#7 Life of a Reseller/Personal Shopper

There are many places to resell gently used clothing. Gently used; means no holes, rips, or stains.

Although, I have bought things that have needed repairing. And if the flip is worth the effort, then I buy and make repairs.

Thatvsaid, you do need to take good close up pictures of the repair, and also mention it in your descriptions.
It’s also a very good idea to have the appropriate apps. on your phone for the platforms you sell on. I think there is a Bonanza app. that lets you link all your platforms.

Having a smartphone is very important in the reselling business.

I take pictures, list, and print out my shipping labels right from my phone. I also search what things are worth while out sourcing from my phone.

To be honest, I would not be doing any of this without my phone.

History:

I started selling back in 1999, with my trusty PC, and Kodak camera. Not even a digital camera, mind you. 😱

I can’t imagine going through all that hassle nowadays.

Of course if it were the only thing available, I just might..

But who am kidding, probably not. 😏
Well known sites to resell on:

Offer up

Amazon

eBay

Posh mark

Etsy

What type of things do to sell? 

I get asked this question a lot. 

I sell mainly sought after clothing. But I also sell things that will gain value to collectors, mostly.

There will always be people who collect things. 

Sadly, some people will buy things over purchasing food for themselves.

But that’s a whole other post. Nothing Inwant to focus on today.

If you make it a point to collect Limited Edition things, such as Limited Edition make-up.

 (For example)

THAT has amazing value to a lot of women.

Hence– how hair and nail salons will never go out of business.

Make-up doesn’t take up much storage, so if you have the money to invest in it, why not.
Each year cosmetic companies put out Holiday Collections that get sold out immediately.

Sometimes within the first hour of their launch.

Anything by the Kardashians/Jenner’s, or Beauty Influencers. Of course MAC, and Too Faced. Along with any other high end products. I’m not talking about drug store make-up.
Once sold out, people flock to eBay and Amazon to look for these items.

You can purchase an eye shadow palette for $58, from beauty stores such as Ulta and Sephora. Then turn around and double your profit by selling it online a few months later. Some palettes go for $200! Limited edition Disney lines are a prime example.

(Please don’t do this with food though.)

Selling food for extreme amounts of money…..

I have a tender heart for people in need of food, which is why I donate food every week to people. 

So please don’t sell gallons of spring water to Hurricane victims for inflated prices. This goes for baby formula and pampers, too. 

Getting back to reselling..

Shipping and collecting things that people find value in, or memories… is A-okay. You are providing a service to them that takes thought, gas money, time, etc..

And that’s worth the price tag for many people who do not like ‘the hunt’.
Back in the days, I spent mass amounts of money on sold out items that I wanted for my kids..
Back in 2000, I spent $80 for a $10 plush animal that my daughter wanted for her birthday, but it was sold out in the stores.
Not to mention my hunt for specific My Little Ponies.

Some of those are rare and pricy, because they keep updating and retiring them.
Same goes for Care Bears.

I sold my personal collection for a hefty profit.

People pay for memories, and I’m no different then anyone else. I do still have my original 1980’s Cabbage Patch kid though. It’s one of the only things I have from my granny, and I plan on keeping her forever. ❤️
Through trial and error I have learned what sells and what doesn’t.
Beanie Babies and Limited Edition Hallmark ornaments were great things to collect in the late 80’s, but they are pretty worthless nowadays.
However, garbage patch kids and Pokémon cards are still sought after. 

Again, they don’t take up much room.
Remember, you have a lot of money in your house at this very moment. You have stuff that no one is using and it can be sold and no one would miss it. 😉

I don’t live in a mansion by any means, so storage is always an issue. Which is why I keep mentioning room to store things.

I’ve thought of renting a unit, or buying another shed. But that would cut into my profits a whole lot. So I make do with what I have. And you could too.

I currently use 10% of my home for my business.

These pictures below are of my current set-up. Nothing fancy, but working for now.

