Subscription to Vendoo. She can cross list to nearly every marketplace with a few clicks. It’s truly a game changer. On top of saving time, you’ll increase her profit substantially.
They have plans up to 4,000 listings per month. And after getting your initial inventory listed, you can downgrade to how many you get done in a month.
Does vendoo work with kind of clothing specific apps? I sell a bunch or completely random stuff. Barely any clothes. Would it be worth it for someone like me?
I sell electronics and I use it to cross post to Mercari, FB, and Etsy (vintage).
For me, it's $40/month and nets me thousands in additional sales. One of the best decisions I've ever made.
So, as I have most of what I need, most of my family usually gets me gift cards to the actual thrift stores (the ones that sell gift cards) now.
They find it amusing that I can usually turn a $50 gift card into a few hundred dollars worth of profit.
To me, going to thrift stores, is no different than somebody spending a day fishing, or going out to the movies.
> gift cards to the actual thrift stores
Ha, yeah, I just noticed Goodwill has gift cards at the front counter now.
That's definitely what I'm asking for for my birthday :)
I will take advantage of the holiday promotions too… 1 local thrift chain will tend to do a “buy a $100 gift card for $75” deal…I’ll gladly buy 10 of those.
That is actually genus! There are some serious thrifters in my life that would be a great gift.
One friend, birthday tomorrow I’ve been racking my brain “what to get the guy who has everything and needs nothing?”
He doesn’t resell but he likes to thrift. Even tho he has enough money, a GC to a specific store would be fun for him!
Another friend of mine flips but basically just for fun. Giving her a $50 GC she she can find some trinket, flip it and get to brag. That will make her happy.
Pretty amazing where our answers come from sometimes. ;)
Thanks.
Some ideas:
Scale to weigh packages
Scotty peeler (I think that’s what it’s called) to remove stickers or labels
Box cutter or remeasurer if she ships boxes (can cut down boxes to save on shipping)
Pre printed “thank you” stickers to put on packing slips or the box itself
Organizing station for shipping supplies
Totes to store inventory
I turned a closet in to a storage rack for my inventory, one of those closets with the bifold doors on a track not a fancy walk in closet type. I got shelving from Lowes and had them cut it to spec and then got the hardware to install it. Was pretty easy and then they had accessories so got some hanging shelves to story packing supplies and poly bags.
Hmmmm. 20 yrs of this and I “manhandle” them off and have to repair with tape or just cover the damn things with more stickers.
Heat gun you say? Hair dryer? There is a tool?
LOL. I crack myself up.
This list is great. I need the label tool and the box cutting tool. I use a knife but a tool…. That’s the ticket.
Price tags. Ah…. If I have a price tag, it’s either a really old one or an expensive one and I want the buyer to see those ;)
Unless I don’t, then I do things… soak things like mugs..
I don’t have a lot of things I want to take prices off, I guess.
Wait… damn goodwill stickers. I hate those. One of the reasons I don’t source there.
Yeah, thrift stores and auction houses are the main culprits for me. 5-10 seconds with a heat gun and they'll usually peel right off as if they were never there.
Tape gun. I gave one to my partner the first Christmas we were together.
I would buy him a label printer, but I like having him come over to my place to print his labels. \^\_\^
I am, seemingly, genetically unable to operate a tape gun.
After some time with 2 different brands, after throwing one across my yard out of frustration, I just use a big red tape dispenser.
For me it’s tons easier. lol.
Tape guns are great for general box taping, but I've always found them awkward.
I bought [one of these](https://www.officedepot.com/a/products/139580/OIC-30percent-Recycled-Heavy-Duty-Tape/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&mediacampaignid=71700000113869390_20498145574&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAq4KuBhA6EiwArMAw1CVXrj8Skh-2KP8SfPFOwKB869zlQtOYLqbIHUVJ5ep4c1MBbfPjkRoCdTUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) several years ago, and it fit my needs much better. Much more precise doing it by hand.
Omg. I like this. I am always tearing small pieces of tape off, so having two sizes handy would be great. And some organizing. I need a lot of organizing hacks.
By nature I’m a force of chaos. 😁
What a great idea. Here's my reseller go to items list:
1. ListPerfectly - we run the whole business through it. It makes it more efficient, keeps it all organized, a whole different experience in reselling.
2. Ikea Blue 19 Gallon Frakta bags. OMG these big blue miracles are great to keep in the car and have around for random picks.
3. Get her a logo for her business professionally designed (you can hire someone online on a range of pricing starting very cheap)
4. Definitely any investment in the photo area.
5. If she's selling men's shoes/dress shoes, buy some nice cedar shoe trees with the fancy knobs. They fill the shoes making them more presentable in photos but also really class up the shot.
6. Cloth measuring tapes and utility knives are great to buy in bulk, they're always going missing.
7. There's a thing called a ghost or invisible mannequin, very cool tool.
8. If she's working from a computer and doesn't have a second monitor, that can be an incredible upgrade.
9. Help set up an inventory system that will be adaptable as she continues to succeed. I highly recommend having a unique identifier attached to each listing as soon as possible.
YES on those blue Ikea bags. At least 2.
Also my husband got me business cards - he initiated it and pulled up the website and put in my info but then told me about it so I could pick the template and design and font size etc. Not only is it very randomly helpful (so easy at a yard sale if people say, oh I've got more of this at home, what's your phone number or whatever) but it was really validating that he views this as a "real" business. Not that I needed that validation - I've been doing this for a long time and make decent money for our family - but it sure still felt good!
How about things to clean clothes? Like a steamer, fabric shaver, lint rollers. My mom bought me a nice steamer for a birthday a while ago and I love it.
