With January and 2014 now underway, you're probably looking at how to keep those new year resolutions. If one of those resolutions was to donate more or to clean out your closets, keep reading! This post is highlighting some companies aimed at motivating your to clean out closet. Each of these four companies want you to mail them your old clothes that they will either donate or resale. You in turn are paid- either in cash or store credit, depending on which company you work with. Read on to find out which is the best fit for you! 


Twice  is a company that will buy your used women's clothing for resale at their online store. Here's the skinny: You can can download a per-paid shipping label or request a shipping bag with a prepaid label from them. You can then fill the bag  (or your own shipping container) with undamaged, good-condition clothes from your closet. They only accept clothes from certain brands (see their list of accepted brands here), and clothes that are less than five years old. They only take women's clothing- no men's or children's clothing nor maternity or wedding clothes. You are paid upfront for the clothes; this is not a consignment where you get part of the proceeds when the item sells. For clothes that are not accepted by Twice, you can either have those items shipped back to you for a five dollar fee (the cost of a flat rate shipping), or the company will donate them in your name. You will be able to get information on those donated items, which can be used in taxes season.

Thred-Up

Thred-Up is a similar company where you can clean out your closet, be sent a prepaid shipping bag, and mail your used clothing to them. They pay you for the clothes up-front, and resale it on their online site. You can even use a nifty calculator tool to estimate how much money you stand to make off of your old items!  Clothes do need to be freshly laundered when sent, in good condition, and from a "top brand." Though they do not currently specify which brands they accept, a full list of brands not currently accepted can be found here. They currently take both women's and children's clothing as well as shoes and accessories, but not men's clothing, baby clothes (12 mo. or younger), or "special event" clothing such as costumes or wedding attire. If clothes are accepted, credit is applied towards you account. For the first fourteen days, that credit is in-store credit only and can be used towards purchasing clothes on their site. After fourteen days, that credit can be transferred to you via a Paypal account. For clothing that is not accepted by Thred-up, it entered into their "100% Re-Use Program," which partners with national textile distributors and recyclers to ensure that none of it ends up in landfills. Any money the company gets through their reuse program goes to paying for the company's shipping costs or gets donated to the charity Teach for America. You would not receive any of that.

Thread Flip and the White Glove Service 

Thread Flip is an online service that allows users to post their own listings of used women's clothes and accessories to sell. Users are responsible both for the photographing of items for sale, and for the shipping of items. For those who are less ambitious and do not want to commit the kind of time that would take, they also offer the White Glove Service. Like Thred-Up and Twice, you will be sending this company items for resale. The process is a little different though. When signing up to receive a shipping bag with a prepaid label, you fill out a forming stating what items you are planning to send as well as what designer or label the items have. The White Glove Service gears itself for slightly more high-end retail items and  currently accepts only designers on this list. After being approved, you are sent a bag to fill only with the items you had mentioned. The company then goes through the bag of your item, prices the items and photographs them for resale on their site. Once you are sent a bag, you simply fill it with the items you wanted to send and mail it back. The company will then check the items for quality; they will contact you about any items that they do no accept. You can have such items shipped back to you or have them donated to a charity. Unlike Thred-Up or Twice, you are not paid up-front. You are paid a portion of profit when an item sells. You receive a summary of sales at the beginning of each month.

Cuyana 

Cuyana is a unique business. Their company's mission is two-fold. First, to bring to women beautiful, timeless pieces that will last, and secondly to promote what they call a "lean closet." They achieve these goals by selling well made items made by artisans from high quality goods, and by providing you with incentive to clean out your closets. As they put it, their "Lean Closet movement challenges us to collect fewer, better things and to donate the pieces in our wardrobe that are merely taking up space to those who need them. Sometimes when things aren't adding up in your life or closet, it's time to start subtracting." This company sends a shipping bag with a prepaid label to you with every purchase you make. You can fill up the bag and send it back to Cuyana. They in turn will pass it on to one of their non-profit partners who will make sure the clothing gets to those who can use it, and Cuyana will add to your account ten dollars worth of store credit for ever bag sent.