What I've learned as a reseller

I craft. I make art. I resell. I sell online and off. "Multiple streams of income," they said, and I dove right in. Why do I make things as well as buy them to resell? Well, it offers more options for my customers, for one thing. Plus, I have an eye for the weird.

Let's not talk about me too much here -- I want this to be a guide that can help you successfully resell as well. Whether you're selling from one small spot in an antique shop, have a shelf at a local store, set up at one-off events or flea markets, selling in your front yard, or selling online -- or all of the above -- these tips will be rewarding. They're things I've experienced and learned and made me better at what I do.

While I have been in antique malls, sold alone and with partners, done small spots at stores, and more ... right now the main focuses are events, the Esty shop, and our small spot at Twisted Rivers Winery in Marshall, MI.

In the beginning, the mall sales were the best for me, but I learned that it depends on the mall. If they have a good following, put stuff out there on social media, run sales, and are genuinely nice people, you'll get more sales. We set up shop in the antique capital of MI only to basically get skunked, and I believe it was the mall's lack of friendly faces and advertising that doomed us. That being said, my first tip, before we even get into the list of tips, is to check out the social media of the places you intend to work with. Do they share a lot? Do they advertise? Is their page updated regularly? Are they giving buyers reasons to come in? If you answered "no" to any of these questions, look for a new place to vend. This also goes for one-off type events -- if they're not advertising, people aren't coming.

Beyond location, here are some other things that will help you find success as a reseller.

Look at trends -- in your sales and the sales of others

What's selling? Whether you've got a stationary store, booth space, you're selling online, or you're selling at events -- watch what's selling of yours and what other people are selling. When I had the space at the one store, there was a Facebook group for vendors where the people running the place would post popular items each week. That was helpful, but you can also do some searching sites like Etsy and eBay to see recently sold items in your particular category of goods.

Using trends is all about knowing what's selling when, and making sure you have some of those things in stock. However, trends can change in the blink of an eye, so patience is important.

Finding the products to stock your business

The key to successful reselling is bringing in more money than you're spending. You want the most return -- I only buy things I can price at least double what I've spent on them. So, where are the best places to find affordable items for reselling?

Bin stores: Bin stores are a big deal these days. If you're reselling new and like-new items, this is a great place to get bargains, especially if you wait until the cheaper bin days to do your shopping.

Outlet stores: Outlet stores are another great option for those who resell newer items. You'll want to go in there knowing what the things you're looking at are worth so you can aim for the better bargains.

Clearance sections: All stores have clearance, whether it's one rack or an entire aisle. This is another option for those of you looking to resell new items. If you're a crafter, selling your own handcrafted works, check your favorite craft shop's clearance aisles to save money on the stuff you need to make more products.

Resale/thrift shops: I am a thrift store addict, but these days they aren't all necessarily the bargain of the century. You'll need to do some hunting to find which stores have the best bargains. Goodwill stores used to be great, but they've been greatly raising their prices lately. Again, go in knowing the worth of the things you're hunting for. I've found that Google Lens comes in very handy. There are also options like the Goodwill Outlet, where you can deep dive into bins for by-the-pound deals.

Yard sales: Like thrift shops, yard sales can also be good or bad. Some people price their stuff to go, while others want top dollar. The thing is, yard sales offer you a chance to do some bartering. Don't be afraid to ask for a lower price on something -- the worst that can happen is that the seller says "No."

Curbside: This is something that started when I was young, and I don't do it as much now, but I know people score great things that others simply stick by the roadside. From end-of-yard-sale discards to no-longer-wanted furniture, there are all sorts of things people stick by the road to get rid of for whatever reason. I do it -- simply because I am too lazy to haul stuff to the thrift store to donate.

Auctions: Even if you don't want to go to an in-person auction, there are plenty of online options. You'll want to look for auctions in your area (no sense in losing money on gas for too long of a drive or for shipping). Auctions can bring you lots of stuff for low prices, but, again, it's important to know the worth of what you're bidding on and to back off when you see there's no longer money to be made. Auctions can bring you new and used items.

Your home: Don't forget to go through the stuff you already have in your home. If you have cool collectibles and antiques that you're ready to part with, reselling them is a great way to bring in some extra cash.

Picking the right pricing

There are different tactics for choosing the right pricing for your items, which differ depending on what they are. You can sell an upcycled used/vintage item for more than what it would normally be worth. Handcrafted items have a calculation of how much time and money you put into them that can cross over into upcycling pricing.

Of course, as the title of this article says, we're talking about reselling here. If it's a brand-new item in the box, you can check the original seller's website for pricing. If it's a clearance item, I like to hold onto it until the item is completely sold out so I can sell it for the original price or more. For used and vintage stuff, I check eBay "sold" to see what the latest sales have garnered and price a little lower (because I want to beat the competition).

Of course, you also want to consider how much you spent on the item and how much you'll spend on shipping, shipping supplies, event or booth fees, etc.

You can sell something for its current worth, but if you spent a lot less on it, why not lowball it a little to help stuff move faster? It all depends on the popularity of an item -- aim lower with stuff that may not be as popular right now and higher for those that are flying off the shelves in other places.

Presentation matters, too

It's all about presentation, whether you're selling in-person or online. If you have a stationary booth or are selling at an event, you want to make the most of your space. That means layering things, having space for hanging stuff, and cramming as much into a small space as possible while still making it so that people can see all of what you're offering them.

There may not be much room for fancy decor and lighting in these cases, but if you're in this to make money, your products should be more important than a fancy display. You do want to use nice tablecloths at your events, have business cards readily available, and be sure to have a business sign that lets people know who they're buying from.

Keep your products stocked

Is your stuff selling? Great, get more stuff to fill in those empty spaces. If your stuff isn't selling, it may be time to swap out some old products for some new stuff. Keeping track of what's in your "shop" and how long it has been there is important for upgrading old stuff that isn't selling. Now, just because it hasn't sold in the last six months doesn't mean you should take it to Goodwill -- it just means you should look for a different selling outlet (perhaps online) or give the price a little bit of a reduction.

When selling online, the more stuff you have in your shop, the better your chances of getting a sale. When selling in-person or at a stationary booth somewhere, you want full tables and shelves to draw people in. A shelf with lots of empty space is easy to walk past.

Promote, promote, promote

Don't forget to get the word out about your shop and your events. Use social media as a free advertising avenue. Make flyers to hand out at events that tell people about your future events. Set up a website. And, of course, get business cards made.