Why I Sell Ugly Shoes on eBay

 

Shoes have always been a good steady producer for me. Shoes are literally everywhere - thrift stores, garage sales, and estate sales can be a jackpot. A seller last week was telling me about an estate sale where the deceased woman had over 300 pairs of Ferragamo shoes. Oh, my!

Some people can't get past the "ick" factor of selling used shoes. But if that doesn't bother you, understand there is good money in used shoes. Many types of shoes have a retail price of over $200 new, and consumers may not want to pay that. eBay sellers can find shoes for between $2 - $5, sell them for $30 or more, and the customer gets a great bargain. Plus, we as sellers get paid to be the middle man. A win all around.

Now, some sellers like to focus on certain types of shoes. Fashionistas focus on high heels or glamorous shoes. Fellow seller Chris, aka The Bonafide Hustler, talks about athletic shoes, trail shoes, and outdoor shoes. Check out his YouTube videos, he has great tips about very specific items that sell well on eBay.

My strategy is to look at the big picture - what kind of footwear does the AVERAGE person buy today? I am always looking at what Baby Boomers are doing because they are such as huge portion of our population and often set buying trends. Boomers "Sacrificed a great deal to get where they are in their career" and often this means their health was compromised along the way to accomplish their career and life goals. As a result, a lot of Boomers have foot problems from standing long hours on their jobs for decades, having to wear shoes that aren't foot-health-friendly, or simply because they have developed diabetes later in life and are beginning to experience foot problems. In fact, foot problems are listed in the top 10 health concerns of Boomers. Aging feet have problems, and they hurt.

So, the footwear industry has responded to this need and created all kinds comfort shoes for Boomers (and others) with foot issues. That is what I focus on rather than fashion trends. The way I see it, a person with foot pain is attracted to eBay to find a solution to their pain that fits their budget. They may be more driven to buy a solution to a problem than to purchase the latest fashion trend - a glamorous shoe that is a frill. And let's face it, many Boomers are on a fixed income and Medicare may not cover all costs for special shoes. Boomers are looking for a more economical option.

What kinds of shoes am I talking about? Here are a few examples of comfort shoes to sell on eBay:

SAS Tripad Sandals - Only only store personnel that have been trained by SAS can sell their shoes. (Buying SAS Shoes.) So only certain stores can sell them which makes them hard to find. eBay shows about 1,200 completed listings for SAS Tripad Sandals in used condition. These routinely sell for over $50 a pair, and some over $80 a pair.

Crocs RX Cloud - Designed for the diabetic foot. Retail for $50 and may sell for more on eBay if a hard to find size or wide or narrow width.

Propet Diabetic Shoes - Retail in the $70-$80 range.  Propet makes walking shoes, boots, and everyday oxfords.

Dr. Comfort - Makes a wide variety of shoes for many different foot conditions including over-pronation, bunions, flat feet, heel pain, Morton's Neuroma, and more. Dr. Comfort makes sandals, boots, athletic shoes, oxfords, even boat shoes like Sperrys. Sold prices can go as high as $70 on eBay.

So while most sellers in the thrift store are fighting over the Louboutins, Prada pumps, or Tory Burch flats, casually browse the comfort shoe section. You are probably passing by all kinds of shoes you can sell for a good profit - and provide a senior citizen with a comfortable pair of shoes at a good price at the same time.

Learn about more ugly shoes to sell on eBay for big profit.

Related Articles:

 Tips for selling used shoes on eBay

 Selling Birks on eBay

More used items to sell for profit on eBay

Profiles of Successful eBay Pickers - Nicole Bilbao

Welcome to another installment of "Profiles of Successful eBay Pickers." eBay is getting a lot of bad press lately about not being a sustainable business, losing traction as a trusted marketplace, or being inferior to Amazon. I reached out to sellers on my eBay seller Facebook group, which is now approaching 16,000 members, to find sellers who have a proven track record of selling on eBay and maintaining a sustainable eBay business over time.

My hope is that we can see similar characteristics across these profiles and define the qualities of a successful seller, then work to achieve those qualities and reach success.

The criteria I set for participating in this series:

1. Full time eBay seller for at least 3 years. (To show sustainability.)

2. Does not sell on Amazon. (Because they were doing so well on eBay, they didn't need to go to another platform.)

3. Sells inventory purchased at thrift stores, yard sales, estate sales, auctions, consignment sales or any combination of those sources. Does not purchase inventory wholesale, from liquidators, retail stores, from China, or drop ship. Must be a "picker."