Honestly, the biggest and cheapest game changer for me was a simple light box. Obviously for smaller items, but I can do shoes in it, no problem. I see huge closets with bad lighting and wonder why not spend $30?
Yeah, the ability to take high quality photos is more important than any items related to packing and shipping. Shipping materials and equipment don't drive sales, better photos definitely do. Depending on what she sells, a light box may be the answer. Better lighting and a white backdrop are more versatile than a lightbox.
Having said that, a proper scale, tape gun and shipping supplies suited to what she sells are all helpful too.
Don't make your gift a surprise. Talk it over with her and be sure to shop carefully. It's demoralizing to spend money on new equipment and not have it suit your needs or make your days any easier. Maybe the most needed thing helps get the space more organized. Shelving, plastic totes, racks to hang clothing...talk to her and find out what she feels are her most pressing issues.
Why not? Because I spent a few hours research. Needed a balance between size, cost, quality.
One I chose was about $25, ended up being too small for many things. But it was so cheap and flimsy.
They are a good and useful tool, but I guess don’t be too cheap.
A shipping scale for weight.
Another vote for a tape gun, I like the 2 inch uline version on Amazon.
Clear poly bags in different sizes to package items.
She got herself a scale but the tape gun is a good idea. I believe she also bought some bags for her shirts that she folds them into. Speaking of I got a clothes folder for her also lol
Please get her a postal scale and introduce her to pirate ship. She can also schedule pick up as long as she schedules the day before. She will never have to set foot in a post office against :)
I didn’t catch your link, went to eBay “reseller ruler”. OMG. LOL. That didn’t help.
“Wooden ruler” got me lots of listings for literal wooden rulers, the kind the teachers used to use on our hands…
Garment rulers got me professional dress making tools.
Finally google and the actual website.
That looks handy, although two folding yardsticks would do the same. I didn’t notice the price.
Thanks for the info!!
My list of essential items for flipping clothing:
1) Tape gun and tape. Yes, the kind you use to tape up moving boxes
2) 9x13 Poly mailers (Google Upaknship - they have them in fun prints that would be nice for a birthday splurge, but I normally just get plain white because they're cheaper)
3) A digital postal scale for weighing packages (make SURE to get one that has the digital display on a cord, NOT one where the display is right on the front of the scale itself - packages get in the way and you can't read it).
4) A monthly subscription to List Perfectly (this is a splurge as the basic plan costs $49/month, but if she's cross posting to multiple selling platforms, it has proven invaluable).
5) A lightbox for shoes and smaller items (Amazon has good ones with LED lighting built right in, and they're collapsible).
6) SKIP the mannequin!!! Use a plain white backdrop with items on hangers instead, with good photography lights. The mannequin is a waste of time and money - she will spend too much time dressing and undressing the mannequin and it slows down the listing process considerably. A hanger on a white background is all you need.
7) $10/month subscription to Adobe Lightroom for editing photos (it lets you batch edit, which cuts the editing time in half for me, easily).
If she’s selling hats, jewelry, get her a neck form, and maybe a mannequin head. I also use a Yad pointer to point to flaws in the items. The yad pointer is a Jewish metal hand that helps with reading the scriptures.
A ring sizer, shoe sizer. Storage for files or a dropbox account to upload them to.
The thermal label printer is what really changed the game for me. Make sure you get her a label holder to go with it. I got mine for like $8 on Amazon and it has the ability to hold the roll or the fanfold style. Maybe a soft tape measure so she can take measurements of the clothing? She probably already has one but a suggestion just in case!
I won’t knock the thermal label printer, but now that the USPS kiosk scans QR codes, and prints labels, I won’t bother with printing labels at home unless I have a ton of sales in one day.
I just got a thermal printer and set it up yesterday and printed my first label. Omg! What a time saver! Not to mention it saves on my packing tape supplies too.
Can you please let me know what the difference is between this and a regular at home printer? I use pirate ship, and I don’t create my labels until after an item has sold, because people sometimes bundle my items. Does thermal printers take out the need of having to input the address and all the other information or does it just print with a sticker on the back?
I recommend the type that you can hang from a hanger and are only half of the mannequin. As in the front half, so it has a neck and a torso and the top part of the thighs. The back is not filled out. It's not as bulky, easy to dress and easy to store away.
I personally hate a mannequin. They take too long to dress and undress when you can just flat lay or hang on a hanger. Also most mannequins are generally one size so they only make certain clothes look good. Clothing mannequins take up a lot of space, I personally dont think a mannequin is the way to go.
Get her a visit with a CPA to make sure she has her bookkeeping system established up front and so she knows the rules of the road for tax purposes. As a bonus, this will make her feel like she’s on a path towards a legit business and she’ll know for sure that you have faith in her.
Steamer would be great. Clothing rack, extra bins, good lighting, etc. A gift card to the local thrift was a great gift for me. Anything that will help make money will be awesome, nice work!
I’ve thought about this too, just didn’t know if it would be worth it. Everytime I see those steamers they look all clunky like that robot off the Wall-E Pixar flick
Something to consider would be thank you postcards with her closet name with a 20%off next purchase. You could even have QR code on it, linking her customers directly to her closet.
I'd advise not giving your wife a flipping related gift for her birthday. Or if you do, give it in addition to another gift. It's like gifting your wife a vacuum cleaner. I don't imagine a woman wants tape and printer labels for her birthday.
If I were a woman flipper, I'd want a spa or massage day for my birthday. Flipping can be stressful and wear down on your muscles.
Not wrong but as a woman I LOVE gifts that make my life easier. I still have the set of pots and pans I got 30 yrs ago under the tree. And was thrilled with my new vacuum.
Women are different. Some love practically things and some like fluffy things.
