Holiday Weekend

Hope you all had a Happy Fourth of July!  

We realized late in the game that we didn't have plans so we quickly invited some friends over to BBQ, play games and light fireworks.  

The party got a little out of control when the kids started going upstairs and walking around the roof but I'm sure that will be an awesome memory for them later on.

But never again since they've been banned from the roof except to hang Christmas lights!!! YIKES!!  That stressed me out.

I had a few sales this week!  

I've been working like crazy to add listings and finally things are selling!  

Woot Woot!

Here is what I sold:

Finally!  

This Eddie Bauer shirt has been taking up space here for over a year.  I bought it for $3.00 and it sold for $29.99 and I am SO glad it's off to a better place.  

 White House Black Market Navy Lace Dress

Bought for $9.00 and sold for $69.99

 ASOS Maternity Midi Dress 

Bought for $7.00 and sold the same day listed for $39.99

I am so happy sales have picked up!  

Fighting Slow Sales on Ebay

I really had to take a break and step away from eBay for a little while.  I was feeling so frustrated with the lack of sales when I KNOW what great, quality items I had up for sale in my store.

I will add that all of the ever changing rules were a bother also.  Having to add free shipping, 30 days returns, blah. blah.  

I just was stuck in the "I really like the way things USED to be" mode and we all know that's not how life works. 

It felt good to take a hiatus and I can't say I'm back into my weekly super sourcing ways like I was before.  But you do have to feed the machine to keep it running so I'm shopping here and there and seeing what I can find at yard sales to add to my store.  

I'm just learning to be content with the lower income level, which is not too bad given that it gives me a lower stress level along with it.  I only wish I had a money tree growing in my backyard though!

Here are my finds this week that I have just listed:

 White House Black Market Navy Lace Dress Size 6  $69.99

 Cache Knit Dress Size Medium $49.99

 I've never seen this brand before, Desigual Rainbow Dress Size Large $49.99 

It seems to sell well from the completeds so I'm testing this one out!

 J. Crew Wool Blend Red Coat Size 6 $69.99

I have a few more to list today...we are celebrating a few special dads for Father's Day around here this morning and planning on a BBQ tonight!

I Think I Might Be Done?

Sales just completely stink.  

I'm lucky to sell 4-5 a week now when I used to do double or triple that.  I told my husband that I am just not actively sourcing anymore.  I might still list things I find from time to time at yard sales or whatever, but for the most part I can't keep filling my house with thrift store finds.  

As organized as I am it still takes up a considerable amount of room.  It's totally bugging me lately.

So I'm working on listing what I already have and not shopping for now.  Here are my new additions: 

 Laura Ashley Vintage Black Silk Dress Size 10 $199.99

 Ralph Lauren Side Buckle Skirt Size 14 $39.99

 Maeve Sun Dress Size Small $39.99

 

Banana Republic Black Tweed Skirt Career Dress Size 0 $39.99

Boden Polka Dot Skirt Size US 4 $39.99

Welcome 2016!

Happy New Year!  

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season and are full swing into the New Year!  

I am one who loves New Years Resolutions, setting new goals and I think New Years is the perfect time to do that.  

Weirdo I know! Ha!

All three of my kids are in school all day and I have started thinking sometimes that maybe I should get another job somewhere.  Then I think of how much I love being home at the "crossroads" with them, there at all of their comings and goings.  I realized that ebay is a perfect job for me at this time.  I can be home to take care of my family, which for me, there is no more important job.  

I realize what a luxury this is to some and I am so grateful that this is something I can choose to do.  This money goes to pay for extras like birthday parties and a new couch for our basement! 

I hadn't been shopping in a long while but decided to pick up a few things last week to see if I could get sales from my ebay store to pick up.  So far that hasn't worked but hopefully it will soon.  

Sales are still coming in here and there enough to cover my basic goals so at least I have that!

Here are some of my new finds....

 Ralph Lauren Paisley Career Sheath Dress Size 8 $39.99

 Betsey Johnson Pink Evening Strapless Prom Cocktail Dress Size 6 $59.99

 Jewels by Julie Knapp Maroon Leather A-Line Skirt XS 0 2 $49.99

 Banana Republic Women's Heritage Wool Black Plaid Jacket Small  $89.99

 Disney Parks Mickey Mouse Hoodie Small Argyle Zip Up Jacket  $37.99

 Anthropologie Maple Clockwork Black Ivory Green Kimono Dress Small  $69.99

 

Soft Surroundings Long Purple White Floral Dress Medium $69.99

How is everyone doing with their sales?  Has the postage change affected you very much?

Consignment Sales Done!

I recently finished participating in my local Just Between Friends Consignment sale.  There is one up north from me in Farmington, Utah that fills two large out buildings at the state fair park.  I hate driving all the way up there but I love getting the check from that one, it's usually pretty decent. 

This year I did a little over $500.

Then the same franchise owner holds another one in the Salt Lake Valley and it has been bouncing around location wise the past three times.  What a bust, I only made $200 which I'm not sure is worth the effort to list, tag, haul and volunteer.  But money is money I guess.

