Selling on Poshmark

Moments My Profession Sucks

An early memory I have is of pretending to have an art gallery when I was a child. Apparently, I was Picasso. I decided to charge large amounts for my “paintings.” Let’s put it this way, I’m sure they looked abstract. I’m also sure that no one could afford them. If I am giving credit where credit is due, I think my mom was able to buy one. I’ve always had a thing for starting businesses and selling items. There are aspects about being a reseller that are quite appealing. Being able to work from home and not have to see the human race is a huge plus for me. However, sourcing for items is an entirely different story. FINDING things to sell is harder than paying hard earned cash for them.

After counseling today, my husband and I went to a Goodwill that used to be our favorite. There are always those people that look like they are “resting” in the for sale chairs area. Let me assure you, at the sign of electronics or tools, they will pounce. I’ve been noticing a lot of thrift stores lately are cleared out. People (including myself) walk up and down the aisles, looking lost as fuck. When really, we can’t find a dam thing worth buying. I almost bought a damaged item today. That is how hard up I was.

Being a reseller is about being competitive. Unfortunately, this quality does not always mix well with reasoning. Over a lot (like 2 years) of time, I’ve learned to not impulse buy like I used too. However, if I see something I want, beware. I may find myself doing a flying leap over your head. Not really, but I can be quick if I need to be. Again though, there is no need to be quick when there is nothing to buy. Customers have gotten to where they literally grab things off the shelves as soon as items are placed on them. I mean, I have never done that (complete sarcasm).

It’s impossible to write about this topic without mentioning the frustration of when I, myself, actually need something. Today, I was one person away from getting a baby mobile that I would have put in our nursery to save. Those things are ridiculously expensive. The lady that got to it put it right in her buggy, found a corner, and looked the item up on her phone. Again, I’ve done this. I just find it amusing how when you are the “shopper” and not the “seller,” you see things entirely differently. Every time I want to get upset at resellers though I have to remind myself that..umm…I’m a reseller.

Reselling is one of the few professions out there that is quiet. Even when people source, rarely do they speak or make eye contact with each other. It’s crazy how we know who is sourcing and who is our competition. Poshmark and Mercari commercials on TV always look so friendly & warm. Not to mention, these companies make reselling look like a breeze. “Open your closet and make tons of money” type thing. Rigghhhhhttt ….

NOPE

Nice Try.

These commercials are fishing for people by feeding them the dream. If you cannot overcome burn out, low-no pay weeks, unfriendly “employees,” and a whole lot of other shit, don’t even try this. Seriously. RUN.

I did get this fabulous sloth sticker to put on my car. Apparently, it is a passenger sloth. I just hope no one sees it and wrecks looking at it. My husband brought it over to me, thinking I would be like hahaha NO. But sloths are my spirit animal. Therefore, for 99 cents, I had too. I also found this Vera Bradley baby book for 99 cents. I did not even know that she made anything other than those quilted purses. Figured it was worth a shot. Jeremy got a Mickey Mouse plant watering can for 99 cents as well. Before heading out I also found a nautical looking dress for $5.99 & a B&BW Watermelon foam soap for $1.99.

One sale today. My Mickey Mouse 3 XL top that I got the other day for $2.99 sold for $20. I’m trying to build back up my inventory. As you can see from this blog, it is quite challenging. Closing here though. Off to go eat some Taco Salad & binge on Strawberry Mochi. (Kidding. A pack of 6 is $5.99!!) -_-

Does It Ever End?

Tonight, I’m feeling so burned out. I get like that when I can’t get ahead of cleaning (of life). There is a tomato here, laptop there, blanket unfolded, etc. Our cocker spaniel, Charlie, had a hard day today as well. He loved catching tennis balls off of our porch. We did not realize though that he has been scraping his nails down. One of his back nails were clearly quicked when he came back from catching a ball yesterday. What has worked best to stop the bleeding is flour. Which of course, we had no where in our house. Thankfully one of our neighbors, the man under the umbrella, came to our rescue with a bag of flour. I greatly appreciate that. Of course though, tonight Charlie managed to itch his side and unplug his flour packed toenails. Once again, we did the flour packing, with the addition of a sock on his back leg. After his sock, he got a Trazodone pill that he started today for anxiety. I’m sure he’s in bed, chill as hell, while I’m sweating with an anxiety attack.

