It’s Friday night and you’re looking through your closet for a cute outfit. There are stacks of clothes and racks of hangars overflowing with threads you’ve barely even worn and somehow it’s still possible that you can’t find something that will suit your style for the evening. Wouldn’t it be nice to purge your closet of the things you never wear and get a little extra cash for the holidays? “Closet 2 Cash” is a green company that prides itself on being the ultimate recycling of high end clothes and accessories.
Recently, I interviewed Bethany Bawel, founder of Closet2Cash, a company that will travel to your home, buy your designer items right out of your closet and pay cash up front (could it get any easier than that?). I came up with a few questions to learn more about the company and how they can benefit people looking to sell their gently-used designer pieces.
Me: What pieces sell the most? What, specifically is the company looking for?
Bawel: I am always looking for pieces that are season-less, timeless and size-less. These include accessories, leather goods, computer cases and purses.
She also mentions that a classic St. John Knit will never go out of style. The knits are great sellers because you can shrink them down or block them up a size. The company also buys men’s clothing as well as designer children’s apparel.
For specific brands, check out closet2cash.com.
Me: Where do the clothes go after you buy them?
Bawel: There is a large market of women that would like to own brands like Coach, Louis Vuitton, and Gucci, but cannot afford to pay full price, or refuse to, and reselling high end items are a way for them to obtain these brands. I resell your clothes to markets that will benefit these women.
Me: How far is the company willing to go to check out someone’s closet?
Bawel: Because I work alone, I have to be rather selective when choosing clients. Before a visit, I will interview someone on the phone to get a feel for what kind of pieces they have and why they want to get rid of them. If people are purging their closet, I would love their items to go to good use.
Don’t hesitate to contact her if you’re looking to make an appointment. Bawel is willing to travel an hour to an hour and a half from her home base in Hinsdale, IL.
Me: How much money do people usually make during each exchange?
Bawel: The largest amount of money Closet2Cash has given a client on the spot is $550.00. People have to realize that clothes are like cars, the minute you wear it, or drive it off the parking lot, it decreases 20% in value. I save the customer a lot of money if they were to sell their clothes elsewhere. Instead of going to consignment store where people have to make an appt to have their items dry cleaned or repaired, and then wait 3-6 months for a check, I am willing to take their clothes in the condition they are in, take the risk, and provide cash on the spot.
If you’re thinking about selling to consignment, remember that they hold your money to see if your piece sells and the price will go down every three weeks or so.
Me: What are hot brands right now?
Bawel: Besides the brands listed on the website, some pieces that are pretty much guaranteed sellers are anything Burberry, Gucci, Ugg, as well as Juicy. The brands depend on the fashion industry at the time, and like any other business, the market goes up and it goes down.
Me: What are some helpful tips to ensure a great sale?
Bawel: I suggest keeping the original tag and receipt to get more money for a sale. Keep the box of the shoes, and authenticity cards of the purses, that way I can pay you more for your piece.
So if you’re looking to clean out your closet but don’t want your fabulous clothes to go to waste or if you’ve been holding onto clothes you don’t wear for too long, look no further for an alternative, easy way to make some extra cash before the holidays.
Check out closet2cash.com.