Thrift Share Monday - Narrowing the Focus

Blenko Glass Owls - Bookends

Narrowing my focus has been my priority during the last two weeks. As I've mentioned in the last few posts, I'm changing my direction of my ReSelling business. I'm buying less, I'm buying what I want to sell and I'm clearing out all of the items that I never want to see again. I'm also listing more, I'm finding less but at the same time finding more because my search has narrowed, and I'm loving my job.

Last Friday I drove over the mountain (tall hill?) to Calistoga to an estate sale. I found the owl bookends above, book inventory, a Christmas item for the Waldorf Faire next December and a German clock. While I left the sale with just a box of items, it made it easy to deal with when I returned home. The books went into my "to list" box, the bookends were photographed (and listed on Sunday), the Christmas item in the garage and the clock went on the wall after I discovered it wasn't worth too much.

Saturday I woke at 4:15 and signed up on the Estate Sale list by 4:30. That's A.M. time. Sadly it wasn't my kind of sale. The house was filled with vintage items but not the things that I'm interested in.  I bought a few items to ReSell but not what I had been expecting to buy.

The most difficult thing about this change in buying is the feeling of disappointment that I have when the car isn't full of inventory. Yet at the same time, there have been some days when I've returned home with a van load only to sigh when I've looked at it. The idea of having to deal with it all could be so overwhelming. I'll admit that some days that I left it in the car until I felt like I could face it.

Yesterday morning I woke to gray skies and a light sprinkling of rain. While Craigslist mentioned that the Santa Rosa Flea Market was happening, instead I stayed home and worked on my office. I've nearly sorted the entire room. I sent 6 large boxes of what used to be eBay inventory, to our Yard Sale shed. It felt like a huge weight off my shoulders. I didn't see it as throwing away money because I think I'll make back most of what I spent when I sell it at our next yard sale.

I'm feeling lighter, efficiently focused and happier. It seems silly that unlisted-piled-up-inventory could cause one stress, but it can. I begin to feel so inadequate that I can't get it all listed. At the end of the day it's a simply mathematical equation. I probably buy 20 items to the 1 item that I can list. That doesn't work now does it. It means I'll never catch up.

When you bring home a piece of inventory there may be an hour of work involved. It might be in chunks of time but there is the initial research. There is the moving the item around. There might be the 2nd research since you forgot what you searched the last time and then of course there is the indecision of what really to do with the item. There may even be the time spent photographing the item only to figure out that it isn't really worth selling. Every minute you spend on ONE item is money.

I think we all should really look at the math of buying inventory.

How many items do you think you can really list in one week? How many items do you buy in one week?

I'm trying to get a system in place where I can bring inventory home, make a decision once on what to do with it. It can either go into a "flea market" box, a "to-be-photographed for eBay" box, my yard sale Box or the Thrift Store box. The error occurs when I move the item around from office to garage to office without knowing what to do with it. That indecision can cost me money and stress.

Pin purchased on Thursday listed on Sunday

If I can get my turn around quicker from buying to listing, I think my business will become more profitable. 

Spirit Flute purchased on Friday and listed on Sunday

One thing that has helped my efficiency is storing a small number of items together (albeit in the dining room bay window) that I want to photograph. The following day in the morning when the light is best, I'll take pictures of the inventory.

Later in the day I'll edit the photos and move the inventory to a table in my office. The next morning or possibly that day, I'll begin to list items. This is now simply becoming a habit. The immediate result is that I'm listing more and selling more.

My two immediate goals is filling my eBay store in preparation for summer when I won't work as much. The other goal is completely sorting out the garage and excess inventory by summer. When Garage Sale season really kicks into gear, I want to be ready.

What are you current goals for your business?

Did you go thrifting this weekend?

Thrift Share Monday celebrates the Art of Thrifting. As a community of readers and bloggers we are able to connect through the process of buying second hand, selling and sharing.

We Thrift  - We Share

Here are some guidelines if you would like to join Thrift Share:

• Your Thrift Share Monday blog post should include your thrifted finds from the weekend.
• Create a blog post with photos of your items.
• Link your Thrift Share Monday post back to Apron Thrift Girl.
• Link to your Thrift Share Monday post on Apron Thrift Girl using inlinkz below.
• If you participate with Thrift Share Monday regularly, please add a button to your side bar so that we can build our Thrift Share Community.

Don't forget to visit Her Library Adventures for Flea Market Finds.

Comments

[Wendy@ Salt and Wine]

Ohhh.... I SO understand what you mean! Like you, I am refraining from buying until I move what I have (which is -a lot-). Unless I see something I know I can sell or that I can't live without, I'm going to have to pass for a while. I've also learned a lot in the last few weeks (a big part of it from reading your blog so thank you for that) about what items I know best and what I'm the most comfortable selling. There are days that I look at everything I need to list and get extremely overwhelmed, too - but it's worth it. :)

[stephanie]

Thank you so much for hosting this and for sharing so much of your thought processes and habits regarding re-selling. My goal for this week is to set some goals for myself and think more about a routine for my days that involve a little one and now my budding re-selling business. :)

[Heather]

I was thinking something similar to this just this morning. I'm buying like this is my full time job, and then trying to fit listing and cleaning and photographing items around everything else in my life. I have a full time job and a husband and outside family. I need to take a day to get this stuff organized and listed instead of buying more inventory!
But I do love the hunt!

