Just a old gypsy girl trying taking a new journey reselling. What I'm learning as I go. Use to write about my life, but that is now officially boring.
I started a new board for October that helps me focus and pinpoint where my sourcing money is going. October was not a very good month. Sold only 42 items! Too many no sale days.
I also started a booth at FPM. The first month was rough and I had to pay the PM 101$ to cover my rent. I did not set up the booth until later in the month - maybe the 2nd week of October was it was theoretically a WIP,
I made the rent in November and got a whooping 82% I will give it a few more months before making up my mind. One of the major barriers in my shelving! I need to make a more pleasing booth.
I'm overwhelmed and unorganized. I believe the unorganized part along with the enormous clutter is holding me back. And how easily distracted I can become. Like posting this blog entry.
But, I want to keep a written account of my journey.
Because I am a fiend for self inflicted stress, I have taken on a booth at the Antique type Mall in a city about an hour away.
I started a month ago and have not sold a thing!!!!!!
I have not set it up properly to date.
I think I had the best month on Ebay and re-selling in quite awhile! I kept up with listing every day with the exception of one day, and by Golly, I think it paid off.
I listed 128 and sold 66. I had two returns and several no pays which I immediately relisted after 5 days and if they did not request a cancellation and did not contact me I left them a review stating that they were did not respond to requests. Warning to others.
I kept much better records of my scouring and my purchase of supplies so that I have a much better picture of how much I am making.
I was able to make some "emergency" payments that are not normal - a lot. My reselling paid for them. I paid for my daughters doctor bill (300$), I bought her tickets to a rock concert for her birthday (335$), I paid partial for crossing the bridge without a pre-pay for 10 months (500$) . So there was my profit.
My focus is going to be on certain goals in the month of September. Number one is to budget and stick to it! Number 2 is to list more than 5 each day. 5 is the threshold and I am going to stretch beyond it each day. Number 3 is to put aside weekly an amount for saving not to EVER BE TOUCHED! I will start small - 10%.
The big one, which I hope to accomplish in this month, is to have a Yard Sale. Maybe 2 of them. September will be a good month for a yard sale since the summer is well over and I will not be cooking in the sun exposed front yard. Yikes, its awful on a sunny hot day. The first one will be everything for ONE DOLLAR. I have so much glass - clear glass, cut glass etc, - that does not sell. So instead of giving it to Goodwill, I will sell it for 1$ I have a lot of MacDonald toys in the original packaging that I can not pass up at the Bins. I will sell those for a buck. I have a lot of slightly chipped things that are lovely but I do not want to list. I have too many "damaged" items listed already.
I have ordered magnetic lights for a light box to start selling clothes. We will see. Clothes is a glutted niche. But, I have a lot of really nice Vintage stuff - we'll see.
Best sellers this month
Holy Smokes sale! A really sweet sale - sold for asking price.
Definitely a pattern here.
Received full asking price.
Handsome James Dean finally sold after three months. I did not discount and did not promote.
This is another prime example. MA Hadley cow cup that I believe I got at the factory which is having a close out. Only open the first Wednesday of the month and when the inventory is gone the plant will close its doors on 80 years of pottery, I have sold a few pieces. I paid 90$ for a box of vintage stuff at the favorite Auction House and have sold 90$ - that's gross. The next piece I sell from the lot is profit.
July sales. Not so great. August much better so far. Anyway, if I had not participated in the challenge I might be terribly discouraged.
I received an email from one of the Estate Sale Businesses stating that they were having a 5$ a bag at their warehouse. I went last year and to tell the truth, was not impressed. I did sell 3 little pastel color nutcracker for 15 so I made my money back and a little bit more. So I was not excited to attend this year. I read the entire email and at the bottom it stated that one of their Estate Properties was open for everyone to come and take what they wanted for FREE except the furniture and what ever was hanging on the walls.
J and I went to the 15th street Auction pickup scheduled for 10 am. Oh no, not 10am but noon. So, to kill two hours we headed to the Free Free Free Free Free. My thinking was that there would be a line when it opened up and when we arrived at 1018AM I was shocked that so few people were there!
I headed upstairs and took the lions share of what was left in the closets. All the shoes and the clothes. I went to the car and dumped my bag and went back for more, All in all, I got a lot of stuff and it will all be profit as long as I light a fire under my butt and begin to sell clothes...again.
Meeting G's DIL was great. It is a pleasure to meet another reseller because we are so on FIRE for what we are doing. She told me about this place close to Churchill Downs called Tickled Pink. I have not been yet, not for trying! They are closed on Saturdays. WTH? Guess they are out sourcing. Anyway, DIL told me that their philosophy is this: If someone liked it enough to buy it in the first place, someone will purchase it again.
I watched DR to learn how to set up a photo booth for clothes.
One step at a time.
