Ok here it goes again.
I am having a very hard time actively selling my finds. I don't think my prices are bad, the stuff is good, at least priced accordingly.
Yet they sell reaaalllll slow....
A little more background.
I am in a financially VERY depressed area. People simply do not have money to waste.
I have a 1,500 sq ft warehouse of thich I use about 700 sq ft for display of my stuff. ostly 'ok' furniture.
I can not do yardsales at home (apartment).
I CAN do yardsales at my warehouse, but being in a somewhat remote industrial area limits the traffic.
I tried it 3 times and it was sluggish the firsat 2 times, the 3rd time was a disaster. 3 people, $13 total.
I tried fleamarket. A LOT OF WORK for little $$. Blew out the good stuff for pennies on the dollar and got stuck taking back 90% of my smalls anyway.
I have been working with a nice consignment store in a neighboring city with more favorable demographics. At first I was taken back by them taking 50% of the sale. But once I realzied they are getting WAY more than double what I could ever get it was actually a real winner. Of course not everything will sell, but so far so good.
They also are VERY selective. It has to be in real nice condition or unique for them to take it.
On top of all this I am not a very sociable guy. I am wrking hard on getting better at this, as I understand it is a key in this business, but at 43 I will never be mister popular ever. LOL....
So here is my thinking....
I can get a few more consignment arrangements going. Some are also willing to take the rejects of the 'better' store. Same deal 50/50 split, but probably get more money than I could, so it wopuld be a win/win situation.
I am very good at ebay and amazon for the stuff that's worth it and practial enough.
I am thinking I will try to get as many consignment and wholesale arrangements set up as I can and for the smalls I would actualy continue my yardsale at the warehouse.
I also have consigned to a local auction house and the results were ok as well.
Do you guys think this business can be viable if I focus heavily on the passive sales, e.g. let others sell the stuff I can't handle online or otherwise?