Collectibles/Memorabilia Dealer
There is some great money to be made with collectibles and memorabilia. Thanks to the Internet and international listing sites like eBay, it’s easy to sell the items you find for a huge profit. The biggest trick in this business is knowing the good stuff when you see it so you can make a profit. Luckily there are lots of tools to help you out:
- An Internet-ready phone - This will allow you to check immediately on an item when you see it somewhere to get a better idea of what price it might bring on the open market. If you see a collectible tea cup in an antique store marked for $3 and it’s going for $85 on eBay, you can be confident that it’s worth the purchase.
- Buying guides - Researchers and publishers put out guides with full descriptions and values for specific items. There are huge tomes for all antiques, for example, but there are also more targeted guides for baseball cards, children’s toys, and coins. Once you have identified a category you are interested in focusing on, these guides are great references.
- Sales notebook - Keep a simple record of the things you buy and sell for a profit. When you are faced with a decision to buy something or not, a quick look back at your own record will help you remember if you made money last time you sold something similar.
As you establish yourself, you will soon find that friends and family will think of you when they see things as well. Oftentimes, they will pick up merchandise and bring it to you or will call to see if it’s something you could resell. Accept their help! You’ll have a “staff” that will be your eyes in places you may not shop. These extra helpers may bring you the big seller of the year.
There are lots of places to keep an eye out for collectibles and memorabilia that you can buy cheaply and sell for much more online.
- Antique stores
- Flea markets
- Auctions
- Second-hand stores
- Garage sales
I have a friend who makes his entire living selling Scout stuff online. He travels the country attending memorabilia shows and buys all kinds of Scout stuff - Boy Scout, Girl Scout and other types - to sell on eBay. Because he can spot a deal, he knows just what to pick up. His best purchase was a $5 belt buckle that he shined up and sold for $150. Sometimes when a friend passes away, the spouse gives him a whole box of odds and ends for free, and then he really makes a great profit.
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