4. Is an "at home" seller.

5. Must be willing to share eBay ID. (Keeping it real.)

Today's star picker is Nicole Bilbao.

When did you start selling on eBay?

November 2003

Why did you start selling on eBay? 

I began selling a childhood doll collection for "extra" money as a stay at home Mom.

What is your store name, and what types of items do you sell?

Cuteatanyage I sell mostly clothing, current and vintag.

Do you specialize in a certain niche, or are you open to selling anything?

I specialize in clothing, but I love to diversify and find new niches.  I enjoy studying Terapeak and watching the items that my competitors have success with and try them myself.  If it doesn’t work for me, I move on to other things. 

If you specialize in a certain niche, why?

Clothing accounts for the bulk of my sales.  Clothing is easy to find at low prices at thrift stores, it's easy to ship, and more importantly, it is fun!  Within clothing there are smaller "little niches” that I have had success with.  Most of these little niches change and evolve, so what might sell well today, may not sell as well the following year.

Today, I am in the top 10 sellers of modest, blue jean skirts. Many other sellers are also selling these skirts now.  Supply has gone way up, forcing demand down.  As a result, I am developing other new "little niches" within the clothing category.  You have to stay current and keep evolving. How do I do this?  By studying Terapeak and Facebook groups, (such as Stay at Home Moms Selling on eBay), and by taking a few small risks here and there. 
 **(Got the top 10 stat from Terapeak )

How many items do you typically have in your store?

Approximately 350

What is your average monthly profit? 
 (Not sales, but profit. We want to show how much money eBay sellers can actually keep.)

Average monthly profit is enough to pay my monthly mortgage.

How many hours do you typically work a week on your eBay business?

I don't have a set schedule. The best part of about my eBay business is the ability to take off when I need to. In other words, the best part of my schedule is having no set schedule. If I had to arrive at a number I would say 5-6 hours a day.  I work longer hours from September to January.

Many eBay sellers are being shamed into selling on Amazon, as if it is a superior platform. Why have you never sold on Amazon?

I've considered it, I would love for my inventory to take up space in an Amazon warehouse and not take over 2 rooms in my house!  I believe the reason that I've never tried it is that I love the creativity of listing on eBay.  I can look at an item in a thrift store and start thinking about keywords and the person that is out there that would love to find that particular piece.  I truly enjoy the listing process.

4th quarter can be a lucrative time of year for many online sellers. Have you typically seen an increase in sales during 4th quarter in past years?

The 4th quarter accounts for about 26% of my annual business.

Do you sell anything different for holiday selling season, or just sell more of the same kinds of things you normally sell all year?

Yes, I sell a few computer items, electronics and toys during the holiday season. I also sell ugly Christmas sweaters in the fourth quarter.  I started selling them about 2 years ago and now I have built up a little inventory and I sell them all during the year.

 **During the months of April through August 1, I am the #1 seller of Ugly Christmas Sweaters, now I don’t know if this will hold through the 4th quarter, but I’m excited to be #1 in the warmer months. Again, I got this stat from Terapeak

Do you list more items in anticipation of holiday sales? If so, when do you start this process?

Yes, I start in the summer and I try to list as many items as I can, and I always on the look out for items to sell that are Christmas gift oriented.

Do you have any hired help for your business? If so, what tasks do they do?

No, but I am seriously considering it for this fall.  That's my next step.

What is one piece of advice you would give to new sellers who want to transition to eBay full time?

If you are a "stay at home mom selling on eBay" as I am, you can build your business over time. I started selling when my boys were little; I listed while they were napping or after my husband got home from work. Now, my boys are in high school and middle school, and I have more time to devote to selling.  I've built my business slowly and kept up to date on eBay changes. Ebay selling practices change often and many of the items that sell well change from year to year.  Keep selling and keep listing, slow and steady. You can own your own business that provides your family a little extra fun money and build it, over time into a business that can pay your mortgage.

Anything else unique about you or your eBay business you would like to share?

Thrifting never gets old for me, if you feel the same way, your business is fun for you and you rarely feel like you are "working".  10 years later I still feel a thrill when I hear that ca ching on my phone.  I can't believe some would pay me money for an item that I thought was cute in the thrift store.  I don't always have a Pollyanna attitude however.  I hate taking photos!  I know that it is one of the most important parts of listing an item, so I just try to get through it as efficiently as possible.

Thanks for sharing, Nicole!