It did not help that our Swiffer wet jet decided to be out of soap AND batteries, after Charlies nail event. Talk about needing to scrub the floors down. I ended up using two Clorox wipes and sticking them to the end of the Swiffer. I would not recommend this solution to clean up a murder scene (kidding) but for his bloody toenail it did ok.

Currently, I’m listening to one of my favorite vloggers on Youtube. She does Dollar Tree hauls and crafts. I normally watch the items she hauls from the Dollar Tree. A long time ago, I used to be that girl that watched the video and had to rush out to get the product. As I have gotten older, I’ve realized how much insane anxiety buying items I did not use caused me. It sounds like logic right? But shopping can actually become an addiction. I’m currently struggling with a thrift shopping addiction. Thankfully, at least the Dollar Tree one is gone. If you need to get inspired to STOP shopping, I highly recommend moving. I’m not kidding. Try moving all of those items you have stored away in totes, boxes, bins, etc. If it does not become epically clear after you have relocated all of your spontaneous buys to a new location that you need to stop shopping so much, I don’t know what to tell you. It was a HUGE wake up call for me.

Jeremy and I went out to grab Charlie’s anxiety med earlier today from the vet. We then went to grab lunch and ate outside. Though Corona is definitely going around, there is something I find about eating outside to be safer. Or at least more refreshing than sitting in a restaurant with (potentially sick) people. We also stopped by a thrift store that supports the SPCA in our area. It’s nice how everyone that works there is a volunteer. It was crazy crowded inside this shop though. I managed to find a few items that I wanted to leave with. One was this pretty bohemian looking nursery sign with mountains & stars. Another was a whimsical looking cross stitch. And let’s see..there was: a cow coffee mug, two dog coffee mugs, 2 jean shorts, an elephant lovey, and several concert tees. The tees were like 3 for 25 cents! I literally paid 50 cents for 6 shirts. THAT is my kind of sale. I left there paying $20 and feeling good about what I found.

We stopped by my favorite Goodwill today as well. This is the one where I usually have the most luck sourcing for Poshmark. Lately though, it has been slim pickins everywhere. Thankfully, the whole waiting in a line to get in the store thing seems to have died down. Jeremy does not enjoy thrift shopping like he used too. He gets a gold star for patience though. I just unfortunately always feel rushed when I am sourcing with him because I can tell he’s over it. What I found from this Goodwill though was: 2 boho pillow covers, 1 high chair (that we are keeping), 1 owl baby blanket, some baby clothes, 1 wooden elephant, some t shirts for me, a new game bowl for Charlie, 1 game…and that is all I can recall right now.

Jeremy was cool with me stopping by the Goodwill on the way back home which was also really nice of him. I fuss at him but I married a good man. I ended up finding two matching comforters with pillowcases (for the spare bedroom), 1 new rug (for the nursery), a few plushes, 1 BBW Pineapple Fluff candle, 1 vibrating baby chair, 1 pack of diapers, a few hats (NASA & Hawaii), a pair of shorts for Jeremy, and I think that is about it. I picked out a few pots for Jeremy. It is funny how the whole house could go up and smoke and he probably would not notice. However, when it comes to his flower pots, attention to detail is critical. And the flower pots I found did not make the cut.

When we came back home we had sweet potato fries and black been burgers. We also discovered this British Shark Tank show on Youtube that we enjoy watching. It’s amazing the things that people come up with. I will always be confused by the fact that our nation is struggling with mental illness reform, while someone out there has already invented (and sold) a cat brush that looks like a tongue. Yes, you heard me right, You stick the brush in your mouth and lick your cat with it. I can’t…. though my orange velcro cat would be all about it.

My Probiotics came in the mail yesterday. Thank goodness because I felt like I was about to die from combustion. Already, my stomach swelling has gone down and the gas pressure feels a lot better. There was some discomfort today & a little burning but NOTHING like I was experiencing before. Believe it or not, the man under the umbrellas wife was also the one to loan me a heating pad. It was really a life saver when I was having so much stomach pain. I’ve only taken 2 probiotic pills so far. But, it is encouraging that there is a difference.

Do you remember “The Fox And The Hound” Disney movie from the 90’s? Well, the hound escaped from that movie and has been adopted next door to us. There is this hound dog that has these long yodeling howls. They go on FOREVER when he is in his backyard. I told my husband that if he keeps going at it, he will need some Halls lozenges.

