How do you gain connections?

Networking is a major component of the used goods business. If you're passing on opportunities because you don't have the connection to make the quick sale, you're losing money.

When we first started, we all had to build connections. Whether it be a contractor, mechanic, a furniture store, whatever. How do you gain those contacts? Do you cold call, rely on your other contacts for referrals, relatives?

i think alot of it is just time and experience. until i have a need to seek out russian doll experts i probably wont know any but one day when i find a russian doll in a unit and have to seek one out i now have a russian doll expert lol.

the other thing you can do to speed things up is make an effort to talk to people. whether at an auction or anything else talk to others, share connections ask them how to sell this or that. do you ever have luck with these, etc.

the other thing you can do to speed things up is make an effort to talk to people. whether at an auction or anything else talk to others, share connections ask them how to sell this or that. do you ever have luck with these, etc.

That's what I've done, around here the competition is unwilling to share info.. I find myself avoiding lockers that have items that I don't have a connection for, but I'll never get the connection if I don't buy it. For instance, a contractors unit. I don't have a guy that consistently looks for things like doors, plywood, cat 5 cable, etc. so I don't buy those types of units. I'm afraid to sit on a bunch of lumber..

Mostly cold calling in the beginning, now it's a matter of trying new things making new connections, and always trying to pick the brains of my local Craigslist and Facebook group buyers to see what they do for a living, what there hobbies or interests are, and who they know.

As far as my cohorts in the auction scene; they ain't sharin' chit!

One place that I made some connections that really surprised me was at a gun show.
I brought a Knight's Armament Quad Rail system that I found in a locker to a show to try and sell it and was able to get some great contacts.  I have been able to sell camping equipment, propane tanks, and other interesting knick knacks to these folks.  Here in the Dallas area we have a show almost every other week and its a tight knit community.  I do not drive my van with my Obama sticker though.

Having a store makes it so much easier to find the connections. Most of them walk in the front door. I have a notebook full of names and wants. My biggest problem being in a rural area is finding experts on certain items.

I bring t-shirts and cd's from the radio station plus radio van to help gain connections! And yes it works for me ,it really helps me with the facility mangers