Consignment sales just aren't that big of a deal around here.

Sales have been slow but then again, I haven't been listing a ton.  But with over 400 listings you would think it might be a *little* better, right?  Here are two recent sales....

 

 Anthropologie Maple Polka Dot Dress

Bought for $7 sold for $44.99

I love this Ralph Lauren dress, I bought this for $9.40 and it sold for $39.99

Prices for sourcing are going up and I feel like my profits are just going down.  I am not making nearly what I used to a few years ago doing this which is frustrating!

Just got back from a fall break vacation to the Oregon coast with the family, maybe it's time to step it up with ebay again and see if I can pay for Christmas!

Did I Miss the Memo?

Did the summer slump start early this year?  I've hit a new record - 470 items in my store, one return on the way and ZERO sales in FOUR days!

Dear Sales,



Please come back.  
I have sno cones and sandals to buy.
This is so depressing.  

Back From London!

It's difficult to keep your chin up and keep going with this job when sales get so slow.  As far as I've heard this is a common theme among sellers right now although I personally don't recall May being such a bad month usually?  I am dreading what July will be like. 

I've been gone a little while!  I had the chance 20 something years ago to do a study abroad in England with Brigham Young University.  It was honestly one of the best four months of my life!  I recently got back in touch with two friends from that time and we went back to London the first week of May.  

Our home sweet home back in the day - 27 Palace Court!

It was a DREAM trip!  I couldn't believe I was there again.  

I am in love with England and London never disappoints.  It was everything I remembered it being!  

We had an amazing week full of plays and musicals each night, touring Windsor Castle, Hampton Court, seeing things we missed before and a few new treats like the London Eye.  We were there when Princess Charlotte was born and everything was lit up pink for her.  I really think London is the best big city in the world and it was fun to pretend to be rich for the week, shopping in Harrods and having afternoon tea at Fortnum & Masons.  Sigh.

My husband and parents were so great at taking care of the kids so I could go for a week and now I am back to the grind.  List list list so I can save my pennies up to take my whole family back! 

Just Between Friends Spring Sale

I just finished a local Just Between Friends children's consignment sale this weekend and I am pretty excited about the results!

I know the Utah one isn't nearly as big as some of the other ones I have heard of, but either way, it's a great way for me to make a good paycheck and fast.  

This time around I brought 353 items. I sold 132 items and ended up making about $530!  

Some of these items were my kids clothes but the majority were items that I purchased at yard sales for .25-.50 cents a piece. 

I think that is a pretty good flip!

Taxes - No Bueno

Have you done your business taxes yet?

I always put it off until March, too much going on in February around our house. 

 

It's never as bad as I make it out to be in my mind but STILL...this year the results made me MAD.

WHY AM I DOING THIS?

 Extra cash flow?  Yes. 

Do I love doing it?  Mostly.

Do I think I am decent at it? Yes. 

Does it enable me to stay at home? Yes.

Do I HATE the inventory in my basement?  YES!

I've read that for a small business it's a good goal to have your profit be at least 20-25% of your totals.  

Mine is at 34%, so I guess I'm not failing completely.  

Have you done your taxes?  How are you faring with your totals?  Does it make you want to work harder or just give up?

I just gave up for 24 hours. 

Now I am back at it.

Ebay, I just can't quit you.

;)

Perspective

It had been a very sad week for our family, neighborhood and church family that came to an end yesterday morning when we learned of the passing of our sweet neighbor and friend. 

She was 27 and had been fighting lung cancer for almost two years.  

I hate cancer.  

Christina was just a light to everyone she came in contact with.  She was always so positive, so upbeat, she had a great laugh and you felt like you were her best friend when you were with her.  

She also loved music and was my daughters' piano teacher over the past year and a half.  I am so grateful that she shared that gift! 

Lauren is determined to have me find another teacher quickly for her because "Miss Christina wants me to keep playing and I know she will be able to hear me." 

She leaves behind her husband and darling five year old son.  It's just heartbreaking. 
You can read more about her story here. 
I hope I have a good week - everything I make this week I plan on donating to their family. 
Please help by donating and sharing this link if you feel it is something you can do.   
Linking up to Ivy and Elephants 
Coastal Charm

Call Me Nordstrom

FOUR returns in the last two weeks.

FOUR!!!

Whhhhaaaaaattttt is going on? 

Do they think my store with 430 items is Nordstrom?  

 Seriously.  

If it didn't fit, maybe you didn't read or check the measurements that I waste my time putting on each listing? 

 

We just had to pay $800 for car repairs yesterday and I've got a bill coming any day now for x-rays from Lauren fracturing her foot on New Years Day.  

Poor little thing had to wear a boot that weighed more than she did!

I'm still going through inventory and listing items that had fallen off.  

There were A LOT.  

???? 

A sale or two would be great right about now.  I keep reminding myself that we are only half way through the month.  It will be fine.  Right?  

Evil thoughts of getting a real J.O.B. have been going through my mind. 

