March 11, 2025 • 23 mins
Want to turn your cluttered closet into cash or score some amazing vintage finds? Depop is the perfect place to start.
We’ve got one of Australia’s top Depop sellers, Kara Otter from Karameleon Vintage here to share her best tips and insider secrets. Learn how to list smarter, shop savvier, and master the Depop algorithm to get your items noticed (and sold!
Plus, Kara's tips for vintage shopping and curating a unique wardrobe.
4 things you need to know before selling your clothes on Depop.
THE END BITS
LINKS TO EVERYTHING MENTIONED:
BOUJEE & BUDGET
Leigh Boujie:
The Row Women's White Loafers $300
Country Road Lucy Crossbody Bag (similar)
Kara Boujie:
Wheels and Dollbaby dresses on Depop
Kara Budget:
Miss Sixty Women's Dress (similar) $50
GET IN TOUCH:
Want to shop the pod? Sign up to the Nothing To Wear Newsletter to see all the products mentioned plus more, delivered straight to your inbox after every episode.
Feedback? We’re listening! Call the pod phone on 02 8999 9386 or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au
CREDITS:
Host: Leigh Campbell
Guest: Kara Otter (karameleon_vintage)
Producer: Cassie Merritt
Audio Producer: Lu Hill
Video Producer: Marlena Cacciotti
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
You're listening to Amma Mia podcast. Mamma Mia acknowledges the
traditional owners of land and waters that this podcast is
recorded on.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Whoever said orange is a new pink with seriously.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Disturbed laurels for spraying groundbreaking? Oh my god, you have
to do it. You live for fashion. Hello, and welcome
to Nothing to Wear, the podcast that solves fashion problems
and levels up your wardrobe. I'm Lee Campbell and every
week I talk to an expert who helps us get
more out of the clothes we already own and tells
(00:45):
us exactly what is and isn't worth adding to your wardrobe.
And if you've ever scrolled Deepop and thought where do
I even start, this episode is for you. Or maybe
you don't even know what deepop is, but you keep
hearing everyone talk about it, so we've got you covered.
Today I'm joined by one of Australia's top deep pop sellers,
(01:07):
the queen of Curate ad Vintage and an appsolute expert
in turning secondhand gems into serious style. Her name is
Kara Otter or Karamelian As she's non online and she
doesn't just sell on deepop that's her job. She's made
a career out of it. She runs a thriving vintage
shop in Sydney called so Familia, where she sources some
(01:27):
of the most incredible preloved pieces that you might find
on her depop. So today we'll get to dive deep
into the world of deepop. How to use it, what
it is, how to buy, how to sell, and all
of your questions answered. Kara. Firstly, let's start with some
general questions before we get into all things Deepop. Can
you describe your style in three words?
Speaker 2 (01:48):
My personal style. This is kind of tricky because I
don't think I'm super extra, but I do love colorful things,
and obviously I wear a lot of vintage. Most of
my clothes are pre love or things that small designers
have made. Love a little splash of leopard print, bit
of sporty, usually comfy shoes, so whatever I'm feeling really
(02:12):
on the day. But yeah, majority vintage, and i'd definitely
say quite colorful compared to majority of people that are
loving Beiji in carcass.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Which is pretty much me though. I'm trying to experiment.
And they say that you wear ten percent of your
wardrobe ninety percent of the time, so the stuff you
reach for over and over and over. I wonder if
that's true for you, because your wardrobe's so unique, But
what's your most reached for items.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
My wardrobe is really high rotation, so I have a
tiny wardrobe. I live in a small apartment, but we
have a shop and I've got a lot of vintage
stock at my grandma's house. So I tend to change
what's in my wardrobe a lot. If I haven't reached
for it in six months, it's gone, yes, and I
replace it with something exciting. And I buy so much
(02:59):
every week, which sounds like my worst nightmare because I
hate over consumption and stuff like that. But when it's vintage,
you don't have the guilt.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
No, and also it's your job, so then you can
move it on. It's just a flowing yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
People are always picking stuff up in the shop and saying,
oh that was from my wardrobe. It didn't fit me right,
but it's amazing. So yeah, I try and keep it
very circular, this wardrobe.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Very fluid and flowing. That's the goal. We're talking all
things deepop, so let's set the scene. For people that
have never heard or used deepop before, they might feel
intimidated by it. They might not even know what it is.
So what is Deepop? How does it work? Tell us
all things?
Speaker 2 (03:38):
So Deepop is basically an app that's a super simple,
like eBay when it first started, kind of thing where
you can list your old pieces that you don't wear anymore.
But it's very specifically in Australia clothing accessories, shoes and
stuff like that. And it's kind of like an Instagram
that you can just scroll through and find pieces that
(03:59):
you love that someone else has bought that didn't fit
or whatever. And it's kind of just a simplified eBay.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
That is a really good way to put it. And
how does it differ? I mean you've mentioned Debay there,
but you know you go trees Yetsi's or my favorite
thing to scroll before bed because it's just so erratic
and random Facebook marketplace. How does it differ or why
do you prefer it?
Speaker 2 (04:19):
There's two kind of sides of deep Hop. So I'm
a reseller, so I'm like specifically doing photo shoots for
deepop and buying for deepop and curating products that I
think my customers are going to like, Whereas there's a
lot of people on there that are just selling their
old Wardrobes, which is also great. So it's like a
bit of a garage sale kind of vibe, but it's
(04:40):
a lot easier to use because there are those kind
of curated things, so it's inspiring and it kind of
shows you things that you may like and it's a
little bit more directed at fashion. Okay, Facebook marketplace, you're
going to find old Grandma selling Ancho on deep Hop.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
If that makes it my Facebook marketplace feed. I mean,
it knows me because I've clicked on weird things. But
sometimes I've looked at furniture and then i don't want
furniture anymore. But it's all furniture. It's just almost too broad.
