Showing posts with label shoes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shoes. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Shoe Products on Addoway
Just a note ... my shoe care Addoway store is gone for the time being. I am in the process of getting all my shoe products into my eBay store. Until I get that done, if you need anything, please let me know through the Contact Us link at the top of this blog.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Shoe Week at eBay Underground
Recently, we had a very in depth discussion about shoes here. This week on eBay Underground, our theme Topic of the Week is SHOES! If your niche is shoes and you have more to add to the topic, or if you would like to sell shoes but need more information, please stop by this week and add to our discussion. Our goal is to get as much participation as possible this week so we can compile all our information into an ebook, which will be available FREE to our members. Come join the conversation!
Friday, July 22, 2011
Quick Shoe Tip
I found this cute pair of white Merrell thong sandals over the weekend. They were pretty grungy, but for $4.97, I figured I could do alright with them. I got the uppers and the insoles clean up nicely, but no amount of scrubbing was getting the grime off the soles of these. I've sold shoes like that in the past, because really, they're gonna get that way after the first couple wears anyway. But these were different - everything else about these was really nice, so I really wanted to get the soles cleaned up.
I racked my brain, trying to think what I could try, when my eyes fell on my bottle of Goo Gone that I use for removing sticker residue. It worked BEAUTIFULLY! Check this out:
Took me 2 minutes, and really not even much elbow grease. If you sell anything at all on eBay, you have GOT to get yourself some of this stuff! I found my bottle at the Dollar Tree for a dollar (imagine that...). It has lasted me quite awhile, because a little goes a long way. I did accidentally knock the bottle down a couple months ago and spilled half of it out. Otherwise, it would have lasted me even longer. :-\
Here's what you're looking for:
Totally worth your couple of quarters.
I racked my brain, trying to think what I could try, when my eyes fell on my bottle of Goo Gone that I use for removing sticker residue. It worked BEAUTIFULLY! Check this out:
Took me 2 minutes, and really not even much elbow grease. If you sell anything at all on eBay, you have GOT to get yourself some of this stuff! I found my bottle at the Dollar Tree for a dollar (imagine that...). It has lasted me quite awhile, because a little goes a long way. I did accidentally knock the bottle down a couple months ago and spilled half of it out. Otherwise, it would have lasted me even longer. :-\
Here's what you're looking for:
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Buying Shoes for Resale, Part 6 - Shipping your Shoes
Today is the finale! In case you missed the first 5 parts:
I always slip a business card into one shoe.
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Wrap it up all nice and neat (or not so nice and neat, as in this case...)
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Drop it in the box.
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And add a wad of newspaper.
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Seal up your box, slap on a label, and put it out for the mail carrier! That's it.
Of course, there are lots of ways to ship shoes. I used to just throw them in the box with the newspaper, but I suspect those shoes rubbed. I think the tissue is just a nice touch. Maybe someday I'll slip the tissue-wrapped bundle into a plastic bag, but I'm in no hurry to add that unnecessary step and expense.
So yes, I know it took forEVER, but the shoe series is finally done. Eventually, I'd like to get the whole series together into an ebook, but I make no promises on when that will get done. Real life goes on here at the Shoe Palace.
Come join us at eBay Underground and see what we're discussing this week!
- Part 1 - Brands to Look For
- Part 2 - More Brands to Look For
- Part 3 - Cleaning Your Shoes
- Part 4 - Taking Great Photos
- Part 5 - Creating a Great Listing
I always slip a business card into one shoe.
Then I place one shoe in the center of a large sheet of tissue paper.
I wrap the tissue over and around that shoe, then place the second shoe next to it. This keeps a layer of tissue between the shoes and prevents them from rubbing against each other in the package.
Wrap it up all nice and neat (or not so nice and neat, as in this case...)
Drop it in the box.
And add a wad of newspaper.
Seal up your box, slap on a label, and put it out for the mail carrier! That's it.
Of course, there are lots of ways to ship shoes. I used to just throw them in the box with the newspaper, but I suspect those shoes rubbed. I think the tissue is just a nice touch. Maybe someday I'll slip the tissue-wrapped bundle into a plastic bag, but I'm in no hurry to add that unnecessary step and expense.
So yes, I know it took forEVER, but the shoe series is finally done. Eventually, I'd like to get the whole series together into an ebook, but I make no promises on when that will get done. Real life goes on here at the Shoe Palace.
Come join us at eBay Underground and see what we're discussing this week!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Buying Shoes for Resale, Part 5 (Creating a Great Listing)
Well, hi there! Remember me? Just a little refresher course:
Remember, our buyers can't see or feel our shoes. We need to describe them in a way that will make them NEED to have these shoes!
First, let's talk about your title. You should include the brand, the color, the size (US and European if they have it), and a bit about the style (clogs, mules, slides, heels, pumps). Remember, you get 55 characters. Use them up! Your title doesn't have to make sense, it just has to include the important keywords. For example, please don't title your listing: "Black Born Shoes". Instead, try "Born Black Buckle Mules Clogs Shoes Womens Size 9" Leave out the condition in your title unless they are NEW. You don't need to draw attention to the fact that they are used. Skip "EUC" You want to draw them in, make them fall in love with the shoes, and THEN see that they are pre-owned (never "used"). After they're totally in love with them, they won't mind so much that they were previously owned.
Now, on to the item description. Open your paragraph with a sentence that briefly describes what they are looking at. Again, try to avoid using the word "used" or "pre-owned" in the opening sentence. Your first sentence needs to grab their attention!
- Part 1 - Brands to Look For
- Part 2 - More Brands to Look For
- Part 3 - Cleaning Your Shoes
- Part 4 - Taking Great Photos
Remember, our buyers can't see or feel our shoes. We need to describe them in a way that will make them NEED to have these shoes!