I’m going to end here. This was a long blog tonight. Like the hound dog, I had a lot to say. Hopefully, tomorrow I will be feeling stronger. Oh, I got my new (actually $38 Mercari purchase) camera in today. Fingers & toes crossed that it at least records clear enough to edit a video sometime next week. That is the goal for next week. Get 1 Youtube video up. Just ONE. If you suffer from Depression, focus on 1. Seriously, do not overwhelm yourself or it will not happen (at least not for me).

Shopping Online At Night

I seem to make my online purchases at night. Anyone else? Retail stores do not interest me (other than Goodwill). Small businesses on Poshmark & Mercari just have a charm that draws me in. I often find things that I am lacking in my life when I am laying in bed. Just a piece of advice… try to make your purchases in the morning after you have had breakfast. Your reasoning will probably be much better. Since I never do that though, I wanted to tell you about a $12 purchase I made tonight on Mercari.

For some reason, despite the fact that we are trying to relocate our mass amounts of decorations, I felt the need to search for “wind chimes” tonight on Mercari. Because everyone needs a wind chime before they have even gotten their couch into the house, right? -_- All I can say is that sometimes I just crave things that inspire me. When I saw an item that combined beads, drift wood, and wind chimes it was over. I was purchasing it. All of the colors drew me in. If Bella can be addicted to catnip then I am totally entitled to be addicted to colors. Her catnip leaves are cheaper though…

This late night purchasing saga does not end here though. The seller was really nice and contacted me to thank me for my purchase. I messaged her back saying that I may have to get some of her smooth stones she sells in the future. She responded, saying she would send me some with this purchase and that she may have to purchase from me. I, of course, thought she was just being nice. Turns out, she was serious. She found a poetry book & journal in my store that she liked. I gave her a good deal on the poetry book and told her I would throw in the journal. She seemed very pleased with this and purchased quickly. That never happens. I had to write about that fun scenario that played out nicely tonight.

When I shop at night I also tend to be drawn to books and jewelry. I’m not a girl that likes designer anything. Even Rae Dunn feels excessive to me. Give me vintage treasures all day long. I want to wear & represent timeless items with stories. One of my favorite necklaces is a pocket watch one. Bohemian, Moroccan, Gypsy anything is where you will find me. As far as books go, I love reading (and collecting) true crime books. I do not read them like I used to but there are still certain cases I am interested in. It is intriguing to me to figure out WHY people make the decisions that they do. And also, HOW they can sometimes get away with it. (That part can anger as much as intrigue me).

I’m going to crash again soon. I saw again because I laid down earlier for a while. There is so much movement involved in moving. It just occurred to me that it is called “moving” because your body (not just your furniture) moves a whole hell of a lot. That was definitely a light bulb moment. Anyway, off to go browse items on Poshmark & Mercari that I may try to purchase another night. Please pray that I will donate as many things as I purchase. That way, I will not end up on the TV show, Hoarders.

Afternoon Coffee & Switching Up Poshmark

It’s 2:30 & I just made coffee in my camera mug. These days, the inspiration to get up early is dwindling. This social distancing has become so isolating that I’m about to forget humanity is even out there. I’m thankful that I do have pets that bring comfort during this time of absolute confusion as to what to do during the day. In 2.5 hours my husband will be off of work and we will venture to Walmart to get some containers. The amount of items that I have to donate is turning into a pyramid. I’m about to dig a big hole and throw it all in. Hence, why I need containers.

A few days ago I came up with the idea to change my direction in Poshmark. Recently, I have switched from selling clothing to home decor. This was a big decision in and of itself. Then before I can really get going on that, the Corona Virus hits and I end up shutting my selling platforms down. I will tell you, it has given me a lot of time to think. A challenge I face is whether or not a reseller should actually like the items they sell. I’ve come to the conclusion that it really just depends on the person.

I can only speak for myself (obviously) but I need to sell items that I can relate to. Be that in an artistic, spiritual, emotional, etc, kind of way. Ive decided I’m going to really focus on self care because it is something that I’ve recently become passionate about. America as a whole seems to stay burned out. Whether it is from stress, financial trouble, or other things. When you forget to do kind things for yourself (mind, heart, body) you forget to love yourself. I have an opportunity with my Youtube channel and selling apps to help with this. This idea totally sparked in the darkness. But I currently feel led to sell self care items. Let us see how it goes.

