves two critical steps: cleaning and inspection.

Sanitization is a Must

First, you must ensure your items are properly sanitized before selling them. This is a non-negotiable step for hygiene and customer trust. You have two options for this: you can sanitize the shoes thoroughly yourself, or you can have them cleaned by a professional for a pristine finish.

Inspect and Disclose

Once an item is clean, you must inspect it thoroughly. Look for any signs of wear and tear, such as scuffs, creases, or discoloration. It's crucial to note any and all imperfections for a potential buyer in your listing description. Transparency builds trust and prevents disputes after the sale.

Creating the Perfect Depop Listing to Maximize Sales

Your listing is your sales pitch. A well-crafted listing with great photos and a detailed description can be the difference between a quick sale and an item that sits for weeks. This is your chance to show off the product and convince a buyer it’s the right one for them.

Take High-Quality Photos

Your photos are the first thing a potential buyer sees. It's vital to upload good-quality photos that accurately represent the sneakers.

• Highlight key features and selling points with close-up shots.
• If the sneakers are from a lifestyle pair or a special collaboration, take clear pictures of the label and any unique details.
• To help buyers visualize the fit and style, you can even upload a photo of yourself wearing the sneakers.

Write a Compelling Description

Your description should complement your photos and provide all the information a buyer needs. Tailor your description to the type of shoe you're selling.

If the sneakers are designed for sports and exercise, be sure to pull out their key performance features. If they are a rare vintage or designer pair, emphasize their superior status. You can do this effectively by using relevant hashtags like #vintagesneakers, #designer, and #retrofashion to attract the right audience.

Writing unique, detailed descriptions for every item can be time-consuming, especially as you grow your inventory. This is where the right tools can make a difference. With our platform, you can turn photos into complete listings instantly. Just upload your pictures, and we'll help generate titles, descriptions, and even pricing suggestions to streamline your workflow.

Ready to cut your listing time in half? Try Reeva with a 7-day free trial and see how our AI can write your listings for you.

Pricing, Fees, and Getting Paid on Depop

Once you have your photos and description ready, the final piece of the listing puzzle is setting the right price. A smart pricing strategy ensures you remain competitive while securing a healthy profit.

Setting a Fair Price

You must make sure the price is right. To do this, research your competitors' prices for similar items on Depop. Consider your initial selling costs, including how much you paid for the sneakers, and factor in Depop's fee. Set a fair price that covers these costs and gives you a profit.

If your item doesn't sell as quickly as you'd like, you always have the option to put the item on sale later to attract more buyers.

Understanding Depop's Fees

Depop's fee structure is simple and seller-friendly. As mentioned, it's always free to list items. You only pay a fee when you make a sale. Depop charges a flat 10% fee on the total transaction amount (including shipping costs). This transparent model allows you to easily calculate your net earnings and price your sneakers accordingly, helping you convert them into cash.

The Final Step: Shipping Shoes on Depop

You've made a sale and been paid—congratulations! The final step in the transaction is shipping the shoes to their new owner. Fulfilling your order promptly and professionally is crucial for customer satisfaction and earning positive feedback, which in turn helps you make more sales in the future.

After getting paid, the seller needs to send the item off. While Depop provides the platform to make the sale, you are responsible for the logistics of getting the package to the buyer. Ensure the shoes are packed securely to prevent damage during transit. Using a sturdy box and appropriate packing material is a good practice.

Efficiently managing your sold items, especially if you're selling across multiple platforms, can become a challenge. You need to ensure an item sold on Depop is removed from other marketplaces to prevent overselling. This is another area where automation can be a lifesaver for your business.

The Reeva Advantage: How to Supercharge Your Depop Business

Selling a few pairs of shoes on Depop is one thing. Building a scalable, profitable resale business is another. As your inventory grows, so does the administrative work. Managing listings, tracking inventory across platforms like Depop, Poshmark, eBay, and Mercari, and handling accounting can quickly become overwhelming.

That's where we come in. Our all-in-one platform is built for resale businesses looking to grow. We simplify your selling process, automate tedious tasks, and provide the tools you need to scale with ease.

