Hi and welcome to the new hangout for online reselling for beginners! I’m Q., the creator of the online reselling brand “thriftyIQ” on eBay, Poshmark, Mercari and Amazon. I currently sell fashion, shoes, accessories, jewelry, toys, home goods, a few electronics and some collectibles. I LOVE to shop (yay for thrift and consignment shops!).
And I REALLY love the idea of a circular economy (hence, the circular themes in my brand logos) – which is all about reusing, refurbishing and recycling products as long as possible to limit consumer waste.
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My Background
So, just how did I get into this business? I’ve been reselling full-time since 2020. Before this, I spent nearly two decades in journalism in local newsrooms across the country. I still do some consulting and coaching in digital media strategy, but chose to really lean in to online reselling when I saw that I was able to make a profit (not just revenue!) from my shopping hobby.
Plus, thrifting and retail arbitrage allow me to spend much more family time with my husband and adorable 2-year-old daughter!
I’ve expanded my business to selling on eBay, Mercari, Poshmark, Amazon, Etsy and even a short stint on Depop. And I’ve invested half of my 2021 profits, so far, in testing new inventory sources, purchasing automation software to make by business more efficient, as well as upskilling myself to scale my business (I’m a HUGE FAN of ongoing education in any field!).
My Credentials
We all know the adage, “Buy low, sell high.” Generally speaking, that’s pretty to the point for our business and nearly anyone can buy a product for Price A, and then sell it for a higher Price B.
BUT there’s A LOT of work behind the scenes to source enough of the right products to actually make a profit aaaand make that money worth your time.
Who I am NOT:
- I am not a reseller “guru.”
- I am not a professional YouTuber.
- I am not awash in hundreds of thousands in profit (yet).
- And I do not drive a Lambo or Ferrari.
So who am I?
- I am a new wife.
- I am a new mommy.
- I am a full-time reseller with hundreds of successful 5-star sales.
- I am a solitary employee working every day (and most nights, too) to build a business that supports my family.
- I am someone who wants to inspire little girls of all backgrounds to entrepreneurship.
- And I am someone who wants to help Moms – especially the nearly 2 million women displaced from the workforce during the pandemic – create a successful reselling side hustle or new business.
And while I have made some rookie reseller mistakes (see my blog intro below), I also have created a great community of buyers who love my products, and – more importantly – my customer service. PERFECT 5-STAR RATINGS on eBay, Poshmark and Mercari are proof that I am a legit and committed reseller who cares about my customers.
DISCOVER LOOKBOOKS & SHOP-DROPS ON PINTEREST!
Why A Reseller Blog?
It’s been nearly two years, and I’ve already run into some pretty memorable – and educational – rookie mistakes.
“What kind of mistakes?” you may be thinking. Well, having a $300 jacket returned because I saw the wrong color; selling a $60 untested sewing machine that didn’t quite work right; or buying pricey new sneakers only to discover a major value drop by the time they were delivered to me.
Beyond that, from the very beginning I’ve had (and still do sometimes) what I consider pretty basic questions that I struggled to find useful answers to. “Just go to YouTube” or “Search Facebook” wasn’t very helpful advice. Though they are excellent resources, how do you know who to trust? And who has time to plough through hours upon hours of video or FB posts?
Well…welcome to Rookie Reseller – the place where we can chat about all the ups and downs of reselling for beginners and how to avoid major pitfalls in the future.
I truly believe that sharing is the tide that lifts all business-minded boats, so let’s grab a cocktail (or coffee, sweet tea, or beverage of your choice) and figure this reselling roller coaster out together. Welcome to the crew…I can’t wait to get to know you!
Q. / @thriftyIQ