Read about more eBay pickers:


Michelle Farmer

Antique Chic

Kathy Bradley

David and Rhonda Conner
 

Profiles of Successful eBay Pickers - Antique Chic

Time for another installment of "Profiles of Successful eBay Pickers." eBay is getting a lot of bad press lately about not being a sustainable business, losing traction as a trusted marketplace, or being inferior to Amazon. I reached out to sellers on my eBay seller Facebook group, which is now approaching 16,000 members, to find sellers who have a proven track record of selling on eBay and maintaining a sustainable eBay business over time.

My hope is that we can see similar characteristics across these profiles and define the qualities of a successful seller, then work to achieve those qualities and reach success.

The criteria I set for participating in this series:

1. Full time eBay seller for at least 3 years. (To show sustainability.)

2. Does not sell on Amazon. (Because they were doing so well on eBay, they didn't need to go to another platform.)

3. Sells inventory purchased at thrift stores, yard sales, estate sales, auctions, consignment sales or any combination of those sources. Does not purchase inventory wholesale, from liquidators, retail stores, from China, or drop ship. Must be a "picker."

4. Is an "at home" seller.

5. Must be willing to share eBay ID. (Keeping it real.)

Today's star picker is Renee Franco of Antique Chic.

When did you start selling on eBay?

February, 2011 

Why did you start selling on eBay?

The company I was working for downsized and I was laid off. I did not want to go back to corporate America and I surely didn't want to drive an hour each way to and from work anymore.

What is your store name and what types of items do you sell?

Antique Chic, Inc. I sell antiques, collectibles, and vintage items. 

Do you specialize in a certain niche, or are you open to selling anything? If you specialize, why?

Yes, I specialize in my niche because it is what is interesting to me. The items are fun to find, photograph, and learn about. 

How many items do you typically have in your store? 

1,000 - 1,200 items.

What is your average monthly profit? 
(We are focusing on profit here because that's what you get to keep!) 

$4,500 per month and increasing each year.

How many hours do you typically work a week on your eBay business?
  
I work 9-5 Monday through Friday, and Saturdays I am at estate sales or auctions. So usually 48 hours a week.

Many eBay sellers are being shamed into selling on Amazon, as if it is a superior platform. Why have you never sold on Amazon?

I have never felt like I needed to sell on Amazon. eBay has provided a nice income for me, and my sales are increasing every year, so I continue to focus on 1 selling platform.

4th quarter can be a lucrative time of year for many online sellers. Have you typically seen an increase in sales during 4th quarter in past years? 

Yes I have seen an increase in the 4th quarter every year. My average sales per month during the 4th quarter last year was $15,000 per month. During Q1 through Q3 my average sales are $12,000 per month.

Do you sell anything different for holiday selling season, or just sell more of the same kinds of things you normally sell all year? 

I sell more of the same. Usually, during the late summer I begin to buy more merchandise in preparation for the 4th quarter.

Do you list more items in anticipation of holiday sales? If so, when do you start this process?

Yes, I typically begin to buy and list more items in late summer. August is really my "build-up" reminder month to prepare for more inventory.

Do you have any hired help for your business? 

No, I have never hired anyone. My husband helps me from time to time.

What is one piece of advice you would give to new sellers who want to transition to eBay full time? 

If you were going to transition to full-time, I would suggest finding something you enjoy selling. I truly have a passion for antiques. Because I enjoy what I sell, it does not feel like I am working! I really believe this is what has helped me become successful on eBay.

Anything else unique about you or your eBay business you would like to share? 

We also take antique and collectible consignments. This is a great source of extra income and it is risk free inventory for my store.

Be sure to follow this series here on my blog, and make sure you have subscribed to my newsletter for more great tips for your ecommerce business.

Read about more successful eBay pickers:

Michelle Farmer

Nicole Bilbao

Kathy Bradley

David and Rhonda Conner
 

6 Free Ways to Learn What Sells on eBay

I help a lot of new sellers get their start because I love helping someone understand how to use the resources around them to make money on eBay. A common question from new sellers just getting into the business is, “What sells on eBay?” Now, this isn’t an unreasonable question. We all started off at ground zero, with no idea of what would sell. But unlike when I started selling in 2003, there are many resources available to new seller to learn what sells.

The most important concept new sellers must grasp is that other sellers can only make suggestions. Hot selling items are a moving target on eBay as well as the brick and mortar marketplaces. For example, a few years ago, no one had even heard of hot sellers like Shopkins, Birthday Cake M&Ms, Nike Flyknit running shoes, Thrity-One handbags, and Rokus because they hadn’t been invented yet. On the other hand, items like Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments, The North Face clothing, Frye leather boots, and vintage Tupperware have been good sellers for decades.

