How to Start Reselling Trainers: Models, Platforms, Real Margins

To start reselling trainers (sneakers), start small: two to five pairs of models whose resale price you've checked, bought at retail or second-hand below market value, with a budget you can tie up for several weeks. Work out your margin net of all costs, and check authenticity before buying, never after. Most pairs don't resell above retail price.

You'll be able to choose your first models, compare platforms and work out a pair's margin before buying it.

Is reselling trainers still profitable?

Yes, on a narrow part of the market. Most releases end up in the sales a few months later. Only certain models, often collaborations, long-awaited re-releases or colourways produced in small quantities, resell above retail.

That's the first thing to take on board: reselling isn't "buying trainers and selling them for more". It's spotting the rare pairs where demand outstrips supply, and accepting that you'll lose most of the raffles.

There's a second route that often gets overlooked: second-hand. Buying worn pairs in good condition below their market value, cleaning them and reselling them. The margin per pair is lower, but it's much easier to get into.

Which models should you target as a beginner?

Target models whose past sales you can check. Not the ones people are talking about, the ones that have sold.

Three groups work well for getting started:

• Classics in sought-after colourways: models produced continuously, some colourways of which resell around or slightly above retail. Low margin, low risk, quick sale.
• Re-releases and collaborations: higher potential margin, but access is by raffle and the price can drop quickly after release.
• Second-hand pairs of well-known models: worn pairs in good condition, bought below market value. It's the most accessible route when you're starting with no network.

Sizes matter as much as the model. Very small and very large sizes are often produced in smaller numbers and can resell better, but demand is narrower too. Look at sales by size, not just by model.

Where should you buy and sell?

Each channel has its strengths. The right choice depends on the price of the pair and how much time you want to spend.

On Vinted, according to the help page on buyer protection, the buyer pays a fee of about 5% of the price plus €0.70. You receive the listed price. For a pair of trainers, that's a clear advantage over platforms that take a commission from the seller. Always check each specialist platform's current fee schedule before setting your price: they change it regularly.

How do you avoid buying fakes?

Buy from official stores when you can, and check everything else before paying. The most sought-after trainers are also the most copied.

The basic checks: the product code on the inside label must match the one on the box and bring up the right model and colourway when you search for it online. Stitching, the shape of the sole, print quality and the smell (strong glue) give you more clues. No single sign is enough on its own.

On Vinted, the Item Verification service covers, according to its help page, items of at least €100 from approved brands, including shoes, for €10 paid by the buyer. Not every trainer brand is eligible: check that the pair shows the badge before relying on it.

And don't forget the rule: if in doubt, you don't resell. Vinted suspends accounts that sell counterfeits, and a fake you've bought is a dead loss.

How do you work out the net margin on a pair?

Start from the price identical pairs, same size, same condition, have recently sold for. Take off all your costs. What's left is your margin, and it's always lower than people imagine.

Example, new pair bought in store:

• purchase price: €140;
• observed sold price for your size: €185;
• seller fees on Vinted: €0 (fees are paid by the buyer);
• shipping box and protection: €3;
• travel or delivery when buying: €5.

Net margin: 185 − 140 − 3 − 5 = €37. On a platform that took, say, 10% commission plus a few euros of processing, the same sale would drop below €20.

Example, second-hand pair:

• bought for €45 in good condition;
• cleaning and new laces: €6;
• resold for €85.

Net margin: €34, for an outlay three times smaller. It's this ratio between margin and money tied up that counts when you're starting out.

Why do so many beginners lose money?

Because they calculate their margin from listing prices, forget the fees and buy too many pairs at once. Three pairs that don't sell at the expected price, and your capital is stuck for months.

The other mistake is not tracking your figures. After fifteen pairs, without a spreadsheet, you no longer know which pair really made money, how much cash is sitting in boxes, or whether second-hand pays better than new. You remember the pair sold for €80 over, and forget the three sold at a loss.

Attaching the purchase price to each pair and comparing it with the sale is the only way to know whether your business makes money. Revendor syncs your Vinted sales with your stock and calculates your profit per item and turnover over any period.

Do you need a business status to resell trainers?

Yes, as soon as you regularly buy in order to resell. It's a commercial activity, different from selling your own pairs that you no longer wear.

In France, the micro-enterprise is the simplest framework to start with. According to Urssaf, the turnover ceiling for buying and reselling is €203,100 in 2026. Contributions are calculated on turnover, not on margin: factor that into your prices. Our guide to declaring your Vinted sales explains the line between private seller and business. If you sell from another country, check the rules where you live.

If you resell two or three pairs a year that are sitting in your wardrobe, none of this really applies to you. Just sell them.