First, let's talk about your title. You should include the brand, the color, the size (US and European if they have it), and a bit about the style (clogs, mules, slides, heels, pumps). Remember, you get 55 characters. Use them up! Your title doesn't have to make sense, it just has to include the important keywords. For example, please don't title your listing: "Black Born Shoes". Instead, try "Born Black Buckle Mules Clogs Shoes Womens Size 9" Leave out the condition in your title unless they are NEW. You don't need to draw attention to the fact that they are used. Skip "EUC" You want to draw them in, make them fall in love with the shoes, and THEN see that they are pre-owned (never "used"). After they're totally in love with them, they won't mind so much that they were previously owned.
Now, on to the item description. Open your paragraph with a sentence that briefly describes what they are looking at. Again, try to avoid using the word "used" or "pre-owned" in the opening sentence. Your first sentence needs to grab their attention!
You are considering a very nice pair of black Velcro slip on shoes from the Ecco Shaker line.
This covers the overall condition, the color, a bit about the style, and the brand. Next, let's be a little more specific about the condition. Remember, your buyer can't see these shoes. They need you to tell them what they look like. I write a brief sentence for each of the exterior, insoles, and soles. In this section, be sure to note any flaws. This is also where I slip the word "pre-owned" in. No need to stick it out in a sentence by itself. You want to inform them that they are pre-owned, but you don't need to draw attention to that fact.
The exterior is in excellent, clean pre-owned condition except some scratches on the left toe (see close up photo). The insoles are in very good condition. The soles are in good condition, showing some wear.
The scale I use is basically this:
- Like New: I reserve this for shoes that I am confident have never been worn, but don't have tags or the box
- Excellent Condition: no scuffs, no scratches, no wear (looks pretty much like new)
- Very Good Condition: no scuffs, no scratches (or scuffs/scratches that were made completely unnoticeable with Meltonian), might have light creasing or a bit of very light wear on the soles
- Good Condition: probably scuffs or scratches that weren't completely fixed, creasing across the toe box, normal wear to the insole, normal wear to the soles
- Fair Condition: I don't even list shoes in fair condition unless I got them for less than $2. These shoes will look worn (even my beloved Meltonian can't fix these up), the insoles will show significant wear, the soles are seriously scuffed or worn
After you've described the condition, include the style number. In most cases, the style number is just for my own information. It helps me be sure I ship them the right shoe. Let's face it - black Clarks mules pretty much look the same after you've listed 30 different pairs of them.
Lastly, include the US and EUR size (if available). I follow this with: "Please consider the following measurements before making a purchase:" Then I include:
- Outside Length (heel to toe): xx"
- Inside Length (heel to toe): xx"
- Width (at the widest point): xx"
- Heel width: xx"
- Heel height: xx"
If you'd like, you could include a sentence to the effect of "Different shoes fit differently, so please be sure to compare these measurements to a pair of shoes that currently fit you well." Some people also include "I cannot accept returns based on fit." I don't. I accept returns, no matter what. If they don't fit, yes, it's a hassle. Yes, it's annoying. But I don't want an unhappy customer leaving me a negative or dinging my DSRs. So I accept the return, but I will NOT refund shipping in either direction. When I issue the refund, I usually write something like, "Thank you for promptly returning these shoes. I have issued you a refund for your original purchase price." I don't apologize that they don't fit. That wasn't my fault. I don't explain why I'm only refunding their purchase price. I've never had anyone question it, because my Terms of Service in all my listings explains that.
So that's it! That's all I include in my listings. I have only ever had, I believe, 5 pairs of shoes returned to me for improper fit. That is why it is SO important to include measurements in your listing!
Hopefully later this week, I'll be able to get this series wrapped up. It'll be an easy, no-brainer post, so I have no excuse for NOT getting it done. Part 6 - How to Ship Your Shoes
********
Have you visited us on our new board yet??? Sure, there's a brief learning curve, but the new board is SO much better than the old one. Come check us out and say hi!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Buying Shoes for Resale, Part 4 (Taking Fabulous Photos!)
Ok, so you've found a cruddy pair of shoes. You've cleaned them and fixed them up to look like new. Now you need to think about taking some great pictures. Nothing makes me crazier than seeing eBay pictures like this:
As a buyer, wouldn't you be more interested in these shoes if THIS was the picture?
As a buyer in a brick and mortar store, I'm sure you like to hold a pair of shoes in your hand and turn them around. You look at the top, the sides, the soles, the insides. These shoes are NEW and you still like to inspect them before you buy them. Am I right? As online buyers, we aren't able to do that. We can't even try them on! We just have to hope for the best.
As online shoe sellers, our job is to give our buyers the next best thing to holding a shoe in their hands. We need to take exceptional photos from every angle. We need to show close-ups of any flaws or questionable areas of the shoe. We need to be our buyers' hands and eyes. If you just show a blurry photo of the front of the shoes, they can't see the back or the soles. Many times they can't even see design details or the correct color. It is OUR responsibility as online sellers to make sure our buyers see exactly what they are going to get.
In this post, I am going to walk you through how I take my photos, step-by-step. So grab your camera, a chunk of white fabric, and a laundry basket - and let's go! **You can click on all these photos to enlarge them**
Here's how I start. Nothing fancy. I don't use a light tent. I don't use a special background. I don't use fancy lights. I just set up in my kitchen. We've got fluorescent lights and a sky light, so my lighting usually ends up being good enough to start out with.
I take 8 different pictures of each pair of shoes, more if there are flaws.
These angles show the top, front, back, toes, heels, soles, insoles. If I were to choose one angle to drop, it would be the bottom left one. I like this one because the buyer can see the front and side in the same shot, but it's not really necessary.