I have labeled bins of what’s  inside each bin. I have a rack for all my shoes and boots. 

Each shelf is a different size. 

The middle is filled with packet books and my daughters things that she is selling.

Then I have a clothes rack for everything that is more pricier, or things that I steamed and ironed.

Pocket books are also something I have always collected.
I have turned over a quick profit on them for years now.

I started out collecting Vera Bradleys… which often retire when new patterns come out. Many people are attached to certain patterns and styles. And when they get retired, they need to search online for them.

Currently, I have moved on to strictly designer bags though. Lower end ones, such as Micheal Korrs, Coach, and Calvin Klein.

I wish I could buy and resell Chanel, YSL, and Hermes’ bags. Maybe if I already had a million dollars to invest.

That shared, I don’t just buy to buy…

I never have.

Although people seem to think so. 😏

I put thought into every purchase I make. Whether it’s .50 or fifty dollars.

Remember, you need money to make money though. But this can be as little as $20

When I go to Goodwill and spend $20, I turn it into $100! Then $100 can easily turn into $500, and in some cases, 1k! My daughter bought a Kate Spade dress last month for $5.49, and then turned around and flipped it for $100. Off to Canada it went.

Research the market.

And start at the bottom.

Your house! Yard sales! Estate sales!

Learn about what you love.

Find your nitch.

I use to be into collectibles, such as glassware, and art.

I once sold a rare cattle etching engraving..

Which led me to learn everything I could about etchings. Fascinating, but not a quick flip.

I also use to sell old costume jewelry, which I am still very much interested in.
I currently collect it. Not too old though.

Mainly 70’s and 80’s. But I do have some very old Abalone pieces that I really adore. Mesh Whiting & Davis items are also very nice.
When I first started reselling I educated myself on all things. Like a kid in a candy store..

I  wanted it all!

I also had a larger house back then, so storage was never an issue.

I was an avid watcher of the antique roadhouse, and grew up around people who collected antiques. So I did have a little knowledge from the get go.

Carnival Glass, Ruby red, and Fenton pieces were things my mom collected.

Fiesta-ware, old stamps and milk white glass, were also things I knew about. Old quilts are very valuable. Especially the yo-yo and stained glass ones.

I’m sure if you think about it, you really know about certain valuables.

Vintage things have also become quite trendy in the past few years.

Especially with clothing.

Hipsters have made many great fashion statements…with their modern skinny jeans; paired with vintage woolwich and wrangler pearl button-up shirts. There! There’s a market.

They have also made men’s vintage shoes very sought after. I love hipsters! 😉

Last year I picked up a pair of vintage Wallabies  for $2.99 at the Salvation Army, then resold them for $200.00! I shipped them to the U.K. And yes, the buyer pays upfront for shipping. I also charge a handling fee.

My time and effort are valuable.

Shoes are also a great way to get into the reselling community. 

Mens size shoes 13-15 seem to be the most popular. While ladies size 8 shoes are the most popular.

And yes, I clean and sanitize every pair of shoes that I buy. I learned how to properly do this by watching, you got it….YouTube videos. 😉
What about drop shipping? 

Personally, I’m not a fan of drop ship, because I like to have everything in my possession to inspect. I want to hand pick each item and feel what I’m selling.

I have  bought from drop ship sellers in the past, and have never been satisfied.

I bought an electric eyelash curler that broke after a few times of use.  I also bought a leather wallet, which  I suspect, wasn’t actually real leather.
When I notified these sellers, they were honest, and said that they had no idea of the quality, because the items never passed their hands. They were drop shipped.
Yes, there is money to be made in drop ship, but there is also money to be made with hard work, too. But remember, no one wants stained up broken junk.

But I’ve been told that there is currently a market for old TV remote controls and Panasonic VHS players. Who knew?!

You may also be able to utilize Criegslist for junk. I know creative types like to recycle just about anything. Turning trash into treasure. That’s their nitch.

