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How To Start Reselling Shoes: 2024 Guide To Reselling Sneakers
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Aleksandra -
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Chief of Content Marketing
Aleksandra teaches marketing and management at various levels in High School. She writes about marketing, the economics and logistics of the dropshipping business and ecommerce in general.
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Chief of Content Marketing
16 minutes

Ready to step into the lucrative world of reselling sneakers? Unlock the lucrative world of sneaker reselling with our comprehensive guide for 2024!

In this blog article, I will explore the top platforms for reselling, from authenticated marketplaces like StockX and GOAT to broad-reaching giants like eBay and Amazon.

Also, I will delve into the power of social media, where Facebook Marketplace and Instagram become your personal storefronts, connecting you directly with global buyers.

Plus, I will uncover the top five sneakers to resell in 2024, each offering potential profits of hundreds of dollars & guide you through the step-by-step process of starting out. Shall we begin?

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Why Reselling Sneakers?

First things first, the online reselling sneakers market is huge! In fact, the sneaker resale market will reach a total revenue of $11.5 billion by the end of 2023. Moreover, it is projected to reach over $30 billion by 2030 as well. So, if the CAGR continues at 16.4%, the potential revenue for the market in 2024 could be approximately $13.37 billion.

The world of reselling sneakers is always changing, with special, and exclusive shoes being traded for more than their original prices. 

So, this growing interest in unique footwear is driven by the love for sneakers, famous people promoting them, and partnerships between brands and well-known individuals.  Thus, it is always in high demand. 

For example, let’s check on a specific Nike model, let’s say, Nike Air Max. Well, based on Google Trends, the demand and interest in these products are huge! And, believe me, this is the case with most of branded products. πŸ‘‡

πŸ’‘Tip: Learn How To Make 5k a Month With A Real Business.

How Much Can You Make From Reselling Sneakers?

If you dive into the world of reselling shoes, you could make around $80-100 extra per pair when you’re just starting out. As you progress and deal with better sneakers, the potential profit per pair could even go up to $500-700.

Take Chris Casseday, for instance. After years of being a sneaker enthusiast and reselling shoes online, he founded 513 Kicks. Being a Michael Jordan fan, he saw the demand for special athletic shoes and decided to turn his hobby into a money-making venture. 

reselling sneakers

With more than 21 years of experience in the sneaker scene, Chris transformed 513 Kicks into a successful online sneaker store, raking in an average monthly profit of $2,000.

Similarly, Casey Woodard, the brains behind KickFlips, got the idea for his business after successfully flipping various items and receiving lots of requests from friends to teach them how to flip sneakers. 

reselling sneakers

Seeing a need for an affordable and effective resource for learning this trade, he created KickFlips. Since its launch in February 2021, KickFlips has naturally gained over 1,500 users through word of mouth and referrals, bringing in $4,000 in monthly revenue with minimal expenses.

Where Can You Resell Sneakers Today?

πŸ”Έ Online Marketplace 

The first place for buying and reselling sneakers is the online marketplace. However, these marketplaces differ based on product pricing and range. So, here I will list the best marketplaces for reselling shoes. 

StockX

stockx

StockX authenticates all reselling sneakers sold on its platform, ensuring buyers receive genuine products. Thus, sellers can access real-time market data, allowing them to make informed pricing decisions.

Hence, in their catalog, you can find sneakers from almost all popular brands, like Nike, Adidas, Puma, Michael Jordan, Yeezy, Vans, and many luxury brands. Also, their prices can be as low as $56 up to $2000. 

Moreover, StockX has a vast international user base, expanding the potential market for sellers.

Reselling on StockX requires four easy steps, signing up, listing your products on their marketplace, shipping your products to their warehouse for verification, and getting paid.

reselling sneakers

Also, StocX requires a 3% payment processing rate in addition to the StockX transaction rate. And, you get to pay transaction rates based on your seller level.

In fact, your seller level is determined by your sales activity (number of sales OR the total value of sales in USD) on StockX. Check this out.

stockx fees

GOAT

goat

GOAT is also a huge marketplace for sneakers, where you can find products from brands like:

  • Air Jordan
  • Nike
  • adidas
  • Supreme
  • Fear of God Essentials
  • New Balance
  • Gucci
  • Saint Laurent, and more,

Plus, here you can find sneakers at very affordable prices from $25-200. But also, you can even find sneakers for $100K.

goat sneakers

Similar to StockX, GOAT provides a strict authentication process for sneakers, instilling confidence in buyers. So, if you want to start reselling on GOAT, here’s how it goes:

  • Sign up to sell on GOAT (They don’t say exactly when you’ll get approved, but they only let in enough sellers to check all deals.)
  • Wait to get approved
  • Put your stuff up for sale using SKU
  • Snap photos of your reselling shoes
  • Print out a shipping label
  • GOAT checks out the shoes
  • Get your money

Furthermore, GOAT offers seller protection, mitigating risks associated with fraudulent transactions.

