My secret weapon for handling those competition fees – reselling dancewear!

Hey there, fellow dance moms! After years of watching my daughter twirl and leap through competitions, I’ve become quite the expert at managing the financial side of dance life. Today, I want to share my secret weapon for handling those competition fees – reselling dancewear! Let me tell you exactly how I turn our gently used dance clothes into cash.

Trust me, I’ve tried every selling platform out there, and I’m going to break down what really works. My absolute favorite spot? Facebook dancewear resale groups. I’m constantly on many of these, and let me tell you, those Tiger Friday, Kandi Kouture, and Five pieces? They sell like hotcakes! Just search “dancewear resale” on Facebook, and you’ll find tons of groups like this. Yes, you’ll need to ship items across the country, but it’s totally worth it.

For those basic pieces we grabbed from Target or Walmart (come on, we all have them!), I head straight to Facebook Marketplace. I’ve learned that bundling these items together really attracts other budget-conscious dance moms. Plus, you can keep it local if you don’t want to deal with shipping.

Now, don’t overlook eBay and Poshmark! I’ve had great luck selling our higher-end pieces there. Sure, it might take a little longer on eBay, but those specific items eventually find their perfect buyer. And Poshmark? Those buyers know what they want and are willing to pay for it – just make sure your descriptions are detailed!

Here’s a mom-to-mom tip: if you’re selling locally, try Nextdoor. People sell plenty of used dance shoes and basic leotards there. The key is pricing them right – these buyers are usually looking for deals.

Oh, and let me share a little secret – Tiger Friday’s (Re)Purpose Program has been a lifesaver! When I’m too busy running between competitions and rehearsals to deal with individual sales, I just send in our old Tiger Friday pieces and get a gift card for new ones. So convenient!

Let’s talk about what to keep and what to sell. Here’s what I’ve learned the hard way: hold onto those solid-colored basics – they never go out of style. Those trendy patterns from last season? List them! If you’ve got younger dancers in the family, maybe keep a few special pieces, but otherwise, be ruthless in your cleanout (except for those competition costumes that hold special memories – I’m not that heartless!).

Want my honest advice about maximizing profit? Save those Facebook groups for your high-end pieces. That’s where other dance moms are hunting for specific brands. For your everyday practice wear, stick to Marketplace. And if you’re sitting on Tiger Friday items you might use again, their (Re)Purpose program is honestly pretty great.

Shipping used to stress me out, but now it’s a breeze! I keep a small scale at home (total game-changer), and I usually charge about $6 for one item, adding a dollar for each additional piece. PayPal makes it super easy – they handle the labels and tracking, which keeps both me and my buyers happy.

So, what are you waiting for? That drawer full of outgrown dancewear could help fund next season’s competition fees! Trust this veteran dance mom – once you start selling, you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. Have any questions? Drop them in the comments – we dance moms have to stick together!