What to sell on Vinted each season: a month-by-month calendar

On Vinted, you sell what people will be wearing in 3 to 6 weeks. List coats from September, swimwear in April, school gear at the end of July, party outfits in November. The rule: post one step ahead of the season, when buyers are searching and the competition hasn't listed everything yet.

Here you will find a month-by-month calendar, a simple rule for how far ahead to plan, and what to do with items that are out of season.

Why does the season matter so much on Vinted?

Because most buyers are looking for what they need now or soon. A puffer jacket in July gets few searches; the same one in October finds plenty of buyers.

Vinted ranks listings taking into account relevance to the search and the interactions received, according to its help page on recommendations. An out-of-season item gets few views and few favourites, so it sinks. The same item posted at the right time picks up interactions straight away, which helps it stay visible.

Vinted doesn't publish an official demand curve by category. The calendar below is based on the rhythm of the seasons, back to school and the holidays. Your own numbers will have the final say.

How far in advance should you list?

Allow 3 to 6 weeks ahead of when the item will be worn. That is when forward-thinking buyers start searching.

• Long lead time (6 weeks): expensive or strongly seasonal items, such as coats, boots, ski suits.
• Short lead time (2 to 3 weeks): last-minute buys, such as fancy dress, party outfits, swimwear.
• All year round: jeans, basics, bags, trainers. Demand for them varies less.

If you list too early, your listing ages before the peak. If you list too late, the peak is already taken by those who planned ahead. Hence the value of reposting at the peak what you listed early.

What should you sell each month on Vinted?

Here is the calendar, month by month. The "prepare" column is for sorting and photographing in advance, so you don't find out in May that your sandals are in the loft.

What about kidswear?

The calendar is the same, with one extra constraint: children grow. Parents often buy the next size up a little before the season. A bundle of winter clothes for age 4 sells better in September than in December, when many parents have already kitted out their child.

And items other than clothes?

Same logic. School books and calculators in August, games and toys in November, Christmas decorations in early November, camping gear in May. Think about when the item will be used, then go back a few weeks.

How do you plan your listings without spending your weekends on it?

Sort by season once a quarter, then list in small batches every week. It is easier than bringing everything out at once.

A worked example to give a sense of the effort. You have 30 coats and jackets to sell for winter. Photos: 2 hours in one go. Writing: 3 minutes per listing, so 1.5 hours. Posting: 10 listings a week over three weeks, from early September. You are in place before the big October wave, and nothing was done in a rush.

The first step only takes a quarter of an hour: open your wardrobe and set aside what will be worn in two months.

What should you do with out-of-season items?

Two options: hide them or leave them live. Each has its advantages.

• Leave them live: a few buyers really do plan ahead (a coat in July at a good price sometimes finds a taker). But the listing ages, and when the season arrives, it is far down the results.
• Hide them: Vinted lets you hide a listing and reactivate it later, according to its help page on managing listings. Your wardrobe stays tidy and in line with the season.

Either way, the real challenge is to freshen the listing up at the peak. A listing posted in June and never refreshed no longer has the advantage of being new in October.

The cost of doing nothing shows at the end of the season. Example: 20 unsold winter items at the end of February, at €15 on average, is €300 staying in the cupboard for nine more months, and losing a bit of value along the way (older models, passing trends).

Refreshing each seasonal listing at the right time takes consistency, especially with several dozen items. Revendor can repost your listings automatically at a pace you set, so they regain their freshness as demand rises.

Should you change your prices with the season?

Yes, a little. At the start of the season, you can aim for the top of your range: demand is rising and supply isn't full yet. At the end of the season, drop the price before the item sleeps for six months.

A simple method:

• Start of the season: full price, let the offers come.
• Mid-season: price unchanged, but accept reasonable offers more readily.
• End of the season: 10 to 20% drop, or offer the item in a bundle with other pieces from the same season.

If a listing gets no favourites despite being in season, the problem probably isn't the calendar. Run it through our checklist for listings that won't sell.

Which items sell all year round?

Quality basics and sought-after brands sell in every season: well-known brand jeans, trainers in good condition, bags, sweatshirts, sportswear brand T-shirts. They keep your wardrobe moving between seasonal peaks.

Always keep part of your stock in "all year round" items. They smooth out your income and give you time to prepare the next season.