We are all aware of the giant that has become Ebay. The auction website offers up millions upon millions of items for sale each day and while some individuals are selling items they’ve simply cleaned out of their house (ala an online garage sale) there are many more who have turned Ebay into a very real and very profitable business. The “PowerSellers”, as they are known on Ebay, are individuals who have taken the auction website and turned it into a real business. Many sell upwards of 200 items every single day.
So how do you set up an Ebay business? It is actually rather simple and that is the exact reason so many people succeed at it. An Ebay business is a natural progression. It always starts small and with hard work and dedication it spawns into a much larger entity as items are sent and received. Before you even set up a seller account it is best to really decide what you want to sell. Sellers who specialize in one type of item seem to do far better than those who offer a mish-mash of different products. The product should be something you know about. Don’t waste your time on products you will have a hard time describing in a single paragraph because you don’t have enough knowledge. It is also best not to waste your time on products that are difficult to ship without potential damage.
Once you have picked your product specialty you need to find out where you are going to get it from. The supplier is going to depend entirely on the type of product you would like to sell. If you are planning to sell clothing, shoes or electronics a wholesale distributor is your best bet. A list of distributors can easily be found online and most of them come with reviews. Don’t fall into the trap of paying for a list of distributors that has out of date information or non-existent distributors listed on it. Do a good deal of research before you go for the gusto and purchase any distributor list. Most of the time you can get that information for free.
While many sellers go with new products for sale on Ebay there is a rather large market for vintage pieces. Vintage jewelry and the like sell rather well too, but drop shippers and wholesale distributors don’t offer such products. Seller’s interest in the vintage arena must do their own leg work. Most sellers in those categories attend estate sales, flea markets and vintage shops to find their products. While it is far more time consuming the profit can be considerably higher if you know how to haggle a good deal on the spot.
That is what getting an Ebay business started is really all about. You need to find a product line you know and run with it. After you find the right product and come up with a business plan you are ready to go.
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