You can’t really remember exactly how it got there, but as you purchased clothes with the intention of listing ‘someday’ they got thrown into a corner or on a chair. Casually, you continued to toss clothes onto the pile and it steadily grew until it had reached the dreaded death pile level.
Reselling, like most careers, has its share of issues and many times the death pile is one of them. A death pile is a massive pile of clothes that have been back-burnered continuously and never listed on your chosen sellers platform. Some piles last for weeks and some live on for years, but many of the best resellers have one.
It can feel as though you are never going to get through it, and if you’re anything like me it’s sometimes easier to just close the door and forget it exists. You can hope that by ignoring it the clothes will somehow magically list themselves, but this almost never happens (if you know of it occurring, please let me know)!
These are seven steps that I’m taking to kill my death pile as we speak, I hope they help!
1. Prevent it from occurring
Prevention is always the best medicine. So, after you rid yourself of this death pile, make sure you don’t build up another.
Make a deal with yourself that if you purchase an item, it has to be listed within a certain amount of time or it will be donated. I’m giving myself a week to list something. Since I usually only pick up small amounts of clothing at a time of about 5-7 items, this should be fairly doable.
2. Get on a schedule
By this, I mean a listing schedule. I plan to list at least one thing per day until the pile is gone during the workweek. Meaning, if I get to Friday and haven’t listed all week, I have five items to get up.
There’s a saying that says: When eating an elephant, take one bite at a time. And while I would never want to eat an elephant, ew, the saying is true. If you have a large task to accomplish then break it down into smaller ones if you are able to.
This article talks about microproductivity a little bit more in detail.
3. Keep it within sight
Move the pile somewhere that you have to look at it every day. Yes, the entire pile! My pile is currently sitting in the middle of my tiny living room. It’s there staring, looming and laughing at me as I enter every day and I hate it. Okay, maybe not laughing, but definitely looming and staring!
I try (although not always successfully), to keep my living room tidy enough that if someone were to drop by, I would not have to rush around cleaning up. With this eyesore of a pile in the middle of the floor, it makes me want to get through it faster just to have my clean living room back.
4. Don’t bring anything else in
Yes, I put myself on shopping time out.
I vowed that I would not pick up another item until I have this pile cleared out. If you continue to add to the pile it will only get bigger and make you want to not deal with it even more.
So, say it with me, please I will not add to my death pile.
5. Get assistance
If you have someone in your home willing to help you get through the pile then let them. If they can measure, take photos or lists then having even one of these tasks out of the way, that should help tremendously!
6. Throw somethings out
Yep, I know it seems counterproductive right? But I went through my pile and thinned it out.
Items that I didn’t think would sell quickly or for a lot of money are going to family members that want them or the thrift store.
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7. Source wisely
I plan to be a lot more selective when sourcing going forward. I’ll be sure to source wisely. Meaning, I will only purchase things that I am excited about listing and selling. Also, items that will make a substantial profit.
Did these tips help you? Let others know any tips you would add in the comments below.
Court
