I have found that one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in this bussiness is to not let your personal taste interfere with your business. It’s fine if you sell simply as a hobbie and don’t care to make any money. However, I’ve yet to meet a seller with that being the case. I believe that, especially when selling online, your items have to appeal to various customer tastes. So what if you would never wear cowboy boots or sweaters made out of anything but cashmere? Someone out there does, and that should be the only thing that matters when considering a purchase.

I have sold some fugly items in my day. Things that I would never buy, wear, display, or even look at. Of course, there are limits. There are certain articles of used clothing I won’t sell, but the list is very short. I remember being in a boutique not too long ago and talking to the seller about how business was going for her, etc. She complained about the economy and how times are tough, etc. Then, as I continued shopping (boutique clothing that I would never put on my children, by the way), I heard a woman come in and offer to sell some dresses she had left over from her boutique for a very good price, as she just wanted to get rid of them before moving out of state. The dresses this woman brought in were GORGEOUS. The seller said they “weren’t her style” and declined. I realize that it is her shop and she can do as she’d like. However, this made me realize how much a seller’s own taste could get in the way of making some very good money. I’m not going to deny it, I’ve passed on some things that I’m sure would have made me some good money, just because I disliked them myself. I now try, though, to not consider a purchase because of what I think about it, but because of what it can bring in.

I recall someone telling me when I first started selling over four years ago that, “if you like really like something, chances are someone else will really like it, enough to pay good money for it, too.”  This is very true. I also think “If you really hate something, chances are someone else will love it, enough to pay good money for it”, applies to this business.

Join us in the forums of HCTS to read some different views on all sorts of inventory and stories about which items to not pass up…..no matter how much you dislike them!

xgirl

Filed under: The Daily Stork by Xochilt
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I, unlike most people, LOVE Mondays.  One reason is because my husband is gone and I can sleep in (he’s an early bird).  But mostly because Mondays are sale days at my favorite thrift stores.

Why is it that 25% discount can make my day? I have come to the conclusion that it is because I can buy higher cost items for less… which translates into higher profit….which means less work….which means more time to shop.

For example, I will ONLY buy higher cost shoes on sale days. Most thrift stores price higher end brands significantly higher than other brands. Just the other day, I saw a pair of Dansko clogs for $49.99! Now, I don’t like to tie up that much inventory money on one item, so I passed. However, assuming I was interested,  $37.50 sounds much better than $49.99, don’t you think?

I have a list of the thrift stores I shop in and next to them, the days they have sales. This includes “fill a bag” sales and holiday sales. It may not seem like much savings, but it really adds up. Even if you only listed 50 items you bought, assuming you saved $1 per item on sale days, that would increase your profit by $50 that month! I don’t know about you but I will take anything I can get!

Join us in the HCTS forums for more useful tips! We’d love to help you build your business and give you more tips to increase your profits!

xgirl

Filed under: The Daily Stork by Xochilt
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Hi All!

It’s that time again! We only offer this once or twice a year, so now is your chance. This option will only be available for about THREE WEEKS (through May 31st, 2010).

I am so grateful for all of our members who have made HCTS a wonderful resource and support system for Ebay sellers and moms. I am happy that so many of you want to stay with us “for life.” You are what makes this place great! Things have gotten really exciting around here with all of our challenges and contests!! The money raised from the sale of these lifetime memberships will be used for further contests and games. I have some really great ideas, and I can’t wait to make it all happen!

The Premier Lifetime Membership will be available for only $129, a significant discount if you plan to be with us for a while. Each person who registers as a Premier Member will also receive an entry into a raffle to win GREAT prizes! You all know we love a good raffle here at HCTS! This time, I’m doing things a bit differently-you get to pick your own prize because all the prizes are cold, hard, PAYPAL cash gifts!!

1st Prize – $100 CASH!!!

2nd Prize -$50 CASH

3rd Prize -$20 CASH

4th Prize -$10 CASH

** Drawing will take place on Tuesday June 1st. I will email the winners for their preferred paypal address. All current Lifetime Premier Members are also entered into this drawing.

If you would like to become a Premier Member and enter our raffle, please take the following steps:

NEW MEMBERS:

Easy-peasy…just log into http://www.herecomesthestork.com/amember/signup.php and select Lifetime Membership.

EXISTING MEMBERS:

1) Login using your current user name and password here:
http://www.herecomesthestork.com/amember/member.php

2) Use the “Select Product” drop down menu to select the Lifetime Premier Membership. Follow the steps to pay through Paypal.

3) Go back to your membership page here:
http://www.herecomesthestork.com/amember/member.php

Cancel the current membership that you are signed up for in order to prevent future billings. Because of the deep discount on these memberships-I am unable to offer a prorated refund.

Enjoy!

Rebecca
Www.HereComesTheStork.com

Filed under: Freebies, Giveaways and Prizes, The Daily Stork by Rebecca
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 Things I couldn’t (or wouldn’t want to) live without for selling online:

1. computer (duh!)
2. high-speed internet (I can’t believe I ever did this on dial-up!)
3. shipping scale
4. peel and stick shipping labels (printing postage at home saves so much time!)
5. polymailers
6. heavy-duty tape gun
7. thank-you cards (business cards from Vistaprint are a cheap way to say thanks and include your contact info!)
8. plastic bags (I store my clothes in ziploc or similar bags, and ship this way for added waterproof protection)
9. great bins for storing inventory (organization is key!)
10. smartphone (again, can’t believe I ever did this without being able to research from the store!)
11. my rolling cart for yard sales!
12. great camera (I don’t like to edit pictures so getting it right the first time is important to me!)
13. Here Comes The Stork, of course!

