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