Books and Resources to Start Strong
Before you invest in equipment, understanding the reselling mindset and mechanics will save you time and money. These books provide practical frameworks for sourcing, pricing, and building a sustainable reselling business.
The Unofficial Depop Handbook by Emma Quinn Caldwell
This guide is written specifically for Depop sellers and covers sourcing strategies, photography tips, and pricing psychology. Since Depop has its own culture and algorithm, learning the platform-specific tactics early prevents wasted inventory and failed listings. The book includes real seller case studies that show what actually works.
Shop The Unofficial Depop Handbook on Amazon →
The Reseller’s Guide by Melissa Jack
This book covers the fundamentals of buying low and selling high across multiple platforms, including Depop. It explains how to evaluate inventory quality, negotiate with wholesalers, and avoid common sourcing mistakes. Understanding these principles upfront helps you build sustainable margins instead of burning cash on inventory.
Shop The Reseller’s Guide on Amazon →
Profit First by Mike Michalowicz
Even small reselling businesses need basic accounting discipline. This book teaches you how to set aside money for taxes, reinvestment, and profit from day one, rather than spending all your revenue on new inventory. For Depop sellers, this approach prevents the common trap of looking busy while making no actual money.
Equipment You Need
A Depop reselling business requires surprisingly little equipment compared to other businesses. Most successful sellers start with items they likely already own. The key is investing in quality where it directly impacts sales—particularly photography and shipping—while staying lean elsewhere.
Photography Equipment
- Smartphone with good camera: Most Depop sales depend on photos. Your phone camera is likely sufficient if it’s from the last 5 years. Clear, well-lit images outsell everything else.
- Ring light or LED panel: This is one of your highest-ROI investments. Consistent lighting eliminates shadows and color inconsistencies that kill sales. A 10-inch ring light is enough for clothing shots.
- Simple backdrop: White or neutral-colored fabric hung behind your shooting area costs under $20 and makes items stand out. Avoid busy backgrounds.
- Phone tripod: Lets you shoot hands-free and position items consistently. Essential if you’re shooting alone.
- Mirror or reflector: Bounces light onto your subject, filling shadows without adding equipment.
Shop photography backdrops on Amazon →
Clothing Care and Preparation
- Garment steamer: Wrinkled items look cheaper. A handheld steamer takes 2 minutes and increases perceived value. More practical than an ironing board for volume.
- Lint roller: Essential for removing dust and pet hair. Cleanliness directly affects your star rating and repeat customers.
- Stain remover: Spot-treat items before shipping. Saves you from negative feedback.
- Scissors and seam ripper: For removing tags, fixing loose hems, or minor repairs.
- Washing machine and detergent: Most resellers already have this. Wash or refresh items before shipping.
Shop handheld steamers on Amazon →
Shipping and Packaging
- Shipping scale: Accurate weight is critical for calculating shipping costs and avoiding overages. Digital scales cost $20-40.
- Poly mailers: Buy in bulk (1000-count boxes). Standard sizes are 6×9″ and 10×13″ for clothing. Most orders fit in one mailer.
- Tissue paper: Cheap way to make unboxing feel premium. Improves repeat customers and referrals.
- Thank you cards or stickers: Small branded touches build loyalty on repeat purchases.
- Branded tape or labels: Optional but helps with brand recognition if you’re scaling.
Shop digital shipping scales on Amazon →
Storage and Organization
- Shelving unit or clothing rack: Store inventory organized by size, brand, or condition. Makes picking and packing faster.
- Clear storage bins: Stack incoming inventory or seasonal items. Label them clearly.
- Hangers: Keep clothes ready to photograph without wrinkles.
- Notebook or spreadsheet template: Track sourcing costs, sales, and inventory. Prevents losing money to disorganization.
Shop clothing racks on Amazon →
What to Buy First vs Later
Start lean. You’ll learn what you actually need through the first 50-100 sales.
- Month 1 (essentials): Ring light, poly mailers, lint roller, shipping scale. Total: under $100. These directly impact photo quality and shipping accuracy.
- Month 2-3: Garment steamer, backdrop, phone tripod. You’ll have cash flow from initial sales to fund this, and you’ll know if these tools fit your workflow.
- Month 4+: Storage shelving, branded packaging, or additional equipment. By now you’ll have revenue to justify it and clarity on what works for your style.
- Skip entirely: Expensive editing software (Depop photos work best unfiltered), professional photography props, or any equipment you won’t use weekly.
New vs Used Equipment
This is different from the inventory you’ll resell. For your own tools, buy new where durability matters, and consider used where it doesn’t.
Buy new: Ring light, shipping scale, poly mailers, and steamer. These need to work reliably without failure. A broken scale costs you money on every shipment. A failed light means bad photos for weeks. Buy used: Shelving, storage bins, clothing racks, and backdrops. You’ll find these cheaply at thrift stores or secondhand marketplaces. They’re durable and don’t need to be perfect. Even a used backdrop with minor wear works fine since your clothing will cover most of it anyway.
Avoid the temptation to buy professional-grade equipment early. Most successful Depop sellers use simple tools perfectly rather than expensive tools inconsistently. A $25 ring light with consistent use outsells professional studio equipment gathering dust.
Where to Buy
- Amazon: Most equipment available with Prime shipping. Use the links above for verified products.
- Thrift stores (Goodwill, Salvation Army): Clothing racks, shelving, mirrors, and storage bins at 10-20% of retail price.
- Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist: Local sellers often have bulk poly mailers, shipping supplies, or shelving from closed resale businesses.
- Target or Walmart: Household basics like lint rollers, hangers, and storage bins available in-store without shipping delays.
- Specialty photo retailers: If you want to upgrade to higher-end lighting later, B&H Photo or Adorama offer better selection than Amazon.
- Local dollar stores: Tissue paper, scissors, and packing supplies cost pennies and free up budget for higher-impact equipment.