If you aren’t already a member, please come and check us out!  We support every type of work-at-home mom, from eBay sellers to Mary Kay ladies, and from those wanting spending money to those making their entire living.  Whether you’d like to make some extra money in your spare time, or if you’d like to make working from home your full-time job, we offer the tips, techniques, and support to make your dream a reality.  Thousands of members can attest to the success that HCTS can help you achieve!

Thirteen things have been shared by many – check the rest out here!

Please join us at HCTS - we’d love to help you supplement your income!

Filed under: The Daily Stork by BellaBuggy
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Lots of ebayers do crazy things, but not me.

Like this past Saturday, on a Kentucky holiday and during a torrential downpour, it was most certainly not me that was up and shopping at the crack of dawn. 

And I certainly did not stop at Goodwill on the way home when I didn’t find quite enough of what I was looking for.

That would be silly.

Of course I did not forget to mail my packages, either, and that was not me that was running down the street in my pajamas to flag down the mailman.  And I did not ask him to wait while I ran back and grabbed the one that was too heavy to carry while running, either.

There’s not a chance that I shipped something out before it was even paid for, because I always pay careful attention to details like that.  Wasn’t me.

And of course it is not me that still has not switched her listings over to Turbolister so that they could actually be listed.  Because sitting on written-up-but-not-launched listings is foolish, and I would not do that.

Not me.

Find out what others did not do this week over at MckMama‘s place.  And then be sure to visit the Here Comes The Stork website – we’d love to have you!

Filed under: The Daily Stork by BellaBuggy
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You know we love contests and challenges to motivate us at Here Comes The Stork! Our fantastic member Linda (danlcn) has come up with a great challenge for the month of May. Here’s her description:

The details are simple…..

~ Starting May 1st, list 5 a day, or if you aren’t one to list every day, list at least 155 by May 31st.

~ Everyone that makes it to 155 will be in a drawing for a $50 TARGET GIFT CARD.

~ And to stick with the 5-a-day theme, eat 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day to be in a drawing for a $10 STARBUCKS GIFT CARD -the reward for being so good for 31 days!  This you’ll need to do every day, no waiting until the last day to eat 155 servings of fruits and veggies.

Everyone is welcome! Jump in at anytime to play…. just make sure to get 155 by the end of May.

So start getting ready. May 1st is just a few days away!

All the details, and sign-up can be found here on our private membership forum.

Filed under: The Daily Stork by Rebecca
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Come on, tell us what you really want.

If money were no object, what would you like to be surprised with? Do prefer the simple things, or do you really want a day of pampering and luxury? There are no wrong choices. No one is looking or judging.

handmade cards or gift cards?

dandelions or roses?

“iloveyoumom” or ipad?

Filed under: The Daily Stork by Rebecca
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13 Fun Things About Ebay Selling

1.  Shopping is part of your job.’ Nuff said.

2. If you don’t have shipping to do you can always entertain your kids by letting them pop bubble-wrap.

3. You can work from home. In your pjs. With your hair uncombed. And nobody cares.

4. You can stay home with your kids and make money at the same time.

5. Certain times of the year, if you’re a toy seller you can watch cartoons with your kids and legitimately call it “work and research” time.

6. You get to be on a first-name basis with your postal workers, UPS and FedEx delivery people.

7. Watching your auctions end higher than expected never gets old.

8. “Meeting” great customers and receiving good feedback also never gets old.

9. At a family reunion having every elderly relative try to pawn off their worthless stuff on you to sell it for tons of money. (OK, maybe that isn’t one of the 13 best things…)

10. Paying for something “fun” with your Ebay profits. (one Stork recently bought a car!)

11. Did I mention that shopping = most fun job ever?

12. You can join HCTS and meet the best, most fabulous group of women ever!

13.  After you join HCTS, you can learn, share and grow your business and have even more fun selling on Ebay.

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Filed under: The Daily Stork by jmk_akk
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Without a doubt my favorite part of Ebay selling is a nice, neat pile of packages just waiting to be shipped. Ah, satisfaction!

(OK, I can’t be completely wordless. But I was very brief!)

Check out more Wordless Wednesday from 5MinutesforMom.com

Filed under: The Daily Stork by jmk_akk
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Hopefully, we learned a couple tips this week about preparing our business for spring! As I type, I am looking out my window at the falling snow. Yesterday, it was almost seventy degrees! Mother nature is teasing! No matter, I will take advantage of this indoor day to list and spring clean my store! I love that about having my own Ebay business! I can decide what to do when I wake up in the morning!

As the weather gets better, we will decide to do other things more and more. That’s fine as long as we always keep our “revised” goals in mind. If your goal is to list fifty a week, then make sure to set aside some time to do that. Motivate yourself with whatever works for you. You could promise yourself a new bathing suit or new sunglasses or whatever it is you want when you reach your goal. You could also tell yourself that you must list ten items Friday or Saturday morning before going garage sale shopping. Whatever works for you!

So fill your gas tank and put your shopping shoes on! It’s spring time!!

Check out the HCTS forums where you can share your finds and get your questions answered!

Xochilt

Filed under: The Daily Stork by Xochilt
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