What do you love the most: Money or your Stuff/Inventory.? ....learned to let things go!

[memphiskansasgirl123]

What do you love the most: Money or your Stuff/Inventory.? ....learning to let things go!

I created this post because of my observation of let's say a few ladies I know.

1.  The first Lady owns a shop filled with lots of beautiful things for sale, the problem is, she is never in her shop to make the sells, because she is always out looking for new inventory. She loves the hunt for the stuff more than the money.

2.   The second lady, her home is filled with beautiful things that she just refuses to let go,; though she is in desperate need of the money that could be generated.   She loves the stuff more than the money.

3.  The last lady,  she has several storage units full of beautiful things that need to be put online for sale, she is motivated to do it but needs more organized time to get things listed. This lady loves the money more than the stuff. 

I am the last lady and I do not wish to become the lady #1 or the lady #2. This spring and summer will be a game changer for me.  When you already got the inventory, it time to get it listed!

[chapeau-noir]

Money, please.  My friends at the swap meet couldn't believe it when I laid out my stuff on our table and instead of being cool and pretending it doesn't matter if I sell anything, began hawking it lol.  I had bowls of Oreos and got people over to our table, wheeled and dealed and off it went. 

ETA:  People have a terrible weakness for Oreos, I found - next time I might try the Double-Stuf.  I was also  yelling 25% off everything (I had marked it up 25%). My friends were kind of embarrassed but we're there to sell.

[earthdreamer]

Definitely identify with lady #1.

I love buying, and I even enjoy working on shop displays, keeping my accounts up to date, and creating new jewelry pieces.

However, I am not too keen on dealing with the public, and buyers In particular, especially in this time of COVID. 

All the same, I am now in that age group where I realise that my offspring will have close to zero interest in inheriting all my pretty goods, and will most likely give it all away, oblivious to their worth.

So, now I am very determined to convert all the stuff to money, though this is a painfully slow process, especially with the snail’s pace of sales on eBay.

Even in my B&M store, buyers rarely respond to price cutting, and are more particular than ever with each purchase. 

[iamalwaysright]

I hate my inventory, I hate accumulating clutter and inventory, I hate my warehouse, I hate spending money to get more inventory, I hate talking to suppliers who periodically raise prices, I hate taking photos and creating listings.

 If I can get people to pay me tons of money and I don’t have to sell them anything, I’d do that. I hope this answers your question.

[memphiskansasgirl123]

For each of the women, I mentioned above which includes myself, our children and other family members have already expressed; they want nothing to do with our stuff/inventory.  Should it be left to them, they will donate or trash it all without even bothering to sort it; therefore keeping the valuable stuff.  They rather be left the money.  If I had the sales  that I had when I started on eBay, I could be a wealthy woman.  My friends and family have no interest in being a struggling Seller 

[memphiskansasgirl123]

Slow sells have taken the wind out of selling. It's hard to stay motivated to list things when Sales have dwelled to almost nothing.

[chapeau-noir]

I'm actually selling a lot of stuff from our house - off it goes!  eBay is good for that.

[mam98031]

Not a problem at all.  I can let it all go as long as someone sends the money.  That is why I've been doing this for so many years.  To make money.

[movieman630]

This is a good topic. There are many ways people "justify" their "collecting" or sometimes "hording" behavior.  Most of the time it's with "intention to sell or have a store".  These people love the possession of their item more than money.  They have a need to acquire and hold on to things.  I think most of them have no intention of selling items.

Personally I think you have to have a love of the stuff you sell.  If you have a love and appreciation of the things you sell that makes you happy.  A HEALTHY relationship with your inventory is one where you organize, recognize real value and are happy to get a fair profit. 

I kinda view some of my business like an "orphanage".  I have these objects that need a good home.  I like finding them that new home or purpose with my customers.  I too "collect" certain things but I keep it in check.  It's a "healthy" collection.  