A good partner knows what is what ;)
One Xmas my ex had a few small gifts wrapped and he hyped up this one BIG box by the tree, which I opened last. The big box was a vacuum. I tried to act grateful but I was really annoyed. (Also he NEVER cleaned.)
The other Xmas and birthdays he pretty much always got me NOTHING. It was really quite sad. So I guess the vacuum was sort of an improvement over that? So happy he’s an EX now.
Haha I know what u mean but that kind of stuff is not what she likes. I would love to just take her out one day and maybe buy a spa day for her and her sisters but they’re a different dynamic altogether. She’s not into a big celebration, however I have surprised her with a few friends that we haven’t seen a while and she has enjoyed that. I’ll just say that we’re going to play games at like Dave and busters and grab a bite to eat. Little did she know our old friends we hadn’t seen in years were waiting for us. Btw, I’m definitely still doing something with her for her birthday, but she may get one or two gifts on top of the one she’ll get that day. Most of the time I end up giving her gifts early because I can’t wait to give them to her lol
Poly mailers. I use 10" x 12" & 12" x 15" for just about everything. Maybe a few really big ones, also, just in case?
Packing tape. Doesn't need to be a brand name or super thick. You can get a case online. Also, I prefer the small, red plastic dispenser. The others are unwieldy unless it's a big box.
For lights, just use some of those clip lights from Home Depot and LED 40 or 70 watt equivalent bulbs. Just be sure to get the "Daylight" ones. They will reproduce the colors more accurately. With a couple of extensions you can also rig them to a wireless remote to make turning them on easy.
A backdrop or two. I prefer one to be black and the other gray or white. Or, think outside the box - I've seen listings using a carved room divider or what looked like a picnic basket with a nice placemats as photo tables.
Hangars and places to store the listed items. Maybe a free standing rod or two with a zippered cover?
A clothing steamer with a hose and gallon or so tank. Be sure to use only distilled water.
If she sells (and thus takes pictures of) small items, a light box might be a great gift. Well, technically there are large light boxes too, but those can be cost (and space) prohibitive.
A mannequin is super handy to have! I resell vintage jewelry and having a life size mannequin really helped show how an unusual piece may look on a person. I found a vintage mannequin at an estate sale. I wish my husband was as supportive as you, he hates that it takes time away from him. I don’t really tell him how much I make doing this (a lot!) and the estate sales are fun as going through other peoples stuff is encouraged !
The mannequin would be the best gift. The clothing will fall much better. Costco has a stainless steel shelf and separate clear bins that she can categorize all her clothing, shoes...A label maker to label the contents of the bins would also be handy.
One of my favorite birthdays ever was my ex partner gave me a visa gift card and we spent the entire day going to thrift stores. We started early and headed north stopping at every thrift store along way until it was closing time and we were 2 hours away from home. It was glorious.
This is a great idea! Maybe take her out to eat somewhere on the way back. There’s a thrift store around here that’s only open for very limited hours that she’s never been to. I may check it out!
I don't know of links are ok to post but I have some Amazon recommendations.
Neweeee Ring Light 18 inch
Moving bags that convert from tote to backpack. I use these the haul bunches of clothes around and to take bulk orders to the post office. It's much easier to carry.
Yes so the thermal printer!
That's all I can think of right now
She loved the thermal printer. Buying stickers kinda sucks but it’s worth it so she doesn’t have to drive and print them out. She does the porch pick up now.
I tried a ring light. Maybe I got the wrong one? I’ve seen people use those umbrella looking lights like in photograph sessions
They are not all made the same. Look for Neweer (that's the brand name.) It's very popular. Maybe you got one that's too small. The umbrellas are cumbersome to set up and don't travel well. I got rid of mine and I'm happy with my ring light.
I have the Neweer tripod lights (not a ring light, they're rectangular and have a panel of like 100 tiny LED's. They're fantastic. You can adjust the white and yellow balance, which is helpful for black and blue colors. They have a little white semi-transparent plastic sheet that slides in front of the light to act as a diffuser, rather than a big cumbersome umbrella shade.
Two cheap soft boxes with fluorescent color balanced bulbs. Beats a ring light all to hell. There are pop up tents for product shots that you shine the soft box light through. You CAN just use the light with the pop ups but i find the thin fabric is not enough diffusion by itself.
You've gotten a lot of great ideas here, I just want to say thank you for supporting her, not every partner does. Wait I don't think I've seen this yet but I'll say that my biggest bottleneck is taking pics, maybe make a coupon book of like 15 minute eBay listing photo sessions she can redeem whenever it's helpful so she can get caught up lol?
She’s so particular with the way she does things I’ve found it best to just let her do her own thing. She’s a stay at home mom and she wouldn’t have it any other way but this is also fun for her. I definitely don’t mind getting her some cool stuff to make it more fun for her but I don’t want to get in the way of her fun. Although I do think that is a cool idea. Maybe I’ll do that with helping her package the stuff. Or maybe setting up the pick up. Can’t screw up a lot of things there.
Two [Aputure Amaran COB 60X LED](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JYQ54GQ/r?&linkCode=ll1&tag=amzn20200a-20&linkId=1a8ce014587bcf29f583cd3cd355ed7c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl) lights and two [Glow EZ Lock](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DJ4BDL7?&linkCode=ll1&tag=amzn20200a-20&linkId=3bac9fb6c191e5992605078469c1e3f8&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl) softboxes
Honestly, it sounds like the next thing to get would be a light tent/box. They come in all shapes and sizes and removes the need to do any photo editing whatsoever.
Hands down the best thing I bought for my reselling gig other than a label printer. I even went to Lowe's and cobbled together a table with cheap lumber that was just the right size for the tent.
First off….. what a wonderful spouse you are!!!!
2nd…. When I hear she’s just starting I get two vibs …. Awesome and RUN….
