Is It Time for Live Shows?

[cutiescoastalcloset]

Do you think live shows are the future of selling, or is sticking with online listings still the better bet? 

If you’ve done any live shows on this platform or elsewhere, what’s been more effective for you, live selling shows or traditional online shop listings? Have you found success with live shows, and what worked (or didn’t) for you?

[chapeau-noir]

I have 150,000 Poshmark followers, so I've definitely been tempted as I've got a built-in audience, but so many I've talked to find live shows to be a drag - takes too long to simply just shop, and that's what they're thereto do.

[christworks]

I think live selling would be fun. I definitely have a personality for it because of experience in a previous life, as they say, but I do not think it is the most efficient way to move inventory and make any money. If you are niched and your things are in demand, you may can make a decent go at it. It would help if you already have repeat buyers.

I think the thing to understand is that the buyer who engages with live selling is fundamentally different from the one browsing static listings. This group is made up of other resellers and people who buy on impulse.  They are likely more engaging, but they are there for a deal. That's why static resellers are attracted to them as buyers. I just don't think it is worth it. I think for a seller to make it worthwhile, they have to lower their standards. If you are getting 1/2 of what you'd otherwise get, you've got to go by volume. I have seen sellers practically giveaway items for little more than pennies on the dollar. I don't think this is the way of the future. People have short attention spans. That's another issue. 

[chapeau-noir]

I think it's like a lot of things - driven by force of personality. 

[roccotacodad54]

   This is from a buyers perpective (me). Live auctions in person or online sometimes end in a battle of egos. Got to beat the other guy sort of thing clouding judgement and inflating price.

   I  prefer closed bid auctions in person and don't like soft endings when it comes to online auctions. I'm not in it for the thrill or to be entertained. I just want to put in what I want to spend without drama, win or lose.

   Just my preferance but I suspect I'm not alone in this...............

[gloryglorygifts]

I don't do live shows, but I do make videos and have been doing them for a few years now. I do think that they help.  The great thing is that I do put links to products on the ebay store, but most just purchase them right from me with a check, cash, venmo or zelle. I don't have large numbers of people following my sm accounts, just a couple of thousand, but they are repeat customers in there, so that's good. I try to keep them short(er), throw in a joke, a prayer, an anecdote and of course the products. Works for me even tho I'm not a polished, gorgeous, spokeswoman. LOL

[luckythewinner]

Do you think live shows are the future of selling, or is sticking with online listings still the better bet? 

For what sort of sellers and what sort of items? 

eBay is a venue with 18 million sellers offering 1.5 billion listings that range from thimbles to automobiles.

IMHO your question is far too vague and  general.  

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

@cutiescoastalcloset 

    I watch just a few selected resellers who conduct live selling shows. They have the customer base, experience & personality to carry it off. I no longer participate in any of these shows as they bore me to tears.

    If I want or need something,  I will buy from ebay sellers. I recently bought an item from Amazon and the complaint I have was my email addy was inundated with strange messages about sorry your unhappy..blah blah.

I should have bought the part on ebay, lesson learned.

    Back to your question,  I do think folks are liking the interaction with the live online sellers though, and I don't think it's going away anytime soon.

[onefootflipper]

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@chapeau-noir wrote:

I have 150,000 Poshmark followers, so I've definitely been tempted as I've got a built-in audience, but so many I've talked to find live shows to be a drag - takes too long to simply just shop, and that's what they're thereto do.

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That explains so much to me now. You are obviously on top of what you are doing but we seem to have different experiences with a lot of things and your huge follower number totally explains that to me now.