But you're right when I've gone on to deep Hop,
the fashion knows so it's clever and you're one of
the top deep Hop sellers in Australia. So before we
get into your tips, let's talk about your journey to
(05:18):
being here and selling. How how did you get here
and what do you sell?
Speaker 2 (05:22):
So it's vintage dead stock, which is a lot of
people don't understand, so kind of quickly explain it. It's
actually old stocks that's never been worn, so it's still
brand new. Oh wow, it has the original tags, and
we kind of find like old companies or old warehouses
that have got this stock that hasn't been touched. So
we've really been lucky and specialized in that we sell
(05:45):
sunglasses and with clothing anything from like accessories like scarves
to jackets, dresses, formal dresses and everything in between.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Yeah, it's curated. It's kind of like the version of
going to the shopping center and go to your favorite
shop because you know that's your style and your aesthetic
and your whole vibe exactly. Talk to me about listing stuff,
So how important are photos, descriptions and pricing? You have
any specific tips that makes lists stand out that actually sells.
If our listeners were thinking of perhaps listings and things
(06:17):
that they don't longer.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Wear, I'd say just make sure that you've got good
lighting so you can see the detail. You know, you've
written the brand, the size, all of that, the condition,
But the photo is important. You kind of just want
it to be a simple, clear background with good lighting.
It can be on a hangar.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Do you think people prefer it on a body or
how do you shoot yours? And what do you think
sells best when it's an item of clothing.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
For us, we definitely do body because I think it's
really important as a business if you want to grow,
because you're just going to get asked to see it
on a body. But if you're selling something that's like branded,
or you're selling something that's very current and in store
that you've purchased, you could definitely just do it on
a hangar because I think people know what that brand
(07:01):
sells or what the fits like. If it's a popular item,
I'd say it's not essential, no way, you could just
post it.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
And when you say photo, is there a gallery of
images on deepop or is it just like one photo?
Speaker 2 (07:14):
I guess the best way to think of deepop is
like an Instagram bot for selling your clothes.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Okay, so the best ones at the front. You really
want to be eye catching.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Each item is a post, so we try and post
once a day, one new item every day. But if
you have cleared out your wardrobe and you have thirty
things that you want to sell, definitely just upload them
more and be as descriptive as possible, because if people
are looking for let's say a specific back and bridge
(07:42):
dress they've tried it on in store, they want to
find it on deepop search it up. You never know
you might get it in your size for half the price.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
So if you know the style name, include as much
as possible.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Definitely take the description from the brand's website.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Yes, pricing, how do we know what to price things at?
I mean, it's a bit different for you because things
are quite unique. But I've seen similar items on there
with the same item and someone is selling it for
an apps bargain and then in my opinion, expecting way
too much. So how can people gauge what kind of
pricing is reasonable?
Speaker 2 (08:15):
I would say depends how quickly you want to sell it,
if you don't mind holding on to it for the
next six months. I've had items on here for two years,
but I don't mind because I store it all at
my grandma's house, lucky for me, and it doesn't matter
if it sits there for a while. So it's like,
I'm not kind of trying to chase that quick sale,
whereas you want to quick sale, make it cheap and
(08:36):
be happy that you got something for it donating it,
I guess. And also depends on the condition. If it's
in pretty crappy condition, you'd be happy to get not
much for it. If you've taken really good care of it,
or if it's a really high demand item that's like
sold out on the brand's website, then you can obviously
(08:56):
ask more for it, But just have a look. I
guess what the marketplace is like and search it up
for you list it.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
Okay, So do as much of your own research as
you can.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Yeah, let's say you're selling that Beck and Bridge bridesmaid
dress that you're never going to wear again. See what
those kind of dresses are going for, okay, and then
if you want to sell yours faster, make it ten
dollars cheaper than everyone else's.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Smart and do people bargain on there. Because you can
send messages, right, Can you send offers? How does that work?
Say I've seen this Beck and Bridge dress and it's
one hundred dollars, but I really don't want to spend
eighty Can I make an offer or send a message
to negotiate or is that not really done?
Speaker 2 (09:30):
You can definitely offer deep Hoop kind of gives you
like recommended offers, like, okay, you want to ask for
ten percent off? Do you want to ask for fifteen
percent off? And then you can kind of gauge how
badly you want it, because it has happened to me
that I've offered and then someone else has snapped it up.
So sure, I guess just depends how bad you want it.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Yeah, it's kind of like an auction in a way.
What about specific ways to list, Like is there keywords?
Does it use sort of seo at algorithm?
Speaker 2 (09:57):
It does feel like it is a bit AI in
the sense that like, if you're looking up a pair
of sunglasses, it will show you similar sunglasses. Also, I
think if you're looking for something this is just VINTI
in general instead of just buying like that preloved back
and bridge just for example, I don't know why I
keep it.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
That's a good example to keep running with.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
I feel like people are always like wearing that kind
of thing once and trying to get rid of it.