Before I go any further, I want to put out this one piece of advice. Everyone can see what you write, post, or upload on the internet. Therefore, if you have any really good business ideas, you may want to invest a $1 in a notebook that only your eyes see. I love that people share & I’ve personally gotten so much inspiration from others. But when it comes to selling, you want to try to think outside the box a little. Poshmark, Mercari, and Ebay are such large platforms that you are literally selling alongside millions of resellers. Basically, if you find your edge, hide the hell out of it.

I do have a business notebook that I am going to be utilizing more to build this business vision that I have. The other day I wrote a list of items that made sense for me to sell, involving self care. I’m going to work on trying to make that list longer. With this new idea, I realized that the majority of things I am selling in my Poshmark closet will not work. This is not devastating, considering I really need a change. There were some items that could stay though, thankfully. Things would look a lot more promising if thrift stores were actually open. This challenges me to get creative though and see what I can find inside my house.

If you would be interested in checking out my Poshmark closet, Farm N Sunflowers, please click here.

This is completely random but I want to try making faux stained glass window art. I have been seeing some really beautiful stained glass on Instagram lately. It inspired me to get a book on the real thing. Off I went to Amazon to order a DIY stained glass art book. A week or so later, after receiving this book, I realized making stained glass is way harder than I thought. After putting that idea on hold, I saw someones stained glass on Facebook the other day. I realized that the artist used the faux stained glass art technique to make hers. Off I go to Pinterest to figure out how to do this. Thankfully, faux stained glass is way easier to do than the real thing! If you are interested in faux stained glass, check out thewhoot’s blog on the topic here. Hoping to find these supplies at Walmart tonight.

5 Reasons Reselling Strategies FAIL

Everyone is extremely motivated at first. The reality is though, that often we try to compete with everyone else in the business. AKA We burn the hell out QUICKLY. Find your rhythm & do what works for you. Everyone is different.
You may be selling the wrong items. I operated on observing other sellers, listening to Youtube videos, and selling just clothing. I’ve found clothing though to be extremely expensive to purchase (in my area), anxiety causing competitive, and all around miserable for me at this point. Start your selling strategy with what comes easy to you. I needed variety because I felt like I was suffocating under a stack of coats.
Customer service is a thing. How you treat, respond, and package items for your customers goes a long way. Your closet could be amazing but if your attitude sucks, so will any selling strategy your are trying to implement.
What you are trying to profit off each item (minus all fees and cost of goods) may be too high. You have to try & fail though to realize something does not work. Adjust what you are wanting to profit until you find an amount that works.
Organization. If you do not come up with a system to organize your inventory then I promise, you will be in a world of hurt. Even if it is just grouping similar items in the same place, it will make a difference. You will think more quickly and be able to locate your items when customers purchase them.

These things listed above are simply my opinion. Your journey may take you in a totally different direction. I write my advice based on my personal experiences and mistakes. Whatever you are doing, do what works for you. Never be afraid to think outside the box and get creative. Pinterest is a great resource for all kinds of ideas! If you would like to check out my Pinterest Boards Please Click Here.

Goodwill Thrift Haul

I have acquired a few more cute items to add to my Poshmark Closet. I must admit that it is hard to sell some of these items because they are so adorable. My goal is not to hoard so, alas, I must sell. The Easter bunny seesaw above is a vintage piece. Rarely, I find items that come in their original boxes, but this one was an exception. This rabbit playground figurine looks festive & whimsical. This would be beautiful sitting on an Easter coffee bar.

I may be jumping to conclusions but I would say that this narwhal is an artsy extravert. His wardrobe is not only colorful but creative. I found this long guy when I went to shuffle through the plush animals. A child was originally holding him but he ultimately got thrown back in. Immediately, I knew he needed to come home with me. I know that someone needs a cuddly, soft, and sweet looking narwhal in their life.

These fun cactus pillowcases have been sold from my Poshmark Closet. However, I definitely wanted to include them because they were an unusual find. This was my first time seeing smiling succulents that were dressed for a New Orleans Mardi Gras. These pillowcases are definitely going to cheer up the new owner’s bedroom. My advice to picking up bedding is to keep your eye out for really unique patterns. I’m interested to find some llama pillowcases, considering llamas are on everything from coffee mugs to landscape. These pillowcases were a lot of fun to sell.