Also, their mobile app makes listing and selling sneakers easy, providing a seamless experience for both buyers and sellers.

eBay

ebay

eBay caters to a broad audience, making it suitable for selling a wide range of sneaker brands, models, and conditions. With millions of users, eBay offers a vast pool of potential buyers. Plus, based on eBay data, a sneaker is sold on eBay every 5 seconds.

On their website, you can find sneakers from popular brands like Adidas, Nike, Jordan, VANS, Puma, and many more. 

ebay sneakers

What’s more, they have the lowest fees for flipping sneakers in the market. Thus, the final value fee is only 8%, and there are no processing fees.

ebay fees

Also, their auction format allows for dynamic pricing, potentially leading to higher bids and increased profits.

However, since there are lots of sellers here, you must make sure they are legit and that they offer original and high-quality sneakers. 

So, what I personally do if I find a specific product I want to sell, is I always start by checking a supplier’s seller rating and customer reviews to ensure they have a positive track record.

Therefore, I navigate to the product page and click on it to see detailed Seller information. πŸ‘‡

seller rating

Now, I can check on positive feedback, Items sold, followers, and more. πŸ‘‡

seller page

Also, it’s crucial to think about shipping times and fees, especially because eBay has certain rules about how quickly items need to be delivered. So, if I find a supplier I like, I keep it saved by clicking the “Save Seller” button.

πŸ’‘ Tip: Read about Dropshipping On eBay in 2024 – Pros, Cons & Tips for Beginners.

Amazon

amazon

Amazon’s vast user base provides significant exposure for your sneaker listings. Also, as a reseller, you can leverage Amazon FBA for streamlined logistics and efficient order fulfillment.

Thus, on this marketplace, you can find sneakers from brands like New Balance, Adidas, Skechers, Reebok, PUMA, ASICS, Nike, Under Armour, Steve Madden, Guess, and more. 

Also, their price ranges between $25 to $200. But, you might need to jump through a few hoops to sell them.

amazon sneakers

So, here’s one thing to keep in mind when you’re thinking about reselling shoes on Amazon. You’ve got to go through an approval process first.

Amazon wants you to show them either a receipt from when you bought your shoes wholesale from the maker or distributor, or a letter from the brand (like Nike) saying it’s okay for you to sell their stuff. You only need to send in one of these documents.

This might seem like a hassle, but Amazon does it to make sure no fake or fake-looking items get sold, and to stick to agreements they have with some makers.

Let’s say you want to sell Nike shoes. You have to start by searching for Nike stuff on Amazon. Once you find what you want to sell, get the product code (ASIN) and use your Professional Seller Central Account to begin the approval process.

amazon asin

Beyond sneakers, Amazon allows you to explore sales in other related categories, broadening your product offerings.

πŸ‘‰ Check out the 20 Best Dropshipping Suppliers For Amazon In 2024.

πŸ”Έ Social Media Platforms & Marketplace

Social media is just another perfect spot for starting a reselling sneakers business.

Thus, Facebook Marketplace allows for both local and global transactions, providing flexibility in your target audience. Also, you can communicate directly with potential buyers, facilitating negotiation and personalized transactions.

If you’re selling sneakers on Facebook Marketplace, consider offering these well-known brands:

  • Adidas
  • Converse
  • New Balance
  • Nike
  • Jordans
  • Pumas
  • Reebok
  • Vans, etc.

Plus, unlike dedicated sneaker marketplaces, Facebook Marketplace generally does not charge listing fees, maximizing your profit margin.

On the other hand, Instagram’s visual-centric platform is ideal for showcasing high-quality images of sneakers. And, as probably your consumer base will mostly be Gen Z or millennials, this might be the perfect place to build brand recognition.

This, this way, you can engage directly with followers through comments, direct messages, and stories, building a personal brand. Not just that, but the strategic use of hashtags increases the discoverability of your sneaker listings.

Also, when reselling sneakers, be sure to share details like the brand, size, condition, and any other important info you can think of. Giving buyers as much info as possible helps them make informed decisions.

πŸ”Έ Your Online Store 

And of course, you can always source your products directly from the brand’s official website (like adidas.com or nike.com). Thus, you can either try your luck when the shoes are released or use a sneaker bot to boost your chances of grabbing a pair at the original price.

Additionally, certain trusted stores like GOAT, FootLocker, or Eastbay also carry these in-demand reselling shoes. 