I think people starting out with too much "inventory" can get overwhelmed with how to get started.  I always tell these people to start with the "micro" image of what they're dealing with.  Not the "macro".  The bigger picture can stunt you because mentally you don't know where to begin and the thought about how much work lies ahead is mentally exhausting. 

I had a similar issue with an inheritance.  I viewed it one shelf at a time.  That's how I chipped away at it to get it on ebay.

It also helps to have a space they can start using for their inventory organization.  An empty space with shelves and bins.  Just have them go through it one box at a time.   Set small goals X amount per week, etc. 

I find that most people when they see the fruits of their labor get inspired to keep going.  Unfortunately there are people who don't know how to price their items or love their items so much they put ridiculous prices on them.  That's a WHOLE other discussion.

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

@movieman630  If I could give you 10 helpfuls for your post I would, wow.

     @memphiskansasgirl123 

Great topic I might add. I've known two people in my life as a picker that were over the top collectors. They both had their early childhood and family heirlooms that would make for a great TV show.

     The 1st one needed the money desperately and she was actively dying from cancer but struggled to sell her things in her own store. She would grab her stuff off the shelf and hide it or put a ridiculous price on the item, so it just sat there.

      The second one had everything from his childhood,  careers, former homes, even his 1st original car and car parts from every car. 

     Everything was organized and had its place and a story and when he did sell at swap meets or ebay, I swear he would be sick for days afterwards just parting with items. He didn't need the money, he needed these possessions to surround him.

     Both have passed on from illnesses and I miss them terribly.  I have some treasured items from these two that I enjoy in my home.

    Because of them I have learned to appreciate and respect other folks collectables that I purchase for resale. I always remind myself that the item that I'm pricing was once loved by someone else.

[hollysfinds]

My husband always wants me to price things higher than I would.

I always tell him , " Do you want to sell things or store things ? "

[movieman630]

I grew up in a family of "hustlers" as my Grandfather would have put it.  We did car shows, gun shows, flea markets.  The whole deal.  I was drug out to all sorts of places growing up.  My Grandfather and Father would frequently buy out old businesses, auto parts, etc.  I would always come to help load.  Usually I couldn't believe the amount of work we had to do.  I would come home covered head to toe in dirt and grime!  But I learned from an early age what hard work was, and while I was helping it was fun, a sort of treasure hunt. 

They would pull stuff out and educate me on what it was and how much they could get for it.  At the end of the day they would always pay me, in cash and stuff.  I would end up with all the "smalls" they didn't want from the load.  Spark plugs, screws, bolts, small parts, generic stuff.  They would let me lay these boxes out at the car shows and sell things for a buck.  I can remember being a 10 year old kid with a wad of cash in my pocket (mostly $1's) Those were the days. 

I learned from an early age the value in "things".  Everything has a value, you just need to find the right buyer.  I wouldn't trade those early days for anything. 

My Grandfather is gone now, but I carry on his legacy in what he taught me and left behind for me to raise the next generation on.  I make good use of it.

[inhawaii]

[retro_entertainment_collectibles]

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@chapeau-noir wrote:

Money, please.  My friends at the swap meet couldn't believe it when I laid out my stuff on our table and instead of being cool and pretending it doesn't matter if I sell anything, began hawking it lol.  I had bowls of Oreos and got people over to our table, wheeled and dealed and off it went. 

ETA:  People have a terrible weakness for Oreos, I found - next time I might try the Double-Stuf.  I was also  yelling 25% off everything (I had marked it up 25%). My friends were kind of embarrassed but we're there to sell.

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You're a smart cookie!  Not saying that as a pun, really smart thinking!

[silverstatetreasureboxes]

@movieman630 

Beautiful and fun story, good memories.  I loved going to junk yards with my FIL, he'd say let's go junking  and I would climb in the truck ( all 102lbs of me) and get dirty with the fellas. Car emblems were my thing.

    Thanks for sharing your story, loved it.