Then Daughter and I went to the BINS yesterday and picked up MORE MORE MORE.
Lord, Help Me.
Since I have picked up the listings my sales have increased accordingly. Past three days, 3 sales each day. Only one I'm waiting on to pay. I have unloaded three of the Painted Ponies in those three days! Hooray!
I am getting ready to list in a few moments but first I was finding my invoices on the computer and sending them to my USB stick to print at Staples. I opened my "accounting" book and found one invoice from my favorite Auction House and it was from late April from the KY Derby Auction.
My accounting is so far behind. It's true that I have no idea what I am making. Really. I have two accounts. My sales go into one account and I usually pay out of the other account. I transfer money when needed which is the end of every month!
If I step it up, I may begin to accumulate some moola.
2 black coffee cups from Cellar Estate Sale last day 50% 0ff $4.00
Three (maybe 4) Secretariat Tee's I bought several years ago at 50 - 75- 90% off
The Bobble Head 30$ (geez I paid too much!!) (Sold 8/20 for 100$...yay)
Kentucky Derby Winners Trading Cards in a Commemorative Book - very cool!
Today I am selling my mannequin's to Jordan, G's DIL. And a suede leather fringe jacket for a grand total of 58$
That should cover the Bobble Head and then some.
Didn't I predict that my sales would fall off? Well they most certainly did. Last week I listed 20 items and sold ONLY 6. But again, I only listed 20 items. My low goal is 35 items, 5 a day.
Do my sales reflected the lack of discipline and motivation? I did do a lot of sourcing! Of course, It is not even the middle of the month and I have spent 600$ This includes the Nippon and RS Prussia from C-ville, the Lladro from P-ton. The Cellar Estate Sale, and a trip to the bins. Do I sell clothes? NO!! But I am determined to poke my toe into the pool because I sourced 52$ worth and I'm certain its worth 200 - 300 profit. Some Columbia winter coats, some super cute vintage cottage core, a pink hoodie from that super boy band from Japan, and a Chuckie duvet cover and pillowcases, and an assortment of Mall clothes. If only I were motivated to sell them!
I did sell four things this week end.
Hays Auction piece. I believe I got 8 or 9 pieces in this lot for 45$ I was bidding against one of owners! This is the third one I have sold, I only have one other listed, John Wayne. His plate is larger than this one. I broke one - Hop-along-Cassidy. I am going to glue it back together and just keep it. Along with the Lladro I broke. Yikes!!!
From the bins. I believe the L-ville Bins. Cost was pennies and I sold for 18$ and it goes international. I sell quite a bit International. it's easy peasy and profitable as hell. Barbie's do well international.
Last item sold is this Painted Pony. I took a very low ball offer because I am way in the profit with it and way into profit territory with the slew of Painted Ponies and Horse of a Different Colors I got from the Derby Auction. End of April.
This are a few of the pieces I picked up from the Austin Auction this week end.
Man I love tea cups. They are long tail items but they will find someone sometime, In the mean time they are cheap and easy to photograph and store.
Got this in a lot.
Pair of Dresden candle stick holders. I also go a large Swan in this style. A match. The swan is in my storage area. I got these on the cheap too. maybe 5$ for all three items.
Got this depression glass Cabbage design called Sharon in Pink. Comps are all over the place from 250 on Replacement to 15 on Ebay. Who knows? I'll go with Worthpoint I guess. List it for 19.99$ and take an offer. Got for 5$
One of the Lladro. Once again, comps all over the place. Since I got her for 100$ for three, I listed her for 89.99$ I know I paid up, but if I sell one the other two will be the profit zone. Lladro's are long tails too. But, with my price with a pristine figurine w/o box, I should see in a few weeks. I'll report back.
CHUCKIE from the Bins. I do need to go get measurements for this item. Cost me maybe a dollar. Asking 55.00$ will take best offer.
Another Bin Item from the Death Pile.
Another Death Pile Listing. From the most recent Doll Auction, so I guess not too too Death Pile. I love Madame Alexander dolls. I had a couple when I was a kid. Well. maybe one. They were not to be played with, only displayed and adored. My Mom gave it to me. She was tall with blonde hair. When I went to college, my younger sisters (one is 11 years younger, Omega is 15 years younger) raided my doll collection. Then when we moved from one neighborhood to another, also when I was (pretending to be) in college I did not come home to go through my stuff and my Mom tossed it all. MY BEATLE CARDS!!! My 16 magazines and Tiger Beats!! GONE. Who to blame? Only myself.
I bid and won a box of jewelry (11 pounds) for 45$ plus fees and tax) and it was a box of unmarked junk. Except for this possible 1940 or 1950 Coro Craft brooch. This baby I have listed at 129$
That all the news that fits.
May was not bad at all. Had a sale every day except one.
