Many self-help books out there today suggest that the job you search for is something you feel passionate about. Which led to me spending the first ten years after I graduated wandering around aimlessness trying to figure out what I wanted to do. When I took those silly tests in high school which were supposed to throw out some perfect job for me, I still remember looking at the answers and thinking "really?". I can't even remember the careers that were suggested, I just know that in my heart that they were not for me. Which led me to going to college without a real purpose.
Sold for $118
I guess a positive side of wandering through jobs is the experience that you pick up or should I say the stories you can share when you are at a pub and you've had too many mojitos? Some of the jobs that I have dabbled in have been: au pair, fast food slave employee, home care assistant, police report translator, railroad track data entry person, grave digger and then those silly (to me) network marketing jobs where I sold overpriced things to my friends (I dearly apologize for that period of my life). They were all intriguing for awhile especially the Welsh jail where I spent 3 months but never ever once experienced a report with a gun incident. The most violent was a butter knife. None of these jobs gave me a single hint that this is what I really wanted to do in life.
Sold 4 of these tiny pots for $49
It wasn't until I was in my 30's and I was selling outgrown baby clothes on eBay that I discovered the thrill of auctions. Yesterday we were talking about this video on our drive back home from the beach. I had mentioned what a buzz it must be and Keiran asked me what I meant by buzz? I mentioned how his sister felt when she climbed to the top of Bald Mountain on a recent school trip or when I get to a rummage sale and find out that I'm the only bookseller there in a sea of valuable books. It's an inner thrill that leaves you legally feeling high. I also discovered that I was able to find things at yard sales and sell them for a higher price. This was the start of my career as a ReSeller. Two years ago I worked part time as a ReSeller and made around $34,000. The benefits of this type of work are endless but some of the most important ones are: being here for my children when they need me, earning money doing something I truly love and recycling unwanted items and giving them a second (or third or fourth) life. It's a strange job to explain though. I can say I'm a thrifter but people don't really comprehend what I mean. I can say I'm a ReSeller but that too is a bit vague. I cringe at the thought of saying I'm a dealer although I guess that partly explains it.
Sold for around $350
I thought I would share with you a 5 part series on the Business Side of Thrifting. Part 1 I will discuss the Tools of a ReSeller, Part 2 What it Takes to be a ReSeller, Part 3 Research, Part 4 Customer Service, Part 5 Passion.
Sold for $78 Etsy
I'm curious if you have any questions about ReSelling. If you do, you can leave a question in the comments and if it fits, I'll answer it during the next week or so as I discuss each part. I want to share with you the ins and outs of ReSelling and not just the fun side of thrifting. It can be very hard work. Yesterday on a Sunday morning, I dragged the family out of the house quickly, drove 30 minutes to a small town near the Russian River and bought a bunch of stuff in the wet mist to ReSell. I often get dirty thrifting as I scrounge through boxes on the ground or sort through bookshelves in a dusty attic but I don't mind the dirt. And I adore what I do.
I don't have any questions but can't wait to read what you have to say! :)
Congratulations on your fantastic sales!
Posted by: Monica | October 12, 2009 at 08:21 AM
I am SO looking forward to this series!!
Posted by: Jeanie | October 12, 2009 at 08:29 AM
Always love reading your stuff! You are a great communicator.
Posted by: Julie | October 12, 2009 at 10:03 AM
Finally, someone I can point to and say, "See, that's what I want to do."
Posted by: Debra | October 12, 2009 at 10:45 AM
Nitty gritty stuff. Like bookkeeping or reseller tax programs.
Posted by: Rebecca D | October 12, 2009 at 11:35 AM
this is great. something i've thought about doing myself, but unsure of the logistical aspects. i have a question: I seem to be a magnet for finding really cool thrift store items, then come to find out they actually have some value to them. How do you know what's valuable before you go thrifting? What are the best ways to become knowledgeable about that?
Posted by: nicole kraft | October 12, 2009 at 12:09 PM
OMG! I just found your blog and I can't believe this is the first post I read! I get that same feeling when I'm somewhere and see something wonderful at a yard sale/resale store. I would buy a second hand table before new any day just to restore it and know I'm giving it a second (or third, or fourth) life!
I'd love to hear your thoughts on how:
How to keep track of what you paid for an item (if you do)
How to know what items to buy and how to price them
Where you store all of your treasures before selling
Which venues you sell your items on
There are so many more, but I'm sure you'll cover them.
Posted by: Michelle | October 12, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Selena,
I love your blog, your warmth shines through, I check back regularly to get a "fix", haha.
1)How do you know when/that you are in a sea of valuable books? Often I find a box of 1st edition hardbacks, only to find that a bunch of people are selling theirs for a penny online.
2) why would anyone sell a book for a penny? The bother of packing, waiting in line at the post office, postage add up to a negative number I would think.
3) how do you report your earnings to the government? Quarterly? Or???
4) how long do you decide to keep an item if it's not selling online?
I have had some luck with selling used textbooks or medical books, but don't run across them so much. I have an "inventory" of listed & unlisted books sitting in the basement taking up space.
I hope this isn't too many things, many thanks...