Now, how did I get these photos to look like this?? Here is my raw photo for these shoes:
Not terrible, but not very professional either. Here's how to go from raw to perfect, step-by-step. I'm going to move quickly, so be ready to take notes :) I use Microsoft Office Picture Manager, because that's what came on my computer, but I'm sure the steps are similar in other photo manipulation programs.
Click on Edit Photo. This will open an edit menu on the right side of the screen. Click on Color in this menu.
This will change the Edit menu (on the right) to a Color menu. Click on Enhance Color.
This will turn your cursor into a crosshair. Now, click in the darkest area of your white background. For me, this is usually the very top right corner of my picture. Clicking there will turn that area bright white and will adjust the color in the rest of your photo accordingly. You'll need to use your best judgment here. This doesn't usually distort the true color, but if it does, just click on Edit (top left), then click on Undo. At this point, try clicking somewhere else in the photo. You may even have to do this a couple times. Sometimes I have shadows even after clicking on the top right corner. No big deal. Click on Enhance Color again, and click on that shadow. Here is what our photo looks like after two rounds of Enhance Color:
Now, this next step is very VERY important, even if you don't want to whiten your background. It is absolutely ESSENTIAL that we crop our photos as close to our item as possible. Our buyers don't want to see our clutter in the background. We want them to view us as professional sellers, not as hobby sellers. To crop your photo, you'll have to click on the Edit Pictures menu again, which will return you to the Edit menu on the right of your screen. Click on Crop. That will put little black handles at the edges of your pictures (the handles aren't shown in this picture.)
Now drag the black handles to cut out all the excess background. Once you are satisfied with your cropped photo, click on OK on the right. We do NOT want our buyers focusing on our messy living room or dirty carpet. And I KNOW I'm not the only one with a messy living room and dirty carpet :)
Next, we want to resize our photos. Believe it or not, there are still folks out there that are stuck with dial-up internet connections. If we use huge photos that load quickly on high speed, our dial-up buyers are going to get impatient waiting for those pictures to load, and they're going to move on. Ideally, our pictures will be around 1400 pixels on the longer side. To do this, click on Edit Pictures again. Then click on Resize on the menu on the right.
This will open a Resize menu. We want to change our pictures to a smaller percentage. Take a look at the current dimensions that are listed on that menu and estimate what percentage you need to reduce it by. If the longer side of your image is 2800 pixels, then you need to type 50 into that little percent box to shrink it to 1400 pixels. This is NOT an exact science. I aim for anywhere from 1200 to 1600 pixels on the longer side. This will not affect the quality of your pictures, but they will load much more quickly.
Once you've resized, click on Save (the disk icon at the top left) and you are done! Time to move on to the next picture.
Yes, this all sounds very time-consuming. To be perfectly honest with you, it IS time-consuming. I do mine in batches, editing 5 or 10 pictures at a time throughout the day when I get a minute or two. The more you do, the faster you'll get at it. It takes a lot of time and effort, but I really think it's worth it, don't you?
If you've stuck with me this long, then congratulations! You've proven that you are very determined! I'm really sorry this was such a long post, but I want you to be successful! I want you to take the very best pictures you can!
Coming Up Next:
Stop by our Facebook group for more FREE photography and online selling tips!
===========
As a buyer, wouldn't you be more interested in these shoes if THIS was the picture?
As a buyer in a brick and mortar store, I'm sure you like to hold a pair of shoes in your hand and turn them around. You look at the top, the sides, the soles, the insides. These shoes are NEW and you still like to inspect them before you buy them. Am I right? As online buyers, we aren't able to do that. We can't even try them on! We just have to hope for the best.
As online shoe sellers, our job is to give our buyers the next best thing to holding a shoe in their hands. We need to take exceptional photos from every angle. We need to show close-ups of any flaws or questionable areas of the shoe. We need to be our buyers' hands and eyes. If you just show a blurry photo of the front of the shoes, they can't see the back or the soles. Many times they can't even see design details or the correct color. It is OUR responsibility as online sellers to make sure our buyers see exactly what they are going to get.
In this post, I am going to walk you through how I take my photos, step-by-step. So grab your camera, a chunk of white fabric, and a laundry basket - and let's go! **You can click on all these photos to enlarge them**
Here's how I start. Nothing fancy. I don't use a light tent. I don't use a special background. I don't use fancy lights. I just set up in my kitchen. We've got fluorescent lights and a sky light, so my lighting usually ends up being good enough to start out with.
I take 8 different pictures of each pair of shoes, more if there are flaws.
These angles show the top, front, back, toes, heels, soles, insoles. If I were to choose one angle to drop, it would be the bottom left one. I like this one because the buyer can see the front and side in the same shot, but it's not really necessary.
Now, how did I get these photos to look like this?? Here is my raw photo for these shoes:
Not terrible, but not very professional either. Here's how to go from raw to perfect, step-by-step. I'm going to move quickly, so be ready to take notes :) I use Microsoft Office Picture Manager, because that's what came on my computer, but I'm sure the steps are similar in other photo manipulation programs.
Click on Edit Photo. This will open an edit menu on the right side of the screen. Click on Color in this menu.
This will change the Edit menu (on the right) to a Color menu. Click on Enhance Color.
This will turn your cursor into a crosshair. Now, click in the darkest area of your white background. For me, this is usually the very top right corner of my picture. Clicking there will turn that area bright white and will adjust the color in the rest of your photo accordingly. You'll need to use your best judgment here. This doesn't usually distort the true color, but if it does, just click on Edit (top left), then click on Undo. At this point, try clicking somewhere else in the photo. You may even have to do this a couple times. Sometimes I have shadows even after clicking on the top right corner. No big deal. Click on Enhance Color again, and click on that shadow. Here is what our photo looks like after two rounds of Enhance Color:
Now, this next step is very VERY important, even if you don't want to whiten your background. It is absolutely ESSENTIAL that we crop our photos as close to our item as possible. Our buyers don't want to see our clutter in the background. We want them to view us as professional sellers, not as hobby sellers. To crop your photo, you'll have to click on the Edit Pictures menu again, which will return you to the Edit menu on the right of your screen. Click on Crop. That will put little black handles at the edges of your pictures (the handles aren't shown in this picture.)