Sold (more or less) 65 items
Listed 122 items (approximately lol - did addition in my head)
Spent 545 (maybe once gain math in my head)
Have not added up the gross/net yet. I just listed March on my spread sheet.
I spend/sourced more judicially this month. And thank god, no Doll Auctions coupled with a KY Derby Auction (that really killed me last month).
My listing tapered off and that will catch up with me real soon.
Went to several Estate Sales this weekend and found little. What I did want but could not get to in time, were a slew of Painted Ponies, but someone bought all of them the day before.
Went to an In-person auction yesterday but did not stay, They had some good stuff but I am not crazy about the way the auction is operated. They will bid on an area, lets say the back corner, loaded with ceramics and porcelain. Someone will bid 35$ and win and will be able to have "winner pick" then the auctioneer will allow anyone else willing to pay 20 and let them pick what they want and on and on until they start again. It is not very much fun and I would rather have one item or a box lot to bid on. We left, J was restless and tired anyway.
Drove a million miles to southern KY to pick up a big load of RS Prussia porcelain that I won on an online auction. I only bid on the low hanging fruit. I need to be schooled on porcelain and what is old and not reproductions etc. I messed up and picked up two Limoges fakes in May. Hard to sell fakes. You can't call it Limoges if it is a reproduction. The Limoges Police on E-bay will find you.
Much to learn.
It's dismal, but getting better. I spent way too much money on sourcing this month. Around 1900$ And I only sold around 1000$ I'm not finished with April yet, I have 4 or 5 items to mail and reconcile, but it looks like I need to really, really, really cut back on sourcing this month (May).
I did get a lot of extremely great stuff that will sell in the long run. I typically do not get stuff that is a quick flip. I love a quick flip, but these items are hit or miss with a quick turn around. They are more of an investment.
The Auction House that I love - I spent 750$ but this is what I got:
1) Painted Ponies
2) Horse of a Different Color
3) Barbie Dolls
4) Hallmark Keepsake Barbie Ornaments
5) Spice Girls
6) Madame Alexander
7) Cabbage Patch Dolls
8) Ceramic Doll Heads - Antique, Vintage and Modern
As soon as I get them all posted I'll estimate the expected profit.
I found 18 Barbies for 100$ on FB Mkt.
I found another auction house that I have picked up Toby's and some exquisite china.
I won an auction for 21$ plus fees - maybe 25$. I thought it was for 4 tea cups/saucers that were not identified and so I took a chance. Ends up I won the entire cabinet! Marigold Carnival Glass quite possible Fenton (unmarked). Blenko and a bunch of other interesting things.
I also won 14 Belt Buckles for around 93 bucks - I've listed 3 of them so far. Belt Buckles have sold well for me in the past. In time I should have made my profit from those,
Some of it (usually my lots) includes some crap, but it is a crap shoot. A gamble.
Last week I sold 4 items. Three on Ebay and 1 on Mercari. Thai is the worst week I have had since I began over two years ago. Well, in the beginning I may have had a bad one, but not in the past 18 months. I am not sure what happened. Some would say people do not want my items and that I need better inventory.
I'm not certain it was my inventory. It may have been my turn to not be recognized by the algorithm. It may have been due to a lot of things. One of the You Tubers I watch says that she believes the algorithm is three weeks behind. And that would explain it because I have lagging behind in listing. Not in sourcing, mind you, but listing.
And I really needed to fill up the coffers last week. Did it stop me from going to the doll auction? Nope. Is it stopping me from heading to an auction tomorrow/ Nope. There are some fantastic Painted Ponies I NEED.
Saturday there is an auction with a collection of Toby Mugs. I love Toby Mugs. I have quite a few and they sell slowly, but they do sell.
So, there it is. Ups and Downs.
This week I have resumed listing in quantity and hopefully continue to list in quality. And my sales have resumed.
Pardon me, gotta go list some stuff I won lately.
AKA The Doll Auction
Pocketbooks were open. Some of the old faces were not there. Some new ones. Same old same old. Not as exciting as my first auction, but I got most everything I wanted and that is all that matters. I spent over budget, but that was due to buyer premiums and sales tax. Do I need a tax certificate?
Sales have absolutely tanked this week, According to my calendar this is the last day of the selling week and to date I have sold 3 items this week! Only three!! I know better to panic but I just spent 450 bucks on Barbie dolls and I have not sold a Barbie doll in some time. Well, that's not true I sold the old 1960 Barbie with the bubble cut and one chewed off foot this week for 7.50$
Pictures are awful because I used my work horse phone as the Samsung is not activated to work outside the house WIFI.
Oh Baby! Spent 70$ on her, she is listed on EBAY for 200+
Another load of Spice Girls Spent 30$ Should get 85 or more for them.
Frank. Paid 10$ looking for 55$
