Food is the Language of Love

In case you missed this article in my newsletter, here is is again. Several people have contacted me asking if I can extend this special until the weekend. I will be happy to! This offer is good until midnight Saturday October 4, so don't miss out.

With the holiday season fast approaching, many sellers jump on the toy and seasonal train. I have seen over the last 11 years that that ride is oversold. Three years ago I decided to take a different approach to 4th quarter sales and instead of focusing on the hottest toys, I focused on what makes the holidays great- FOOD.

Groceries are consumables and customers often buy multiples of an item. Add on top of that the 4th quarter is one of the busiest seasons for entertaining, family gatherings, and falling off the diet wagon- foods are the hottest items. Best of all they can’t be returned!

From grocery items given as gifts to military care packages- food is the language of love. So why not be part of creating amazing memories while creating a great bank account this 4th quarter?

What I learned about what sells grocery-wise this time of year may shock you. I know it shocked me. And that’s why I created my latest eBook Hidden Holiday food Items That Sell, Sell, Sell.

You can’t buy Hidden Holiday Items That Sell, Sell, Sell.

Just like the holiday season, I want to give you an extra special treat. The only way you can get your hands on Hidden Holiday Items That Sell, Sell, Sell is to either be a former student of an Amazon Grocery Class or to grab a copy of this course of yourself.

(Click here to grab this course and all the gifts.)

And because I love this time year, I am also giving away:

25 Discontinued Products ebook

100 Unique Food Supplier ebook

and 2 weeks worth of Suzanne’s Inbox where you get unlimited email support from me - when you purchase the Amazon Grocery course.

So yes, the holiday gifts have come early! This is just my way of saying “Thank you!” to my loyal, hardworking students.

Ok, don’t miss out on grabbing all of these gifts (a $140 value) click here.

Not approved to sell the grocery category? No problem. This information is included in the course, and I can help you through the process either by phone or email.

And remember, all of my courses come with the Learn It, Know It, Master It guarantee. I am here for you via phone or email to make sure that you don’t just learn or know the profit-making skills that I cover in my courses, but that you master them and in turn, your bank account shows the results.

(If you are a former student of the Amazon Grocery Class, contact me for your free gift - a copy of Hidden Holiday Food Items that Sell, Sell, Sell.)

Now let's all get ready to move in to our best 4th quarter yet!

My Little eBay Experiment - Work Smarter!

I wanted to share something I have been working on personally in my eBay store. Maybe this will help some of you trying to get your numbers up.

For the last 3 months, I have really been focusing on selling higher priced items, as well as purchasing them as cheaply as possible to increase profit margin. Most things I buy now don't cost more than $2, and you can see from this sales chart that my average sale price per item has doubled in 90 days. (*Note: Free shipping is included on items shipped First Class or that can go in a padded flat rate envelope, so that skews the numbers a little.)

For those of you who want to increase your profit on eBay, please remember it is not about the number of things you sell, but the profit you make each month. The most frequently asked question I receive from sellers is, "How can I make more money on eBay?" Well, here is your answer.

I am on several Facebook eBay groups, and often see sellers posting pics of their giant piles of outgoing packages. Please do not be misled by quantity. A seller may be shipping 25 one day, but profit might only be $2 per item - which of course is still good money, but quantity isn't the end game here.

Maximum dollars in the bank account is what we all want. It doesn't matter if you sell 1,000 items a month if you are only making $3 an hour doing it. Look at your profit vs hours worked to see how much you are making. Put the pencil to paper and many of you will be shocked to see you are working for a fraction of minimum wage.

Also, consider the time and work involved in selling lower priced items as well as additional supply cost. (Mailers, labels, ink, tape, etc.) After doing this for 11 years, I have decided I would rather spend the bulk of my time looking for items that will yield a higher sales price rather than doing this business like a mouse on a wheel. Just because you are busy and money is going into your Paypal account does not mean you are running a profitable business. Remember, it takes the same amount of time to list a $50 item as it does to list a $5 item.