So if you're looking for something more special, I guess
so for me, I find vintage shoes incredibly difficult to find,
and I find shoes in general really hard to buy
because I want something cool and good quality and I
just don't really feel like it's out there. So whenever
(10:38):
I go on deep op and look for my size
of shoe, it's really rare that I find something. But
if I go on for the next couple days every
now and then, it'll kind of know that I'm looking
for cool shoes and it will show me new cool
shoes that are listed.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
So the algorithm kind of learns you and follows you
in terms of like you know their cookies or whatever
those things are, and you'll be served similar things to
search as you've looked for exactly.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
With like vintage shopping as well, if you want something special,
you can't be super specific, like I can't say I
have a wedding, I need green shoes in a thirty
eight with an open toe and a platform. Yes, it's
like I just want to see all the vinted shoes
that are available in Australia in a size thirty eight yep,
(11:24):
and then work with that.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Okay, cool, Yep. No, it makes sense. It's not like
going online to the iconic. You can't really filter by
size and color and then hope that there's a lot
of stuff.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Is it important to follow people? Obviously, you know I
want to follow your shop or my friend Mary's selling
all her stuff, I'll follow her. But if I just
jump on and I don't follow any accounts. Can I
just search Country Road Bag, Beckonbridge Dress and I'll just
see whole bunch of stuff.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Exactly vinted sunglasses. I'm looking for a leopard print coat,
and if you type in leopard print coat, it's going
to show you leaper print coats. And then from there
you can find sellers that you like because you can
see their page and it's curated. So for example, if
someone's looking up low waisted jeans and we pop up,
(12:08):
they might see our page and go, oh oh, I
like this page's style, this is my esthetic, and then
find more things on our page. So it's fun because
you're looking around and you're shopping this marketplace like you
would at a market store.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Yeah, I love that, but you can be in your pj's,
golling in bed, or the baby's having an app I
love that. How did you start out in terms of
when did you and your cousin get to the point
going wow, this could be a real business or was
that always the goal.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
I've been a fashion designer for many, many years and
always having really been inspired by vintage, vintage shapes, buying
vintage and kind of using that in the design process,
and I started my own brand by making prints that
were inspired by vintage. We started doing Glebe markets and
the vintage kind of took over in the sense that
(13:03):
people were more inclined to pick up the vintage piece
because it was a better price point for the market.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Right.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
The vintage rail just kind of grew and grew and
grew until my label was online. But deep Hop is
great for us because it kind of allows people from
all over Australia and internationally to find us and buy from.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Us other sellers. Is there any other sellers that you've
seen that have made mistakes ways people could improve to
get the best out of their listings. If they're selling something.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Like I said, a really good photo with lots of
natural light, then are very like as descriptive as you
can be, So describe the colors, the fabric, the length,
and the more specific you are, the more you'll come
up in people searches.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Okay, that's good. And then probably the last questions you'll get,
which is a lot of admin to answer, a lot
of back and forth. What's your take on the sustainability
aspect of buying and selling secondhand? I mean, it's a
no brainer to me, But is that part of your
ethos of your business?
Speaker 2 (13:58):
One hundred and fifty percent. It's something that I feel
really strongly about. I did work in fast fashion at
one point of my life. Thinking back to that time
and not realizing the dayage that that causes to the
environment and also people, I would never go back there.
And this is a really good way of keeping clothes
(14:20):
circular and stopping them from ending up in landfill. And
I think we all as people that love fashion, have
a responsibility because you can be really cool. You can
be super stylish and have like me, new clothing your
wardrobe every week without having to cost the earth.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Yeah, and more individual and more I guess, quirking and creative.
So if people are finding or looking to find good
deals on Deep Hop, we've talked about negotiating good to
know from a buyer perspective that it's a done thing.
What do you find is kind of like the average
Obviously you've got your beautiful secondhand thrifting vintage vibe, and
then what's the level, Like we mentioned Beck and Bridge,
(14:59):
is it sort of that kind of level. It's not
your chanelle, but it's not your ancho.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
I mean, I'm not saying there's not design and stuff
on there, but it isn't like the super designer must
good place. I feel like a lot of people that
have a really amazing designer archive collection have their own website.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
Maybe use Vestia Air Collective.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
But even for us as sellers, like sometimes it's really
hard to verify and show people that it's genuine. So like,
we've sold deal sunglasses on Etsy and people are always like, oh,
but are they real. It's like, well, yes, it has
a certificate, it looks real, it feels real. I've bought
it from a very reliable place, but it's kind of
(15:41):
hard to prove to you.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
I mean even those big websites have been in trouble
for selling things that are not real.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
So I just isn't it funny because scammers have almost
done everyone a disservice because now everyone's so worried about
being scammed. It's good that they're double triple checking. But
when you are selling an authentic item, particularly in your case,
sometimes it's vintage so you don't have the receipt, but
you know it's new, it can be hard to prove.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
You know, I'd rather sell it in the store. Touch
and feel it themselves.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
Okay, that's a really good tip in general, and I think, yeah,
if you are searching for something that's a bit fancy
buying online buy beware, you might want to be able
to go and touch and feel or make sure you're
getting it through a reputable luxury reseller.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
I have come across like a lot of really fancy,
newer designer pieces and I've actually passed it to someone
else to sell because I'm like, I just don't know
that world. Yes, I don't want to dabble in it
and get in trouble for doing something wrong. So I
passed them over to a girl that I know, and
I said, have fun sell these on eBay. I'm happy
to get what I can get for them. And I'm
(16:43):
sure all resellers went, oh my god, they're so cheap
and bore them. But it's a whole nother world of reselling.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Yes, okay, yeah, so there's definitely different categories. So last
question before we get into booty and budget. A regular
person like me at home has maybe two suitcases worth
of things that I'd like to list. Do I do
it all at once? Do I set aside a day
and take a bunch of photos and upload it and
then do I share that on my socials? How do
I tell people about it? If I'm just a regular
(17:12):
old person trying to do the right thing by the
planet and clear the wardrobe.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
My tips would be, find a spot in your house
that's got a white or very light wall, hang it up,
steam it in it, make it look decent, because you
don't want to be showing people a brown paper bag
that's been kind of chewed up or sat in the suitcase.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
I'd probably just night it out in a day or
take all the photos in one go and then slowly
upload because the uploading and the descriptions you can kind
of do when you're getting.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
A petty Yes, so true. And yeah, I guess if
you upload it all at once and everyone wants to
buy all at once, and that's a lot of admin of.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Sending, won't happen that quickly, Oh damn it. You can
make it to you, but you're not going to sell
out overnight.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Yeah, okay, especially if you're starting.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Unless you're a big influencer who's posted it on your
Instagram story, everyone wants a piece of you.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Yeah, okay, So the algorithm is not that tricky. But
it's worth yak, you say, pop it up. You've taken
the photos, you've made the listing, and then you can
keep adding to it and keep that stuff in a
safe place where you know when it sells you can.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Dig it out and nothing to lose. It's very expensive,
how wundre these.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
We're going to end the episode with bougie and budget.
