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08/21/22 – 08/27/22
Total Items In Store: 4587
Items Sold: 22
Total Sales: $ 975.32 Total, 660.73 (no shipping included)
Highest Price Sold: $ 165 (Vintage Thunderbolt Horse)
Average Price Sold: $ 30.03
Money Spent on New Inventory: $ 225
Number of items listed: 42Gut Sales Report for the week: Sales were still good, but not as strong as last week.
Focus for the week : Getting items over to my photographer so that I have an inventory of items to list.
Scavenge of the week: Got some great winter coats that I mentioned in another post – 6 coats worth nearly $800
Thoughts for the week: I ran into a guy at his garage sale that does storage clean. I had bought some decent shoes from him before. By Mikey’s terminology, a repeat offender (for garage sales). I found out he was basically throwing out the shoes because they took up too much space. I gave him my number for him to call when he gets enough shoes. I hope this works out.
My “deal” at the thrift store that I posted a while ago is still going strong. I believe I will have an incredible inventory for the busy season this year. So, in all, things are looking up and I am trying to grow my store with deals like these that make scavenging much easier.
Mark S
Retro,
Yes, keep an eye out for the big bucks coats – that was my point.
Yes, low dollar coats don’t make sense.
Mark
Retro,
I think you should re-consider getting out of coats. I just bought 6 coats worth nearly $800. I also don’t like the space they take, but now days I only buy the higher end and leave the cheaper ones. It helps to have a double clothing rack like the one below – saves a ton of space! Go for the $100+ ones and get a double clothing rack.
Mark
08/14/22 – 08/20/22
Total Items In Store: 4567
Items Sold: 30
Total Sales: $ 1,003.74 (no shipping included)
Highest Price Sold: $ 250 (New Leather Jacket)
Average Price Sold: $33.46
Money Spent on New Inventory: $ 217
Number of items listed: 31Gut Sales Report for the week: Sales continue to be unusually strong during this time of August.
Focus for the week : Thinking of ways to grow my store faster with the amount of time I have.
Scavenge of the week: Got a pair of Mens Lululemon Pants for real cheap. These have a surprisingly high resell price.
Thoughts for the week: Picked up some great items for cheap this week. Just wish every week were this easy for picking.
Mark S
Zach,
Was the issue with the interface from Shopify or was the issue with Facebook Marketplace itself?
Mark
It seems like Facebook Marketplace is gaining ground these days. I saw that Vendoo (https://www.vendoo.co/marketplaces) allows for cross-listing to Facebook Marketplace and Etsy as well as 8 other sites.
I am thinking that I could increase sales by as much as 50% if I were to cross list to Etsy and Facebook Marketplace.
Does anyone have experience with Vendoo to say how well it works?
Mark
Jay,
No, I still work a full-time job. But I was just thinking that ebay is starting to feel like a full-time job. I could definitely find things to do if I did it full-time. I would like to hire more people, but I want to make sure I have the right people.
Mark
08/07/22 – 08/13/22
Total Items In Store: 4560
Items Sold: 21
Total Sales: $ 983.96 (no shipping included)
Highest Price Sold: $ 200 (Shoes)
Average Price Sold: $ 46.86
Money Spent on New Inventory: $ 144.83
Number of items listed: 16Gut Sales Report for the week: Shipping was annoying. It is feeling like the start of the busy season to me, but it is too early for that.
Focus for the week : Trying to make space in my basement and my 300 sq. ft. storage unit. I am expanding rapidly and running out of space. I want to hold off this March to get another storage unit.
Scavenge of the week: Picked up a working Sony VCR for $5, will list for about $70. At the same garage sale, I bought 25 vintage manuals for VCR’s, DVD players, etc for just about $5. The total list price for the manuals is over $500.
Thoughts for the week: New photographer is working out well. They are taking the best photos my store has seen. I just need someone to list now so that I can focus on buying more items and other aspects of the business. Too much work, not enough time.
Mark S
I am still going on the advise J & R gave a long time ago – go to independent thrift stores. The prices are much better there. I am still loving the deals I get at those.
Mark
05/23/22 – 05/28/22
Total Items In Store: 4369
Items Sold: 8
Total Sales: $ 256.27 (no shipping included)
Highest Price Sold: $ 33.99 (Shoes)
Average Price Sold: $ 32.03
Money Spent on New Inventory: $ 310.17
Number of items listed: Not sureGut Sales Report for the week: Sales were in the dumps.
Focus for the week : In the process of hiring a new Photographer and Tax Credits via the WOTC program – see below in “Thoughts for the week”.
Scavenge of the week: Picked up some LL Bean Maine Hunting Shoe for cheap. Got 3 St. John Jackets for $80.
Thoughts for the week: I am hoping that my new photographer qualifies for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). He does qualify for long term unemployment, but I am not sure if you have to hire as an employee, or if doing a 1099 will qualify also. I have to call to find out tomorrow.. This is a great program and not many businesses take advantage of it. In Michigan, there are 218,000 employers and only about 2,000 businesses take advantage of this Federal program.
The idea of the program is to offer employment to individuals in target groups that have significant barriers to employment.
Here is the State of Michigan web site that gives some detail: https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/uia/employers/panel-resources/programs/wotc
It was a bit confusing trying to understand how it works. But basically you have to file Form 8850 to your state workforce agency where the person will work. This determines if the individual qualifies for the program. Then you have to file Form 9061. Then, for your taxes to claim what you are entitled to, you file Federal form 5884 with IRS.
It appears to be most profitable if you hire a Veteran.
This is a tax credit, not a tax write off. A tax credit is much better. For example, if you owe $10,000 in taxes and you have a tax credit for $10,000, then you pay nothing in taxes!
Check it out, you may be missing out on a great opportunity if you don’t know about this tax credit.
Mark S
Seems about normal to me.
Maybe because of Mother’s Day on Sunday people were laying low from buying from you.
Mark
Yea, the deal is awesome. It is like going to Walmart for scavenging.
I didn’t plan it. I just kept going in every time they were open. The manager saw me and got to know me and what I was looking for. He just started doing it for me.
I think it is also good for the shop because they get a quick turn around for sales on those items.
Mark
