When was the last time that you bought something online? Today? Yesterday? Last month? No matter when it was, I’m pretty sure you’ll agree that buying and selling online is one of the main ways that people shop these days. Luckily, the ability to buy and sell online isn’t limited to only big box retailers. You too can create an online store and make money as a reseller online.
First you’ll need to decide what type of product you’re going to try and resell. Some do very well with clothing, others with vintage items, books or household items. Whichever you choose, you’ll need to stick with one or two categories. Spreading yourself too thin will only cause you to end up losing money.
After you pick the type of product, you’ll need inventory! You know that that means, right? It’s time to go shopping! A lot of resellers find great inventory at thrift stores, yard sales or flea markets. Auctions are great as well since you can usually find large lots of the same item. Buying in large lots will give you the chance to add multiple item deals, different colors and more variety to your buyers.
Next, you’ll need to decide where you want to sell your items at. Ebay, Amazon, Craigslist and online consignment shops are all great options. Be sure that you consider any membership costs, seller fess, final value fees and any other charges you may encounter as you sell your items. Those fees cut into your final profit so you’ll want to keep them as low as possible.
When you list your items for sale, be sure that each listing includes three things:
- Awesome photos – no dark lighting or blurry pics for your goods
- An Awesome description – While pics can sell the products, your description will finalize the sale
- A competitive price – If your items are priced miles above others in the same category, you stand no hope of selling them. The same can be said if they’re priced too low since people will wonder what is wrong with it. Instead, price your things at or just below the rest.
Once your items sell, it’s time to ship! Be sure that you package things so they’ll be safe during shipping and ship in a reasonable amount of time. Seller reviews are a big part of running an online resale business and how quick and safe you ship will play into those reviews in a big way.