So I have a budget item that I bought off
Deep Hop that I'm very proud of. Although it's not vintage,
it was something I was looking for. And then a
bougie item something I'm considering that I want to get
your opinion on. I'm going to start by telling you
about my budget. It's a country road cross body bag
that I recently bought because I had it in ten
(18:54):
and I absolutely flogged it, and then I wanted it
in a cream and I just hoped it came in cream.
I googled it sold out years ago, well year ago,
and then I went on deep Off and someone hadn't
even used it and it was I think I paid
twenty dollars for it. I mean, I don't have to
justify what I love the bag, but it literally had
the tag on it and I thought oh no, I'm
(19:15):
never going to be able to get that bag again.
Got it brand new for a quarter of the price
in the color I wanted, So loving my life. Yeah,
I'm just so happy with it.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
There's something so satisfying about getting something that you've been
thinking about but haven't bought. When it's secondhand or pre
loved for a bargain. It just gives you this rush
of like, I am awesome.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Yes, I'm so good at this.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
And that's why secondhand clothes are so addictive.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
Tell me about your bodget either something you've bought or
sold or loved.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
So one of my favorite things that I bought was
a total bargain. It was thirty five dollars. And for
those people that listen that are old enough, it's a
Miss sixty Maxi dress with the big epic lace up
leather detail and like a really cool, crazy psychedelic print,
and it remembers Miss sixty was these shits, Oh yeah,
(20:09):
but it it was the creme de la creme and
you can definitely not find it in a Westfield. So
I was really excited and happy that I have this
dress now that no one else has.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
And do you still have it or have you moved
it on yet?
Speaker 2 (20:19):
I still have it. I'm waiting for it to fit
me post baby.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
Okay, that's exciting. I know. I love that thrill. There's
no thrill like a good thrift find.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
It's the best.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
Okay, Bougie, I'm going to run these past you. I
think you're going to say no because they're still too expensive,
but I'm obsessed with the Row. The Row is the
Olsome Twins brand. It's very expensive, like outrageously expensive. And
I also want a cream or white loafer for winter.
I found a white loafer by the Row on Deep Hop.
(20:50):
That's three hundred New Zealand dollars. I don't really know exchange,
but much of a much has three hundred dollars. They've
said they bought them off the real reel. Hmm, that's
third hand, but they look hardly worn. Well, what doesn't matter, greed.
I just want to make sure they're not counterfeit. But
like we discussed before, I think three hundred dollars, let's
just pretend New Zealand astraining the same. It's not that
different for the Row. Why loafers all leather? I reckon
(21:11):
that's a good deal. And like you said, I've searched
on Deep Hop for over the Row and there's not
a lot on there. I go on Best Year Collective.
There's so much row, so maybe not enough people are
listing stuff on there. And that's why it's a bargain.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
What are they usually sell for? Because when I see
the row of the boots like two grands.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Yeah, that's my point, Like their shoes are in the thousands.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Don't even think about it. Get them because if they sell, yes,
you're going to regret it forever and you're not going
to be able to find them for that price again.
And leather shoes the biggest investment.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Right and my size. It's like dresses. Then things can
be altered if you need or worn over size, but
shoes they got to be the right size.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
And if they're good quality shoes, you're getting a steal
because you'll just live in them. And I'd say that
is so much more sustainable than going on an iconic
orwn aesoce and buying a pleathor shoe that's going to
last you two months.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
I love you so much for approving this one question.
If I'm buying from New Zealand, anything, I need to
know I've never bought overseas. I just buy it and
they send you buy it.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
Honestly, I'm like so confident in the.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Yes, Okay, you're the best. I'm buying it.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
You're gonna wear them, get them, I'm getting it at
the end of the day. If you don't wear them
the resel, they've sat there for two months, put them
back on deepop. Well, put them up on eBay and
you can add an extra hundred bucks.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
You are genius. Okay before I buy those, can you
tell me about your bougie. It doesn't have to be
as fancy as the row, because I know your vibe
is all sort of more vintage. What have you got
for me?
Speaker 2 (22:37):
This will also show you my age. But I have
still not let go of this high school obsession with
Wills and Doll Baby.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Oh gosh, the hold that brand had on me.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Well, Wills and Doll Baby has always had a special
place in my heart and it's something that you can't
buy anymore. So I'm always looking for Wills and Doll Baby.
I just love collecting it.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
It's all Australian made and unique, and so whenever I
find a little Wills and Doll baby bargain online.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
I just have to get it, Okay, I love it. Well.
If I find anyone my searches, I'll send links your way.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Have any in your suitcases that you've you message me
before you listen.
Speaker 1 (23:17):
When I find a weekend, I will message you. Kara,
thank you so much for sharing all your inside tips.
