Something that has always fascinated me when it comes to reselling is how different resellers can be successful selling completely different items. With the rise of social media, that message is sometimes forgotten as many resellers on social media follow a similar blueprint, encouraging others to follow suit. The beauty of reselling is that there is room for every single person to succeed in this business and that not all resellers need to be selling the same items to succeed. Today, I wanted to share with you some insight as to how I have experimented with different brands as a reseller and how you can succeed as well.
In the almost 9 years that I have been reselling, the items that I have sold has changed year-to-year. I have lived in different states and have had access to different types of inventory so it is only natural that my business will adjust as a result. Although I do have a targeted niche, style, and customer demographic, I am never afraid to experiment and try selling items outside of my norm.
Why?
I have learned over the years that the reselling market is never constant; It is ALWAYS changing. As a result, I have to be willing to constantly adapt to these changes and try to stay either with them or ahead of them. One way that I have been able to do that is by experimenting with inventory and taking advantage of opportunities when they are presented to me. I would like to share with you a few recent examples of how I was able to do this:
Example 1: Gal Meets Glam Dresses
Last year, I was introduced to the world of Gal Meets Glam dresses through Instagram. I had never heard of the brand before then and was interested in learning more about it. From what I had gathered, these dresses sold very quickly and for a lot of money. I learned that they were no longer in production but were carried in stores such as Dillard’s and Nordstrom. Back in New York, I never had access to these stores so this brand was never under my radar. That all changed once I moved to Tampa and found a plethora of these dresses at the Dillards Clearance center (Check out THIS post and THIS post to learn about high demand styles). There was a period where I was at the Dillard’s Clearance Center daily hunting for these dresses. When I did find them, as soon as they were listed on Poshmark and Mercari, they would sell within minutes at full price.
Although I normally would not pick up these dresses, I decided that it was worth a shot to give them a try and I am very grateful that I did. I made the most of an opportunity and was not afraid to take the risk and try something outside of my comfort zone. This just goes to show that sometimes, experimenting with unfamiliar to you brands can be worth the risk.
Example 2: Disney Parks and Store Merchandise
Believe it or not, I actually get quite a bit of negative feedback from other resellers when they find out that I sell Disney Parks and Store merchandise. Many people don’t understand why I sell it as it is does not fit into my perceived reselling “niche.” Let Me Explain: Disney is actually a brand that I started selling more of once I moved to Tampa. I live about 1.5 hours away from Walt Disney World so Disney merchandise can easily be found at my local thrift stores. When it comes to Disney, 2022 is a big year for the company in the eyes of a reseller for a few different reasons:
(1) In 2021, Disney shut down most of their retail and outlet stores across the country. As a result, the only way that people can buy Disney items is through their online website or in-person at the few retail locations that are still open. Many of the items on their website sell out quickly or are in limited supply so many people are searching for these goods in the online market.
(2) Many people are traveling to Walt Disney World and Disneyland in 2022. The Covid pandemic delayed travel and vacations for many people nationwide. As a result, 2022 is going to be a big year for Disney travel. As someone who frequents Walt Disney World often, I can say from personal experience that there are visibly more people than normal on Disney property regardless of what time of year that it is. Another factor contributing to this increase is the celebration of Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary which is a year long celebration that started in October of 2021.
(3) Additionally, Disney is still dealing with a supply shortage issue. Since 2021, Disney has been suffering from supply chain issues as a result of the pandemic. At one point, Disney was pulling inventory from the outlets to keep their shelves full, in addition to, limiting how many items people can buy at their stores and increasing prices.
When we combine the inventory shortages, price increases and increase in visitors, this creates a problem from a consumer-perspective. Most people who travel to Disney are looking to buy a souvenir or Disney-themed item on their travels. With the price increases and inventory restrictions, many people are choosing to shop on the resale market for the same or similar items as they tend to be cheaper. As a reseller, I am very aware of these issues and am choosing to use this opportunity to grow my business. I am always on the hunt for Disney Parks and Store items as they are hot items in the resale market right now. In fact, Disney is unexpectedly my best performing brand on 2022 thus far, who knew?!
Why Am I Sharing This?
I am sharing this as reminder that it is okay to experiment with different brands, niches, and trends and step outside of your comfort zone as a reseller. It is through this process that you learn what is working for you and your business and what is not. With the rise of social media, it is really to compare yourself to other resellers and feel as though you need to follow their blueprint for success. The truth of the matter is that success can take many forms and look completely different from one person to the next. Although it is fun to see what others are doing with their businesses and support other resellers, just know that what works for them may not work for you and vice versa. Same goes for brands. There really are no “BOLO” or “NOLO” brands; brand-based sales are based on a variety of factors. (More on that in THIS post.) At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is that you are selling items that you enjoy selling, are profitable, and bring you happiness.
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