What sells on eBay is constantly evolving. Here are a few free ways to stay on top of your picking game and stay informed of the latest trends on eBay.

1.    Visit Popular.eBay.com for the best-selling products sorted by category. This will give you some ideas of where to start.

2.    Search completed listings for types products that you see often or find interesting. As a habit, for the last several years I have spent a minimum of 15 minutes a day studying eBay completeds. Put in random phrases like baby blanket, leather boots, backpack, vintage doll, collectible glass, or sewing kit and study the results. Sort by sold items, price+ shipping highest to lowest. You can learn brand names, look at the photos, and discover new great-selling items every day.

3.   Watch to YouTube videos. There are dozens of pickers who make videos. Find somebody you like who also shares their store name and shows their sold items. Visit their store and study what they sell and look at their feedback to verify they are an actual seller and practicing what they preach. (Hauls don’t really tell you much – anybody can fill up a cart at Goodwill and make a video. The proof is in the sold items.)

4.    Read and study Money Making Mondays on my Facebook Group. We have had this weekly thread where sellers share their finds since July of 2012 . There are usually over 100 comments a week where sellers share what they bought, how much they paid, where they bought it, and a link to the completed sold listing. You can learn a lot by paying attention to what other sellers do.

5.    Watch my Money Making Mondays videos here on YouTube.

6.    Listen to the Scavenger Life podcasts. Ryanne and Jay get a gold star for consistently putting out quality content on a regular basis. I don’t know how they have time for two 1-hour podcasts a week with having over 3,500 items in their store and everything else they do. Great to listen to while you are working.

If you are a super analytical person and want a tool for doing research, Terapeak has functions for studying hot items, trends, and other data to enlighten you. Try it for a month, see what you think, and determine if it is right for your unique business.

Related Articles:

Are You Wasting Time Micromanaging Your eBay Store?

21 Ways to Boost eBay Sales

6 Reasons eBay Sellers Should List That Item Now - Don't Wait

Profiles of Successful eBay Pickers - Kathy Bradley

Welcome to another installment of "Profiles of Successful eBay Pickers." eBay is getting a lot of bad press lately about not being a sustainable business, losing traction as a trusted marketplace, or being inferior to Amazon. I reached out to sellers on my eBay seller Facebook group, which is now approaching 16,000 members, to find sellers who have a proven track record of selling on eBay and maintaining a sustainable eBay business over time.

My hope is that we can see similar characteristics across these profiles and define the qualities of a successful seller, then work to achieve those qualities and reach success.

The criteria I set for participating in this series:

1. Full time eBay seller for at least 3 years. (To show sustainability.)

2. Does not sell on Amazon. (Because they were doing so well on eBay, they didn't need to go to another platform.)

3. Sells inventory purchased at thrift stores, yard sales, estate sales, auctions, consignment sales or any combination of those sources. Does not purchase inventory wholesale, from liquidators, retail stores, from China, or drop ship. Must be a "picker."

4. Is an "at home" seller.

5. Must be willing to share eBay ID. (Keeping it real.)

Today's star picker is Kathy Bradley.

When did you start selling on eBay?

February, 2001

Why did you start selling on eBay?

I had 4 Sons all in sports at the time and we needed to supplement our income. Ebay helped us to keep them in the gear they needed to be successful through high school. Now 3 of my sons are in the Navy stationed all over and 2 of them eBay to supplement their income for their families.

What is your store name, and what types of items do you sell?

Panoply’s Closet. I love to sell an array of items but we concentrate on men’s clothing more than anything. "Panoply" means “a complete or impressive collection of things.” So, I am hoping our items are impressive in the way we display them so sales are driven.

Do you specialize in a certain niche, or are you open to selling anything? 

Willing to sell anything but men's clothing is our niche.

If you specialize in a certain niche, why?

We spent many years looking for that one item/s that would sell and is easy to sell, pack and ship. My husband has his own site as well and he inspired me to stick to men’s clothing.

How many items do you typically have in your store?

I am trying to get to 500 but at the moment a little over 100

What is your average monthly profit?
(We are focusing on profit here because that's what you get to keep!) 

Since I am just getting back into it full time my profits are a little over $1500.00 a month. Now that I am making this my full time job I am hoping to double that.

How many hours do you typically work a week on your eBay business?