Obviously we'll POPLINX in the show notes to all of
your handles so people go shop your delicious curations. But
thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
Thank you for listening to Nothing to Wear, and don't
forget to sign up to the Nothing to Wear News
that an there's a link in the show notes. This
episode was produced by Cassie Merritt, with audio production by
Lou Hill
You're listening to Amma Mia podcast. Mamma Mia acknowledges the
traditional owners of land and waters that this podcast is
recorded on.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Whoever said orange is a new pink with seriously.
Speaker 1 (00:23):
Disturbed laurels for spraying groundbreaking? Oh my god, you have
to do it. You live for fashion. Hello, and welcome
to Nothing to Wear, the podcast that solves fashion problems
and levels up your wardrobe. I'm Lee Campbell and every
week I talk to an expert who helps us get
more out of the clothes we already own and tells
(00:45):
us exactly what is and isn't worth adding to your wardrobe.
And if you've ever scrolled Deepop and thought where do
I even start, this episode is for you. Or maybe
you don't even know what deepop is, but you keep
hearing everyone talk about it, so we've got you covered.
Today I'm joined by one of Australia's top deep pop sellers,
(01:07):
the queen of Curate ad Vintage and an appsolute expert
in turning secondhand gems into serious style. Her name is
Kara Otter or Karamelian As she's non online and she
doesn't just sell on deepop that's her job. She's made
a career out of it. She runs a thriving vintage
shop in Sydney called so Familia, where she sources some
(01:27):
of the most incredible preloved pieces that you might find
on her depop. So today we'll get to dive deep
into the world of deepop. How to use it, what
it is, how to buy, how to sell, and all
of your questions answered. Kara. Firstly, let's start with some
general questions before we get into all things Deepop. Can
you describe your style in three words?
Speaker 2 (01:48):
My personal style. This is kind of tricky because I
don't think I'm super extra, but I do love colorful things,
and obviously I wear a lot of vintage. Most of
my clothes are pre love or things that small designers
have made. Love a little splash of leopard print, bit
of sporty, usually comfy shoes, so whatever I'm feeling really
(02:12):
on the day. But yeah, majority vintage, and i'd definitely
say quite colorful compared to majority of people that are
loving Beiji in carcass.
Speaker 1 (02:21):
Which is pretty much me though. I'm trying to experiment.
And they say that you wear ten percent of your
wardrobe ninety percent of the time, so the stuff you
reach for over and over and over. I wonder if
that's true for you, because your wardrobe's so unique, But
what's your most reached for items.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
My wardrobe is really high rotation, so I have a
tiny wardrobe. I live in a small apartment, but we
have a shop and I've got a lot of vintage
stock at my grandma's house. So I tend to change
what's in my wardrobe a lot. If I haven't reached
for it in six months, it's gone, yes, and I
replace it with something exciting. And I buy so much
(02:59):
every week, which sounds like my worst nightmare because I
hate over consumption and stuff like that. But when it's vintage,
you don't have the guilt.
Speaker 1 (03:07):
No, and also it's your job, so then you can
move it on. It's just a flowing yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
People are always picking stuff up in the shop and saying,
oh that was from my wardrobe. It didn't fit me right,
but it's amazing. So yeah, I try and keep it
very circular, this wardrobe.
Speaker 1 (03:21):
Very fluid and flowing. That's the goal. We're talking all
things deepop, so let's set the scene. For people that
have never heard or used deepop before, they might feel
intimidated by it. They might not even know what it is.
So what is Deepop? How does it work? Tell us
all things?
Speaker 2 (03:38):
So Deepop is basically an app that's a super simple,
like eBay when it first started, kind of thing where
you can list your old pieces that you don't wear anymore.
But it's very specifically in Australia clothing accessories, shoes and
stuff like that. And it's kind of like an Instagram
that you can just scroll through and find pieces that
(03:59):
you love that someone else has bought that didn't fit
or whatever. And it's kind of just a simplified eBay.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
That is a really good way to put it. And
how does it differ? I mean you've mentioned Debay there,
but you know you go trees Yetsi's or my favorite
thing to scroll before bed because it's just so erratic
and random Facebook marketplace. How does it differ or why
do you prefer it?
Speaker 2 (04:19):
There's two kind of sides of deep Hop. So I'm
a reseller, so I'm like specifically doing photo shoots for
deepop and buying for deepop and curating products that I
think my customers are going to like, Whereas there's a
lot of people on there that are just selling their
old Wardrobes, which is also great. So it's like a
bit of a garage sale kind of vibe, but it's
(04:40):
a lot easier to use because there are those kind
of curated things, so it's inspiring and it kind of
shows you things that you may like and it's a
little bit more directed at fashion. Okay, Facebook marketplace, you're
going to find old Grandma selling Ancho on deep Hop.
Speaker 1 (04:57):
If that makes it my Facebook marketplace feed. I mean,
it knows me because I've clicked on weird things. But
sometimes I've looked at furniture and then i don't want
furniture anymore. But it's all furniture. It's just almost too broad.
But you're right when I've gone on to deep Hop,
the fashion knows so it's clever and you're one of
the top deep Hop sellers in Australia. So before we
get into your tips, let's talk about your journey to
(05:18):
being here and selling. How how did you get here
and what do you sell?
Speaker 2 (05:22):
So it's vintage dead stock, which is a lot of
people don't understand, so kind of quickly explain it. It's
actually old stocks that's never been worn, so it's still
brand new. Oh wow, it has the original tags, and
we kind of find like old companies or old warehouses
that have got this stock that hasn't been touched. So
we've really been lucky and specialized in that we sell
(05:45):
sunglasses and with clothing anything from like accessories like scarves
to jackets, dresses, formal dresses and everything in between.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Yeah, it's curated. It's kind of like the version of
going to the shopping center and go to your favorite
shop because you know that's your style and your aesthetic
and your whole vibe exactly. Talk to me about listing stuff,
So how important are photos, descriptions and pricing? You have
any specific tips that makes lists stand out that actually sells.