It’s great to recycle and keep as much as you can off the landfill. That’s a business in itself.

Again, find what works for you.

Be passionate about it!
You have to like the hunt though. Which I do.

If you do not enjoy shopping, you might as well stay with your 9-5 day job.

That has never worked for me. I get bored way too easily.
That all said… and I know I can go on… 

Here is a list of brands that I tend to hunt for:

Ugly Christmas Sweaters (Yes! These sell!)

Anthropologie

Lucky Brand

Lane Bryant

Torrid

St. John’s

Ralph Lauren

Eileen Fisher

LL Bean

Old Navy

Lularoe

Lulumon

Zoella

Patagonia

Arrow

Lilly Putzer

Kate Spade

Micheal Korrs

Coach

Paper Krane

Escada

Harley Davidson

Tommy Bahama

North Face

J Crew

J. Jill

BKE

Columbia

BCBG

Victoria Secret

Free People

Nike

Calvin Klein

Lands End

NYDJ

Scully

In conclusion: Selling on any platform takes effort…and for me, it has been answered prayer. And pretty easy because I’m a former consumer, so I know what to look for. I also have people who hire me to look for things for them.
There is no such thing as a get rich quick job. Although I hear Ed makes seven figures on ebay..😉

What does it take and how do I start?

Basically, you need to source items, research them, pull comps, take quality pictures, and write good descriptions. 

Descriptions need to not only describe the item for sale, but convince the buyer that they need your item, not someone else’s.. And you only have eight seconds to do this, as the average buyers attention span is eight seconds before they click out, and onto someone else’s listing.
And lastly, wrap the item nicely; with a thank you card, and have it mailed within 24 hours of the sale.

Fast shipping is a must! 

Especially when you reach power seller status. Which I have.
For me, this is going to the post office every single day. If you live far from a post office, you can give your mailman all your packages.
Providing you have already bought the shipping labels through PayPal.

I forgot to mention, you need a PayPal account for eBay. It is not optional.
And there you have it! 

Now I have this all typed up and posted, and have a place to send people who ask me how I do it. 🙂

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Feeling loved by a parent

Seems like such an easy thing to feel. Or is it too much to ask for?

Feeling loved by your parents.

I imagine the very first love a baby feels is from his or her mother. Or perhaps who ever baby first longenly gazes at.  I think feeling warm and comforted when a baby cries is the very first time a baby experiences love.

I like to imagine that is where and how a baby first experiences love. Of course I very well could be wrong. It’s just what I imagine.

Should we expect that same love that we  first felt from a parent or guardian as full grown adults?

My personal opinion, is YES!

Being a middle age woman myself, I’m just now realizing the truth about certain lives. Or perhaps ive always known, but am just now accepting this truth. 

Personal experience:

My mother raised me and gave me many materialistic things that all my classmates had growing up. She wasn’t affectionate. Rarely vulnerable, and rarely home. 

While I was at school she was home, and as soon as I got home she left till the wee hours of the morning. I still wonder why she didn’t work while I was at school to be home with me after school. But I guess she really wasn’t ever cut out to be a mother or parent. At least that is what her older sister has shared with me.

But I had all that I needed, and most of my wants. And as a child, that meant something to me.

Yet… I never felt as though she loved me.

I think it’s always been a voided sort of feeling. Looking back on my childhood as an adult now. I know she had/ has no idea how to love anyone. Perhaps not even herself. Sad really.

Being a full time mother myself, I clearly know what a parent/child love feels like. It’s deep, personal, and the greatest feeling ever imaginable. 

My mom did not have all that many men in her life, but when she did… they always, ALWAYS came first. 

She also has always played the victim card on being a single mother with two kids. And how awful that was for her. And she deserves happiness.

Now I can’t relate to that, but I do know that it’s not something you should spend 30+ years shoving down your kids throats. How awful it was. Yet there has rarely been any conversation that has not ended with that phrase.

