On Depop, most of her interactions with customers only happened when they wanted to buy something, Ms. Lopez said. But on Instagram, she said, she could share more personal moments from her life through features like Stories — which people use to post photos and videos that disappear after 24 hours — so that “people can get an idea of who I am and who they are.” are buying from.”
Ms. Lopez continues to spend more time on Depop, where she has 30,000 followers, compared to less than 1,000 on Instagram. Her best-selling item, a $58 mesh halter top with embroidered flowers, went viral on Depop this year, winning her shopping recommendation from customers in comments and reviews.
Other Gen Z designers spend much less time in their Depop store these days. Desireé Zavala, 23, of Caguas, Puerto Rico, took to Instagram last year after sales for her Depop store, Conscious Brat, plummeted. (The store’s name is a nod to Bratz dolls.)
Ms. Zavala said she now prefers Instagram, where she uses tools like Reels, which allow users to create short video montages, ask customers for feedback, show off outfits and tease new items. She said she couldn’t communicate with customers on Depop that way.
Depop “looks like social media, but to me it doesn’t feel like social media because I don’t feel like I can interact with anyone there, so it’s purely business,” she said.
Ms. Zavala has approximately 14,000 followers on both Instagram and Depop. While 90 percent of her sales come from Depop, her Instagram feed is more vibrant. She recently posted a photo of a red-and-black lace cami, captioned “hOT GotH SumMer,” earning about 3,000 likes on Instagram and just 100 likes on Depop.
