The stores have been marketing Christmas to us since at least October, though they really ramp up their efforts in November and December. They have to. Many retailers “depend on the last two months of the year for up to 40 percent of their annual sales” (Syracuse.com).
While consumer shopping is expected to be up 4.8% in November and December, that is slower growth than the previous two years. There are many reasons why shoppers may be holding tight to their purse strings this year.
However, if you have a basement or loft (and closet and bedroom) full of stuff, economic uncertainty can help you boost your bottom line. In fact, the loan lender Simple Payday even goes so far as to advise customers to sell items prior to any type of credit or finance options being taken.
There are a whole market of buyers and sellers out there, especially at this time of year, as more shoppers are looking for a good deal.
Where do they look?
Often on Gumtree and eBay.
Now is the perfect time to list your junk stuff and make a few extra quid yourself.
eBay
1. Kids’ outgrown name brand clothes. If you buy your kids brand name clothes like Gap, Gymboree, and Janie and Jack, you can make some good money selling those clothes. Particularly hot items right now are those with holiday themes or prints.
I always buy my kids’ clothes from Marks & Spencer’s when they have a sale. I also use a 20% off coupon and my M&S Visa to get another 5% off. Doing this, I can buy them new for close to the price that I sell them used on eBay. A good selling strategy is to price the item at the lowest amount you would like to get for the item and then include a buy it now price that would make you happy.
2. Kids’ toys & games. If your kids have electronics and toys they no longer use, you will likely find parents who don’t mind buying used for their kids’ presents and will snatch the items right up at a discount. (This is also a good time to sell toys and games your children never even opened because they didn’t care for them or they weren’t age appropriate.)
Be mindful of the shipping, though. Some heavier items might do better on Gumtree because buyers don’t want to pay a lot in shipping.
3. Jewellery. Do you have jewellery that you don’t use anymore or jewellery that you received as a gift but you don’t care for? Sell it on eBay. Nothing says holiday present more than jewellery, and those items are really hot on eBay right now. I bought a necklace in Ireland for a friend, but we had a falling out when I returned home, and I never gave it to her. I sold it on eBay for more than I bought it for in Ireland.
4. Holiday collectibles. Do you have a Dickens’ collection of houses for a miniature holiday village? The holidays are when people try to add to their collection, so if you are so over setting up the village every year, sell the pieces. Depending on how many you have and whether you have the original packaging, you can make several hundred pounds.
Gumtree
I sell on Gumtree everything that isn’t in top shape or that will be too heavy to ship. I find that buyers on Gumtree are looking for a deal, so you probably won’t earn the money you might earn from selling on eBay. Still, if you have items not quite good enough to list on eBay, you can generally make some money selling them on Gumtree.
Many of us have wild dreams of making money by selling online. Whether you are selling on eBay, using Gumtree, or posting up on a local Classifieds site, you want to make sure that your ad gets the right kind of attention — and that it will be more likely to get a positive result (a successful sale).
If you are trying to sell something online, there are some tips that can help you put together a more effective online ad:
You need to have a clear image of the item you are selling. Potential buyers should be able to tell what it looks like, and see what condition it’s in. Blurry images, or no image at all, won’t be as effective. Since you are dealing with people who might not be able to see the item before they pay for it, accurate and clear representation is vital. If it’s allowed, multiple pictures, from different angles, should be used.
2. Be Specific
Clearly describe the item. Be specific about the dimensions. If you’re selling jewellery, you should be able to describe different features, such as the karat weight of the gold, or the clarity of the gemstone. When selling other items, you should be able to describe it as new, unopened, light wear, like new, or with some other designation. Pay attention to the specifics so that potential buyers can figure out if it really does fit their needs. Look at the descriptions of successful postings to get some ideas.
3. Price it Right
Before you post an item, make sure that you do some research. Find out what similar items in a similar condition are going for. Pay attention to pricing. Consider pairing related items together and offering a discount. In some cases, you will be more successful selling a set, rather than splitting it up. You can also specify that you are willing to break up a set, if you want to remain more flexible. Consider being open to negotiation if you are really concerned about getting the item off your hands.
4. Repost After a Few Days
On many sites, the older listings get pushed to the bottom. After a few days, your listing will no longer be easy to access. Instead of waiting 14 days, or 30, for the listing to end, go ahead and post again after a few days. On an auction site, you can keep the length of the auction between four and seven days. Reposting can help you generate fresh interest in the item. Additionally, before you repost, think about why your item didn’t sell. Tweak your posting to see if you can sell your stuff with different wording, or better images — or a better price.
5. Respond Quickly
When you’re selling on eBay, potential buyers might ask questions — and you will need to respond quickly if you want a good rating, and to get a few more bids. When selling on local Classifieds sites, or selling on Gumtree, a fast response is vital as well, especially if you are “competing” against other sellers. Often, the first one to respond is the one who gets to sell the item. If you are slow, the buyer may purchase a similar item from someone else.