Even though I am an eBay seller and educator with 16 years’ experience and 20,000 + feedback, I am constantly trying to think of ways to work smarter, not harder. Last January, right before COVID hit, I decided to downsize and streamline my eBay business. Instead of running it out of a warehouse, I moved it back to my house. When social distancing became the norm, I started doing all of the listing myself instead of paying someone to list. Because of all of these changes, I became laser focused on low-cost products that are easy to source, easy to store, and easy to ship. As a result, I sell less but make more!
The following four items are among the type of products I now sell on a regular basis. If you don’t have much space, and you want to maximize profits in 2021, don’t miss out on these easy-to-source products:
#1 Women’s bras and lightweight tops: Both of these products meet the aforementioned criteria. Heavily padded bras in all sizes from brands such as Victoria’s Secret are always hot sellers. Be sure to mention style names in the titles of the listings you create. Lightweight tops (especially camisole-type tank tops) from companies such as White House Black Market are also popular. Bras and tops are easy to find at yard sales where they often hide in large piles of clothing and can be purchased for next to nothing. In general, try to focus on those items that are light enough to be sent via First Class Package Service (under 1 lb.).
#2 Swimsuits: Name brand swimsuits for men and women are also fun to sell. Swimsuits are easy to store, and they don’t weigh much. Focus on new or almost new name brand suits that are photogenic. As far as sizes go, the bigger the better. A few years ago, I purchased 90 name brand swimsuits at an end-of-the-summer sale at a local thrift shop. During COVID, there were no yard sales, and shopping at thrift shops was not an option. That’s when I pulled out the bags full of swimsuits I had purchased!
#3 Lego Minifigures: Legos can be sold by the pound, but did you know that Lego minifigures can be sold individually for a nice profit? Minifigures (or minifigs) are small, lightweight figurines produced by the Lego company. Both children and adults collect minifigs, and they are sold individually or as parts of sets. Some are produced to fit a certain theme while others are specific characters from film, television, or game franchises. We often purchase large lots of Legos and sift through them looking for minifigs.
#4 Vintage ashtrays and plates: I love listing vintage ashtrays and plates from bars, restaurants, and hotels, especially if the establishments no longer exist. I recently sold a set of four small vintage dessert plates from a hotel for $60. These treasures are relatively easy to find at estate sales and can be listed in just a few minutes from just about anywhere.
eBay Seller Tip! Remember, you make your money when you buy! So when you’re out and about sourcing for your online business, don’t miss out on these small, lightweight, easy-to-source items that will help you maximize profits in 2021!
About the Author
Miriam Otto is an e-commerce blogger and credentialed teacher with 16 years’ experience selling on eBay. She was a frequent guest on eBay Radio and has participated in eBay seller panels and projects.