Resellers like AlistairBP have seen their selling amount increase by 4x since using our platform, going from selling 3-5 items a week to 10-15 items a day. If you're ready to achieve that kind of growth, start your free trial of Reeva today.

Sell Smarter and Faster, Not Harder

The single most time-consuming task for any reseller is creating listings. We've optimized this process to save you hours every week.

• Turn Photos into Listings Instantly: Simply upload your photos, and our AI will create complete listings with optimized titles, detailed descriptions, and suggested prices.
• List Everywhere with One Click: Why limit yourself to one marketplace? Our platform allows you to publish your items to Depop, Poshmark, eBay, Mercari, and more without ever switching tabs.
• Maximize Sales with Multi-Store Support: Manage all your stores from a single dashboard. Reach more buyers and grow your sales effortlessly.

FabFam, a resale business from Washington, shared, "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—background removal, form completion, and listing generation—all in one seamless process."

Save Time with Powerful Automation

Imagine your business running smoothly, even when you're not actively working on it. Our automation tools are designed to boost visibility and maximize sales without you lifting a finger.

• Instantly Delist Sold Items: Our auto-delist feature is a game-changer. When an item sells on one platform, we automatically remove it from all others to prevent overselling.
• Relist Stale Products: Keep your inventory fresh and at the top of search results by automatically relisting older products.
• Send Offers to Buyers: Engage interested shoppers by sending personalized offers automatically, increasing the likelihood of a sale.

Reseller AlistairBP calls this a can't-live-without feature, stating, "The feature I use 100% the most—and couldn't live without—is the AUTO-DELIST feature."

Grow Your Business with Ease

Scaling requires more than just listing and selling. You need robust tools to manage your entire operation. We provide a full suite of management features to help you grow.

• Bulk Listing Management: Update and manage hundreds of listings across all your marketplaces with ease.
• Powerful Business Analytics: Track your sales, profits, and key metrics with our insightful analytics to make data-driven decisions.
• Built-in Accounting Tools: No more spreadsheets. Our full-service accounting tools connect to your bank, categorize income and expenses, and generate profit and loss reports to make tax time a breeze.

As TUFFNY from New York noted, "I've cut down my admin time by at least 30%, which has allowed me to source more products and expand my offerings." This is time you can reinvest directly into growing your business.

Resale Businesses Trust Reeva

The results speak for themselves. Resellers who switch to our platform see dramatic improvements in efficiency and sales.

Try Reeva For Free

We offer two simple plans designed for resellers at different stages of their journey. Both come with a 7-day free trial, with no payment due now.

Basic Plan

Perfect for solo resale entrepreneurs. For a limited time, get it for $29/month. It includes unlimited AI generations, auto delisting, business analytics, and cross-listing.

Business Plan

Built for established resale businesses and teams. For a limited time, get it for $59/month. It includes everything in Basic, plus full automation, accounting tools, multi-user and multi-store support, and priority phone, email, and chat support.

You can access our platform anytime, anywhere—on mobile, desktop, or tablet—without needing a Chrome extension or keeping your computer on.

Conclusion: Your Path to Depop Success

Selling shoes on Depop is an excellent opportunity for anyone looking to enter the world of fashion resale. The process is simple: prepare your sneakers, create compelling listings with great photos and descriptions, price them strategically, and ship them promptly upon sale. By following these steps, you can easily convert your unused footwear into a steady stream of income.

However, as you move from a casual seller to a serious business owner, the manual tasks of listing, managing inventory, and tracking finances can become a bottleneck to your growth. Juggling multiple platforms and endless administrative work takes you away from what truly matters: sourcing great products and growing your brand.

This is where Reeva transforms your business. Our all-in-one platform automates the tedious work, giving you back time to focus on what you love. From AI-powered listings and seamless cross-posting to automated delisting and integrated accounting, we provide everything you need to run and grow your resale business with ease.

If you're ready to stop juggling and start scaling, we're here to help. Start your 7-day free trial of Reeva today and discover how simple growing your resale business can be.