 I also know that a loving parent should not always make their child feel bad over their childhood, etc. (the poor me syndrome) It’s terribly selfish. 
A parent should be encouraging and excited when their children do well for themselves and are happy. And don’t have to suffer as they had growing up. 

They should not always bring it all back to themselves and guilt trip their children time and time again. That is NOT LOVE. 

Well, this is what many children go through on the daily. I’m certainly no exception. 
I have spent my whole life wondering if something was wrong with me because I felt nothing towards my mother. Always having to fake it. 

I’ve spent years trying to force it. I do believe there was this one time that I cried because she was leaving. She was moving to another state, and I had two small children that were going to be growing up with no grandparent. Looking back now, I know it was more of an attachment thing. Not love. I look back now and know how miserable I would have been, had she not moved to another state.

I’ve spent years going down to visit her each year, but I’ve always come back stressed and agitated. I’ve felt it was my duty as her daughter. So I’ve always tried to cator to her.

But she’s all alone because of her selfishness. It’s always been all about her and what she feels entitled too. And it always ends up with the phrase… “because of all I’ve had to sacrifice being a single mother with two kids”

It has not been an easy decision, but I’ve finally realized that I do not own my mother anything. I do not need to force a relationship with her, in hopes for a couple bread crumbs of genuine love.

Moving right along… 

Yes, I have a father too. I didn’t actually grow up with him 24/7, because my mother had custody and we lived in different states. I did see him though. And he’s always been up front with why he always strayed, sort of speak. 

You see, my father is the polar opposite of my mother. Very affectionate and loving. Some may say, too affectionate. Borderline suffocating. But none the less, overbearingly loving. 

My father never gave me anything though. Well, except my life. But I’m talking about  needs and wants. No child support. 

Mother spent years telling me that he use to threaten her, that if she ever divorced him, then he wouldn’t pay a dime. And he kept that promise. Yes. Messed very up. I know! But then most things are.. such as this earthly life…

That shared.. I have never doubted his love for me. Go figure..

This has confused me this past month. I may write about it again in the future. It helps.

But for now, I do have some closure. 

My eyes have been open. 

Two months ago, I was still in denial. 

And no one can ever place a price tag on closure. 

Pieolgy Pizzeria

We tried another new place tonight, called Pieolgy Pizzeria. It reminded me of a Chipolte, but for pizza. Same set up and atmosphere. Very reasonably priced. $8.95 per person. They have white and wheat crusts available, and for $2 more, gluten free options.

Tooth contouring

I had some tooth contouring done a few days ago. The dentist offered to square off my upper two pointer teethalso, but I declined. 

I know they are meant to be a bit pointy. The ones that were bothering me the most were my two front teeth.

 I’m happy with them now!

I didn’t have any sensitivity like some people do. But they recommend that you wait a week before whitening them. 

The procedure is quite cheap, even without insurance. $110 for two teeth.

No Novocain or anything like that. It’s like a electric tooth filer. It only took 10 minutes total. 

Has anyone else ever had this done before?

Aquadilla, Puerto Rico 2017

Random pictures from vacation. 
Crash Boat Beach

Cortazon fruit.

It tasted like a sweet custard. It also had watermelon-like seeds.

Just chilling on the patio.

Pretending to be a sleep. 

Ordering some pastries and a salad.

Oh! And French fries with cheese and salami, which is kinda a thing..

My chicken ceaser salad. 

She simply can’t decide which birthday cake to decide.

She finally decided on this one.

The grocery store sales add. Milk is regularly $8 a gallon. And font get me started on how much cheese and butter is. 

DIY Lancôme-Like Highlighter

When the new Lancôme blusher launched earlier this year, it sold out within the first couple days. Online reviews were just meh, but the idea of a beautiful flower blusher being displayed on your nightstand or vanity, is why I wanted to make a DIY make of it.
I have plenty of blushes, so opted for a cheekbone highlighter version. 
Here is the Lancôme one. It’s in a pretty pink cardboard container.

