If you've got a knack for finding the best fashion at the most affordable prices, here's a chance to use your talents in an easy and rewarding way: start an online store on bidorbuy. The fashion section on bidorbuy has seen a 46% increase over the last year and a half, as the number of internet-savvy users in South Africa increases and people become more comfortable with buying online.

Starting your own online store can be costly and time-consuming. Using bidorbuy as your platform not only eliminates a lot of the work but immediately exposes you to a large customer-base. We are the 7th most visited website by South Africans, according to Alexa.com, after all.

The fashion section is one of bidorbuy's most popular categories, buyers come to look for bargains and interesting items from South African designers like Habits, TGCG and Simply Local; to international brands like Forever 21 and Mango; to vintage pieces; to hand-made items.

Many sellers have managed to quit their jobs and sell on bidorbuy full-time.

Fashion entrepreneur, Paula Bornman under the username Fashion Police, sources branded handbags and shoes and sells them through the bidorbuy platform with great success. Paula explains, “I am very proud of my little online shop; I see it as a reflection on me – therefore I take pride. To me it's not just about listing stuff, selling them and off we go... – there's so much more to it.”

South African born Karene' van Wyk runs clothing boutique Purplefashion from her current home in Taiwan through bidorbuy. This way she is able to bring the bring clothing from Asia to South African buyers. “At Purplefashion, we source our products from various suppliers in China.  Each item is selected with care and with the customers' individual style in mind. 

Selling our products to South Africa has been an extremely pleasant experience.  Many of our customers love the fact that we sell smaller sizes in our shoes!”

How to sell online:

Step # 1:  Getting Started

Register on bidorbuy by clicking on the Register button and filling in a few details.

Step # 2: Learn to make a listing

Here's were you get creative; brand each of your listings with your own look and feel. Make them recognisable as yours. Use lots of pictures

Step # 3: Make it memorable

You will be responsible for all aspects of the sale. Remember, customer service is key.  Accept payment through the bidorbuy system and post the items off to your buyers. Personalise your packages so that people remember it, make it another way to market your brand. We'll take care of the selling platform (we're pretty good with the tech stuff); you take care of your customers.

Step #4: Get the word out

Use social media to market your brand. If you tweet, or use Pinterest or blog, keep people informed about your line – what's new, what's interesting, then direct them to your online store to buy.

Secrets to selling fashion online (by Paula Bornman):

•          Firstly what drove me to sell fashion was my love and passion for it. I can NEVER grow tired of it

•          Commitment + passion + enthusiasm + determination = Success

•          With experience, you'll knowing where to get designer clothing and accessories at excellent prices

•          Build relationships with suppliers in order to gain trust, and learn to negotiate and buy in large quantities to gain further discounts to resell at excellent prices

•          Select  suppliers carefully; first try them out a couple of times by placing small orders before committing to bulk purchases

•          Have an eye for fashion, not only on a personal preference level. All tastes in fashion differ!

•          Become familiar with different brands, their values, origin, manufacturing, distributors, type of fits and quality – all these things are important to know

•          Become familiar with current trends and good sellers

•          If you don't know your own products, the buyer won't feel confident enough to put their trust in you

•          Gain inspiration and knowledge from fashion icons, television shows such as E-entertainment and style channels and magazines and of course, from the actual Fashion Police

•          Affordable branded wear makes the best sellers

•          Quality products

•          Relationships with customers: keep them updated all the time and be sincere

•          Be prepared to bump your head a few times; nobody's perfect - we all make mistakes – take the plunge, get up and move forward

•          For online selling one of course has to be computer literate and have a bit of creativity at least – you want your ads (listings) to look good. It's like a plate of food ordered at a restaurant – not only must it taste good, but should  also look good

•          Good quality images and good descriptions are important – online buyers want to see exactly what they're buying since they can't try it on before buying it