Bottom line: It is never a question of IF you can sell something on eBay, but the question we need to focus on is "How MUCH can I sell this for?"

Just thought I would share my little experiment with you. I hope to increase average sale price to $40 per item by the end of the year.

You can find your average sales by going to Summary > Sales Reports and look in the middle of the page. You can visit my eBay store, Atlanta Golf Shop here to see the kinds of things I am selling.

What are your goals for increasing sales by the end of 2014?

Related articles:

Are you wasting time micromanaging your eBay store?

83% of eBay sellers do this, do you?

21 Ways to boost eBay sales

Profiles of Successful eBay Pickers - Laura Feyh-Nicoletta

Time for another installment of "Profiles of Successful eBay Pickers."I reached out to sellers on my eBay seller Facebook group, which is now approaching 17,000 members, to find sellers who have a proven track record of selling on eBay and maintaining a sustainable eBay business over time.

There are similar characteristics across these profiles that define the qualities of a successful seller.

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. (For whatever reason.)

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 Laura Feyh-Nicoletta


When did you start selling on eBay?  


July 1999

Why did you start selling on eBay?

I am an at home mom and wanted to help with the family income. I always loved selling. We started with Pokemon cards and my boys loved to see their toys sell.

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

Storageunitauction I sell one of everything. I love to thrift and concentrate on areas I know can be winners. Shoes, toys, small appliances, mens graphic t-shirts, cosmetics.

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

I am open to selling anything, but research every item with my iPhone while thrifting. After so many years, you learn.

If you specialize in a certain niche, why? 

 I am trying to stay with shoes, plush and small appliances. These tend to be my higher profit items. I am getting tired of the small profit margins. Every time I shop I think “What can I flip on eBay?” I made a killing one year when the Smurfs movie came out and McDonald’s Happy Meal toys were hard to get. I had folks paying $30 or so for 1 Smurf. Parents will get the kiddos what they want. I felt a little guilty buying out the McDonald's deliveries, but business is business.


What is your average monthly profit? 

I am in a downward spiral compared to last year, but my profits range from $2K-5K and that is really on a part- time basis. There has been some upgrading and changes through eBay itself which is out of my control, but I can see they are fixing that. If I put in a 40 hour week, which I am concentrating on now because I am empty nesting, I think I can double that with the inventory I have.


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

As stated above, part-time. It can range from 15-25 hours. Summer is a tough time. My gardening gets away from me sometimes. Vacations don't help either, but 'tis the season.

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 believe in eBay. And the items I sell do not fit on Amazon’s platform. I have been selling so long on eBay, I know nothing else. And not to be lazy, but honest, I really do not want to learn. I tried to look into the how-to’s, but again, I would have very limited stock and it’s not worth it. It also seems like Amazon would be the boss in my business, not me.


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?

I sure have. And I love it.

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 do save my holiday items not yet listed until September/October. These would be direct theme items only, like ornaments and figurines. But if they do not sell, they stay in the store. I have had folks purchase ornaments all year round.


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

I keep things on a steady listing schedule. As stated above, I believe folks think Christmas after Labor Day.

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

No help. I’m a one mama show.


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

Research before you purchase stock or list anything you find around the house. I have learned not only to check completed listings, but active ones also when you go to list to set your price. Always try to be one step ahead of your competition. Being involved in a couple of forums on Facebook, not too many as that can be overwhelming, is vital. Though Facebook was not available back in the day, the same stands true today. Research. Read. Find an eBay buddy. Use the resources eBay itself has to offer. There are many links through their site that are tutorials.

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

There is nothing unique as many folks do exactly as I do. Thrift, visit yard sales, scout out my own home. What is unique is how I treat my business. I am a 100% positive feedback Top Rated Seller with Silver status. I attribute that to being on top of my business 24/7 and taking care of my customers on an intimate basis. Every sale counts, no matter what the profit margin. I am OCD, that is for sure. I do get emotional and try to put a lid on it, but my personality does not allow that sometimes. But I will go over and above to make it right. That’s the key to my success, I believe. Treat others as you would like to be treated. If you get a sour grape, do the best you can. If it still falls short for you, put it aside and keep listing. Just keep listing.