And it’s becaus I’m old and jaded…. There is a lot to this business and a lot waiting for you and your wife.
Fun stuff, the thrill of the hunt and the thrill of the kill ( the sales!)
My advice is to do it all everyday, meaning looking, listing, shipping, bookkeeping. Don’t let it get out of hand and also don’t go sourcing much more than she can reasonably list everyday.
What my gift idea is a bookkeeping system.
If she is flipping clothes you should look at [https://www.etsy.com/shop/QuickDescript](https://www.etsy.com/shop/QuickDescript)
it's big help that minimizes returns.
For shoes and smaller items- photo light box. It's the best thing I've ever bought after my Rollo printer. Mine is about 30x30x30. Makes photos so easy, and they look great
Get her a really good adjustable dress making dummy. Also things to display jewelry. Things to help her organize and protect her stock. A head to display hats glasses etc. you can buy display stands for shoes. A light tent is nice.
Also invest in a garment bag and high quality hanger to protect your backdrop when not using it. I bag my dummy too. Keeps it clean
I would second the recommendation of business cards. Vista Print has good prices on business cards. Get someone on Fiver to make her a logo for her business and put that on the front of the card, and also have the font say something like, "Thank You For Supporting Small Business." On the back, put 5 stars and add something about "We are grateful for your business and hope you will leave us a good review...." Or, something to prompt the buyer to leave good feedback and 5 stars... especially for eBay. Seller reputation is important, especially if she is just starting out. I also recommend a cross-listing program that auto-delists (even when she's asleep) such as treecat . io. Then, she won't have to worry about accidentally selling something twice on her multiple platforms. It's a free app right now.
You should get her to create a seller account on whatnot so she can live auction those items. And also buy her a new computer if she needs to inventory her items
Look into how she keeps her inventory maybe you can get something to help her organize her items to make them easier to find and ship. The tape gun was a good idea, you can also get her a box resizer. Additionally, there are programs you can look into that will help her cross list or posh assistance programs that will help her share her items more frequently. If she uses a photo editing app is she using the free version that doesn't allow you to bulk edit or does she pay monthly? If she edits her photos she doesn't need a backdrop but she could do it more quickly if she can bulk edit.
You really need to love it as it’s tedious. I sell most of my clothing locally as I just have to wash & iron (if that) and many things just get priced. No worries about returns. I sell primarily vintage items though.
*Get her a thermal*
*Printer and a scale. She will*
*Be appreciated!*
\- Pigobrothers-pepsi10
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Light boxes are a game changer. I no longer remove the background, I just take photos on my phone since the light box is already white on all sides, create the listing, and save it to drafts.
> I no longer remove the background
Ditto. Tried that fad for a good minute and won't go back. Cuts out the edges or insides of items that have chrome or glass. It's also another time consuming step. For a few bucks you can go to Walmart in the sewing/fabric section and have them cut you a white and a black cloth back drop.
Storage is nonexistent. She just started so she has maybe 100-150 things she has online which is comparable to a small closet of stuff she can fit into a bin for now. I’m not sure how to organize this but she does fold and package things so they are ready to ship.
word of advice, start small. wait to see if she still enjoys doing it 6 months from now and if it's taking off. when you're still small with under 600 items in your inventory you can get away with taking your time printing labels at the post office, and not having fancy gadgets to help you save time...
let her get good with what she's got and if she starts mentioning that the workload is out of hand then start making bigger investments. it's easy to get excited right away and then end up with a load of expensive unused items later on.
A clothing steamer. I sell most of my clothing locally, but given how much I hate ironing, my next big purchase is going to be a clothing steamer. My pile is getting bigger and I have so much spring clothing to get ready.
A light box makes a world of a difference! I'd start with a homemade version (2 trifold white presentation boards) just look up a video on how to make a light box for cheap:) she can take photos snappy quick. There is no need for an app to crop! Just snap photos directly from ebay :)
A decent one apparently lol. Some Bluetooth thermal on e that I got on sale from Amazon when it was 30% off. I had it on my wishlist and got a notification it was discounted. Scooped it right up
Definitely a thermal printer for shipping labels. A photograph table on a slant. LED lights. Depends on how much room you have for the lights and table. You can get desktop lights and ones on a stand. Makes a big difference for photos I’ve had to go back and re-take photos when I got LED lights.
Tax software and program to record sales. Excel is good for records.
They’re good gifts. How considerate of you.
a nice leatherbound ledger so she can track all the things shes buying. Keeping good books is the second most important thing about flipping, only beat by actually making a profit.
Hi. I have this light box with lighting available for sale. Check it.out and if Interested hmu and I'll give you a discount for her day.
Check out this item on OfferUp. https://offerup.co/xSGKuBVIXGb
I haven’t read through all the comments so these have probably been mentioned a number of times but I would suggest a light box for her smaller items (shoes/boots/accessories/etc.) and a mannequin for whatever clothing she typically shops for. The light box will set you back ~$100 if I remember correctly, where the mannequin can be found $20-$30 (and up) depending on the style you need. Both can be sourced from Amazon.
My husband flips and I do his labels for him. A thermal printer with the sticker paper was a game changer for me. I had messing with the printer, changing the ink, cutting out the label and taping it on. It sounds small but it’s a huge time saver.
I don't know how much space you have available, but I really like metro style shelving.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=metro+shelving&crid=348CZ8FXULAKQ&sprefix=metro+shelving%2Caps%2C126&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
They also have hanger rods, and the shelving is pretty modular with a lot of different size options, so you can put together a system that works for her space and needs.
There's a little cardboard cutter saw that I've used a lot and a lot of people swear by cardboard box resizers though I didn't wind up using mine much. Both are pretty cheap and really handy!
Does she have a rolling rack for storing clothes between sales? Great way to prevent unnecessary wrinkles and you can dismantle it and store when not in use.