Posted by: tess | October 12, 2009 at 12:24 PM
I actually just thought of an idea while cleaning up my office. :)
The pros/cons of doing online consignments.
Posted by: Monica | October 12, 2009 at 12:36 PM
Definitely. How do you know what will sell? Besides the obvious things like Bakelite, Pyrex, etc? I couldnt do it full time, but I have been thinking about it, after seeing what people sell stuff for online.
Posted by: Wendy | October 12, 2009 at 12:50 PM
I am soooooo excited about your up-coming series! I, too, am a ReSeller, although no where near as experienced as you are. I believe that my knowledge is far too limited as to what is valuable. I have the same question that many others have posted, how do you know what is valuable BEFORE you shop/buy?...and how do you educate yourself in those areas? There are certain items/brands that I KNOW are valuable, but there is sooooo much more that I have a great big question mark about...half the time I end up "stuck" with an item because I was certain it was "worth something", only to list it online and no one is interested in it. PLEASE be sure to cover this in your series! And, sincerely, thanks again for doing this for us, your fans!
Posted by: Erin Hisaw | October 12, 2009 at 01:48 PM
I excited to hear about this. All I sell is my own "junk" and when I go thrifting, I shop for myself. I'm on the edge of my seat.
Posted by: Betts | October 12, 2009 at 02:05 PM
If by reselling you include eBay transactions. Then, yes! I would like to know how to resell. I don't seem to have much luck.
Posted by: Kimberly C. | October 12, 2009 at 02:40 PM
I second Nicole Kraft's question. How do you know the value of things? Especially when you thrift a diverse range of objects. And how the heck do you resell the stuff to people who are willing to pay a premium?
Posted by: Nancy S | October 12, 2009 at 03:30 PM
I am thrilled about this series.
Questions:
1) I have a business license under a DBA and it began with crafting. Do I have to switch the "type" of business I am doing, since now it is a majority of selling/reselling antiques?
2) If I am buying from garage sales and reselling out of my home or on my blog, do I charge tax?
CANT WAIT for this series!!
Posted by: CherryTreeLane | October 12, 2009 at 03:35 PM
Where can we buy the books you sell? Thanks.
I love your blog!
Posted by: Ellen Guerrant | October 12, 2009 at 05:24 PM
I would LOVE to know more! Please, Please! I've been toying with the idea of opening an Etsy shop in order to resell the things I pick up at Thrift Stores.
Posted by: kristen | October 12, 2009 at 05:31 PM
Whoa! So many comments already! =)
I echo Nicole Kraft's question about just knowing what's worth selling and what you should pass by.
Two other questions:
1. Is it a struggle to find things you love only to turn around and sell them? How often are you tempted to keep things for your own home? How do you make those decisions/do you have some kind of system or general rules?
2. How much does location matter? I live in Provo, Utah, which isn't a small town by any means, but it doesn't have the variety of thrift stores that many other locations do. I don't plan to live here forever, but it would be nice to know how smoothly this line of work can transition if you're on the move.
I love your stuff! Keep it coming!
Posted by: Sara Hanks | October 12, 2009 at 05:35 PM
You have such a knack for picking up those hot items! It's just amazing.
Posted by: Tracy | October 12, 2009 at 05:55 PM
I love thinking about what your post says!Here is my take on the differences between a Dealer and a Reseller.
To me, a Dealer is greedy and self-absorbed. They will push you out of the way to get to what they know will make them a profit. They are only concerned with their profit.
To me, a Reseller loves what they sell, knows the history of their items and wants to share the past with their buyers. Will share their knowledge with others that have the same passion.
Thanks for this post!
Have a great day.
Posted by: Donnelly | October 12, 2009 at 07:08 PM
I buy lots of stuff that I love but how do you know if other people would buy it and what its worth?
Posted by: Sara | October 12, 2009 at 07:21 PM
I am really looking forward to reading this series!
I adore thrifting and I know the high you are speaking of :)
My question is how you find out where things are from? How do you get more information on these items and how can you tell what is sellable and what is not?
Cant wait to read your next post!
Posted by: Melissa | October 12, 2009 at 11:28 PM
Although this isn't exactly reselling, I would be interested if you explained how to run a finder service. I've done this a couple times for friends and thoroughly enjoyed it, but couldn't come up with a fair way to price the service if I offered it to others. I also wouldn't know how to advertise myself as a finder since from my experience, it is a relatively unknown service. Do you need to be more established as a reseller to back it up?
Posted by: megan | October 13, 2009 at 12:57 AM
Really looking forward to what you have to say!
I love thrifting but I do it for myself or for friends (looking for cute vintage presents), not for reselling.
My question would be: How can I sell something cool and valuable, bought for pennies? I guess I'd have the tendency to hoard my treasures. Sometimes I'm even tempted to keep the presents I bought for someone else!
I hope not to appear greedy :-)
hugs
Posted by: Antonella | October 13, 2009 at 03:10 AM
While I love reading about what you find and are able to Resell, I want to know if the strategies are different for someone like me, who just wants to sell some of my excess. Is there a minimum to what you are willing to try and sell?
For all your research and knowledge, do you still get surprised (good and bad) by what does and doesn't sell?
Posted by: Vicki K | October 13, 2009 at 08:41 AM