If you have a great eBay story to share - send it in. We can all inspire each other.

Read about more eBay pickers:


Michelle Farmer

Antique Chic

Nicole Bilbao

Kathy Bradley

David and Rhonda Conner
 

So, you want a guarantee?

After the special offer in last week's newsletter for the Amazon Grocery Course, I received several emails from readers asking if I offer a guarantee on my courses. You asked, I listened, and decided to give you the best guarantee in the ecommerce information product business:

Learn it, know it, master it. Guaranteed.

I am committed to your success. That is why every with course you take, I am here for you.

Have a question? Not sure how to apply the information to your business? Have a question the material doesn't cover?

I  am here for you via phone or email to make sure that you don't just learn or know the profit-making skills that I cover in my courses, but that you master them and in turn, your bank account shows the results.


My website has been updated to reflect this guarantee on all of my downloadable courses. So not only do you get the most detailed, real-world, current courses available about selling on eBay and Amazon, I guarantee that I will personally work with you if you still have questions after going through the course. 

So rather than walking away from a course frustrated or confused with nobody to answer your questions (like with many online courses), you can talk to or email a real person (me!) to help you understand and learn the material.

Find all of my courses here, and get ready, I've got some new ones coming soon.

Happy Selling!

Profiles of Successful eBay Pickers - Michelle Farmer

 

Time for another installment of "Profiles of Successful eBay Pickers."I reached out to sellers on my eBay seller Facebook group, which is now approaching 17,000 members, to find sellers who have a proven track record of selling on eBay and maintaining a sustainable eBay business over time.

There are similar characteristics across these profiles that define the qualities of a successful seller.

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 Michelle Farmer.


When did you start selling on eBay?  

On and off since the beginning of eBay, but full time since May 2010.

Why did you start selling on eBay? 

We had our own business raising crickets to sell to pet shops for reptiles to eat. It was successful for over 20 years but crickets got a virus and it wiped us out along with most of the USA cricket growers about 3 years ago.

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

CricketFarmer, and we sell a mix of everything - vintage soda bottles, kitchen gadgets, toys, and clothing.

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

We focus on collectibles but also men's clothing. We will always pick up anything that catches our eye while we are out picking. The more unusual the better is our policy!

If you specialize in a certain niche, why? 

We are not a niche kind of store. But our focus is collectibles.

 How many items do you typically have in your store? 

We have over 5,300 items in our store. I would love to have 6,000 before the holidays.

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

5-6 hours a day, 7 days a week.

What is your average monthly profit?

Between $4,000 and $9,000 a month depending on the time of year and what we find.



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 sold some books on Amazon, but never wanted to have my items packed by Amazon employees. I buy a lot from Amazon. Their packing is not up to my standards so FBA is out of the question for me.

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, but in years past, 1st quarter was better for collectibles. (Not 2014.) I am getting ready to get more items in my store for the Christmas rush.

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 vintage kitchen knives and knife sets, puzzles, ugly Christmas sweaters, and vintage elves when I can find them.

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

Yes! During summer I list like a crazy person, stocking my store for the winter months when everyone is inside shopping on their computer.


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

Nope, it is just me. My son and daughter-in-law came to live with us over the winter and I had her listing for me. It was nice but made me lazy. I helped her start her own eBay store and showed her what to buy.

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

Start listing TODAY. List every day, even if it is only one thing. You will have money by next week in your Paypal account. My daughter-in-law just started out 6 months ago and she is not being very consistent but she is making at least $25 a day buying clothes at thrift shops and yard sales. She buys what she likes and it sells. Plus she has a new wardrobe for a little of nothing, when she gets tired of it, on eBay it goes!

Thank you for sharing, Michelle and congrats on your amazing eBay business.

If you have a great eBay story to share - send it in. We can all inspire each other.

Read about more eBay pickers:


Antique Chic

Nicole Bilbao

Kathy Bradley

David and Rhonda Conner

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