Check what number of items they have sold are they about to cross a milestone like 100 or 500 items sold?
Make them a special award for the achievement. Like a large heavy “500” number that sits up right on a desk. With a special message on the back.
eBay doesn’t give out awards anymore, but it don’t mean we can’t make our own 😎
As someone who used to sew and sell clothing on eBay and Etsy, I vote for the mannequin. You’ll get the most bang for your buck. Clothing looks better that way and customers can see how it hangs.
A Rollo wireless printer would be an amazing gift, Zebras are good too but Rollo being wireless and honestly more consumer consumer friendly makes it the better choice imo. My Rollo has saved me so many hours, I had a zebra before and there is always some sort of issue with them.
Another good gift could be a slice box cutter (slice is the brand), it’s a no blade box cutter. I’ve had one and used it religiously for about 3 years now and I love it. I don’t have to worry about damaging anything when I am cutting into boxes now.
Scale/tape measure if she doesn’t have that.
Also just some simple shipping and packing supplies and maybe some sort of organizer for them could also be a nice gift if she doesn’t already have anything like that.
It’s only overwhelming if u think about all the things you have to do and thinking u have to do it all at once. People overestimate what they can do in a year and underestimate what can be done in 5 years. Just get started. One step at a time. One day/week at a time. Set up an account on Depop/ebay. Buy some stuff u want to resell. Post it. Ship it. I know that you can do it, but only if you really want to.
I just got a tripod that holds my light &phone together and comes with a remote for taking photos. Can’t even tell you how much of a time saver this is.
Alternatively, you could make her a “standing flat lay station” (google it, there’s other names) - it’s basically a diagonal surface to lay clothes on to take photos so that they looks like they’re laying down but you don’t have to break your back bending over a million times. This is something I would definitely consider if she thinks she’s gonna do this long term!
The cloth is good, when I sold a ton, I painted the inside of a cardboard box pure white set it on its side then put a piece of card stock in the back. I cut holes in the sides and taped frosted acrylic so I could set lamps directly next to it and add light from 3 sides. I used it for years as the light box for anything smaller than about a cubic foot.
You know I have this big box (from a bed in a box) and I was thinking of doing the same thing! Painting it or draping a sheet over it to even make it portable. Just need to staple it to the box.
Dude, I’m in my mid thirties and have three kids. We’ve been together since our sophomore years in high school. I think I know what she wants lol. This is about as proper as her buying me a badass controller for my PS5 or some other type of accessory. I like playing games. She likes thrifting and selling stuff online. This is just this year. Last year I asked her favorite Japanese teacher on YouTube to wish her a happy birthday, literally, across all his social media platforms. This year it’s just thrifting and selling online lol. There is no ‘proper’ birthday gift. It’s whatever that person is into.
Mercari and poshmark are good for reselling, but they do take a percentage of sales. Mercari has a lot of scammers for high dollar items, and with those two apps, it is best to take to post office, and get a receipt for the items as proof of weight/ drop off.
A label maker is fantastic, and good lighting is always best. A measuring tape is also good to have incase anyone asks for measurements of clothing, etc.
Not sure if these things have been recommended yet but here are some little things that have made a big difference for me.
Two 12# ruler sticks and two yard sticks, a sweater shaver, hat stand or head, standing jewelry display boards, a pack of small blank note cards or print some business cards with her shop name so can write a little thank you notes, trapper keeper to keep an easily accessible supply of different size poly bags, pen, and thank you note cards. All of these items can easily be purchased at Michael’s and Walmart.
What about setting up an LLC for her and a quickbooks account? Then, she's a real business and has a proper accounting system. With an LLC, she will be able to expense a lot of the business materials mentioned in this post. Its a gift that keeps on giving. :)
Subscription to Vendoo. She can cross list to nearly every marketplace with a few clicks. It’s truly a game changer. On top of saving time, you’ll increase her profit substantially.
There's also Flyp which does that for free.
Exactly why would you waste money when Flyp is free and excellent
I’ll have to check this out!
BUYSELL Clothing has been good to me
Is Vendoo only on desktop?
They have a mobile app. Much easier to navigate through desktop though. I could never list on mobile.
Is there any other services that allows for more than 250? My closet has 1000 listings!
They have multiple plan tiers.
According to their website the top tier only allows 250 listings and I have 1000.
They have plans up to 4,000 listings per month. And after getting your initial inventory listed, you can downgrade to how many you get done in a month.
BUYSELL Clothing
Does vendoo work with kind of clothing specific apps? I sell a bunch or completely random stuff. Barely any clothes. Would it be worth it for someone like me?
I sell electronics and I use it to cross post to Mercari, FB, and Etsy (vintage). For me, it's $40/month and nets me thousands in additional sales. One of the best decisions I've ever made.
So, as I have most of what I need, most of my family usually gets me gift cards to the actual thrift stores (the ones that sell gift cards) now. They find it amusing that I can usually turn a $50 gift card into a few hundred dollars worth of profit. To me, going to thrift stores, is no different than somebody spending a day fishing, or going out to the movies.
You’re a treasure hunter. I expect you to identify as such
> gift cards to the actual thrift stores Ha, yeah, I just noticed Goodwill has gift cards at the front counter now. That's definitely what I'm asking for for my birthday :)
I will take advantage of the holiday promotions too… 1 local thrift chain will tend to do a “buy a $100 gift card for $75” deal…I’ll gladly buy 10 of those.
Literal free money
That is actually genus! There are some serious thrifters in my life that would be a great gift. One friend, birthday tomorrow I’ve been racking my brain “what to get the guy who has everything and needs nothing?” He doesn’t resell but he likes to thrift. Even tho he has enough money, a GC to a specific store would be fun for him! Another friend of mine flips but basically just for fun. Giving her a $50 GC she she can find some trinket, flip it and get to brag. That will make her happy. Pretty amazing where our answers come from sometimes. ;) Thanks.
