5 Mobile Resale Apps Fueling the Side Hustle Economy
Remember the days of Tupperware parties and Mary Kay makeup consultations? Now, there’s a whole economy of so-called “side gigs,” with entrepreneurial go-getters selling everything from handmade products to used home goods to make some extra cash. A 2017 Bankrate study found that 44 million Americans have a side hustle, earning an average of $200 per month. Passionate side-hustlers who spend at least 11 hours per week on their secondary gig can rake in over $12,000 a year, according to 2018 research by The Hustle.
So what’s making the side hustle economy go ‘round? Find out how five mobile resale apps are making side gigs easier and helping savvy smartphone users earn extra cash.
Live and Letgo
Letgo enables side hustlers to sell everything from furniture to cars to quirky trinkets that need a new home. Consistently ranked as one of the top 50 free apps in the App Store and named the Best App for Quick Sales by The Balance, the mobile app counts over 100 million downloads and hundreds of millions of listings.
The free LetGo is a great option for side hustlers because it’s, well, free, and fast. Users snap a picture of their item and the app’s recognition technology automatically titles and categorizes their listing. LetGo doesn’t charge any fees, so users make 100% of their list price when they sell an item. The one downside is that the app doesn’t actually complete the sale — users still have to meet up in-person to collect cash or a Venmo/PayPal payment.
Side gig, but make it fashion
Poshmark is a mobile marketplace featuring new and used clothing, handbags, shoes, and jewelry. As of June 2019, Poshmark was the fourth most-downloaded shopping app in the App Store, just behind Wish, Walmart, and Amazon. For side hustlers looking to turn their closets into cash, this app is definitely one with a ton of traction, counting over 40 million users, 5 million sellers, and over 25 million items for sale.
Sellers can get their items noticed by participating in “Posh Parties,” sales events hosted within the app that promote certain types of pieces or brands. Poshmark does charge a commission on each sale ($2.95 for sales under $15 and 20% on sales over $15), but sellers don’t have to pay for shipping (the app provides prepaid shipping labels). The app takes care of the entire transaction process, sending earnings via direct deposit or check.
The international side hustle
eBay is the largest online marketplace with nearly 180 million active shoppers and 25 million sellers. The company’s mobile app counts over 370 million downloads, with nearly 13.4 million listings added each week. Clearly, it’s the place to go for side hustlers in search of a vast global audience.
The mobile app uses predictive technology to make listing faster; sellers scan the barcode on their item or type a quick description and eBay will complete the listing. The app does charge a few fees, including listing fees and a percentage-based “final value fee” once an item sells. If sellers decide to pay $10 for a 30-day promoted listing, their sponsored items are not charged a final value fee. The app also handles the entire transaction process, paying sellers via PayPal or credit card.
Handmade Hustles
Thanks to Etsy, hobbyists and crafters around the world are making a living off their artistic talents. The marketplace counts 2 million sellers and over 39 million active buyers, a pretty ideal ratio for side hustlers selling goods on the platform. Nearly 67% of Etsy’s traffic comes from mobile, thanks to the app’s simplified shopping and store management features. Sellers can easily create listings, chat with buyers, view and fulfill orders, and share their items on social media via the app.
For U.S.-based sellers, Etsy charges a 20 cent listing fee, plus a 6.5% transaction and payment processing fee. Sellers can also pay a bit extra to have their listings advertised in certain categories. Despite the fees, the app does manage the entire transaction process, including charging buyers for shipping and providing downloadable shipping labels to sellers.
Better than Craigslist
Similarly to Letgo, OfferUp is a digital marketplace for buying and selling used goods, from furniture to cell phones to that vintage pair of Nikes you finally decided to part with.
OfferUp allows side hustlers to sell items locally or choose to ship nationwide. The app doesn’t charge fees on local sales; sellers simply their buyer in-person and accept a cash or PayPal/Venmo payment. If a side hustler chooses to ship an item, payment is processed within the app. Serious side gigsters can pay to promote their item once or subscribe to Promote Plus for on-going features.
Are you a resale brand looking to attract side hustlers and drive mobile app engagement? We’d love to share a few tips on how strategic mobile advertising and pre-loads can help. Click here to get in touch with our team of global mobile advertising experts!