Now drag the black handles to cut out all the excess background. Once you are satisfied with your cropped photo, click on OK on the right. We do NOT want our buyers focusing on our messy living room or dirty carpet. And I KNOW I'm not the only one with a messy living room and dirty carpet :)
Next, we want to resize our photos. Believe it or not, there are still folks out there that are stuck with dial-up internet connections. If we use huge photos that load quickly on high speed, our dial-up buyers are going to get impatient waiting for those pictures to load, and they're going to move on. Ideally, our pictures will be around 1400 pixels on the longer side. To do this, click on Edit Pictures again. Then click on Resize on the menu on the right.
This will open a Resize menu. We want to change our pictures to a smaller percentage. Take a look at the current dimensions that are listed on that menu and estimate what percentage you need to reduce it by. If the longer side of your image is 2800 pixels, then you need to type 50 into that little percent box to shrink it to 1400 pixels. This is NOT an exact science. I aim for anywhere from 1200 to 1600 pixels on the longer side. This will not affect the quality of your pictures, but they will load much more quickly.
Once you've resized, click on Save (the disk icon at the top left) and you are done! Time to move on to the next picture.
Yes, this all sounds very time-consuming. To be perfectly honest with you, it IS time-consuming. I do mine in batches, editing 5 or 10 pictures at a time throughout the day when I get a minute or two. The more you do, the faster you'll get at it. It takes a lot of time and effort, but I really think it's worth it, don't you?
If you've stuck with me this long, then congratulations! You've proven that you are very determined! I'm really sorry this was such a long post, but I want you to be successful! I want you to take the very best pictures you can!
Coming Up Next:
- Part 5 -- Creating a Great Listing
- Part 6 -- Packaging and Shipping
- Part 1 -- Brands to Watch For
- Part 2 -- More Brands to Watch For
- Part 3 -- Cleaning and Repairing
Stop by our Facebook group for more FREE photography and online selling tips!
===========
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Buying Shoes for Resale, Part 3 (Cleaning and Repairing)
Ok, so you've bought your shoes. Now what do you do with them?
There are plenty of products around to help you get them fixed up. I'll take you through step-by-step how I fix mine.
1) Get that price off!
This is very very important. How tacky is it to sell a pair of shoes for $50 only to have your buyer find a $2.97 price tag once they get them?? For Goodwill shoes, obviously just take the sticker off. I buy my shoes at several stores that write their prices on the soles with marker. (Even worse, one of the stores I buy from writes their prices on the INsoles with marker! Ack! No solution for that except to scribble it out.) I prefer to use Goof Off for this. I ran out of Goof Off and have been using Goo Gone, but it's just not the same. Goof Off reeks, so use it in a well-ventilated area. Goof Off will remove sticker residue as well as marker. Just dribble it on a paper towel or rag, and wipe it off. I've found that it works perfectly on black or silver marker, but the red is a lot harder to remove. If the Goof Off doesn't remove it, nothing will. You'll just have to color over it at that point.
2) Clean Them
Whether they LOOK dirty or not, you need to get the previous owner's feet OUT of them. I just use some hot water with Mr. Clean (or Lysol or whatever brand happened to have a coupon out when I bought it...). Grab a rag, wipe down the outside. Be sure to get that crack where the shoe meets the sole. Then scrub the inside. Be sure to get all the way to the toes, because that's where the cat hair likes to hide. Then do the sides of the soles, and finally the soles themselves. Keep a toothbrush and toothpicks handy for this. You'll find all kinds of goodies in the soles. Try not to dwell on it. Just think of the profit you're working toward.
3) Polish them
This is The Most Awesome Product in the world of a shoe seller! If you're going to sell shoes, build your collection of Meltonian Shoe Cream up until you've got at least one of every color. I have just started selling this, so if you're interested in trying it out, check out the Shoe Care Info tab at the top of this site. Once you've read the Info tab, you can contact me in several different ways:
4) Repair any damage
Patricia Nixey Klassen from our eBay Underground Facebook Group used to work in a shoe repair store. She says this:
I can get Barge Cement for this, so if you're interested, let me know. (Again, please read the Shoe Care Info tab first for important information!)
5) Fix up those soles!
This is another miracle product that breathes new life into old shoes. You've all heard me talking about my Ferragamos ad nauseum, so I'll spare you the details again, but check this out!
To use this stuff, put on your rubber gloves! Then give the bottle a good shake, take the cap off, and press it to your shoe sole. It will take a good bit of pressing, but eventually, the dressing will come out. Spread it around, and that's that! It will take several coats, but it's worth the time and effort. I did find that, when the dressing started coming out bubbly, I lightly wiped it off with a paper towel. That gave it a nicer look. (I also sell this! Shoe Care Info tab!)
6) Finishing touches
**Replace the laces if yours are worn out.
**Replace the insoles if yours are missing, but be sure to mention this in your listing.
**Finish your shoe off with a coating of Neutral Meltonian for a nice shine.
You are now ready to take pictures! But my tips for that will have to wait for another post.
========
Coming Up:
Part 4: Taking Fabulous Pictures
Part 5: Creating a Quality Listing
Part 6: Shipping Your Shoes to Their New Owner
========
In case you've missed the first two parts of this series:
Part 1: Brands to Watch For
Part 2: More Brands to Watch For
There are plenty of products around to help you get them fixed up. I'll take you through step-by-step how I fix mine.
