Selling Your Used Dance Costumes Online: A Step-by-Step Guide

In my previous blog post, we dived into tips for buying used online costumes online. In this post, let’s look into how we can let your pre-loved performance costumes shine on stage again! Selling your used performance costumes online can be a fantastic way to recoup some of your investment and help another performer shine on stage. Whether it’s a used ballroom dress, a ballet tutu, or a contemporary dance outfit, the right strategy can make the difference between a quick sale and a costume that sits unsold. This guide will provide you with key strategies to effectively market, price, and sell your pre-owned dance costumes online.

Why Sell Your Used Dance Costumes Online?
Selling costumes online comes with several advantages:

Clear Your Closet and Earn Cash: Free up space in your wardrobe for new outfits by clearing out costumes you no longer wear while recouping some of the initial investment you made in the dress. The extra cash can be put towards a new costume or other dance-related expenses.
Reach a Wider Audience: Online marketplaces connect you with a vast pool of potential buyers across the globe. This is especially beneficial for niche dance styles or unique dress designs.
It's Convenient: Selling online allows you to set your own asking price, manage listings at your own pace, and connect with buyers from the comfort of your home.
Sustainability: Contribute to the sustainability movement in the dance community by giving your costumes a second life.
Community Support: Support the performing arts community by providing affordable costume options to other performers.

Selecting the Best Marketplace For Costumes Resell

Specialized Marketplace: Sites like New Stage Marketplace cater specifically to performers and might attract more targeted buyers looking for high-quality costumes.
General Online Marketplaces: Platforms like eBay or Etsy have broader audiences, which increases the potential buyer pool but also invites more competition.
Social Media Groups and Forums: These can be great for reaching local buyers and specific dance communities. However, these platforms lack seller protection.

Why Sell on New Stage Marketplace?

The Performing Community: We created this marketplace and tailoring the experience specifically with dancers and performers in mind. Increasing the likelihood that your costumes will be seen by truly interested buyers.
Seller Protection: Aside from offering secure payment processing, we also protect sellers by allowing buyers to have only 3 days post delivery date to file disputes. This reduces the chance that buyers will return the item after using it.
Low Selling Fee: To make it simple for sellers to set their pricing, we charge a flat commission fee of 15% per sale; no other fees would be charged to sellers.
Alternative to Consignment: Consignment shops offer a convenient option for selling used costumes, but they often come with high commission fees (20% to 50%) that can eat into your profits. Other benefits of selling on New Stage Marketplace is that we allow you to take control of the selling process! You get to set your own price, manage your listings and make edits anytime, your costume remains with you until it sells.

Creating a Winning Listing for Your Pre-Loved Dress
Here are the key elements to provide a compelling listing for your dress.

Visual Appeal: Take high-quality, well-lit photos of your costume from multiple angles. Include close-ups of any intricate details or areas of wear. Consider styling the costume on a mannequin or model to give potential buyers a better idea of how it looks when worn.
Accurate Measurements: While it might be tedious, buyers need a lot of information in order to make a decision on purchasing a used costume online, especially for those priced above a few hundred dollars. As mentioned in my previous buyer-focused post, providing bust, waist, hips, dress length, armhole circumference, torso length (if applicable), and shoulder width is highly recommended. Here at New Stage Marketplace, our listing pages offer optional but helpful measurement fields to simplify this process for you.
Detailed Description: Write a clear, detailed description of the costume. Include size, fabric type, any alterations, condition, any flaws, and its history (e.g., how many times it was worn).
Transparency: Be honest about the condition of the costume in your listing to avoid disputes and ensure buyer satisfaction. It is recommended that you’re transparent with any flaws of your costumes. The more information, the more helpful and trustworthy your listing seems.
Condition Matters: A clean and well-maintained costume is more likely to sell. Ensure your costume is laundered and, if necessary, repaired before listing it.
Competitive Pricing: Research what similar costumes are selling for and price yours competitively based on its condition, brand, and uniqueness.
Share Your Listing: Finally, once you created a listing, copy the URL and share it with your friends to spread the word!

Selling your used dance costumes online is not only economically rewarding but also environmentally and socially beneficial. By following these tips and choosing the right platform, you can effectively sell your used dance performance dress online, giving it a new life, a new stage! Good luck on selling your costumes. To learn more about how to sell on New Stage Marketplace, check out our Seller’s Guide.

Selling Your Used Dance Costumes Online: A Step-by-Step Guide Sell your used dance costumes online & earn cash! Learn key strategies for reselling your pre-loved dancewear on platforms like New Stage Marketplace.