Ideas on selling my stockpile

[xquizit9]

Hey everyone! I'm having difficulties financially so I'm looking for creative ways to make money from my stockpile. I sell at flea markets and yard sales about once a month. In fact, I was participating in a community yard sale Saturday but it rained. I've heard an ideabefore where people sell to co-workers or neighbors. But, I'm not sure how to start. I have a dozen or so email addresses of customers that have purchased things at my yard sales. I don't work but I guess I could sell to neighbors and my bf's co-workers. My question is, should I make a list of all my items with sizes, quantity, etc and distribute it? Should I "take orders" through email, in person? I'd really like to make a significant amount this week to help with some bills so I was thinking of offering a $ amount or % off a purchase of $30 or $50. Or maybe $5 worth of free products for getting a friend to order. But, I wasn't sure how much of a discount to offer. I'm starting to think along the lines of a home business. Maybe doing some things similar to a Mary Kay or Partylite consultant. I know it sounds crazy but finances are really rough now. I typically sell all my items at 1/2 of Walmarts prices so they are already getting a good deal. But, I honestly need to make extra money. Please let me know if you've done this before and if so, how. Thanks so much!!!

[kittensqueak]

I generally only sell to family - and they purchase by the bag. I sell bags (paper grocery bags) for a set price. I know what they generally like (Fusion Razors, Mens and Womens BW, Toothpaste - Crest, Toothbrush, Kids Stuff, Capri Sun, Baby Wipes, Deodorant, Nice Girl Razors, ect) so they ususally always like the bags. But the bags are potluck - they get what I have.

I am not sure this would work for you since you are trying to make a bunch of money. I usually donate most of what I buy - bags for family is just a way to help them without "giving" all my stuff away!! (And keeps my living room kinda clean!)

[xquizit9]

[ekoury]

Originally Posted by xquizit9 Hey everyone! I'm having difficulties financially so I'm looking for creative ways to make money from my stockpile. I sell at flea markets and yard sales about once a month. In fact, I was participating in a community yard sale Saturday but it rained. I've heard an ideabefore where people sell to co-workers or neighbors. But, I'm not sure how to start. I have a dozen or so email addresses of customers that have purchased things at my yard sales. I don't work but I guess I could sell to neighbors and my bf's co-workers. My question is, should I make a list of all my items with sizes, quantity, etc and distribute it? Should I "take orders" through email, in person? I'd really like to make a significant amount this week to help with some bills so I was thinking of offering a $ amount or % off a purchase of $30 or $50. Or maybe $5 worth of free products for getting a friend to order. But, I wasn't sure how much of a discount to offer. I'm starting to think along the lines of a home business. Maybe doing some things similar to a Mary Kay or Partylite consultant. I know it sounds crazy but finances are really rough now. I typically sell all my items at 1/2 of Walmarts prices so they are already getting a good deal. But, I honestly need to make extra money. Please let me know if you've done this before and if so, how. Thanks so much!!!

If you have emails for your previous customers and your BF does not mind talking to her/his co-workers, I would make a list with prices and sizes and put a huge line on top "Less than Walmart and Sam's!" I would email it to the customers and give it to the BF to bring to work. Put something like - first come, first served or contact me about the availability. This will let your customers know that you are out there every day, instead of once a month at a garage sale.

BTW, emailing your customers is a very effective way of advertising. Get emails for every one of them and let them know that you could email them if you got some new items in or products that they liked. People really do not mind to get a few emails a month when it saves them money. Just do not send emails every day. I think that 1 email per week is the most you should do. You do not want to turn into a spammer. That will turn people off.

About your neighbors. Did they see what you were selling at the community yard sale? It was a great time to let them know you would sell to them when they needed it.

If you really need to make some money, I would go with an additional discount. $/$$ lets the customers know exactly how much they are getting off. I think that $5/$50 is pretty good, especially when they are getting the stuff already cheap. However, if you see that discount not working, you can reduce it to $30. I would also put something like - get your friend to buy from me and get an additional one time discount of $5 per friend.

[justagirlnamedStormy]

Do you have an active craigslist in your area? That may be a way of attracting additional customers. If you post, I would include a few general pics of your stockpile, just to catch ppls interest.

[cblanchard76]

We had a huge Tag sale this past weekend at my In laws house. I never even dreamed of selling any of my stock pile before she asked me to join them. She asked me about a month ago and I said sure. So this past month I worked hard to gather as much new stuff to sell as possible. I drive a Minivan and It was packed the first day. There was barely enough room for Jess and I to sit in it. We made $625 the first day. I was super excited I thought a couple hundred but never expected to make over $600. So then I went home and really cleared my shelf's. I have only 1 of everything left. Then I gathered up some clothing we were going to donate. Day 2 was another successful day, I made $641, to bring my grand total to $1266. I'm adding all the money straight to Jessica's dance fund. I look forward to future Tag sales now. I wish I started doing these years ago. Most of the money made was from my stock pile. Everything I sold was either free or almost free.

[n2save]

Wow- i'm so glad i found this topic(s).. because i recently started buying with coupons and realized how much stuff i was getting- and with the time came the " thought " of maybe selling on garage sales ?.. but my husband thought that might be for some reason illegal -since i got it so " cheap " or free.. so i was doubting and almost afraid to ask about this.. i'm not familiar with laws etc.
Anyways i'm glad this is " ok " to do :) and looking forw. to get an extra buck here and there- beeing unempl. for a year + - will help me out for sure.

[amylynne01]

Originally Posted by n2save Wow- i'm so glad i found this topic(s).. because i recently started buying with coupons and realized how much stuff i was getting- and with the time came the " thought " of maybe selling on garage sales ?.. but my husband thought that might be for some reason illegal -since i got it so " cheap " or free.. so i was doubting and almost afraid to ask about this.. i'm not familiar with laws etc. Anyways i'm glad this is " ok " to do :) and looking forw. to get an extra buck here and there- beeing unempl. for a year + - will help me out for sure.

Once you buy something, it is yours to do with what you like. Even if you spent no OOP, you paid for it using coupons or ECBs or RRs or gcs. So if you want to sell it, sell it.