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Amazingly, there are still a lot of people out there who don't have a computer or don't know how to use eBay. Even though all these people don't know how to use eBay or a computer, sometimes they would still like to sell items on eBay. That's where you come in with your eBay consignment business. All you do is list the items for the people wanting to sell on eBay. When the item sells, you pay the consignor the final selling price after you take your commission and fees for listing the item on eBay. If the item doesn't sell, you simply return the item to the consignor.
Sounds pretty simple right? Well there are a couple of problems that you will face when trying to set up this type of business. The first problem is trying to find merchandise at a price low enough to sell on eBay. When you start your own consignment business you can set it up in a way to make sure you have a constant stream of sellable items coming in. This article outlines some of the best tips to get you started with your eBay consignment business.
The Trading Assistant Program (TA) on eBay - The TA program is a great place to start. In order to use the service you must have had 4 sales on eBay in the last 30 days and have a feedback of a least 50 with no more than 2% negative feedback. The service is currently free, so be sure to take advantage of it!
Local Publications & Newspapers - You can cost effectively advertise your eBay consignment business in your local newspapers and publications. Think about the type of people you are targeting and the type of items you want to sell and then find publications that go out to that group of people to advertise in. If you're interested in selling clothing, then you'll want to advertise in school or church newsletters. Just be creative and try to think outside the box. There are also many free classified ad websites on the Internet that you can post your ad for free, just do a search on Google for "free classifieds".
Flyers Around Town - Use your favorite word processor and create flyers to post around town. Great places to post flyers include: supermarkets, colleges, apartment complexes, government and city building and around downtown. Basically anywhere that gets a lot of foot traffic will work great. Create flyers that have tabs the people can pull off that include your name and phone number. By posting flyers around town, your potential consignors will be nearby making it easier to meet with them.
Read The Classifieds - Not only can you use the classifieds to advertise your service, but you can also read them to find other people looking to sell items. Simply call these people up and offer your services and an eBay seller.
People Moving - Keep an eye on any real estate transactions that your paper might publish. People who are moving tend to want to sell or get rid of extra items. Simply send your card or a flyer to the new owner and let them know about your services. Also a great place to advertise your services is through storage and moving companies.
Community Organizations & Clubs - By volunteering to speak at local organizations and clubs you can give your business some exposure. Clubs like the Rotary Club, and industry or trade organizations are great places to hit up. Also senior centers and retirement homes are a great place to speak at because these people are usually in the process of downsizing their lifestyle. To get your name and business out there you can offer to speak about many topics like, how to sell on eBay.
Message Board & Discussion Groups - There are thousands of message boards and discussion groups throughout the internet that you can get involved in. Some of the biggest ones include Yahoo! Groups and Google Groups. Also the eBay Trading Assistant has their own discussion group as well. These groups are a great place for you to learn about and discuss your consignment business. Just include a link to your consignment business website in your signature. Never post blatant ads for your services on these boards as this could be considered spam.
Yard Sales & Garage Sales - Most people think that you would go to yard sales looking for a bargain to sell on eBay. Instead of looking for items that you can buy and resell, just offer your services to the folks running the yard sale. That way if the item doesn't sell, you don't risk your own money by purchasing the item and taking it home.
Educate Others - Offer to teach others how to sell on eBay. There will be many people who attend your class, but decide that they don't want to deal with selling on eBay even after they learn how. This gives you a great opportunity to offer your services and gives you expert status.
Word Of Mouth - As always, word of mouth is the most effective marketing tool you have. Always be sure to provide your clients with the best service possible and try to over deliver. When your clients are happy they will tell their friends about your services. Once you get a good track record and some happy clients, this type of marketing can multiply exponentially. You can even reward clients who do referrals by giving them a discount on their next listing with you.
Getting started with your eBay consignment business can be a tedious task and take some time. But once you get things rolling and on track, you can do very well and the business will sustain itself. By using the ideas in this article you can be on your way to running your own successful consignment business on eBay. Right now your biggest hurdle is just taking that first step, so get out there and get started!
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