Pickled Pink

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.

Budgets and Sales and Anticipation

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.  

I need to stop buying this month. Why? Because I ordered two Elvis Barbie dolls the other night and spent the money I was preparing to spend at my favorite Auction House. That did not stop me from bidding on a Secretariat Bobble Head. Next year is the 50th anniversary of his unmatched dominance in the Kentucky derby. I am thinking there is going to be a big HAPPENING surrounding the event. I am stock piling items in anticipation.

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.

Summer Slowdown

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.

This egg coddle, I need to locate it, I am getting very good at notating where I am putting my items, but some do slip through and some are very old stock that I have to dig through all my boxes. Frustrating.

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.

Days are Long, Years go Fast

 

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.

This morning I went to a 50% off Estate Sale in a warehouse and got some good stuff for 51$ Two James Dean figurines. There was a Marilyn, but one of her hands was missing the fingers. A Humphrey Bogart was missing a hand. Dang it. Found two Secretariat mugs. 

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.