So, once you find your products, and have them shipped to your home, you can start making high-quality photos. 

Afterward, you need to build your online store using website builders, like Shopify or WooCommerce, or an open source like WordPress, and start listing your products. 

πŸ”Έ Dropshipping 

Last but not least – dropshipping! Do you want to sell sneakers online, but not keep inventory and eliminate the risk of not selling your already stocked products? Well, that is when dropshipping comes in. 

πŸ‘‰ Read about Dropshipping Shoes: Top 10 Shoes Wholesale & Dropshipping Suppliers + Product Ideas.

how does dropshipping work

Various reputable dropshipping suppliers provide you with original and high-quality branded products. 

In my experience, you can try dropshipping with Brands Gateway. Here you can find products from over 100 luxury brands including Adidas, Nike, Gucci, Calvin Clein, etc.

reselling sneakers

Also, BrandsGateway isn’t just your average dropshipping and wholesale supplier – it’s a lively B2B luxury fashion marketplace revolutionizing the way retailers and manufacturers collaborate.

reselling sneakers

Known for its commitment to quality and trustworthiness, BrandsGateway facilitates connections between dropshippers and wholesalers globally, offering access to top-tier brands across various categories, including clothing, shoes, jewelry, and accessories.

Moreover, they’ve streamlined their services by integrating with major dropshipping platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, and Shift4Shop. 

This means you can benefit from automated order processing, one-click product import, and real-time inventory updates, making your experience as seamless as possible.

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How To Start Reselling Sneakers? 

Next, I will guide you through my process of starting out reselling sneakers in 2024. 

Step 1 – Find The Shoes You Want To Sell 

First things first, it’s essential to hone in on your focus by selecting the shoes you want to resell. Think about who you’re aiming for and what catches their interest.

Next, spend some time checking out online stores connected to your chosen product, drawing inspiration from different places. This exploration can spark ideas for the products you want to offer. 

For example, you can go on popular marketplaces that resell sneakers and check in their Popular or Best-selling categories. This way, you get information about what’s trending. Thus, on StockX, you can only filter the products based on β€œtrending deals” criteria.

reselling sneakers

For instance, in my case, I rely on tools like Google Trends results to gauge the popularity and demand for specific products. So, let’s try this out. I will type in the keyword Air Jordan

Thus, as I see a steady interest in these products, it signals a thumbs-up to continue with my research.

Step 2 – Market Your Reselling Shoes 

Once you have chosen the reselling shoes, it is time to start your business. Thus, as I already mentioned above, you can sell these products on online marketplaces like StockX or eBay. Also, you can resell on Facebook Marketplace or other social media platforms. 

Moreover, you can even source your products and start selling from home. Thus, in this case, you can build your own online store using website builders. 

For instance, I personally use Shopify as the top choice due to its user-friendly interface and a variety of visually appealing themes, both free and paid.

Additionally, Shopify offers customization options so you can organize your store according to your preferences. Once you’ve sourced your products, you can easily upload them to your dropshipping store.

shopify

What’s more, this platform seamlessly integrates with various dropshipping apps and tools, that help you automate your supply chain process for your business.

Step 3 – Promote Your Business 

Well, actually, sales without marketing do not exist. So, like it or not, you are stuck with it if you want to generate sales

Fortunately, there are various marketing techniques available to drive traffic to your e-commerce store.

So, you can use search engine optimization, social media advertising, email marketing, and paid promotions. These strategies will enhance your online visibility and help you reach a broader audience, ultimately bringing more potential customers to your store.

Also, with platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok you create engaging content, run targeted ad campaigns, and interact with potential customers.

Furthermore, you can optimize your sales by implementing marketing tactics such as cross-selling, up-selling, and offering promotional codes. These techniques encourage customers to make additional purchases or upgrade their existing ones.

Consider integrating video marketing into your dropshipping strategy to visually showcase your products, highlight their features and benefits, and demonstrate effective usage.

Step 4 – Manage Your Inventory

Last but not least, effectively managing your inventory is crucial when reselling sneakers.

It’s important to be aware of your available space, establish a strategy for keeping track of inventory, expenses, and profits, and efficiently oversee your overall process.

Also, to help yourself out you can group sneakers by brand and model to easily locate and manage them. Furthermore, you can also categorize by size and condition (new, gently used, etc.) to facilitate quick identification.

Moreover, when it comes to managing inventory, I always recommend online sellers to use inventory management software.

For example, I am personally using Inventory Source automation software. With it I can automatically upload my product data, like the supplier’s product titles, descriptions, images, and categories, to your online store.

inventory source

Also, I can automate the process of getting and managing orders from your customers. Plus, the software integrates with marketplaces like Amazon and eBay which are great for reselling sneakers.