1) Get that price off!
This is very very important. How tacky is it to sell a pair of shoes for $50 only to have your buyer find a $2.97 price tag once they get them?? For Goodwill shoes, obviously just take the sticker off. I buy my shoes at several stores that write their prices on the soles with marker. (Even worse, one of the stores I buy from writes their prices on the INsoles with marker! Ack! No solution for that except to scribble it out.) I prefer to use Goof Off for this. I ran out of Goof Off and have been using Goo Gone, but it's just not the same. Goof Off reeks, so use it in a well-ventilated area. Goof Off will remove sticker residue as well as marker. Just dribble it on a paper towel or rag, and wipe it off. I've found that it works perfectly on black or silver marker, but the red is a lot harder to remove. If the Goof Off doesn't remove it, nothing will. You'll just have to color over it at that point.
2) Clean Them
Whether they LOOK dirty or not, you need to get the previous owner's feet OUT of them. I just use some hot water with Mr. Clean (or Lysol or whatever brand happened to have a coupon out when I bought it...). Grab a rag, wipe down the outside. Be sure to get that crack where the shoe meets the sole. Then scrub the inside. Be sure to get all the way to the toes, because that's where the cat hair likes to hide. Then do the sides of the soles, and finally the soles themselves. Keep a toothbrush and toothpicks handy for this. You'll find all kinds of goodies in the soles. Try not to dwell on it. Just think of the profit you're working toward.
3) Polish them
This is The Most Awesome Product in the world of a shoe seller! If you're going to sell shoes, build your collection of Meltonian Shoe Cream up until you've got at least one of every color. I have just started selling this, so if you're interested in trying it out, check out the Shoe Care Info tab at the top of this site. Once you've read the Info tab, you can contact me in several different ways:
- Find me on Facebook
- Email Me
- Comment on this blog post
- Contact me through the "Contact Us" link at the top of this blog
4) Repair any damage
Patricia Nixey Klassen from our eBay Underground Facebook Group used to work in a shoe repair store. She says this:
I learned from the old pro to gently lift that peeled rip,clean out any dirt if there is any,(usually made when walking on grass and heels dig in) pull the leather down to straighten from being accordianed up. Get some really good glue like "Weld Bond" that glues anything to anything.
Use a tooth pick or something small to put glue up under the flap on the inside of the leather and on the heel, wait a minute or two for the glue to set up then pull and press that flap into place using a downward rubbing motion with your thumb. Then here is the trick ... put several layers of a clean cloth over the spot and GENTLY tap with a hammer. (If you don't use a cloth you can cut the leather with the hammer) This thins the ridge of the join. Clean off any excess glue with a clean wet cloth. Let it dry over night. Polish with Meltonian and DONE!
I can get Barge Cement for this, so if you're interested, let me know. (Again, please read the Shoe Care Info tab first for important information!)
5) Fix up those soles!
This is another miracle product that breathes new life into old shoes. You've all heard me talking about my Ferragamos ad nauseum, so I'll spare you the details again, but check this out!
To use this stuff, put on your rubber gloves! Then give the bottle a good shake, take the cap off, and press it to your shoe sole. It will take a good bit of pressing, but eventually, the dressing will come out. Spread it around, and that's that! It will take several coats, but it's worth the time and effort. I did find that, when the dressing started coming out bubbly, I lightly wiped it off with a paper towel. That gave it a nicer look. (I also sell this! Shoe Care Info tab!)
6) Finishing touches
**Replace the laces if yours are worn out.
**Replace the insoles if yours are missing, but be sure to mention this in your listing.
**Finish your shoe off with a coating of Neutral Meltonian for a nice shine.
You are now ready to take pictures! But my tips for that will have to wait for another post.
========
Coming Up:
Part 4: Taking Fabulous Pictures
Part 5: Creating a Quality Listing
Part 6: Shipping Your Shoes to Their New Owner
========
In case you've missed the first two parts of this series:
Part 1: Brands to Watch For
Part 2: More Brands to Watch For
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Buying Shoes for Resale, Part 2 (More Brands to Watch For)
The other day, I started a list of my favorite shoe brands to watch for. That post was getting really long though, so I cut it off. Way to leave you hanging, right? Here's the rest of my list.
Before I get to that, though, I want to say a few words about the condition of these shoes. A lot of people who want to get into shoe selling think they can only buy and resell shoes that are in excellent condition! Not true! Scuffs can be fixed. Deep scratches can't be. Small flaps of leather can be fixed. Holes can't be. So don't be afraid of less-than-perfect-looking shoes. In my next post, I'll be teaching you all about fixing them up, so go ahead and buy those scuffed and faded shoes. I'll have them looking like new in no time!
Birkenstocks are good sellers! People like them, for some reason. I personally think they are ugly and uncomfortable, but hey - to each his or her own, right?? Check out these ugly things!
This is the Birkenstock style most people are more familiar with though.
I guess people like these best when they're already "broken in" (or as I prefer to call them, cruddy and worn). They sell pretty quickly for me. I price the sandals for $39.99 or best offer and will accept offers of $25 and up.
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I get very excited when I find Danskos! They sell super quickly and usually quite high for me. I personally don't like Danskos, because they seem to heavy and clunky, but someone somewhere loves them!
=========
I ALWAYS buy Doc Martens. Well, as long as the store doesn't overprice them, of course. My sister-in-law got a pair of them for me at a store that had them priced at $19.99! Fortunately, she bought them on half-price day, so I only ended up paying $10 for them. As it turned out, I'd have been ok paying the full $19.99 for them, because I sold them very quickly for my full asking price of $79.99. But $10 is a better investment :)
I bought a couple pairs of Doc boots recently for $6.97 per pair. Neither pair had laces, but otherwise, they were in excellent condition! I didn't even need to polish them up. I wiped them clean, of course, but I figured they were a quick and easy sell, so I didn't mind shelling out the $2 for new laces :) I sold my $6.97 black Doc Marten boots less than a week after listing them, for my full asking price of $89.99! I can't explain it, but the last 2 pairs of Docs I've sold have gone to Australia for full price.
