I visited my local dollar store last spring and found some adorable Knomes.They were a dollar each and there were 4 different ones that I could make into a batch of 4.
I put a set up on auction for 7 days and started it out at $4.99.
They sold for $14.99! I ran back to the store and grabed 3 more sets ( they were going fast). I put two in my store for $14.99 and they sold. I ran the last one in auction and got $25.00!
I think what worked here was I had a product in season for spring and they were not available at every dollar store.
I had purchased other items from my local dollar store and have had them sit in my store for a year with hardly a look..
Are you selling items that will sell? It is a trial and error thing, but once you start really focusing on your products and what you will invest your money in, you will find the incredible items and make money.. Just because something is cheap for you to buy, does not mean that it will sell for a large profit all the time. I can't say that the Knomes will sell again, but if I could find them again I would give it a try..
Traffic = Sales = Money
Whether you have a store or auctions,getting traffic to your items is one of the keys to success of your sales
Lets say you just opened an offline store (brick and morter). You fill it with incredible merchandise, hang your sign outside and wait for the customers to come and buy. If you wait for someone to stumble by the store you are only going to make a few sales here and there.
What do offline store owners do?
They advertise in the newspaper, get a website, put there number in the yellow pages, hand out business cards, tell all their friends, perhaps do TV commercials or radio.
The same applies to online stores and auctions in that you get your sign (logo/banner) out there on the Internet. Get people used to seeing your banner and want to come into your store/auctions add you to their favorites and sign up for your newsletters.
Whats your Sign look like?
I came across a flyer the other day in a parking lot that was advertising a concert in our town. The flyer was in black and white and a bit blurry. I immeditely thought, small time band, just getting started or they were teens. Had I picked up a flyer that was in color, showed off the band in a great light, and inspired me to attend, I would have been more intriqued.
Very Important - When you put out a banner for your store or website be sure it represents you in the best manner.. This is the first thing people will see and that will reflect if they want to visit your store or website.. A blurry or badly designed banner can make all the difference in your traffic and sales.. There are some free banners makers on the internet -
If you do not have a banner maker or do not know how to do your own banners, Click on the Buy Now Button below and let me make banners for you. In the long run it will be worth every penny!
Bring Them Back To Your Store!
When you ship your items include a business card about your Ebay Store! A thank you card with your store card stapled to it.
You do not have to spend a lot of money on them either.
I use Vista Print. They offer 250 cards you design right on their site and all you pay is the shipping.
They also have postcards that you can design for your store that you can include.
Check them out for other great deals.
Do you have a MySpace Page? ( Highly Recommended)
MySpace is one of the largest marketing places out there! It does take a bit of work to get your page together, but not with out great sites that offer free backgrounds and graphics.
I use Pyzam.com and Photobucket.com for both!
Make a page just for your store and show off what you are selling. MySpace is a great marketing tool in that you make friends.. lets say you sell beauty supplies, than find the people on myspace who would be interested in beauty supplies and ask them to be your friend!
You are targeting an audience that has an interest in your product and again you could be gaining repeat customers.Once you have targeted your audience, make friends with everyone you feel comfortable with.
MySpace allows you to hang out your sign everywhere!
I advertise my ebay store on them and I when I check out my traffic stats in my ebay, I see these sites brings me traffic to my store and each other.
At the moment I have over 2000 friends who have the same or simular interest I do. I leave them comments about a sale or just to have a great day.. I see traffic to my store when I check the traffic report on ebay..
Click Banner below to see my MySpace page and ask to be my friend!