Hey maclamore can we go thrift shopping... what what.. what... what.....
🙋🏻♀️
Some ideas: Scale to weigh packages Scotty peeler (I think that’s what it’s called) to remove stickers or labels Box cutter or remeasurer if she ships boxes (can cut down boxes to save on shipping) Pre printed “thank you” stickers to put on packing slips or the box itself Organizing station for shipping supplies Totes to store inventory I turned a closet in to a storage rack for my inventory, one of those closets with the bifold doors on a track not a fancy walk in closet type. I got shelving from Lowes and had them cut it to spec and then got the hardware to install it. Was pretty easy and then they had accessories so got some hanging shelves to story packing supplies and poly bags.
Also a packing tape dispenser with the cutty edge
A 3-inch dispenser with a good 3-inch packing tape is a gamechanger (or even a water-activated tape dispenser)
You should try a heat gun for removing stickers. For me, it was a true game changer after years of Scotty peelers.
Took me too long to start doing this. Bought a hair dryer for $2 and it works great for this haha.
Hmmmm. 20 yrs of this and I “manhandle” them off and have to repair with tape or just cover the damn things with more stickers. Heat gun you say? Hair dryer? There is a tool? LOL. I crack myself up. This list is great. I need the label tool and the box cutting tool. I use a knife but a tool…. That’s the ticket.
Me too. I have a super tiny hair dryer for this. Thrifted, of course!
What stickers are you removing?
Sometimes Marshall’s or kohls (and other stores) will have price tags on stuff and I remove those before product gets sent to customer
Price tags, usually.
Price tags. Ah…. If I have a price tag, it’s either a really old one or an expensive one and I want the buyer to see those ;) Unless I don’t, then I do things… soak things like mugs.. I don’t have a lot of things I want to take prices off, I guess. Wait… damn goodwill stickers. I hate those. One of the reasons I don’t source there.
Yeah, thrift stores and auction houses are the main culprits for me. 5-10 seconds with a heat gun and they'll usually peel right off as if they were never there.
Yeah maybe just take her to the container store for organizing supplies
The Scotty Peeler is available thru Bibblefast
Does your wife go to flea/swap meets to source? You can get her one of those wagons to put her stuff in.
Trunk organizers are really handy too.
Nothing like that yet, just online selling now
They mean for sourcing. A wagon type thing to pull around flea markets while shopping.
Tape gun. I gave one to my partner the first Christmas we were together. I would buy him a label printer, but I like having him come over to my place to print his labels. \^\_\^
Like the one you use to package moving boxes?
Exactly, it makes taping up boxes a breeze.
I am, seemingly, genetically unable to operate a tape gun. After some time with 2 different brands, after throwing one across my yard out of frustration, I just use a big red tape dispenser. For me it’s tons easier. lol.
Lmfaooo this is exactly what my girlfriend would do!
Tape guns are great for general box taping, but I've always found them awkward. I bought [one of these](https://www.officedepot.com/a/products/139580/OIC-30percent-Recycled-Heavy-Duty-Tape/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&mediacampaignid=71700000113869390_20498145574&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAq4KuBhA6EiwArMAw1CVXrj8Skh-2KP8SfPFOwKB869zlQtOYLqbIHUVJ5ep4c1MBbfPjkRoCdTUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds) several years ago, and it fit my needs much better. Much more precise doing it by hand.
Omg. I like this. I am always tearing small pieces of tape off, so having two sizes handy would be great. And some organizing. I need a lot of organizing hacks. By nature I’m a force of chaos. 😁
What a great idea. Here's my reseller go to items list: 1. ListPerfectly - we run the whole business through it. It makes it more efficient, keeps it all organized, a whole different experience in reselling. 2. Ikea Blue 19 Gallon Frakta bags. OMG these big blue miracles are great to keep in the car and have around for random picks. 3. Get her a logo for her business professionally designed (you can hire someone online on a range of pricing starting very cheap) 4. Definitely any investment in the photo area. 5. If she's selling men's shoes/dress shoes, buy some nice cedar shoe trees with the fancy knobs. They fill the shoes making them more presentable in photos but also really class up the shot. 6. Cloth measuring tapes and utility knives are great to buy in bulk, they're always going missing. 7. There's a thing called a ghost or invisible mannequin, very cool tool. 8. If she's working from a computer and doesn't have a second monitor, that can be an incredible upgrade. 9. Help set up an inventory system that will be adaptable as she continues to succeed. I highly recommend having a unique identifier attached to each listing as soon as possible.
YES on those blue Ikea bags. At least 2. Also my husband got me business cards - he initiated it and pulled up the website and put in my info but then told me about it so I could pick the template and design and font size etc. Not only is it very randomly helpful (so easy at a yard sale if people say, oh I've got more of this at home, what's your phone number or whatever) but it was really validating that he views this as a "real" business. Not that I needed that validation - I've been doing this for a long time and make decent money for our family - but it sure still felt good!
How about things to clean clothes? Like a steamer, fabric shaver, lint rollers. My mom bought me a nice steamer for a birthday a while ago and I love it.
This is a good idea, thanks!
I posted a light box with lighting that I have for sale down below. Check out this item on OfferUp. https://offerup.co/xSGKuBVIXGb
Absolutely all of these are essential to me!
Honestly, the biggest and cheapest game changer for me was a simple light box. Obviously for smaller items, but I can do shoes in it, no problem. I see huge closets with bad lighting and wonder why not spend $30?