If our listeners were thinking of perhaps listings and things
(06:17):
that they don't longer.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
Wear, I'd say just make sure that you've got good
lighting so you can see the detail. You know, you've
written the brand, the size, all of that, the condition,
But the photo is important. You kind of just want
it to be a simple, clear background with good lighting.
It can be on a hangar.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Do you think people prefer it on a body or
how do you shoot yours? And what do you think
sells best when it's an item of clothing.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
For us, we definitely do body because I think it's
really important as a business if you want to grow,
because you're just going to get asked to see it
on a body. But if you're selling something that's like branded,
or you're selling something that's very current and in store
that you've purchased, you could definitely just do it on
a hangar because I think people know what that brand
(07:01):
sells or what the fits like. If it's a popular item,
I'd say it's not essential, no way, you could just
post it.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
And when you say photo, is there a gallery of
images on deepop or is it just like one photo?
Speaker 2 (07:14):
I guess the best way to think of deepop is
like an Instagram bot for selling your clothes.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Okay, so the best ones at the front. You really
want to be eye catching.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Each item is a post, so we try and post
once a day, one new item every day. But if
you have cleared out your wardrobe and you have thirty
things that you want to sell, definitely just upload them
more and be as descriptive as possible, because if people
are looking for let's say a specific back and bridge
(07:42):
dress they've tried it on in store, they want to
find it on deepop search it up. You never know
you might get it in your size for half the price.
Speaker 1 (07:51):
So if you know the style name, include as much
as possible.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Definitely take the description from the brand's website.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Yes, pricing, how do we know what to price things at?
I mean, it's a bit different for you because things
are quite unique. But I've seen similar items on there
with the same item and someone is selling it for
an apps bargain and then in my opinion, expecting way
too much. So how can people gauge what kind of
pricing is reasonable?
Speaker 2 (08:15):
I would say depends how quickly you want to sell it,
if you don't mind holding on to it for the
next six months. I've had items on here for two years,
but I don't mind because I store it all at
my grandma's house, lucky for me, and it doesn't matter
if it sits there for a while. So it's like,
I'm not kind of trying to chase that quick sale,
whereas you want to quick sale, make it cheap and
(08:36):
be happy that you got something for it donating it,
I guess. And also depends on the condition. If it's
in pretty crappy condition, you'd be happy to get not
much for it. If you've taken really good care of it,
or if it's a really high demand item that's like
sold out on the brand's website, then you can obviously
(08:56):
ask more for it, But just have a look. I
guess what the marketplace is like and search it up
for you list it.
Speaker 1 (09:01):
Okay, So do as much of your own research as
you can.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Yeah, let's say you're selling that Beck and Bridge bridesmaid
dress that you're never going to wear again. See what
those kind of dresses are going for, okay, and then
if you want to sell yours faster, make it ten
dollars cheaper than everyone else's.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Smart and do people bargain on there. Because you can
send messages, right, Can you send offers? How does that work?
Say I've seen this Beck and Bridge dress and it's
one hundred dollars, but I really don't want to spend
eighty Can I make an offer or send a message
to negotiate or is that not really done?
Speaker 2 (09:30):
You can definitely offer deep Hoop kind of gives you
like recommended offers, like, okay, you want to ask for
ten percent off? Do you want to ask for fifteen
percent off? And then you can kind of gauge how
badly you want it, because it has happened to me
that I've offered and then someone else has snapped it up.
So sure, I guess just depends how bad you want it.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
Yeah, it's kind of like an auction in a way.
What about specific ways to list, Like is there keywords?
Does it use sort of seo at algorithm?
Speaker 2 (09:57):
It does feel like it is a bit AI in
the sense that like, if you're looking up a pair
of sunglasses, it will show you similar sunglasses. Also, I
think if you're looking for something this is just VINTI
in general instead of just buying like that preloved back
and bridge just for example, I don't know why I
keep it.
Speaker 1 (10:14):
That's a good example to keep running with.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
I feel like people are always like wearing that kind
of thing once and trying to get rid of it.
So if you're looking for something more special, I guess
so for me, I find vintage shoes incredibly difficult to find,
and I find shoes in general really hard to buy
because I want something cool and good quality and I
just don't really feel like it's out there. So whenever
(10:38):
I go on deep op and look for my size
of shoe, it's really rare that I find something. But
if I go on for the next couple days every
now and then, it'll kind of know that I'm looking
for cool shoes and it will show me new cool
shoes that are listed.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
So the algorithm kind of learns you and follows you
in terms of like you know their cookies or whatever
those things are, and you'll be served similar things to
search as you've looked for exactly.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
With like vintage shopping as well, if you want something special,
you can't be super specific, like I can't say I
have a wedding, I need green shoes in a thirty
eight with an open toe and a platform. Yes, it's
like I just want to see all the vinted shoes
that are available in Australia in a size thirty eight yep,
(11:24):
and then work with that.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Okay, cool, Yep. No, it makes sense. It's not like
going online to the iconic. You can't really filter by
size and color and then hope that there's a lot
of stuff.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (11:32):
Is it important to follow people? Obviously, you know I
want to follow your shop or my friend Mary's selling
all her stuff, I'll follow her. But if I just
jump on and I don't follow any accounts. Can I
just search Country Road Bag, Beckonbridge Dress and I'll just
see whole bunch of stuff.
