Thrift Shopping Workshop in Atlanta January 11

Are you ready to learn how to shop in a manner that maximizes your time and sales?

Do you want to know how to spot those uber profitable items in the sea of junk?

Are you looking for a system that works virtually anywhere and within a variety of stores and resources like garage sales, Craigslist, estate sales, and flea markets? If you are saying "yes," then this workshop is for you!

New for 2015, I'm offering a limited number of special 2-hour workshops in the Metro Atlanta area to help you learn to be a faster, smarter, and better eBay picker.

The first workshop is scheduled for Sunday January 11 in Marietta, Georgia from 1 - 3 PM.

The second workshop is scheduled for Sunday February 8 in Roswell, Georgia from 1-3 PM.

During this special intensive training, you will learn:

What types of items really sell on eBay and why

Which brands, styles, fabrics, and types of clothing will sell the fastest and with the highest ROI

What items appeal to international buyers and why

All the details you need to know from examining your finds to what items retain their value the best
and which items to stay away from

How to “work” a thrift store and sections to focus on when your shopping time is limited, plus how to get deeper discounts

What are the profitable overlooked niche items that sell and ship easily

Listing tips such as the benefits of different listing types and creative words to use in titles that result in more page views and sales


30 days of email support after the workshop -  I will be your personal help desk for any eBay questions

A copy of my eBook, “What to Buy at Thrift Stores to Resell on eBay”

This in-person training focuses on items that are consistent profitable sellers that can be easily found and are repeatable. I'll help you create a system for buying for resale using the resources available in thrift stores. We will not focus on hard to find or rare items like stamps, coins, sports memorabilia, antiques, art, autographed items, trading cards, or comic books.

Buy as much as you like during the training!

Cost to attend this workshop is $150 per person.

Space is limited so contact me here to reserve your spot.

I can't wait to have a shopping day with you and help you take your eBay business to the next level in 2015.

Related Resources:

Selling Women's Clothing on eBay - Free Videos

5 New Things I Learned to Sell on eBay in 2014

My eBay Experiment - Work Smarter!

Free List - 75 Health and Beauty Items on Clearance in January

 

January is a time for resetting - and that includes inside retail stores. When stores reset the shelves, that means products get moved around - and some are put on clearance to make room for new products.

I have learned from my reliable source in the grocery business that the following products will be marked down on clearance starting January 5. These items may have only been discontinued by the stores because the products are not moving, undergoing a packaging change, or discontinued by the manufacturer.

These items will be on clearance, closeout, or marked down at at least one major national grocery store chain.

How can you use this list of products to your advantage? Follow these steps:

1. Go to your local grocery store and see if the items are marked down or on clearance. Make your money when you buy inventory by getting it as cheaply as possible. Even if the product is not discontinued by the manufacturer, you may be getting it cheaper than your competitors.

2. Look up the items on eBay and / or Amazon to see what the selling price is. There may be room for profit at the clearance price.

3. Be careful with quantities. It is impossible to know if an item will be uber-profitable in the future.  You don't want to be stuck with hundreds of items you can't sell.

4.. Pay attention to expiration dates. You don't want the product expiring before you can sell it. Expired products are not allowed on eBay or Amazon.

5. Determine if the item is undergoing a packaging change or is being discontinued forever. This will help your pricing strategy - if something is being discontinued forever, the price will only go up. If it is a packaging change, you only have a short window to make money before the item returns to the store shelf and the product is available again. If you need help with this process, I can explain more during a phone consultation.

This information is pointing you in a direction to look for opportunities. I cannot guarantee that you will find these items or that they will sell for a profit - just giving you a head's up so maybe this information can help you make some money. Make good choices!

Based on my experience selling health and beauty products online since 2007, I recommend you pay close attention to Pantene, Head and Shoulders, and Aveeno brands.

Here is the list:

Old Spice Drench Shampoo

Tresemme Platinum Strength Shampoo
Tresemme Platinum Strength Conditioner

Tresemme Platinum Strength Conditioning Treatment
Tresemme Flawless Curls Shampoo
Tresemme Flawless Curls Conditioner
Tresemme Mega Hold Scuplting Gel
Tresemme Split End Remedy Leave in Conditioner

OGX Anti B Serum
OGX Ever Straight Keratin Brazilian Treatment

Head and Shoulders 2-n-1 Itchy Scalp Shampoo
Head and Shoulders Mens Shampoo Deep Cleaning

Vidal Sassoon Restoring Repair Shampoo
Vidal Sassoon  Mega Firm Hold Gel
Vidal Sassoon Restoring Repair Conditioner
Vidal Sassoon Boost and Lift Shampoo
Vidal Sassoon Boost and Lift Conditioner
Vidal Sassoon Boost and Lift Hair Spray
Vidal Sassoon Repair and Finish Spray
Vidal Sassoon Master Lock 1 Minute Mask
Vidal Sassoon Color Protect Spray
Vidal Sassoon Color Gloss Creme
Vidal Sassoon Texturizing Shampoo
Vidal Sassoon Texturizing Conditioner