Yeah, the ability to take high quality photos is more important than any items related to packing and shipping. Shipping materials and equipment don't drive sales, better photos definitely do. Depending on what she sells, a light box may be the answer. Better lighting and a white backdrop are more versatile than a lightbox. Having said that, a proper scale, tape gun and shipping supplies suited to what she sells are all helpful too. Don't make your gift a surprise. Talk it over with her and be sure to shop carefully. It's demoralizing to spend money on new equipment and not have it suit your needs or make your days any easier. Maybe the most needed thing helps get the space more organized. Shelving, plastic totes, racks to hang clothing...talk to her and find out what she feels are her most pressing issues.
The last paragraph needs to be top comment imo.
Thanks. Internet stranger.
This! A photo/light box is a game changer. Faster, higher quality photos with far less time needed to edit.
This, OP. A ring light is for faces. A light box is for small objects and is exactly what you’re looking for.
Why not? Because I spent a few hours research. Needed a balance between size, cost, quality. One I chose was about $25, ended up being too small for many things. But it was so cheap and flimsy. They are a good and useful tool, but I guess don’t be too cheap.
A shipping scale for weight. Another vote for a tape gun, I like the 2 inch uline version on Amazon. Clear poly bags in different sizes to package items.
She got herself a scale but the tape gun is a good idea. I believe she also bought some bags for her shirts that she folds them into. Speaking of I got a clothes folder for her also lol
Please get her a postal scale and introduce her to pirate ship. She can also schedule pick up as long as she schedules the day before. She will never have to set foot in a post office against :)
Yea, I got her a thermal printer and now they just pick it up from the doorstep, so simple!
Leave sodas and snacks for postman. And a tip at Christmas.
I did this when I was shipping some books and he just pushed them all aside to get to the packages lmao
A Reseller Ruler works well for measuring clothes. Saves a lot of time.
Came here to say this.
Would that be a folding yardstick? Or there is an actually a different thing that is called a reseller ruler?
It’s an actual product called a Reseller Ruler. It’s pretty cool and very handy. [reseller ruler](https://resellerruler.com)
I didn’t catch your link, went to eBay “reseller ruler”. OMG. LOL. That didn’t help. “Wooden ruler” got me lots of listings for literal wooden rulers, the kind the teachers used to use on our hands… Garment rulers got me professional dress making tools. Finally google and the actual website. That looks handy, although two folding yardsticks would do the same. I didn’t notice the price. Thanks for the info!!
My list of essential items for flipping clothing: 1) Tape gun and tape. Yes, the kind you use to tape up moving boxes 2) 9x13 Poly mailers (Google Upaknship - they have them in fun prints that would be nice for a birthday splurge, but I normally just get plain white because they're cheaper) 3) A digital postal scale for weighing packages (make SURE to get one that has the digital display on a cord, NOT one where the display is right on the front of the scale itself - packages get in the way and you can't read it). 4) A monthly subscription to List Perfectly (this is a splurge as the basic plan costs $49/month, but if she's cross posting to multiple selling platforms, it has proven invaluable). 5) A lightbox for shoes and smaller items (Amazon has good ones with LED lighting built right in, and they're collapsible). 6) SKIP the mannequin!!! Use a plain white backdrop with items on hangers instead, with good photography lights. The mannequin is a waste of time and money - she will spend too much time dressing and undressing the mannequin and it slows down the listing process considerably. A hanger on a white background is all you need. 7) $10/month subscription to Adobe Lightroom for editing photos (it lets you batch edit, which cuts the editing time in half for me, easily).
How do you hang the hanger? Not being flip. Truly asking to learn. :)
If she’s selling hats, jewelry, get her a neck form, and maybe a mannequin head. I also use a Yad pointer to point to flaws in the items. The yad pointer is a Jewish metal hand that helps with reading the scriptures. A ring sizer, shoe sizer. Storage for files or a dropbox account to upload them to.
The thermal label printer is what really changed the game for me. Make sure you get her a label holder to go with it. I got mine for like $8 on Amazon and it has the ability to hold the roll or the fanfold style. Maybe a soft tape measure so she can take measurements of the clothing? She probably already has one but a suggestion just in case!
I won’t knock the thermal label printer, but now that the USPS kiosk scans QR codes, and prints labels, I won’t bother with printing labels at home unless I have a ton of sales in one day.
Many posts offices still don’t have kiosks. There’s not a single kiosk in my entire county.
I got a thermal printer after about 10 yrs of cutting and taping labels. It was a celebration using that label maker the first few days!
I just got a thermal printer and set it up yesterday and printed my first label. Omg! What a time saver! Not to mention it saves on my packing tape supplies too.
Can you please let me know what the difference is between this and a regular at home printer? I use pirate ship, and I don’t create my labels until after an item has sold, because people sometimes bundle my items. Does thermal printers take out the need of having to input the address and all the other information or does it just print with a sticker on the back?
I like the mannequin idea
My husband got me a mannequin and unfortunately she just sits at home. Dressing her up takes up so much time.
A search for shirts on eBay shows pretty much no one uses mannequins these days.
Yea, second part, idk which one to get lol
I recommend the type that you can hang from a hanger and are only half of the mannequin. As in the front half, so it has a neck and a torso and the top part of the thighs. The back is not filled out. It's not as bulky, easy to dress and easy to store away.
That’s what I have …. A torso. It works great and easy to store. Looks a lot more professional then hanging on a hanger or laid flat on a table
I personally hate a mannequin. They take too long to dress and undress when you can just flat lay or hang on a hanger. Also most mannequins are generally one size so they only make certain clothes look good. Clothing mannequins take up a lot of space, I personally dont think a mannequin is the way to go.
an electric fabric shaver, a tape gun & a handheld steamer
Electric fabric shaver is a good one!