Speaker 2 (11:46):
Exactly vinted sunglasses. I'm looking for a leopard print coat,
and if you type in leopard print coat, it's going
to show you leaper print coats. And then from there
you can find sellers that you like because you can
see their page and it's curated. So for example, if
someone's looking up low waisted jeans and we pop up,
(12:08):
they might see our page and go, oh oh, I
like this page's style, this is my esthetic, and then
find more things on our page. So it's fun because
you're looking around and you're shopping this marketplace like you
would at a market store.
Speaker 1 (12:21):
Yeah, I love that, but you can be in your pj's,
golling in bed, or the baby's having an app I
love that. How did you start out in terms of
when did you and your cousin get to the point
going wow, this could be a real business or was
that always the goal.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
I've been a fashion designer for many, many years and
always having really been inspired by vintage, vintage shapes, buying
vintage and kind of using that in the design process,
and I started my own brand by making prints that
were inspired by vintage. We started doing Glebe markets and
the vintage kind of took over in the sense that
(13:03):
people were more inclined to pick up the vintage piece
because it was a better price point for the market.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
Right.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
The vintage rail just kind of grew and grew and
grew until my label was online. But deep Hop is
great for us because it kind of allows people from
all over Australia and internationally to find us and buy from.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
Us other sellers. Is there any other sellers that you've
seen that have made mistakes ways people could improve to
get the best out of their listings. If they're selling something.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Like I said, a really good photo with lots of
natural light, then are very like as descriptive as you
can be, So describe the colors, the fabric, the length,
and the more specific you are, the more you'll come
up in people searches.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Okay, that's good. And then probably the last questions you'll get,
which is a lot of admin to answer, a lot
of back and forth. What's your take on the sustainability
aspect of buying and selling secondhand? I mean, it's a
no brainer to me, But is that part of your
ethos of your business?
Speaker 2 (13:58):
One hundred and fifty percent. It's something that I feel
really strongly about. I did work in fast fashion at
one point of my life. Thinking back to that time
and not realizing the dayage that that causes to the
environment and also people, I would never go back there.
And this is a really good way of keeping clothes
(14:20):
circular and stopping them from ending up in landfill. And
I think we all as people that love fashion, have
a responsibility because you can be really cool. You can
be super stylish and have like me, new clothing your
wardrobe every week without having to cost the earth.
Speaker 1 (14:38):
Yeah, and more individual and more I guess, quirking and creative.
So if people are finding or looking to find good
deals on Deep Hop, we've talked about negotiating good to
know from a buyer perspective that it's a done thing.
What do you find is kind of like the average
Obviously you've got your beautiful secondhand thrifting vintage vibe, and
then what's the level, Like we mentioned Beck and Bridge,
(14:59):
is it sort of that kind of level. It's not
your chanelle, but it's not your ancho.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
I mean, I'm not saying there's not design and stuff
on there, but it isn't like the super designer must
good place. I feel like a lot of people that
have a really amazing designer archive collection have their own website.
Speaker 1 (15:19):
Maybe use Vestia Air Collective.
Speaker 2 (15:21):
But even for us as sellers, like sometimes it's really
hard to verify and show people that it's genuine. So like,
we've sold deal sunglasses on Etsy and people are always like, oh,
but are they real. It's like, well, yes, it has
a certificate, it looks real, it feels real. I've bought
it from a very reliable place, but it's kind of
(15:41):
hard to prove to you.
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
I mean even those big websites have been in trouble
for selling things that are not real.
Speaker 1 (15:48):
So I just isn't it funny because scammers have almost
done everyone a disservice because now everyone's so worried about
being scammed. It's good that they're double triple checking. But
when you are selling an authentic item, particularly in your case,
sometimes it's vintage so you don't have the receipt, but
you know it's new, it can be hard to prove.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
You know, I'd rather sell it in the store. Touch
and feel it themselves.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
Okay, that's a really good tip in general, and I think, yeah,
if you are searching for something that's a bit fancy
buying online buy beware, you might want to be able
to go and touch and feel or make sure you're
getting it through a reputable luxury reseller.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
I have come across like a lot of really fancy,
newer designer pieces and I've actually passed it to someone
else to sell because I'm like, I just don't know
that world. Yes, I don't want to dabble in it
and get in trouble for doing something wrong. So I
passed them over to a girl that I know, and
I said, have fun sell these on eBay. I'm happy
to get what I can get for them. And I'm
(16:43):
sure all resellers went, oh my god, they're so cheap
and bore them. But it's a whole nother world of reselling.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
Yes, okay, yeah, so there's definitely different categories. So last
question before we get into booty and budget. A regular
person like me at home has maybe two suitcases worth
of things that I'd like to list. Do I do
it all at once? Do I set aside a day
and take a bunch of photos and upload it and
then do I share that on my socials? How do
I tell people about it? If I'm just a regular
(17:12):
old person trying to do the right thing by the
planet and clear the wardrobe.
Speaker 2 (17:15):
My tips would be, find a spot in your house
that's got a white or very light wall, hang it up,
steam it in it, make it look decent, because you
don't want to be showing people a brown paper bag
that's been kind of chewed up or sat in the suitcase.
Speaker 1 (17:33):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (17:33):
I'd probably just night it out in a day or
take all the photos in one go and then slowly
upload because the uploading and the descriptions you can kind
of do when you're getting.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
A petty Yes, so true. And yeah, I guess if
you upload it all at once and everyone wants to
buy all at once, and that's a lot of admin of.
Speaker 2 (17:48):
Sending, won't happen that quickly, Oh damn it. You can
make it to you, but you're not going to sell
out overnight.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
Yeah, okay, especially if you're starting.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Unless you're a big influencer who's posted it on your
Instagram story, everyone wants a piece of you.