=========
I have only ever found 2 pair of Salvatore Ferragamos, but believe me - they are worth picking up!! I found a pair at a Salvation Army for $7.99 and sold them last week for $180!!!
I would be willing to pay as much as $25 for a really nice pair of these. I wouldn't love it, because I just don't like making that much of an investment in one item, but obviously they are well-worth that much of an investment! I have listed both my Ferragamos for $249.99 or best offer, but would have accepted as low as $150 for these.
=========
There are a few brands that I find only now and then, but I always buy them when I find them. I don't have many of them, so I don't know much about them.
Naots:
SAS:
Converse:
Ariat:
Cole Haan:
============
Up next: cleaning shoes for resale. If there is any other topic about selling shoes that you'd like to know more about, please let me know in the comments and I'll be glad to add that into my series.
In the meantime, stop by our Facebook Group and join other sellers in talking about everything eBay-related, not just shoes :)
Before I get to that, though, I want to say a few words about the condition of these shoes. A lot of people who want to get into shoe selling think they can only buy and resell shoes that are in excellent condition! Not true! Scuffs can be fixed. Deep scratches can't be. Small flaps of leather can be fixed. Holes can't be. So don't be afraid of less-than-perfect-looking shoes. In my next post, I'll be teaching you all about fixing them up, so go ahead and buy those scuffed and faded shoes. I'll have them looking like new in no time!
Birkenstocks are good sellers! People like them, for some reason. I personally think they are ugly and uncomfortable, but hey - to each his or her own, right?? Check out these ugly things!
This is the Birkenstock style most people are more familiar with though.
I guess people like these best when they're already "broken in" (or as I prefer to call them, cruddy and worn). They sell pretty quickly for me. I price the sandals for $39.99 or best offer and will accept offers of $25 and up.
=========
I get very excited when I find Danskos! They sell super quickly and usually quite high for me. I personally don't like Danskos, because they seem to heavy and clunky, but someone somewhere loves them!
I paid $2.99 for these at a Goodwill I'm not at very often. I was surprised when I got home to discover that they still had the tissue in the toes, so I was able to sell them as new with tags. They sold in just a couple weeks for $60. I'm sure I could have gotten more for them, but I was quite happy with that quite and high return on my investment. I usually price my Danskos around $69.99 and expect to get $50 for them.=========
I ALWAYS buy Doc Martens. Well, as long as the store doesn't overprice them, of course. My sister-in-law got a pair of them for me at a store that had them priced at $19.99! Fortunately, she bought them on half-price day, so I only ended up paying $10 for them. As it turned out, I'd have been ok paying the full $19.99 for them, because I sold them very quickly for my full asking price of $79.99. But $10 is a better investment :)
I bought a couple pairs of Doc boots recently for $6.97 per pair. Neither pair had laces, but otherwise, they were in excellent condition! I didn't even need to polish them up. I wiped them clean, of course, but I figured they were a quick and easy sell, so I didn't mind shelling out the $2 for new laces :) I sold my $6.97 black Doc Marten boots less than a week after listing them, for my full asking price of $89.99! I can't explain it, but the last 2 pairs of Docs I've sold have gone to Australia for full price.
=========
I have only ever found 2 pair of Salvatore Ferragamos, but believe me - they are worth picking up!! I found a pair at a Salvation Army for $7.99 and sold them last week for $180!!!
I would be willing to pay as much as $25 for a really nice pair of these. I wouldn't love it, because I just don't like making that much of an investment in one item, but obviously they are well-worth that much of an investment! I have listed both my Ferragamos for $249.99 or best offer, but would have accepted as low as $150 for these.
=========
There are a few brands that I find only now and then, but I always buy them when I find them. I don't have many of them, so I don't know much about them.
Naots:
SAS:
Converse:
Ariat:
Cole Haan:
============
Up next: cleaning shoes for resale. If there is any other topic about selling shoes that you'd like to know more about, please let me know in the comments and I'll be glad to add that into my series.
In the meantime, stop by our Facebook Group and join other sellers in talking about everything eBay-related, not just shoes :)
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Buying Shoes for Resale, Part 1 (Brands to Watch For)
Lesley's done a great job the last couple weeks showing us exactly which toys are great to pick up for resale. I thought I'd do the same with shoes. I currently have close to 150 pairs of shoes listed, and I've got a bin with about 30 more pairs to get listed. Shoes are my top-performing category, so I thought I'd share with you some of what I know.
At the top of my list are Clarks.
I have more of these listed than any other brand. They are a popular brand, because they are very comfortable. They aren't necessarily high sellers, but they are very steady, consistent sellers. After you've found several pairs of these, you'll see that you can spot them from a mile away. They just have a "look" to them. Take a look at my Clarks listings and you'll see what I mean.
I buy pretty much any Clarks I come across. I've even sold purple fake-snakeskin Clarks sandals! I will pay $5-7 for a pair of Clarks. I am in the middle of changing my pricing strategy, but I now list them for $39.99 or best offer, and I will take offers of $30 and up. Even at my highest buying price and lowest selling price, I'm still more than tripling my investment. More often than not, though, I can find these for $3.97 and sell them for $35, which is almost nine times my investment.
========
Next up, I buy Borns.
I haven't been finding quite as many of these lately, but I smile when I do find them. They are a bit of a slower seller than Clarks, but they also sell for a slightly higher price than Clarks, so I'm willing to sit on them a little longer. I will admit, I think I can spot a pair of Borns from a mile away, but I am VERY often fooled by Cherokees. See the similarities?
