Seven years ago, a side hustle started small. Today, according to the person who runs it, it has brought in over a million dollars in secondhand clothing. “Wouldn’t have believed that when I first started,” says Bethany, who runs the channel @TrashPandasThrift along with husband Sean.

Bethany describes the reselling business as life-changing, and started the channel to share tips, tricks and experiences so that viewers can start and grow a reselling side hustle of their own. The latest episode is part of a favorite series: breaking down which styles are selling well, and which keywords help them sell.

Sell the Style, Not Just the Label

The big idea is simple. Every season, Bethany does a video breaking down trending styles that are selling well. The strategy depends on style aesthetics and keywords, and the payoff is that items can sell regardless of brand. That matters, because a lot of secondhand clothing has no famous name on the tag. If you only hunt for big labels, you will pass over plenty of pieces that buyers would happily pay for.

Instead, the approach is to look at an item’s key features and ask what a buyer would type into a search box. Then those words go straight into the listing. Bethany says they list items with the style aesthetics and keywords that buyers are looking for right now, including “dark feminine,” “whimsical” and “velvet.”

Think of it like describing a dress to a friend over the phone. You would not just say the brand. You would say it is dark, swirly and romantic, with a rich fabric. Online shoppers search the same way. They type the look they have in mind, and the listings that use those words are the ones that show up. Putting yourself in the buyer’s shoes is a skill anyone can practice, and it costs nothing. It also helps to keep a running list of words that describe what you see, so listing the next piece goes faster.

The Fall and Winter Focus

This episode zeroes in on fall and winter styles, and on selling them on eBay, Depop and Poshmark. Those are three well-known places to sell secondhand fashion online, and each tends to draw its own crowd of shoppers. What they share is that buyers search by words. A well-chosen keyword can be the difference between a listing that sits and one that gets noticed.

Velvet is a good example. It has a cozy, rich feel that suits cooler weather, and “velvet” is a word shoppers can search for directly. Pair it with a style term like “whimsical” or “dark feminine,” and a listing matches what a buyer might type in.

How to Use This Even If You Are Just Cleaning Out Your Closet

You do not need to run a business to benefit from this lesson. If you have clothes sitting in a closet, a few small steps can turn them into cash.

• Look at the details. Is it velvet, lace, plaid or corduroy? Fabrics, patterns and cuts are all words a buyer might search for.
• Describe the style. Use plain words that capture the look, like romantic, cozy, vintage-inspired or whimsical.
• Do not ignore unbranded pieces. As Bethany points out, the right style and keywords can sell an item regardless of brand.
• Write a clear title. Put the strongest search words up front, then add size and condition.
• Be honest about condition. Mention flaws and take clear photos in good light. Buyers return unhappy surprises.
• Check what similar pieces sold for. Look at completed sales, not just asking prices, so you can price with confidence.

Thrifting With Keywords in Mind

If you thrift to resell, think about keywords before you buy. Pick up a sweater and ask yourself how you would describe it in one line. If the words come easily, and they match a look that shoppers want, it is a good candidate. If you cannot describe it, or it looks like every other piece on the rack, it may sit in your closet instead of selling.

It also helps to match your hunting to the season. People shop for sweaters, coats and cozy fabrics as the weather turns, so fall and winter pieces are worth watching for now. Then, when spring arrives, you can switch your focus to lighter styles.

A Reminder That It Takes Time

It is worth remembering that this reselling business did not appear overnight. Bethany says it began as a side hustle seven years ago. Over time, it grew into something that has brought in more than a million dollars in secondhand clothing. The lesson is not that anyone will reach that number quickly. It is that steady effort and a willingness to learn what buyers want can add up.

If you are curious about the full list of styles and keywords, watch the complete episode from @TrashPandasThrift.

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