Speaker 1 (18:02):
Yeah, okay, So the algorithm is not that tricky. But
it's worth yak, you say, pop it up. You've taken
the photos, you've made the listing, and then you can
keep adding to it and keep that stuff in a
safe place where you know when it sells you can.
Speaker 2 (18:14):
Dig it out and nothing to lose. It's very expensive,
how wundre these.
Speaker 1 (18:34):
We're going to end the episode with bougie and budget.
So I have a budget item that I bought off
Deep Hop that I'm very proud of. Although it's not vintage,
it was something I was looking for. And then a
bougie item something I'm considering that I want to get
your opinion on. I'm going to start by telling you
about my budget. It's a country road cross body bag
that I recently bought because I had it in ten
(18:54):
and I absolutely flogged it, and then I wanted it
in a cream and I just hoped it came in cream.
I googled it sold out years ago, well year ago,
and then I went on deep Off and someone hadn't
even used it and it was I think I paid
twenty dollars for it. I mean, I don't have to
justify what I love the bag, but it literally had
the tag on it and I thought oh no, I'm
(19:15):
never going to be able to get that bag again.
Got it brand new for a quarter of the price
in the color I wanted, So loving my life. Yeah,
I'm just so happy with it.
Speaker 2 (19:24):
There's something so satisfying about getting something that you've been
thinking about but haven't bought. When it's secondhand or pre
loved for a bargain. It just gives you this rush
of like, I am awesome.
Speaker 1 (19:38):
Yes, I'm so good at this.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
And that's why secondhand clothes are so addictive.
Speaker 1 (19:44):
Tell me about your bodget either something you've bought or
sold or loved.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
So one of my favorite things that I bought was
a total bargain. It was thirty five dollars. And for
those people that listen that are old enough, it's a
Miss sixty Maxi dress with the big epic lace up
leather detail and like a really cool, crazy psychedelic print,
and it remembers Miss sixty was these shits, Oh yeah,
(20:09):
but it it was the creme de la creme and
you can definitely not find it in a Westfield. So
I was really excited and happy that I have this
dress now that no one else has.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
And do you still have it or have you moved
it on yet?
Speaker 2 (20:19):
I still have it. I'm waiting for it to fit
me post baby.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
Okay, that's exciting. I know. I love that thrill. There's
no thrill like a good thrift find.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
It's the best.
Speaker 1 (20:29):
Okay, Bougie, I'm going to run these past you. I
think you're going to say no because they're still too expensive,
but I'm obsessed with the Row. The Row is the
Olsome Twins brand. It's very expensive, like outrageously expensive. And
I also want a cream or white loafer for winter.
I found a white loafer by the Row on Deep Hop.
(20:50):
That's three hundred New Zealand dollars. I don't really know exchange,
but much of a much has three hundred dollars. They've
said they bought them off the real reel. Hmm, that's
third hand, but they look hardly worn. Well, what doesn't matter, greed.
I just want to make sure they're not counterfeit. But
like we discussed before, I think three hundred dollars, let's
just pretend New Zealand astraining the same. It's not that
different for the Row. Why loafers all leather? I reckon
(21:11):
that's a good deal. And like you said, I've searched
on Deep Hop for over the Row and there's not
a lot on there. I go on Best Year Collective.
There's so much row, so maybe not enough people are
listing stuff on there. And that's why it's a bargain.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
What are they usually sell for? Because when I see
the row of the boots like two grands.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
Yeah, that's my point, Like their shoes are in the thousands.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Don't even think about it. Get them because if they sell, yes,
you're going to regret it forever and you're not going
to be able to find them for that price again.
And leather shoes the biggest investment.
Speaker 1 (21:39):
Right and my size. It's like dresses. Then things can
be altered if you need or worn over size, but
shoes they got to be the right size.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
And if they're good quality shoes, you're getting a steal
because you'll just live in them. And I'd say that
is so much more sustainable than going on an iconic
orwn aesoce and buying a pleathor shoe that's going to
last you two months.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
I love you so much for approving this one question.
If I'm buying from New Zealand, anything, I need to
know I've never bought overseas. I just buy it and
they send you buy it.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
Honestly, I'm like so confident in the.
Speaker 1 (22:13):
Yes, Okay, you're the best. I'm buying it.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
You're gonna wear them, get them, I'm getting it at
the end of the day. If you don't wear them
the resel, they've sat there for two months, put them
back on deepop. Well, put them up on eBay and
you can add an extra hundred bucks.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
You are genius. Okay before I buy those, can you
tell me about your bougie. It doesn't have to be
as fancy as the row, because I know your vibe
is all sort of more vintage. What have you got
for me?
Speaker 2 (22:37):
This will also show you my age. But I have
still not let go of this high school obsession with
Wills and Doll Baby.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Oh gosh, the hold that brand had on me.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Well, Wills and Doll Baby has always had a special
place in my heart and it's something that you can't
buy anymore. So I'm always looking for Wills and Doll Baby.
I just love collecting it.
Speaker 1 (23:01):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (23:01):
It's all Australian made and unique, and so whenever I
find a little Wills and Doll baby bargain online.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
I just have to get it, Okay, I love it. Well.
If I find anyone my searches, I'll send links your way.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
Have any in your suitcases that you've you message me
before you listen.
Speaker 1 (23:17):
When I find a weekend, I will message you. Kara,
thank you so much for sharing all your inside tips.
Obviously we'll POPLINX in the show notes to all of
your handles so people go shop your delicious curations. But
thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
Speaker 2 (23:30):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
Thank you for listening to Nothing to Wear, and don't
forget to sign up to the Nothing to Wear News
that an there's a link in the show notes. This
episode was produced by Cassie Merritt, with audio production by
Lou Hill
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