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Brian – Yes, I think it is due to my new strategy that I explain below to Manateejaq about getting the “jump” on the sales. I would have to say the quality and quantity of my items has dramatically improved by doing this. You may see different results, depending on what you are looking for and where you live, how much you are willing to pay, etc. But for me, this is a big difference.
Manateejaq – I have found similar results when I started going to sales on the weekend, all the “best” items were gone. Could I still find items? Yes, but not as good of quality. That was my tale last year. This year, I am getting the “jump” on the sales. I’m starting on Monday- Thursday. I don’t have to be the first one there, just show up the first day by noon. This has only been possible this year because I work from home Wed- Fri for my full time job and I go out at lunch time and after work. I start work at home at 7AM, so I get done early. You can see the results from my post above – since April 1st I have spent around $1200 for $21,000 worth of merchandise. And awesome finds for nearly all of them. For example, there was this rummage sale that went 9AM – 6pm on the “wealthy” side of town (actually I did a study from data I found and this was in (or very near) the highest household income zip code for the state – yes, that data is out there on the internet). Even at this late hour, I found the following shoes laying on a table: 5 pairs of Asics running shoes, 2 pairs of Born shoes, 3 pair of Dansko shoes, and a pair of Ecco – all for $1 each! My selling price will be $37 on average for these shoes.
So, what I’m trying to say is, try to get the “jump” on the sales if you can. Check out the sales for Monday – Thursday by where you work. Go early and go often. You can still find items no matter when you go, I’m just saying that if you want the best items quickly, get the “jump” on them!
Made a decision this week to invest in more boxes. I am finding that I can make more money if I have the right box for first class and FedEx post. I find that if I don’t have the right box hand, I am Leaving money on the table. Also, I have a lot of stress finding a good box for larger and longer items. I know I Won’t want to make a custom box for so many items. So,I found a local company that sells boxes at good rates. That was important because they have free local delivery or you can pick it up at the warehouse. Similar prices to Uline, but after you pay for the postage, you are usually paying 1.75 times the price of the box.
Sales this week about $550-600, but I have been focusing on buying.
I have really been in picking heaven lately. Since April 1st I have spent around $1200 for $21,000 worth of merchandise. The rummage sales this time of year have really fueled this. And of course the $8500+ of make up that I bought helped out.
Amatino – Thanks! That was a very good read and informative. I didn’t know a lot of that, so that will really help in the listing.
T-Satt – That was an excellent explanation. I forecast my business in a spreadsheet like you have stated (I just didn’t know all those fancy terms). I use the sell thru rates from the prior year for each month. I estimate how much I am going to list each month, how much each item will sell for on average etc. I love my spreadsheet model because I can literally see the future with it. I am as diverified as I can be selling just about everything. Also, keeping a larger inventory helps (2100+ right now). I update the spreadsheet at least once a month based on changing factors. I pretty much know what I will be making for the next 5 years if I keep to my listing targets and my historical sell-thru rates hold. So far, the sell-thru rates year over year are usually very close for me.
Amatino – Yes, that was a nice make up find. See my response to Brian above.
This is what the diving suit is (not mine, but this is what it is). What are all those valves about? Also, there are some small hoses.
Why are there boots on the suit?
I have the undergarment for this, I’m assuming that is what it is called. I also have a hat that goes under the suit, is there a name for that?Brian – Yes, I will have to post about how the sales go.
I find that when I go to enough estate sales \ yard sales (I usually go to a lot of them) I can usually find a good cache around every 6 months. But yes, this was the best one so far. When I first bought them, I was counting on 600 items for around $5 each. But it has changed a lot in the last 24 hours. I found that I have at least 42 unique products worth around $8500. It doesn’t get much better than this for ebay. I will list 16 unique products first because that is about 3/4 of the total money.
Total Items in Store: 2115
Items Sold: 8
Total Sales: $202
Highest Sale: 40 (Vintage Sweater)I am aiming to hit 3000 listings by Thanksgiving, wish me luck, I’m going full tilt! I’m one of those guys with a full time job in the city, a wife and two younger kids. Sometimes I just lose sleep doing it all, but I have a goal and I stick to it.
It was a bad week for sales for me, but a great week for picking! Had a lot a sales today, so looking good. I hit up the rummage sales and estate sales and a few garage sales. I am really on a high for 3 picks I found:
1. A little of 2 hours ago I went all in (I think I heard Jay behind me saying “Go all in”) and bought over 600 pieces (mostly new in package) of Cover Girl Make up for $150. It is mostly discontinued eye shadow, lip stick, and foundation (I think that is what it is called).
The eye shadow is the majority, maybe 500+ of them. They are 8 different types going for an average of $12.50! I’m counting $6,250 total for that. The discontinued ones command a premium as much as $20 each.2. I bought a diving suit and undergarment and other equipment in a diving bag for $13. Looks like I can get between $400 – $500 for it.
3. Went “all in” on about 20 pairs of shoes for about $3 each. All of them nearly new with some decent brands.
So, one of my worst weeks that I can remember for sales, but one of the best I can remember for buys.
Mark
Good tip on the towels Brian. Like you say, it just increases your pipeline. I have been doing well on your other tips for the flags, backgammon games, and wood shoe trees. You can never have too many types of items in your pipeline! Another BOLO item I recently added is vintage Large Crescent (any large nice wrench will do) Wrenches – the bigger the better. There is a guy near me who does barn sales nearly every weekend, he always seems to have a lot of tools like the wrenches. Selling a 36” Pipe Wrench (it was huge and heavy) for nearly $100 got me into the large wrenches.
I saw a St. Andrews The Old Course Golf Towel at an estate sale this last week and passed it up. Not sure if it was vintage and I think it was a buck or 2. I’ll have to pick it up next time I see one.
I have a question about selling a pair of Prada Black Leather Slip On Shoes. I bought them with a bunch of other shoes at an estate sale in a somewhat well to do area. Most of the shoes were Bass and brands like that. But I found this one pair of Prada’s. It got sold to me just like an ordinary pair for $3 (I don’t think they knew they were there).
But, I have not sold Prada shoes before and I think Jay said that Prada is a good target for Vero’s. Does anyone have experience with selling Prada shoes?
Thanks Nancy. I knew I saw this information before, but I didn’t remember that it was in a totally different thread. I think the one on “Cross Listing on Etsy” was the most helpful, but I think everyone is looking for what I’m looking for. Mike seems to think that Wonder Lister is a good choice.
Mark
Things have been slowing down from March, but still decent sales.
I have been thinking about ways to improve my store and have been thinking about Etsy, but I have some questions. I have been selling on ebay, Bonanza, and Truegether. Bonanza, and Truegether seem
to gross about 2% of the sales that I gopss on ebay, which is fine. I thought I would try to expand to Etsy. However, with Bonanza and Truegether it was a simple import from ebay. When I look to do this with Etsy, it appears to be more difficult and you have to either download a program and pay or pay someone to do it manually. So, my questions are: 1) Has anyone found a simple and free method to
import listings from ebay to Etsy? 2) Should I import all of my listings or just vintage ones? 3) From what I have heard, there seems to be more work involved with Keeping up your store in Etsy. 4) When an item sells, is it as simply as Bonanza to just go to Paypal and print the label? 5) I think Mike in Atlanta mentioned that there was a company that was working on a simple import from ebay to Etsy but it wasn’t ready yet and it wasn’t free. Does anyone have the details on that? 6) Has anyone imported from ebay to Etsy? If so, how have your sales been going?Any advice would be helpful. Any other helpful tips about Esty would be appreciated.
Mark S