Selson Blue Sensitive Scalp Shampoo

Got2B Fat Tastic Plumping Mousse
Got2B Kinkier Curl Cream
Got2B Styling Oil
Got2B Beach Trippn' Salt Wave Spray

L'Oreal EverStyle Thickening Tonic
L'Oreal EverStyle  Beach Wave
L'Oreal EverStyle Texture Tousle Cream
L'Oreal EverCurl Hydracharge Conditioner
L'Oreal Triple Resist Ultimate Strength Solution

Axe 2-n-1 Anarchy Shampoo / Conditioner
Axe Spiked Up Spiking Glue
Axe Primed Shampoo
Axe Deep Clean Shampoo

Pantene 2-n-1 Curly Dry Moisture Shampoo
Pantene Color Reserve Volume Shampoo

Pantene Color Reserve Volume Conditioner
Pantene 2-n-1 Ice Shine Shampoo
Pantene Gel Styler Strong Hold
Pantene Pro-v Ultimate 10BB Cream Shampoo
Pantene Pro-v Ultimate 10BB Cream Conditioner

Aveeno Pure Renewal Dry Shampoo
Aveeno Nourish Strength Shampoo
Aveeno Nourish Strength Conditioner

Herbal Essences Honey I'm Strong Shampoo
Herbal Essences Honey I'm Strong Conditioner
Herbal Essences Set Me Up Mousse Gel Extra Hold
Herbal Essences Touchably Smooth Anti Frizz

Aussie 2-n-1 Moisture Shampoo

Fructis Triple Nutrition Spray
Fructis Extreme Control Aerosol Hair Spray
Fructis Fall Fight Shampoo
Fructis Fall Fight Conditioner
Fructis Spike Explosion Power Gel
Fructis Mess Maker Power Putty

Nexxus Styling Gel Exxtra
Nexxus Deep Conditioning Treatment
Nexxus Frizz Defying Shampoo
Nexxus Frizz Defying Conditioner
Nexxus Leave In Conditioner
Nexxus Youth Renewal Conditioner

John Frieda Awakening Restore Shampoo
John Frieda Awakening Restore Conditioner
John Frieda Full Repair Hydrate and Rescue Conditioner
John Frieda Sheer Blonde Highlight Shampoo
John Frieda Sheer Blonde Highlight Conditioner

Samy Big Curls Defining Cream

Infusium Repair Shampoo
Infusium Repair Conditioner
Infusium Repair  Leave-In Treatment

Pert Plus 2-n-1 All Types Shampoo

Also check out my list of 23 Discontinued Items that sell big on eBay and Amazon.

Happy Hunting!


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A Small Miracle on eBay - 98 Years and 2,000 Miles

After last week's post about the Russian Christmas ornaments, a reader, who wished to remain anonymous, sent in this story.

I sometimes sell old photos, especially tin types, on eBay. You can often get a whole box for a $1. And there are sometimes neat little oddities in there like old advertisements and such. Recently I came  across postcard dated 1916. It was written by a young soldier getting ready to ship out to fight in WWI. He was writing  to his wife and professing his love for her and their unborn child. Although difficult to read you could make out that he loved her, missed her and hoped to be home soon and with his family. A very nice sentiment.

I struggled with the morality of putting this up for sale. I mean it was someone's personal correspondence. But it was so long ago I figured it might be ok. Plus it is a small piece of history. I put up the listing and even went so far as to ask if anyone had any more information on the piece.

Couple days later I received a message from a lovely woman who explained the man writing the postcard was her grandfather. The unborn child her mother. Her grandfather did not return from WWI and like so many veterans back then they never recovered his body for a proper burial. Her grandmother and her parents have since passed. She has very little to remember any of them by as they moved so often due to the military careers of her grandfather and her father who was also a military man.

I immediately told her it would be my honor and privilege to send her the postcard free of charge. I also asked if she had any young children, especially girls. Do they like Frozen? They do. I have a LOT of Frozen stuff hanging around so Mom is getting the postcard and the girls are getting a nice little assortment of Frozen stuff as my very small way of saying "Thank You" to her father and grandfather for the sacrifices they made.

The items have shipped and will arrive before Christmas. It is a small miracle that little piece of paper has somehow survived all these years and made it to me. I am in Connecticut her family is from Texas. Oh what a journey that postcard must have taken! And what are the odds that she would see it on the massive ocean of stuff that is eBay? Me thinks the faiths are involved in this one.

Anyway, just wanted to share that story.

Have a wonderful holiday and a Great Day on eBay!

Thank you to JB for sending this story along. It shows again the power of the eBay community and that what we do as sellers can really touch lives.

Have a special eBay story to share? Feel free to send it in so I can share on this blog.

(Please note the photo above is NOT the original post card in the story as the seller did not have a photo of it to share.)

A Heartwarming Christmas Story on eBay

Sometimes as eBay sellers we offer an item that can change someone's world.  Stories like this make selling on eBay even more special when we are "re-homing" things. Tonya shared this story on my Facebook group and gave permission for me to share it here.