What Do You Need To Legally Resell Sneakers Online?

Authorization from Brands:

  • Wholesale Accounts: Some brands require you to have a wholesale account to purchase their products at a discounted rate for resale. Contact the brands directly to inquire about wholesale opportunities.
  • Authorized Retailer Agreement: Some brands have authorized retailer programs. To join, you may need to meet specific criteria and agree to certain terms and conditions.

Business Registration:

  • Legal Business Entity: Register your business as a legal entity. This could be a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, or corporation, depending on your location and business structure.
  • Tax ID: Obtain a tax identification number (TIN) or employer identification number (EIN) for tax purposes.

Retailer Permits and Licenses:

  • Business License: Acquire the necessary business licenses from your local or state authorities.
  • Sales Tax Permit: Obtain a sales tax permit to legally collect and remit sales tax on your transactions.

Understanding and Complying with Resale Laws:

  • Know Resale Laws: Familiarize yourself with resale laws and regulations in your region. Some areas may have specific laws governing the resale of certain goods.
  • Authenticity and Transparency: Be transparent about the authenticity of the products you are selling. Misrepresentation of products can lead to legal issues.

Top 5 Sneakers to Resell In 2024

Air Jordan 1 Low OG β€œYear of the Dragon”

air jordan

Dropping on Wednesday, January 24th, 2024, these AJ1s draw inspiration from dragons. The upper boasts dragon vibes and a red satin swoosh adds a pop. The Air Jordan logo, featuring a dragon around the Jumpman, is stitched in unique gold. 

Expect to snag a pair for $160 retail price, and the full set comes with extras like lucky red Chinese New Year envelopes and a decorative hang tag.

Nike SB Dunk Low β€œValentine’s Day”

nike reselling sneakers

Keep an eye out for the release date in February 2024 for these Valentine’s Day-themed Dunk Low. Like other Jordans, there’s a slight price bump, with these expected to be $125 retail price

Unlike previous releases, the 2024 β€œValentine’s Day” Dunk sports more masculine hues, swapping pink and white for burgundy and chocolate. It’s perfect for everyday wear.

Air Jordan 4 “Reimagined Bred”

reselling sneakers

Mark your calendar for Saturday, February 17th, 2024. Celebrating its 35th anniversary, the β€œReimagined Bred” Air Jordan 4 revisits its roots with the original Nike Swoosh and Air badges on the heel. 

Unlike the original, modern leather replaces the nubuck, but that’s the only significant difference. Thus, this sneaker is expected to cost $190 retail price.

Air Jordan 11 Low β€œSpace Jam”

space jam

Set to drop on Saturday, April 13th, 2024, the iconic β€œSpace Jam” makes a spring appearance. Priced at a $190 retail price, this low top 11 may not be a classic silhouette, but it has a solid fanbase. 

Featuring the unmistakable colorway, this release is expected to sell out quickly. Available for the whole family in Men’s, Gradeschool, Preschool, and Toddler sizes.

Air Jordan 4 “Military Blue”

military blue

Arriving on Saturday, May 11th, 2024, the β€œMilitary Blue” 4s are set to release a few months after the β€œReimagined Bred.” 

Priced at a $190 retail price, these shoes pay homage to the original by featuring the Nike Swoosh and Air badge on the heel, just like the β€œReimagined Bred.” 

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Conclusion

As I wrap up this comprehensive guide to sneaker reselling in 2024, you’ve gained valuable insights into the top platforms, learned the step-by-step process of starting your venture, and discovered the hottest sneakers poised for profitable reselling. 

From authenticated marketplaces like StockX and GOAT to the vast reaches of eBay, and Amazon, and the personal touch of social media storefronts on Facebook Marketplace and Instagram, you now have the tools to navigate this dynamic market.

The top five sneakers we’ve highlighted offer not just style but also the potential for significant profits. Armed with this knowledge, you’re ready to embark on your journey into the exciting world of sneaker reselling. So, shall you try it out?

In my opinion, this platform is not just legit, but it’s a golden opportunity for passionate sneaker enthusiasts to turn their love for footwear into a profitable venture. 

The market’s vast potential, coupled with the right strategies and platforms, positions sneaker reselling as a viable and exciting business. Now, lace up your entrepreneurial spirit and step confidently into the world of sneaker reselling!

About the Author

Profile picture of Aleksandra
Aleksandra Miteva
Aleksandra teaches marketing and management at various levels in High School. She writes about marketing, the economics and logistics of the dropshipping business and ecommerce in general.