Considering an eBay Store?

One question I often hear from eBay sellers is: “Should I open an eBay store?” Terapeak is sponsoring a free webinar to help eBay sellers make that decision.

eBay seller, Kat Simpson, will make a 45-minute presentation this week where she will discuss:

How an eBay store can improve your brand awareness, and increase sales

The top five most important benefits to having an eBay store

How to use Terapeak to optimize your store listings

The webinar will talk creating an eBay store and is geared toward both the new eBayer and the seasoned one.

The presentation will be held Wednesday, March 6 at 2:00pm ET/11:00 am PT. If you would like more information or wish to register, visit this page.

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Niche Item – Vintage Personal Care Items

I have often spoken of the popularity of vintage items. I have talked about vintage cookbooks, dinnerware, even telephones. Who knew that level of popularity would carry over into personal care items, as well!

An eBay Seller recently sold vintage StayFree Maxi and Mini pads. The set of three, unopened boxes from 1985 and 1990 of various types sold for a rather high profit. A screenshot of the closed auction is below:

No, your eyes do not deceive you. After 36 bids, the set sold for a whopping $199.51. Included in the sale was:

10 Unscented Mini Pads (1990)

12 Super Maxi Pads (1985)

12 Deodorant Maxi Pads (1985)

It goes to show you that vintage items (no matter the category) can be great sellers! Now, what do you have laying around in your basement/attic/closet that you can list?

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You Can Sell On Etsy Even If You Are Not Into Crafting

Image courtesy of the DaniKfashion Etsy Shop

As the Christmas shipping season starts to reach its peak, it is time to start thinking about next year. What plans are you making to build your business? If you are looking for a new place to sell the items you source at thrift stores or if you make items to sell, Etsy is a site you should consider if you are not already using it.

The Etsy marketplace is growing in leaps and bounds. Sellers have reported a large increase in sales. Those that have been around for a year or more have reported that sales have more than doubled.

Etsy is a fantastic community of buyers and sellers. At first glance, the website looks more like an online store than a community made up of many sellers. This more familiar feel is appealing to online shoppers. Maneuvering around Etsy is straightforward; sellers can showcase their items and are sure to attract the right buyers. The set up of Etsy seems to be more conducive to ensuring that sales are accurate. What is meant by this is buyers get a true picture and description of what they are purchasing. Sometimes other online sales communities do not give as clear a picture.

As a seller, you might wonder if Etsy will draw enough buyers. The proof is in the statistics and the news is great! Small businesses and individuals who sell on Etsy are boasting about their sales. With the holiday season upon us, Etsy is ready and has distinct holiday showcases in place. Buyers are sure to get original, in many cases handmade, gift items for the holidays.

As you review how you sell and where you sell, remember Etsy. Even if you do not make handmade items to sell on Etsy, remember that those crafters need supplies as well. From old sweaters to torn jeans or toilet paper rolls to old books, crafters often use uncommon items for their creations. Take a look around Etsy to see what other items could be sold to this creative bunch.

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Got the USPS Rate Increase Blues?

If you are still learning to adjust to the recent US Postal Service rate changes, a new guide has been released that may help you figure it all out. Stamps.com is offering a free guide to the pricing change. The “Ultimate Guide to the 2012 USPS Postage Rate Increase” is now available online to help.

The guide takes you through all the various rate increases by level of service. From Express Mail to Priority Mail to First Class Mail, the guide has lots of information about new product offerings and details about the new pricing. The details for each price and service even includes pros and cons to help you decide which USPS mailing service would be best for your package.

To grab your copy of the guide, please click here.

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Hot Items to Sell For Valentine’s Day 2012

Valentine’s Day is less than a month away but it is not too late to stock your eBay store with the things your buyers want! Look at a list of the current hot items buyers are looking to purchase for their sweethearts.

For women, the hot gift items seem to be accessories. Designer handbags and sunglasses top the list. Brands like Michael Kors and Prada are popular gift items. Also, silk scarves and nighties are on the list. Sunglasses are popular for men, too. Rayban and Oakley are the brands that buyers are looking for. Ralph Lauren, Hilfiger and Perry Ellis wallets are on the gift lists, as well. As always, cologne is popular. Buyers are looking for Dolce & Gabanna Light Blue for Women and 212 for Men, just to name a couple of brands. Of course, Paco Rabanne 1 Million and Marc Jacobs Daisy are on the list, too.

Electronics like iPads, eReaders, and headphones are making the list. Buyers are grabbing cameras like the Nikon J1 and home theater systems like the Panasonic 3D Blu-ray system. Apple products like the Macbook Air, the iPod Nano, and the iPod Touch are on the list again this year.

And old standards like candles, jewelry and vases are hot items. Plus, tickets to Broadway plays, sports events, and concerts are being given, too.

Other popular items include:

Men’s scarves

Tablets

Camcorders

Smartphones

Expresso Maker

Rings

Bracelets

Earrings

MLB Spring Training Tickets

While being able to sell these hot items will boost your sales, there are other tips that may help, as well. Offering gift-wrapping services will help you increase sales as well. Make sure your listings are clearly marked to show the additional services you are offering. Increase your sales by offering expedited shipping. This will help make your listings even more appealing to the last minute buyer.

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How to Shrink Wrap Products for Online Selling

Charlie, a member of my Facebook group, was kind enough to share his process for shrink wrapping items. Many of you sell health and beauty, food, baby, or other items that require sealing, bundling, or plastic wrap for shipping or storage. This technique is especially useful if you sell on Amazon FBA and bundle items or sell liquid items that could leak. Charlie showed us a way to make our products look really professional and the tools for this process. Here is Charlie’s demo video:





Here are the supplies you will need:

Easyway 16 inch heat sealer

Shrink wrap film

Wagner power heat gun


This sure beats using packaging tape and Saran wrap! What a time saver. I can see this process working for:

Health and beauty products

Food products sold in bundles

Plush toys

Toys in open-faced boxes

Clothing items (get them small enough to fit in Flat Rate envelopes!)

Office supplies

Books, DVDs, and CDs

Anything you need to re-bundle

Thanks, Charlie for this great demo!

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