What BOLO means in reselling: How to profit from BOLO products

In reselling, BOLO stands for “Be on the lookout.” 

It’s a term sellers use when hunting for items with strong resale value. For example, spotting a pair of Allbirds sneakers at a thrift store could be a BOLO find since they often resell quickly at a profit. 

Knowing BOLO brands and categories helps you avoid missed opportunities and make smarter sourcing decisions that scale your business without extra effort. We’ll discuss what BOLO means in reselling, why it matters for sourcing, and how tools like Nifty can help you manage BOLO finds across multiple reselling platforms.

What does BOLO mean in reselling?

BOLO means “Be on the lookout” in reselling. It identifies items with high profit potential and strong demand across marketplaces such as Poshmark, eBay, and Mercari. 

The BOLO acronym originated in reseller communities to alert sellers to profitable opportunities. Successful resellers distinguish between general BOLO concepts, such as 'vintage band tees sell,' and specific lists that target currently popular brands, models, or seasonal items.

For example, a reseller sees on Instagram that younger women favor green and yellow Lululemon yoga pants. They treat this Instagram trend as a BOLO signal, find $10 Lululemon yoga pants at a thrift store, and resell them for $60 to $80 on Poshmark.

Where can resellers learn about BOLOs?

Resellers can learn about BOLOs through Facebook groups, Discord servers, YouTube channels, and Reddit communities. Experienced sellers share current market insights and profitable finds. But you can also be on the lookout for trends by researching hashtags and keywords on social media.

Check out these sources to discover BOLO items:

Online reseller communities (forums, Reddit, Facebook groups)

Online reseller communities are the main source of BOLO info, where thousands of sellers share real-time market data and profitable finds daily. Facebook groups like Reseller Community and Finds and Flips post sold listings, brand alerts, and seasonal trends. 

Reddit’s r/Flipping and r/ThriftStoreHauls provide crowdsourced intel on items that sell quickly and for high profits. Members share thrift haul photos, discuss pricing strategies, and alert others to trending brands before mainstream buyers catch on.

New resellers can visit these communities and learn how and where to spot BOLO items. They can also discover optimal strategies for making a profit. 

YouTube and Instagram

YouTube and Instagram offer visual BOLO education through thrift hauls, flip reveals, and brand spotlights. Channels like Ralli Roots and Rad Resells demonstrate how to spot underpriced designer pieces and vintage finds that consistently flip for high profits.

These platforms support individual research where resellers analyze hashtags, fashion moments, and influencer posts to predict which future BOLOs. Smart sellers track trends that spark sudden demand for brands or vintage pieces before others notice.

Why BOLO matters for resellers

BOLO matters for resellers because it gives them a competitive edge in sourcing and opens up opportunities for higher profits across reselling websites. Smart resellers know BOLOs represent insider knowledge of brands, styles, and items that sell quickly and profitably in the current market.  

Common categories of BOLO items

Common categories of BOLO items are clothing and accessories, shoes, and electronics. Resellers can consistently flip these goods for high profits across platforms like Poshmark, eBay, and Mercari. You can find the following BOLO products trending at any given time:

1. Clothing and accessories: Clothing and accessories become BOLO-worthy when celebrities create fashion moments. Taylor Swift wearing a specific cardigan during her folklore era sparked demand for vintage cardigans.
   
   
2. Shoes: Shoes earn BOLO status when celebrity endorsements or viral moments spark demand for specific models. Travis Scott’s Nike collaborations pushed Jordan 1s to over $1,000 on Grailed. 

3. Electronics: Electronics, like video game consoles and video games, are earning BOLO status. A YouTuber mentioned that collectors are willing to pay premium prices for these items, as they can sell for a few hundred dollars on sites like eBay and Mercari.
   
   
4. Collectibles and vintage items: Collectibles and vintage items earn BOLO status when nostalgia creators spark buying frenzies among their audiences. Logan Paul’s Pokémon card videos sparked a collector boom, transforming $5 thrift packs into thousand-dollar+ finds.

5. Seasonal or limited-edition drops: Seasonal and limited-edition items gain BOLO status when influencers create scarcity with promotions and early access. James Charles, promoting rare makeup palettes, created a resale market where products see the highest demand in December.

BOLO vs. NWT and other reselling terms

BOLO vs. NWT and other reselling terms serve different purposes in the reseller vocabulary. BOLO identifies profitable items to source, while NWT clothing, meaning the garments have the original tags still in place, describes an item's condition for listing purposes. 