Lately, I’ve been keeping my eye out for farmhouse items. From what I have observed, there is definitely a market for this category. I saw this galvanized metal letter holder for $2.99 on the bottom of a shelf. This is one of those pieces that I did not look up the price on. Sometimes, it makes sense to sell things that are just my style. I enjoy seeing animals and home decoration in my Poshmark Closet. This item was easy to photograph and added some rustic charm.

Goodwill Thrift Finds To Resell

Today, my husband and I went thrift shopping after going out to eat at my favorite restaurant (IHOP). Fancy Right? I love breakfast. This particular Goodwill is always extremely crowded. The shelves are pretty much picked clean. It’s a weird situation because I want to complain and yet, I know, resellers just like myself are responsible for the tsunami that washes the items out the front door. Thankfully, I was able to rescue a few items, pictured above.

When I became a reseller a few years ago, I was very focused on clothing. I quickly began being pulled by the tide in a different direction now. Fast fashion has consumed America. The quality of what is available today is disgusting. I love things with beautiful fabrics, colors, and beading. Not stringy, see through, teensy tiny items that are about to rip in half. Prices of clothing at thrift stores have gone up, making it hard to not only find any items but make a profit off of them. Therefore, I have learned to start educating myself on vintage items, ceramic art, and glass pieces. I also have become drawn to original canvas paintings.

The seal candle I found sitting on the electronic shelf at the back of the store. Makes total sense right? I’m surprised he did not melt on his wax ice. His big saucer eyes staring through my soul may have also been a reason he quickly landed in my buggy. I love things that I have never seen before. I’m absolutely positive that he was a new experience for me. Despite how I feel about the miserable weather here in SC, he expressed to me his delight of the melted ice falling from the sky today.

The white bird house with the wrap around porch my husband found. He really has a good eye for things. The house reminded me of the one from the movie, “The Notebook.” Can’t you just see Noah walking out of that house as Ally runs to him? I can also envision Ally painting a canvas on that porch. Maybe I am hallucinating from exhaustion. It’s entirely possible today. It is missing the back flap but thankfully, unlike Ally & Noah, birds don’t need privacy for romance.

The white ceramic angel playing the violin was just one of those beautiful yet delicate pieces that called to me. I’ve seen angel figurines before but never ones playing instruments. This angel looked as if she would bring peace to someone that was in pain. I know someone out there needs her as a remembrance that the storm will pass & healing will follow. For such a big mission she came with a small price tag of $1.99.

The Victorian bear with the pearl earrings, I must admit, was a bit of an impulse buy. I saw this lacy, dainty, uppity bear standing literally UP. She had a doll stand attached to her and I could tell she had been well cared for. I like pieces that people have respected, gently handled, and left a feeling of love with. How often do you see a stuffed bear holding a mini stuffed bear? And if you missed it, she is wearing a rose hat. I would be on point if I looked this coordinated going to church. If you are looking for a high class teddy bear, she is in my closet now.

The stuffed watermelon is a bit of a head scratcher. Though I love watermelons, I can’t say I have ever in my entire life seen a stuffed one. Not to mention one that has arms & legs. I’ve learned from reselling videos online to always check the tag or sticker on items for information. Such a basic thing that I did not know to do when I started. This watermelon is from Hallmark from the 80’s. The name on his tag is “Wally” the Watermelon. If you are lonely and need a Wally in your life, stop on by my closet.

The bike wine holder I actually got yesterday. It was one of those items that I thought a lot about. At one point at Goodwill I took it out of my buggy and replaced it with a massive picnic basket. Momentarily, I lost my dam mind and thought that it was a better idea to ship a basket my chihuahua could fit in. Thankfully, I came to my senses and tossed the picnic basket back up on the top shelf. I re-discovered the bike wine rack close to where I left it. I appreciated that the wheels actually turned & that it could hold 3 bottles of wine. If you find your bike wine holder missing from the kitchen, don’t come for me. I feel assured that a mouse literally biked all three bottles out in one ride across the counter.

That is it for tonight~! I enjoy writing about the things I find, why I choose to buy them, and funny stories that may go along with their discovery. If you are a reseller, I hope that you can relate to my writing. There are many more things out there to find and therefore, lots more to write about. Until next time, goodnight to all.