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Even now in a post-Covid world, to work from home selling vintage items might seem like an unattainable goal to some.
After all, it was drilled into our cores for decades that most jobs require being in an office or at a physical location, and many also require long hours or weekend work.
But that’s changing in the reseller world as scrappy, independent, part-time pickers become captains of their own careers.
With the rise of e-commerce platforms, it's not only possible to run a full-time business selling vintage items while still working from home, the barrier to success is lower than ever!
If you're interested in selling vintage items, the first step is to figure out what you have to sell. Do some research and find out the value of your vintage jewelry, furniture, or other items.
Once you know how much your stuff is worth, you can start setting up your online shop. There are a few different ways to do this. You can create your own website, or use a platform like Facebook Marketplace, Etsy or eBay.
Although I think every seller should have their own website it should be used more as a hub, at least at first. Think of it as a place to direct customers to the established platform(s) you’ve decided to sell on.
As you become established and start making money, you may want to develop the technical expertise it takes to set up shop on your own website. If so, you’ll already have a head start. But don’t try to reinvent the wheel, there are some great sites out there that will do all the heavy lifting for you. To begin to work from home selling vintage items, you don't need to build a way to do it, you just need to get started.
I prefer the absolute auction method to selling online, but it’s not the best method for everyone, especially if you’re just starting out.
One of the very best places to start in my opinion is Facebook Marketplace, here’s why:
It’s free
Ease of use - It’s probably the easiest platform for listing an item for sale online.
It’s educational - You can join groups and pages that are specific to the types of items you want to sell, and you can learn at the same time.
It’s a great jumping off point. You’ll know in short order if this “work-from-home” thing is right for you. If it is, you can quickly find out more about the other ecommerce platforms from FB marketplace contacts.
The Rub: A lot of people tend to over-commit and don’t consummate the sale - a lot, maybe 60% -75%. This pain can be alleviated by taking Venmo deposits, requesting verification texts etc.
Not only can you make a decent income from this type of work, but you can do it in a way that helps to reduce your carbon footprint and contributes to a healthier environment for us all.
The great thing about selling vintage items is that there is always a market for them. People love to buy vintage jewelry, furniture, and other items because they are unique and often have emotional value.
So if you dream of working from home and having the freedom to set your own schedule, why not give it a try?
Of course, this is only a post meant to intrigue and inspire. If you actually get rolling with the business, you’re going to want to know:
How to source inventory
How to network with other resellers
How to liquidate slow stock
How to track trending items
How to shop antique shows, estate sales, auctions and flea markets
How to stay afloat during slow periods
How to invest in the “classics”
Not to worry, your author has 40+ years of experience agonizing over those “How-Tos” so I’ll cover them in future posts. And of course, there's the ever- resourceful CONTACT form on the Cape Ann Auction website. (Remember that Hub factor mentioned earlier…
The opportunities and possibilities are endless when you're selling vintage items online!
Please share this post, we’ll send you a pony if you do!
(Fine Print: The author is an auctioneer by profession and they’re known to sometimes exaggerate, fabricate and bloviate greatly. You’re probably not going to get the pony promised, but he WILL appreciate the share)