"I have something to share. My father-in-law gave us this crate of Russian blown glass ornament set to sell on eBay. I listed them starting $89.99 +$20 shipping, without researching shipping costs first.

It sold for $89.99, and I took it to UPS and asked them to pack it well. After they packed it, the total cost of shipping came to $76, I paid, left, called my husband and cried. My profit was around $33.

The buyer just sent me a message telling me that it arrived safely, and this:

'Thank you again. Just an FYI. I used to buy my wife a set of ornaments every year for Xmas. She loved them and she/we had such a beautiful tree 100% glass ornaments. She passed away Oct 3rd and just couldn't break the tradition. Pleased to have such a beautiful boxed set for this year.'

Now my measly $33 profit isn't so bad."

Thanks for sharing, Tonya. You made someone very happy.

Have you ever had a situation like this, as a buyer or a seller, where eBay made all the difference in finding the perfect item? Feel free to share in the comments or send me your story to share on my blog.

Happy Holidays! 

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5 New Things I Learned to Sell on eBay in 2014

2014 has been an interesting year both personally and professionally. It started for me with some unexpected medical issues, a hospital stay, and surgery. My youngest graduated from high school in the spring, and started college this fall, and my house is on the market as I prepare to downsize and enter the next chapter of my life. That being said, eBay is always running in the background and I continually challenge myself to learn new things each year and share them with my readers.

I have to thank other sellers on my Facebook group for this information (now over 18,000 sellers strong) - you guys and gals rock every week sharing your sales on Money Making Mondays. Here are the top 5 things I learned and put into practice this year thanks to the power of community.

Vineyard Vines. If you aren't familiar with this brand, get to know it. Pretty much everything in the store costs over $80 - and has great resale value on eBay. Here are a few items I found and sold this year:

Vineyard Vines Tote Bag $1 at thrift store, sold for $29.97 

Vineyard Vines Shep Shirt $4 at thrift store, sold for $69.97

Vineyard Vines Tie $1 at thrift store, sold for $62

 Granny Square afghans. I never would have given these a second look until I saw other sellers posting about them. A beautiful vintage item that is easy to spot at thrift stores, estate sales, and garage sales. Here are a few I sold this year:

Granny Square Afghan $10 at estate sale, sold for $79.97 + shipping

Granny Square Afghan $2 at thrift store, sold for $64.97 + shipping

Completed needlework. There is a lot of opportunity in this niche if you know what to look for. And this type of item is often overlooked and under-priced at thrift stores and estate sales. Here are a few of  my sales from 2014:

Airborne Military completed cross-stitch $1.29 at Goodwill, sold for $27 + shipping

Folk Art Sampler $3 at church sale, sold for $29.97 + shipping

Vintage fisherman needlepoint $3 at garage sale sold for $45 + shipping

 

Tonner collectible dolls. I am selling a doll collection on consignment (a great way to learn for free - sign up for my consignment directory here) for a client and they have quite a few of these. Now I know to look for this brand at estate sales, garage sales, and on Craigslist. These 3 have sold so far:

Tonner Aquaman Doll sold for $159.97

Tonner 22 Inch American Models Raven sold for $130

Tonner 22 Inch American Models Raven Short Hair sold for $139.97

Comfort shoes. There is a lot of opportunity in this niche if you know who the target customer is, why they are buying this type of shoe, and what other sellers are overlooking because the shoes aren't exactly fashionable. Learn all about this niche with my course, "The Art of Selling Preowned Women's Shoes on eBay."

Birkenstock Footprints Shoes $6 at Goodwill, sold for $49.97 + shipping

SAS Tripad Sandals $2 at thrift store, sold for $35 + shipping

Finn Comfort Sandals $2 at thrift store, sold for $55 + shipping

I hope this recap of 2014 has shown you some new things you might not know about, as well as emphasize that you can never stop learning in this business. eBay is a moving target and when you get too comfortable you miss opportunities. 

What did you discover to sell this year that has helped your bottom line? Please share in the comments below so we can continue to learn from each other.

Wishing everyone a happy and safe holiday season and a prosperous new year!

Update February 2015: Check out my complete list of 72 Unique Items that Sold Big on eBay in 2014.

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23 Discontinued and Newly Released Products to Sell on eBay and Amazon

Discontinued products can be big money makers online, but so can newly released products that aren't available nationwide. Both of these types of products have one thing in common - SCARCITY. The less there is of something, the more people will pay for it. For example, have you heard about the Intrigue K-Y Lubricant that has a retail price of $15 and is selling for up to $99 on eBay?

Items like this are all around you and this is a case where knowledge is power. I have done the work for you in my newest eBook, providing a list of 23 consumable items in the grocery, health care, and beauty categories. 13 are discontinued items, and 10 are newly released or limited edition items. (These items are NOT the same ones listed in my Hidden Holiday Foods ebook.)

All of these items are profitable on eBay right now, and 75% of them are also on Amazon.

Grab your copy now, print it out, and hit the stores. 

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