[Beth]

I sold those owl bookend about a year ago on Ebay for $50. They went fast!! I'm doing the same, too. Getting rid of my mistakes, so I only have quality merchandise. Can't wait until I catch up!!!

[monogirl]

The stress of the unlisted merchandise is why I had to stop ReSelling. I just never had the time. It would have been great to narrow my focus, but I think everyone must go through the period of casting a wide net to see what you want to sell. Glad to hear you are starting to streamline your business.

[Heather]

My goals are similar...I need to back off on the buying until I catch up on cleaning, photographing, and listing. Not to mention my little house is bursting at the seems! It's hard to do, though, when shopping is the most fun part. ;) Thanks for hosting!

[rivka]

Thank you once again Selena for another amazing and thoughtful post. Just want you to know how much all the time you spend on your posts are so much appreciated! It is a real kindness to share your helpful knowledge with others. So many people benefit from YOU!

[Tina]

Perfect Post! I have been selling vintage clothing for years now and am realizing the truth in quality over quantity.
I read somewhere the less you "handle" an item, the more time you save.
So I endeavor to only handle an item three times ( processing, measuring, listing).
Thanks for putting in words how I feel!
Tina

[Jill]

I can relate to all that you are saying, especially the indecision.

[Amy Zimmer]

Whoo Hoo! Time=Money! I never really understood the math...so I stayed in this biz for the fun and adventure. How the stars line up, thinking the same thoughts...wanting a lot less!

[Vintage Scapes]

I've acquired so much merch. and still continue the struggle to actually start listing items! It's as if I were contemplating opening Pandora's box... sigh

[Joy M]

Your post today states very clearly what I have been thinking about as well. The stress of the 'not right for the sale venue' stock is real. I like the way you make your decisions. I have enjoyed reading your blog over the past year (actually longer than that) as you have firmed up your business plans as a reseller. Very helpful.

Thank you for hosting. I noticed that it is not easy to match the comment to the post and Funky Junk suggested putting the number in the comment, so I am trying that today. My post is number 34.

I have added your blog to my 2nd blog list (villageantiquesmall.blogspot.com) which is my 'show and tell' dealers in a mall blog.

Joy

[Thrift Shopper for Peace]

You have some lovely items there and i always love it when you tell us about your process. your openess is an education for all of us! i'm also glad that you link directly to your ebay shop from here - i tried doing a search on ebay for you last week and couldn't find you. you have some beautiful things in your store!

[Marianne]

I love that philosophy! I've only just begun reselling more regularly and intentionally since January. I've started listing some things on Etsy, but after rethinking my goals, I'd rather focus on eBay (less time having to market my store) even though they have much higher fees. I've only sold one thing on Etsy, but frankly have not had the time to get my store "out there". I may just end up selling the stuff at a garage sale this spring.

[Nikki]

I love those owl bookends you found. I very rarely buy to sell on ebay. I'm terrible about listing things. I list a bunch of stuff a few times a year but I haven't ever been able to get in the habit of doing it all the time.

[Jem @ Beautiful Clutter]

Those owls are fantastic!! Utterly fantastic!! :-)

I also found an owl this week :-)

Jem xXx

[Sherry@Back2Vintage]

I, too, am trying to be more selection in the things I purchase. Thanks for a thought provoking post AND for the party!!!

[Laurie]

I agree -- I enjoy it when you blog about your methodology as a reseller. And you're right: it is time (and space) consuming to store inventory. It takes a lot of thought!

[Leah - moxiethrift on etsy]

yes. unlisted items cause me stress. we are working on ridding ourselves of the magnitude of our pile. it's slowly working.

i get so irritated with myself when i can't decide what to do with a piece...it moves from me keep to sell to give away and back again.

[Charity]

Just found your blog a few days ago and love it!

[Cap Creations]

Thanks for your thoughts about your "system" in this post. I am just getting into selling and have no habbits good or bad yet. Hopefully I can figure out the good ones soon. Thank you for hosting.

[Rob Hunt]

Thanks for hosting. I agree with what you say about buying and selling. I have so much 'stuff' that I bought and need to let go.

[Denise M]

Thanks for hosting. Very good points about buying for your shops.
Denise

[beats by dr dre]

This is my first time i visit here. I found so many entertaining stuff in your blog, especially its discussion. From the tons of comments on your articles, I guess I am not the only one having all the leisure here! Keep up the good work

[gertie @ The Old Block House]

I put into action the "should I buy this just 'cause I can sell it" thought process this Saturday at an auction. I passed up a few things that were smaller and would sell, but would probably take up more space and time than they're actually worth. It was far easier to unload after spending the entire day at the auction, organize things, and make a plan of action on the items.

Now to unbury from all the stuff I've brought home previously! Starting on that mound this week.