How is January for everyone else so far?  

New Year Inventory Clean Out

I have let my inventory go all willy nilly on me.  

It's everywhere!  

I usually am super organized - mostly to avoid that dreaded "it just sold, now let me spend 2 hours tearing everything apart looking for it!" headache. (We've all been there, right?!)

J. Crew 00 Floral Mini Skirt 

I just did all my denim jackets (six were not even listed!) and now I am moving on to two bins of skirts.  

TWENTY TWO of which are not listed.  

What?  

Who runs this place?

They are just wasting space and not making me any money!  Somehow these items fell off my listings, I didn't re-list...who knows.  

I do know that I am not shopping this week or the next, I am just going through bin by bin.  Getting my inventory organized and EVERYTHING listed!!

Vacation Settings

I never expect a ton of sales in December due to my type of inventory.  Let's face it, not a lot of people are shopping for used clothing this time of year.  I've only had eight sales since I turned my vacation settings back off last week.  

Even though I KNOW this - it doesn't stop my from HATING the bins of clothes that take up part of my basement.  It's one thing to know they are moving out as I bring more in, but right now it just feels like more and more keep accumulating.  

Listed these this week:

 

 London Fog Kelly Green Trench Rain Coat - Large

I LOVE this jacket, wish it was in my size so I could keep it!

 Lands End Blue Plaid Down Vest - 3X

I was going to go out today to do some Christmas shopping but my husband got called into work leaving me with the kids today.  Tonight we have his work Christmas party, always a nice dinner at a country club but a little forced conversation with people I don't know at all.  I'm not the best at small talk.  :(  Wish me luck!

The Vacation is Over - Sad!

We are back from our vacation - hard to believe this was my view in La Jolla, California last Saturday.  

We spent 4 days in Disneyland with the kids and then a quick stop to San Diego to see my cute sister in law and her family.  

We had such a fun time!

My store was turned off for over a week and it was BLISSFUL!  

I love the sales, but a break from all the listing, photos, shipping was much needed.  

We got home Sunday night and I was back to sourcing on Monday.  Spent today listing and getting the store up and running again. Making my Christmas lists and finishing up the shopping. 

 I love this time of year!

My Fickle Love

Oh the highs and lows of selling online!  Last week I was about to scream and throw all my inventory out into the garbage - sales were SO SO bad!

This week?  I have been doing a happy dance all week! 

Weekly sales before fees have topped out at $974.00

Dressers paid for and delivered.  Nightstands are on backorder - should be here by end of December.    

To top off the great sales, my local thrift store had a 50% off all clothing for Veteran's Day.  I was able to stock up and get quite a few new great items to list at great prices.

 Brooks Brothers Pink Cardigan - Extra Small

 MOTH Anthropologie Sweater Shrug - Medium

 Eddie Bauer Collectibles Sweater - Large

Harley Davidson Tyler Boots Size 8.5

I've changed my listings up by revamping titles and lowering prices a tad - perhaps I was being a bit too greedy.  Whatever it is, it's working!  How are your November sales going?

This is Pathetic

$28 in sales this week.

478 items listed. 
I'm listing at least 1-3 daily.
Great pictures, great listings, nothing has changed.

Except there are NO BUYERS.   This is honestly, the worst week of sales I have had since I started doing this as a job and was excited to make $100 my first week. 

I'm so frustrated with eBay right now.  I would call but I don't want to be on hold for 55 minutes like last time. 

Counting (spending) Chickens...

Before they hatch!

Guilty...and now I am stressing about money.  Gah.

I just booked our family trip to Disneyland in December! 

 I always use Get Away Today - they are simply hands down the easiest company to work with when booking a trip to Disneyland.  (And no, they don't pay me a dime to say that, but they should, I tell everyone I know!) 

I have always paid for our Disney trips in cash from my ebay store earnings.  It's a great feeling knowing that the trip is paid for before you go, down to the spending money, etc.  

So I need some money for that.  Just a little.  ;)

And I bought this on Friday:

Two dressers, a mirror and two nightstands.  We've been using cardboard boxes around here since our remodel and I'm ready for furniture!  We have been married 13 years and have never bought a bedroom set - before we used my set from Ethan Allen that I got when I was 12.  TWELVE.

It's in my daughter's room now.  

I got a great deal on the set at 45% off 

(otherwise it would have never had been in my price range) 

and paid for half of it in cash upfront.  Which means I need the other half of that money in four to six weeks.  

Uhhhhhh....shoot.

I currently have 503 items listed and not a lot of money to buy inventory.  So I am going through a lot of stuff lying around the house and trying to list those things first.  I'm also listing a lot of things on local yard sale sites on Facebook.  We have some pretty good ones here - I made $40 yesterday just selling some soccer cleats and a fish tank.  Small change sounds like just that until it starts adding up!

I have a few high priced items in my store right now - it would be REALLY great if some of those would sell and quick!  

I did get my check from the JBF sale - I made $664.00 this time!  LOVE that sale!