For example, a reseller might spot a BOLO item (like a vintage band tee) at an estate sale, then discover it’s NWT (major score!), making it even more valuable for resale. Here's a look at acronyms and abbreviations commonly used by resellers:

• NWT (New With Tags): NWT describes the item's condition, not its sourcing. The term indicates that the clothing still has retail tags for premium pricing. Resellers use NWT to justify higher prices on platforms like Poshmark because buyers trust the authenticity of original tags.

• HTF (Hard to Find): This term refers to a rare item, thereby driving higher demand and pricing power. A vintage Harley Davidson tee can be a BOLO from strong sales data and HTF because the design was discontinued decades ago, doubling its appeal to collectors.

• VTG (Vintage): Vintage categorizes items by age and style, while BOLO focuses on current market demand regardless of age. Modern Supreme drops can be BOLO items from hype and resale value. A 1980s band tee earns VTG status for age, but becomes BOLO when celebrities revive vintage rock tee trends.

• EUC (Excellent Used Condition): EUC refers to high-quality pre-owned items with minimal wear or use. Resellers use EUC for items that appear nearly new but show slight signs of use, setting expectations and justifying higher prices than standard used goods.

• GUC (Good Used Condition): Items in good used condition exhibit normal wear, but remain functional and visually appealing. They appeal to budget-conscious buyers seeking deals, such as parents purchasing children’s clothes or buyers seeking brands at lower prices.

• BIN (Buy It Now): These products appeal to buyers who want to make an immediate purchase. Resellers use BIN pricing to mitigate auction uncertainty and attract buyers willing to pay premiums, rather than waiting for bidding wars.

• ISO (In Search of): Buyers actively seek these items, creating opportunities for resellers to meet demand with targeted sourcing. Resellers find ISO posts in Facebook groups and forums to spot trending brands, then source those pieces at thrift stores and estate sales.

How to spot a BOLO in the wild

Spotting a BOLO in the wild requires pattern recognition skills developed through consistent sourcing experience and market research. Smart resellers train their eyes to recognize brand labels, construction details, and condition markers that signal high resale value. 

Here are four tips for spotting BOLOs: 

1. Recognize trends quickly

Monitor social media, celebrity fashion, and seasonal patterns to determine trends for specific, recurring items. What handbags are influencers with 100,000+ followers toting? Is Taylor Swift wearing anything unique in her latest video? 

Stay current with the latest posts on flipping and BOLO message boards.

2. Know brand and item-specific tells

Memorize visual brand identifiers such as logos, stitching patterns, and construction details to spot valuable items. Learn how to recognize Lululemon's seams, Free People's prints, and Patagonia's designs. These visuals signal items with high resale potential.

3. Use tools for quick research

Apps like eBay's sold listings and Google Lens let resellers verify BOLO potential in seconds at thrift stores or garage sales. These tools help sellers check sold prices, confirm model details, and verify demand before making a purchase.

4. Build a BOLO list

Record each item’s sales performance, time on the market, and how long it took to source. By recording this information, you can track fast-selling brands, note seasonal demand, and document which thrift stores yield the most profit. Use this data to focus sourcing on proven winners and avoid items that sit unsold. 

Tools that make BOLO sourcing easier

BOLO sourcing tools include mobile apps for price checks, inventory platforms for profit tracking, and automation software. These help resellers stay organized and up to date with products and pricing.

Smart resellers combine research tools like Google Lens, barcode scanners, and inventory management tools like Nifty to anticipate market shifts and organize prices. Here’s a look at some tools you should consider for BOLO sourcing:

• Price checking apps: Use an app that takes a picture of an item and provides its price, such as Google Lens, to inform your pricing strategy and verify profit potential.

• Barcode scanning apps: Barcode scanning apps, such as ScoutIQ and Profit Bandit, help resellers identify valuable books, media, and packaged goods by scanning UPCs. These tools display current market prices, sales rank data, and profit margins, allowing resellers to make informed purchasing decisions.

• Trend monitoring tools: Apps like Google Alerts notify users when specific brands or item categories start trending. Resellers can immediately source underpriced inventory before demand drives up thrift store and retail prices.

• Sales analytics software: Inventory management tools like Nifty track which items sell fastest and generate the highest profits across multiple marketplaces. It also provides automation features, like bulk listing, so you can focus on sourcing the next big BOLO opportunity.