I buy all Borns that I find. I prefer the $5-7 limit, but I'll go a few dollars higher for them if they are in excellent condition. In fact, I have a pair sitting beside me to list today that I paid $8.90 for. Everything about them looks like new, so I'm ok with a higher price.
Under my new pricing strategy, I will be pricing my Borns at $44.99 or best offer and accepting offers of $35 and up. With this strategy, even my most expensive pair (the $8.90 ones above) will still earn quadruple their purchase price.
=========
Eccos aren't a very fast seller for me, but I always buy them if they are in good condition.
I'll be pricing my Eccos at $39.99 and accepting $30+ offers for them.
========
Merrells, on the other hand, sell extremely quickly for me. The last couple pairs of Merrells I've listed have sold within days of listing.
I love listing Merrells. Everything you need to know is right on the underside of the tongue. There is a tag there that will tell you if they are men's or women's, it tells you US, UK, and EUR sizes, and it even tells you the style name!! What more do you need? They make it so easy!
Depending on condition, I'll list these for $29.99-$39.99. Some of their tennis shoes get pretty beat up, but are still sellable! The price that I'll accept on these really depends on the shoes and their condition.
==========
I haven't had much luck selling Tevas, but I really think that's because I have so few of them listed. As with anything, the more choices you have, the more likely someone will buy something from you. I only have three pairs of Tevas listed, and they've all been sitting for quite some time. I will continue to buy them though, because they seem to be popular, and like I said, I'd like to build up my selection of Tevas to increase my sales of them.
================
This is only the first half of my list, but it should be enough to get you started. Hopefully the images will give you some idea of what to look for when you are searching for these names. I'll post the second half of my list later this week. I'm not sure how long this series will be, but I do know that I will be covering cleaning, photographing, listing, and shipping. If there is any other topic about selling shoes that you'd like to know more about, please let me know in the comments and I'll be glad to add that into my series.
In the meantime, stop by our Facebook Group and join other sellers in talking about everything eBay-related, not just shoes :)
At the top of my list are Clarks.
I have more of these listed than any other brand. They are a popular brand, because they are very comfortable. They aren't necessarily high sellers, but they are very steady, consistent sellers. After you've found several pairs of these, you'll see that you can spot them from a mile away. They just have a "look" to them. Take a look at my Clarks listings and you'll see what I mean.
I buy pretty much any Clarks I come across. I've even sold purple fake-snakeskin Clarks sandals! I will pay $5-7 for a pair of Clarks. I am in the middle of changing my pricing strategy, but I now list them for $39.99 or best offer, and I will take offers of $30 and up. Even at my highest buying price and lowest selling price, I'm still more than tripling my investment. More often than not, though, I can find these for $3.97 and sell them for $35, which is almost nine times my investment.
========
Next up, I buy Borns.
I haven't been finding quite as many of these lately, but I smile when I do find them. They are a bit of a slower seller than Clarks, but they also sell for a slightly higher price than Clarks, so I'm willing to sit on them a little longer. I will admit, I think I can spot a pair of Borns from a mile away, but I am VERY often fooled by Cherokees. See the similarities?
I buy all Borns that I find. I prefer the $5-7 limit, but I'll go a few dollars higher for them if they are in excellent condition. In fact, I have a pair sitting beside me to list today that I paid $8.90 for. Everything about them looks like new, so I'm ok with a higher price.
Under my new pricing strategy, I will be pricing my Borns at $44.99 or best offer and accepting offers of $35 and up. With this strategy, even my most expensive pair (the $8.90 ones above) will still earn quadruple their purchase price.
=========
Eccos aren't a very fast seller for me, but I always buy them if they are in good condition.
I'll be pricing my Eccos at $39.99 and accepting $30+ offers for them.
========
Merrells, on the other hand, sell extremely quickly for me. The last couple pairs of Merrells I've listed have sold within days of listing.
I love listing Merrells. Everything you need to know is right on the underside of the tongue. There is a tag there that will tell you if they are men's or women's, it tells you US, UK, and EUR sizes, and it even tells you the style name!! What more do you need? They make it so easy!
Depending on condition, I'll list these for $29.99-$39.99. Some of their tennis shoes get pretty beat up, but are still sellable! The price that I'll accept on these really depends on the shoes and their condition.
==========
I haven't had much luck selling Tevas, but I really think that's because I have so few of them listed. As with anything, the more choices you have, the more likely someone will buy something from you. I only have three pairs of Tevas listed, and they've all been sitting for quite some time. I will continue to buy them though, because they seem to be popular, and like I said, I'd like to build up my selection of Tevas to increase my sales of them.
================
This is only the first half of my list, but it should be enough to get you started. Hopefully the images will give you some idea of what to look for when you are searching for these names. I'll post the second half of my list later this week. I'm not sure how long this series will be, but I do know that I will be covering cleaning, photographing, listing, and shipping. If there is any other topic about selling shoes that you'd like to know more about, please let me know in the comments and I'll be glad to add that into my series.
In the meantime, stop by our Facebook Group and join other sellers in talking about everything eBay-related, not just shoes :)
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Know What You've Got!
Back in December, I found a pair of Salvatore Ferragamo shoes at a Salvation Army for $7.99. That's a little higher than I usually pay for shoes, but these were in really good shape, and I thought I remembered hearing that that was a good name. Besides, they were a size 14, so I figured once the right buyer came along, I could sell these for a pretty penny.
I shined these up a bit with some neutral Meltonian Shoe Cream, but there was nothing I could do about the soles. They had the price written on the bottom, so I just scribbled over it with Sharpie. Very professional, no?
