Balloon Boy bump
It was a short month but it sure packed a punch!
I think I put a bit more effort in across the board and the results were evident. I made more listings and more postings, and a little bit of luck lead to much more profit. Let’s see what it’s all about.
By the numbers
Spend: $100.22
Net profit: $894.57 (vs. $422.41 last month)
Listed on eBay: 36 (vs. 31 last month)
eBay rating: 99.5%
What Sold
Highlights
Stuffie sales
It was an awesome month for selling plush. I made a ton of room in storage after finally re-listing and selling some big plush animals. But the biggest bonus was a stuffed Hot Exclusive - a Five Nights at Freddy's 9" Balloon Boy totaling $200. I knew FNAF had a cult following but I didn't know it was this intense!? I just saw the tag on the little guy when I was thrifting and snatched him right up.
Back on top
Ended the month strong by regaining my Top Rated Seller status on eBay. I was unaware that in addition to the Top Rated badge on my profile, I also earned a 10% discount on final value fees. I might need to adjust my spreadsheet!
Helping out
I did manage to share slightly more this month on Instagram, so we'll call that a success. I hawked up 7 Instagram posts and gained 25 followers. But, most heartwarming of all, one user said they used my post to dig through their plush pile and easily find a Beanie Boo worth $150-200! That's exactly why I do this!
Momentum, people!
Facebook really does turn around and give you more when you sell. I sold some camera equipment locally and the next day I got an order for some Bruce Lee gloves.
Fails
Showing off the Playboy Collector's Edition issue with Marge Simpson wasn't the hit I thought it would be on Instagram. It received a measly 13 likes, which is much less than just about anything else I've shared. I don't think it was the timing, I just think people have opinions about the magazine itself. Oh well. What I did learn was that it was much easier and more satisfying to share a single bolo than taking the time to make a full-on series. Or perhaps that's the reason for the lower likes too? I might need to experiment more.
Going forward
I've been running this little reselling business for a few years now. It's been some time, and I'm still searching for that angle to turn it all into a full-fledged business. But what if the goal isn't the answer?
That's the idea author Kenneth Stanley offers in his book Why Great Things Cannot be Planned: The Myth of the Objective. While studying computer science and machine learning, Stanley found that the act of setting objectives can sometimes block achievement. It's simple enough when you know the steps ahead of you, but in something like business or creativity, achievement can come from unseen ways. And Stanley's prescription is partly to follow your nose and forget goals altogether.
Given this unconventional theory, I thought I'd use March as an opportunity to experiment a bit more with this business. It's less about metrics and dollars, and more about seeing where it will lead me. Follow my curiosity. Offer help. Pay attention.
I have a long list of options, so we'll see what we want to get done:
Start collecting emails for a newsletter
Reshare the IG accounts that educate
Write a blog article to teach others how to sell
Visit the Turn 7 outlet in Moorestown
Hang some toys in shadowboxes
Download the Whatnot app
Get rid of my home decor pieces
Last but not least, I need to download my Listings Quality Report. Ironically enough, I only stumbled on this idea after watching another reseller’s video. It feels like things are coming full circle - I started reselling after learning about it on YouTube, and now I’m back to following my passion. Wherever it takes me!