What are the biggest BOLO pitfalls?

The biggest BOLO pitfalls include following outdated advice, investing in oversaturated markets, and purchasing counterfeit products. For example, a new reseller might buy expensive vintage band tees based on old BOLO lists, only to discover that particular trend peaked months ago.

Here’s a list of BOLO mistakes, and how to avoid them:

1. Following outdated advice: Outdated BOLO lists from old Facebook posts, YouTube videos, or Reddit can lead resellers to purchase items with little to no demand or profit margins. Avoid this by checking eBay and Poshmark sold listings from the past 30 days and always reading the dates on community posts before buying recommended items. 

2. Oversaturated markets: Popular BOLO items in reseller communities often become oversaturated, with dozens of sellers competing and driving down prices and margins. Avoid oversaturation by finding your own BOLOs and focusing on niche categories mainstream resellers overlook.
   
   
3. Fakes and counterfeit risks: Selling counterfeit designer items as BOLOs can cause account suspensions and legal issues on platforms like Poshmark and eBay. Learn authentication techniques for top brands, buy from reputable sources, and review guides on spotting fakes before investing in high-end items.
   
   
4. Price fluctuations: Prices can crash suddenly when celebrity trends end, or supply increases drive down prices. Protect against drops by diversifying inventory, checking market conditions before big purchases, and selling quickly.

5. Seasonal demand: BOLO items often follow seasonal demand, leaving resellers with unsold inventory during off-peak months. Research seasonal trends, time purchases to match demand cycles, and prioritize year-round staples instead of seasonal items with short selling windows.

Turn BOLOs into sales with Nifty

Now that you know what BOLO means in reselling, it’s time to get the ball rolling. When you start sourcing products, use a reselling tool like Nifty to organize them and track your profits. Here’s why more resellers are using Nifty to keep their BOLO products organized:  

• Turn photos into listings: Upload an image and Nifty’s AI creates a polished listing with SEO titles, keyword-rich descriptions, trending hashtags, and completed fields.

• List everywhere at once: Post to Poshmark, eBay, Mercari, Depop, and Etsy in seconds – more platforms coming soon! No copy-paste, no multi-tab, it’s all in the background.

• Automatic delisting? Handled: When you make a sale, Nifty pulls that item from every marketplace. Say goodbye to double-selling disasters and “sorry, it’s already gone” apology messages.
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• Bulk tools = no busywork: Automate sharing and relisting daily without lifting a finger. Update or discount dozens of items at once. You can even schedule drafts to go live while you sleep.

• Track your best BOLOs: See sales, fees, top-performing items, and slow movers in one dashboard so you know what’s selling and why.

Launch your 7-day free trial and see why folks use Nifty to manage their BOLO listings, save time, and increase their bottom line.

FAQs

1. Are BOLO lists worth paying for?

BOLO lists are worth paying for if the information is current and localized. But most successful resellers develop their own lists through community research and personal sales data. Free Facebook groups and Reddit communities provide the same information that paid lists offer, often with more recent updates and regional variations.

2. What are some BOLO brands for clothing in 2025?

BOLO brands for clothing in 2025 are athletic wear from Lululemon and Nike, designer pieces from Free People and Patagonia, and vintage band tees. These brands maintain strong resale value because they appeal to specific demographics willing to pay premium prices for quality and authenticity. 

3. How often do BOLO trends change?

BOLO trends change frequently. Celebrity fashion moments, seasonal demand cycles, and social media influences often contribute to BOLO trend changes. Market demand within days or weeks. Categories like athletic wear and luxury handbags maintain consistent BOLO, while items sparked by influencers or viral moments may only remain profitable for a few months.

4. Can a BOLO item lose value over time?

Yes, a BOLO can lose value over time. Market oversaturation, changing trends, or supply increases that eliminate profit opportunities and reduce demand cause the values of BOLO items to fall. Items that become widely shared in reseller communities often lose their BOLO status. When numerous sellers compete for the same products, prices and margins decrease.

5. Is BOLO the same as NWT?

No, BOLO is not the same as NWT. BOLO stands for “Be on the lookout” and represents brands and categories that generate profits. NWT, or “New With Tags,” indicates that the item still has its original retail tags attached. A reseller might find a BOLO item that also happens to be NWT, combining profit potential with premium condition.