Like any business job I have to dedicate 40+. But,  I am my own boss so I can take the day off or the morning I have to say I do work more than 40+ a week.

Many eBay sellers are being shamed into selling on Amazon, as if it is a superior platform. Why have you never sold on Amazon?

I am willing to learn but I love eBay since I have been doing it for so long. I know people on eBay and they know me. They are repeat buyers. I lot how eBay works over all.

4th quarter can be a lucrative time of year for many online sellers. Have you typically seen an increase in sales during 4th quarter in past years?

Absolutely. When I had my Brick n Mortar store that was our best time of year. People need Shopping money for the holidays and people need gifts! Win win situation!

Do you sell anything different for holiday selling season, or just sell more of the same kinds of things you normally sell all year? 

I sell about the same but I like to try to sell more new items than used.

Do you list more items in anticipation of holiday sales? If so, when do you start this process?

Yes. I try to start that process in August.

Do you have any hired help for your business? If so, what tasks do they do? 

Not at this moment. But when I had to store I had 4 listers. I will be looking for a part time lister come September.

What is one piece of advice you would give to new sellers who want to transition to eBay full time?

Research… Research… and more research. Learn what sells and what doesn’t. You can end up with a garage full of nothing. Also, spend time getting organized (accounting system, storage of items, packing supplies) try to streamline your processes. Makes for a more productive day when your organized.

Anything else unique about you or your eBay business you would like to share? 

I make up my own business "thank you" cards and put them in with my mailings. I have driven re-peat buyers this way.

Thanks for sharing, Kathy, and how wonderful that 2 of your sons caught the eBay bug! 


Be sure to follow this series here on my blog, and make sure you have subscribed to my newsletter for more ecommerce tips.


More successful eBay pickers:

Michelle Farmer

Antique Chic

Nicole Bilbao

David and Rhonda Conner
 

Pick Suzanne's Brain

 

Thanks for submitting your questions over the last month. Here are a few I've seen duplicated, so maybe these issues are on your mind, too.

Disadvantage of using Best Offer Auto Decline

Phil, Sarah, and Beth asked, "I use Best Offer on a lot of my listings. I am never sure whether to use the auto-decline feature and how to set my auto-decline price."

Well, I use Best Offer on about 75% of my listings, too. I personally don't use auto-decline because you don't get the opportunity to pull the buyer up on price. (As a buyer, I don't care for auto-decline, I feel like the seller is slamming the door in my face.) I always counter offer, and many times the buyer and I will go back and forth until the buyer has raised his counter offer considerably and is within a few dollars of my original asking price. If you use auto-decline, you don't get the opportunity to negotiate and you can lose sales. For example, I had a pair of children's boots (that I paid $3 for) priced at $29.97 plus shipping. The buyer offered $10, I countered with $25, they countered with $15, I countered again with $25, they countered with $20, I accepted. I was able to get them to come up $10 on their offer price with a little negotiating.

Should I have a niche or be open to selling anything?

If I had $1 for every time I was asked this question! There are two schools of thought on this. Many eBay mentors and coaches say the only way to go is with a niche. Specialize. Don't even think about selling it if it isn't in your niche. Keep your store all matchy-matchy and in the same category.

I strongly disagree,especially if you are a picker. The more you know about different kinds of items, the more money you can make. When I go into a thrift store or to an estate sale, I'm not going to leave things behind because the items might not match the other stuff in my store. If you are taking time out of your day to go to a thrift store, auction, estate sale, or even trash picking, why not make the most of your effort and consider anything that crosses your path - you are already there,  you taken the time and effort to go and find things to sell, make the most of your time picking.

One reason a lot of people choose to specialize is because they are afraid to move out of their comfort zone and try something new. They think they have to be an expert to start. Wrong! Every expert was once a beginner who knew nothing. That uncomfortable place where you aren't sure - that is where growth and learning happens.

For example, here are a few of my sales in the last month. A mix of different kinds of products with pretty good profit margins - I paid between 60 cents and $3 for each item. Never stop learning!

I wish I had time to answer all of the emails I get every week, but it would take me about a month to do that! If you have a question about your unique business, want to know more about what to sell, or are ready to start an eBay or Amazon business, contact me to set up time to chat. This way I can learn all the details about your business and give you the most out of my 11 years of ecommerce experience. 

So just click here to make an appointment, and we will get chatting soon!

Related Articles:

Increase Sales by Using Best Offer

83% of eBay Sellers Do This - Do You?

21 Ways to Boost eBay Sales