How to Find Inventory to Start Selling Online!

I love to go thrifting and hunting for treasures! I've actually developed quite a knack for it, and can seamlessly and strategically maneuver through garage sales and Goodwill faster than you can say "hmmmmn, what to buy, what to buy"? :-)

So, today I am going to talk about finding inventory to start selling online! The portals I sell on are mainly Poshmark, eBay, Etsy, Letgo, and Facebook Marketplace. There are so many others like 5 miles, mercari, tradesy, blah blah blah. But, I try not to overwhelm myself! It can get out of hand if you let it. So, stay focused on a few sites that work well for you and that you are adept at listing on and get to it!! Also, stay focused on the type of things that you like to sell as each site is unique to certain items (Etsy for handmade and vintage, Poshmark for clothing and fashion items, etc).

The first place to find items is in your own closet, garage, kids rooms, etc!! Why buy more items to sell, if you have a jackpot sitting in your own house? I continually go through my closets and weed out items that I'm no longer "feeling the love" for :-)! And, my son who grows taller by the minute, outgrows his clothing at a ridiculous rate! Goldmine! I only re-sell higher quality items in brand new or very good condition. I list dresses, tops, skirts, pants, shoes, handbags, jewelry, sporting equipment and attire, small electronics, and similar. Kids clothing sells well, but it needs to be priced fairly low.

Next, I scour garage sales almost every Saturday morning. There are many apps you can download that show current sales in your area by zipcode. Plan your course the night before and map it all out! Then, you can truly be "the early bird who catches the worm"! I make sure not to be totally rude and arrive hours before they open, but, I do make sure to get there at least 1/2 hour before start time. They are usually almost setup by then, and I get first dibs on all the goodies! If you can find neighborhood sales, definitely go for those first!! I make sure to look over items carefully for stains, rips, loose threads, and smells that can't be washed out! Cigarette smoke is a tough one and though I have had luck getting rid of the smell after days of baking soda or vinegar , it's still hard to get rid of it all so I typically will pass if it smells too strong. Humidity spots in white items is another tough one as even bleach doesn't always get those stains out! Have your phone handy so you can look up current selling prices on eBay for items you think about buying. Why spend even a few dollars on a designer item that no one wants, or that sells for nothing online!

Ahhhh, the next great place are consignment stores! I head straight for the 75% off rack! Locally, I have found great fur lined boots that might not sell well in my area, but, they sure sold well on eBay!! So, don't pass on something because it is a slow seller in your area! I prefer consignment stores to Goodwill (though that will be next), because typically the items are in impeccable condition and don't typically have the "Eau de Goodwill" fragrance on them!

Goodwill has definitely improved over the years...and of course their prices have gone up too. They now employ people who are trained to recognize designer items and price them accordingly. No more Coach bags for $4.99! But, there is still a goldmine in there for respectable prices. Note that the Goodwills located in nicer neighborhoods, seem to carry much higher quality items! Makes sense since those folks are not going to drive far to donate their fabulous upscale items! Again, take time to look each item over carefully for damage! Brands that sell well for me are: Nike, Under Armour, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, PINK, Coach, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Vera Bradley, DKNY, and similar.

Craigslist has been a great resource for me to find items! Of course you need to use caution as with any online sales site, so it is a good idea to meet in a public place. I have found all kinds of goodies on there and the best was a bag of about 20 Coach, Vera Bradley, Michael Kors, and Fossil bags that I paid $120 for!! Score!! I made my money on all of them times 10!! Most sellers are expecting to negotiate on price so don't be afraid to ask for a discount. If you don't ask...you don't get!!!

Friends closets are a fabulous place to find things. Plus, it helps them make a little cash and get organized as well. Offer to help them go through their things and see what you can sell for them. Then, either give them some fair cash up front, or, give them a percentage of what the item sells for after it is listed. I used to do this when I had my own retail store, but with customers that would walk in wanting to consign items with me. Many of them didn't want to wait 3 months to get their percentage, so I would make a cash offer up front and they would usually take it!

Platos Closet and Uptown Cheapskate are fabulous for finding goodies!! They price things low, but they get even lower as the weeks go by. They also have several baskets of $1 items, whoo hoo! Since these stores are designed around catering to teens, I always have great luck finding women's designer items by Banana Republic, LaCoste, Ann Taylor and similar designers that most teens couldn't care less about! The management took these items in hoping that they would sell, but, they didn't (at least for not what they wanted initially) and I get them for $5 or less!!

This last one may be surprising but I actually do well finding things on Poshmark and eBay to re-sell for more!! I look for brand new sellers and closets, as often times they don't know how to price their items well, or maybe they don't mind making just a few bucks on something that could have sold for much more? Anyway, you can filter your searches on each of these sites to find only the newest items. Do it!!

Sooooo, that is it for now. I am sure there are plenty of other places to find inventory, but these are the ones I use and they work well for me. You will find your own goldmines and learn how to scour them quickly in time. Feel free to leave a comment or question and I will do my best to answer.

Happy Hunting!!!