Price: $60

It’s beautiful!

I went to Dollar Tree and bought a flower, and glass jar.

I had pebbles that I recently bought at Michael’s Crafts for half off, so I added some of them to the bottom of the jar.

Then I glued just the flower part of the Flower into the pebbles. I used E-6000 glue. I find it works best for most crafts.

Then I took a face primer that I already had in hand, (a mini Smashbox one) And I painted each petal to give it a ‘face friendly adhesive’ 

Lastly, I sprinkled a trial size Bare Minerals highlighter all over the petals.
I need to add more to turn the white rose completely pink. 

I tried it this morning. It works perfectly! 

I will be displaying this pretty highlighter in the bathroom next to my makeup caddy.

Is it needed? Not at all. 

Does it make me smile each time I look at it? Sure does! 🙂

Total cost: $5

    

Awesome read!

A couple of weeks ago I had a discussion with a friend of mine about what it takes to achieve our goals in life. The main conclusion of this conversation is that a large amount of how successful we are in life comes down to the people we spend our time with. Strange as it […]

via Who Are You Spending Time With? — Jay Colby

Year End in pictures 2016

You can always count on your animal friends to remain faithful in your life.

My mini me. Gosh I love her so much!

This little doll manages to always put a smile on my face. When she’s asleep, I just want to wake her up to tell her how much I love her!

Newest snowglobe from Target.

New cut and color. People say it’s very old fashion. But that’s who I am..Old fashion. 😉

Happy homemade cupcakes for daughters 12th birthday. 😃

When your teen daughter grabs her phone and catches you off guard for a selfie. 😐

Off to a Christmas party! 🎄

Such a funny sign!

Tanglewood 2016

Our Gingerbread village, because houses are too mainstream.

Vera Bradley land! 😍

Stopping in the tunnel downtown to write an encouraging message.

Pure Beauty! Pilot Mountain state park in North Carolina.

Again, pure beauty was captured at the artists hand.

There is something special about succulents. Aka’chickens & hens.

When your OCTD keeps imagining that this gorgeous chandelier above your head will undoubtedly fall down and crush you into a million pieces…😐

She was beyond happy.  Video is posted on YouTube of her opening it up.

These tasted as good as they looked. And they looked dang great on my new silver platter. 😉

Family pictures are always an adventure, trying to get everyone to look natural, and smile.

A tiger mask from Sephora that my niece gifted me.

This is what it looks like for anyone who wants to try it. 😉

My new phone case for my new phone that finally arrived. It’s so putty! And makes me smile just looking at it. 😁

A new game from my SIL. Apparently it came out in the late 70’s, yet this is the first I’ve ever heard of it. What a derogatory name though. Guess a man invented it. 🤔🙃

My gorgeous intelligent son who lights up my life on so many levels…❤

And there you have it folks. The last few months of my life. 

 I’m going to be a lot more active come 2017. We are getting ready to take an amazing vacation in a few days. I will be posting many pictures here. 

I also have many topics I will be writing about. 🙂

Homemade Cold Stone ice-cream

We went to Cold Stone Creamery fit date night a few weeks ago. Two sundaes, $14!
I came home and googled homemade Colf Stone Creamery icecream,  which took me straight to YouTube.
As long as you have a Pampered Chef stoneware, you can make this too. 
I used my Pampered Chef cookie sheet.

I placed it in the freezer for ten minutes. 

Then took it out and placed a healthy scoop of ice cream on it. I added some fixings. For me, I added a few vanilla wafers and a banana. 

Then using my Papered Chef slicer, I began to cut the wafers and banana into the ice cream. 

Just a few minutes later….wa’la!

Banana Pudding Cold stone ice cream. 

Cost: .50 per serving.

Homemade Calzones tonight

Shredded Chicken and Mozzerella cheese calzones tonight. Oh! And Maranara sauce. Mmm! 🍴