I researched this brand and was surprised to discover that they retail for an average of $600. There are even some styles that go closer to $1,000! For SHOES!! Now, many of you know me and my thrifter's mentality. I suffer from pretty severe sticker shock most of the time. I just can't grasp the concept that someone out there, somewhere, is willing to actually PAY these prices! But, as long as they're paying ME, who am I to question them?
So I optimistically priced them for $249.99obo. Within 12 hours, I had an offer for $100! I was so excited - I had only paid $7.99, remember? But I decided to let the offer sit for a day and see what happened. The next morning, I had no new activity on them, so I sent a counter-offer of $150. The buyer never responded, but I knew that was ok. It was very early in the game, and I knew the right buyer would come along eventually. I only pay 5 cents per month for my listings, so even if they sat for years, it would have been worth it to get a better price.
My shoes sat for 2 months with only 1 watcher. Now, I try not to put a whole lot of stock in my watcher count, because they rarely turn into buyers, and all that does is add to my frustration, wondering why they aren't just buying instead of watching. But then, about 2 weeks ago, I finally got another offer ... for $90. Blech. That was even worse than my first offer! I sent this buyer a counter offer of $150 as well, but again, never heard back from him. What if I had made a mistake in not accepting that $100 offer? I started to second-guess myself.
So I gave myself a pep talk. I had done the research. I knew they would sell well. Salvatore Ferragamo is a highly sought-after brand, and size 14 shoes are difficult to come buy. I just KNEW the right buyer would be along (am I starting to sound like a broken record?).
Then I got my Kelly's Sole Dressing in the mail from Tina. I decided to give it a try, and boy am I glad I did! Check out the difference!
So I took new pictures and updated my listing. I did make sure to mention in the item description that the soles were treated with sole dressing, just in case that might make someone NOT want them. Within 2 days of changing the pictures, I got an offer ..... for $180!!
That was $30 MORE than I had been willing to take earlier! My buyer paid that night, I packaged (and insured!) them the next morning and sent them on their way. He should be getting them today or tomorrow, so hopefully they're the right size. That's my last hurdle :) I'd hate to have to refund that $180, especially since I just spent it last night.
So what's my point? If I hadn't researched these shoes when I got home that day, I'd have probably listed them for $99.99 and been happy with that price. But I researched, I KNEW they were good, I KNEW the size was good. I aimed high and stuck to my guns. Yes, $100 for a $7.99 investment would have been grand, but isn't $180 even moreso?
ALWAYS know what you're selling, folks. If you try to research something and can't find anything about it, set your price super-high and let your buyers decide the price. I can't imagine a bigger eBay bummer than finding out too late that you let something go too cheap. Research, research, research!
Where's the best place to start your research? At our eBay Underground Facebook group, of course! There are so many people there who know about so many things - chances are good that someone will be able to help you out, or at least point you in the right direction. Stop on by!
I shined these up a bit with some neutral Meltonian Shoe Cream, but there was nothing I could do about the soles. They had the price written on the bottom, so I just scribbled over it with Sharpie. Very professional, no?
I researched this brand and was surprised to discover that they retail for an average of $600. There are even some styles that go closer to $1,000! For SHOES!! Now, many of you know me and my thrifter's mentality. I suffer from pretty severe sticker shock most of the time. I just can't grasp the concept that someone out there, somewhere, is willing to actually PAY these prices! But, as long as they're paying ME, who am I to question them?
So I optimistically priced them for $249.99obo. Within 12 hours, I had an offer for $100! I was so excited - I had only paid $7.99, remember? But I decided to let the offer sit for a day and see what happened. The next morning, I had no new activity on them, so I sent a counter-offer of $150. The buyer never responded, but I knew that was ok. It was very early in the game, and I knew the right buyer would come along eventually. I only pay 5 cents per month for my listings, so even if they sat for years, it would have been worth it to get a better price.
My shoes sat for 2 months with only 1 watcher. Now, I try not to put a whole lot of stock in my watcher count, because they rarely turn into buyers, and all that does is add to my frustration, wondering why they aren't just buying instead of watching. But then, about 2 weeks ago, I finally got another offer ... for $90. Blech. That was even worse than my first offer! I sent this buyer a counter offer of $150 as well, but again, never heard back from him. What if I had made a mistake in not accepting that $100 offer? I started to second-guess myself.
So I gave myself a pep talk. I had done the research. I knew they would sell well. Salvatore Ferragamo is a highly sought-after brand, and size 14 shoes are difficult to come buy. I just KNEW the right buyer would be along (am I starting to sound like a broken record?).
Then I got my Kelly's Sole Dressing in the mail from Tina. I decided to give it a try, and boy am I glad I did! Check out the difference!
So I took new pictures and updated my listing. I did make sure to mention in the item description that the soles were treated with sole dressing, just in case that might make someone NOT want them. Within 2 days of changing the pictures, I got an offer ..... for $180!!
That was $30 MORE than I had been willing to take earlier! My buyer paid that night, I packaged (and insured!) them the next morning and sent them on their way. He should be getting them today or tomorrow, so hopefully they're the right size. That's my last hurdle :) I'd hate to have to refund that $180, especially since I just spent it last night.
So what's my point? If I hadn't researched these shoes when I got home that day, I'd have probably listed them for $99.99 and been happy with that price. But I researched, I KNEW they were good, I KNEW the size was good. I aimed high and stuck to my guns. Yes, $100 for a $7.99 investment would have been grand, but isn't $180 even moreso?
ALWAYS know what you're selling, folks. If you try to research something and can't find anything about it, set your price super-high and let your buyers decide the price. I can't imagine a bigger eBay bummer than finding out too late that you let something go too cheap. Research, research, research!
Where's the best place to start your research? At our eBay Underground Facebook group, of course! There are so many people there who know about so many things - chances are good that someone will be able to help you out, or at least point you in the right direction. Stop on by!
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