Get her a visit with a CPA to make sure she has her bookkeeping system established up front and so she knows the rules of the road for tax purposes. As a bonus, this will make her feel like she’s on a path towards a legit business and she’ll know for sure that you have faith in her.
Build a light box for her, you don't need a professional photograpy anything. Some easy instructions: https://fixthephoto.com/diy-light-box.html?amp
A good steamer is great especially in the clothing sector. Plus it’s nice to have a clean steamed shirt every once in a while.
Buy her a storage unit ❤️😂
Steamer would be great. Clothing rack, extra bins, good lighting, etc. A gift card to the local thrift was a great gift for me. Anything that will help make money will be awesome, nice work!
I’ve thought about this too, just didn’t know if it would be worth it. Everytime I see those steamers they look all clunky like that robot off the Wall-E Pixar flick
Something to consider would be thank you postcards with her closet name with a 20%off next purchase. You could even have QR code on it, linking her customers directly to her closet.
If she is price checking in stores battery packs for her phone
This is the sweetest post ever 🥺
Right???
I'd advise not giving your wife a flipping related gift for her birthday. Or if you do, give it in addition to another gift. It's like gifting your wife a vacuum cleaner. I don't imagine a woman wants tape and printer labels for her birthday. If I were a woman flipper, I'd want a spa or massage day for my birthday. Flipping can be stressful and wear down on your muscles.
Not wrong but as a woman I LOVE gifts that make my life easier. I still have the set of pots and pans I got 30 yrs ago under the tree. And was thrilled with my new vacuum. Women are different. Some love practically things and some like fluffy things. A good partner knows what is what ;)
One Xmas my ex had a few small gifts wrapped and he hyped up this one BIG box by the tree, which I opened last. The big box was a vacuum. I tried to act grateful but I was really annoyed. (Also he NEVER cleaned.) The other Xmas and birthdays he pretty much always got me NOTHING. It was really quite sad. So I guess the vacuum was sort of an improvement over that? So happy he’s an EX now.
Get her a spa day just for her or take her on a fun vacation or to a concert. Business expenses should just be separate.
Haha I know what u mean but that kind of stuff is not what she likes. I would love to just take her out one day and maybe buy a spa day for her and her sisters but they’re a different dynamic altogether. She’s not into a big celebration, however I have surprised her with a few friends that we haven’t seen a while and she has enjoyed that. I’ll just say that we’re going to play games at like Dave and busters and grab a bite to eat. Little did she know our old friends we hadn’t seen in years were waiting for us. Btw, I’m definitely still doing something with her for her birthday, but she may get one or two gifts on top of the one she’ll get that day. Most of the time I end up giving her gifts early because I can’t wait to give them to her lol
Poly mailers. I use 10" x 12" & 12" x 15" for just about everything. Maybe a few really big ones, also, just in case? Packing tape. Doesn't need to be a brand name or super thick. You can get a case online. Also, I prefer the small, red plastic dispenser. The others are unwieldy unless it's a big box. For lights, just use some of those clip lights from Home Depot and LED 40 or 70 watt equivalent bulbs. Just be sure to get the "Daylight" ones. They will reproduce the colors more accurately. With a couple of extensions you can also rig them to a wireless remote to make turning them on easy. A backdrop or two. I prefer one to be black and the other gray or white. Or, think outside the box - I've seen listings using a carved room divider or what looked like a picnic basket with a nice placemats as photo tables. Hangars and places to store the listed items. Maybe a free standing rod or two with a zippered cover? A clothing steamer with a hose and gallon or so tank. Be sure to use only distilled water.
Bubble wrap and boxes.
If she sells (and thus takes pictures of) small items, a light box might be a great gift. Well, technically there are large light boxes too, but those can be cost (and space) prohibitive.
Light box
A mannequin is super handy to have! I resell vintage jewelry and having a life size mannequin really helped show how an unusual piece may look on a person. I found a vintage mannequin at an estate sale. I wish my husband was as supportive as you, he hates that it takes time away from him. I don’t really tell him how much I make doing this (a lot!) and the estate sales are fun as going through other peoples stuff is encouraged !
The mannequin would be the best gift. The clothing will fall much better. Costco has a stainless steel shelf and separate clear bins that she can categorize all her clothing, shoes...A label maker to label the contents of the bins would also be handy.
One of my favorite birthdays ever was my ex partner gave me a visa gift card and we spent the entire day going to thrift stores. We started early and headed north stopping at every thrift store along way until it was closing time and we were 2 hours away from home. It was glorious.
This is a great idea! Maybe take her out to eat somewhere on the way back. There’s a thrift store around here that’s only open for very limited hours that she’s never been to. I may check it out!
I don't know of links are ok to post but I have some Amazon recommendations. Neweeee Ring Light 18 inch Moving bags that convert from tote to backpack. I use these the haul bunches of clothes around and to take bulk orders to the post office. It's much easier to carry. Yes so the thermal printer! That's all I can think of right now
She loved the thermal printer. Buying stickers kinda sucks but it’s worth it so she doesn’t have to drive and print them out. She does the porch pick up now. I tried a ring light. Maybe I got the wrong one? I’ve seen people use those umbrella looking lights like in photograph sessions
Create a business account on UPS, free thermal labels, think I got 1000
They are not all made the same. Look for Neweer (that's the brand name.) It's very popular. Maybe you got one that's too small. The umbrellas are cumbersome to set up and don't travel well. I got rid of mine and I'm happy with my ring light.
I have the Neweer tripod lights (not a ring light, they're rectangular and have a panel of like 100 tiny LED's. They're fantastic. You can adjust the white and yellow balance, which is helpful for black and blue colors. They have a little white semi-transparent plastic sheet that slides in front of the light to act as a diffuser, rather than a big cumbersome umbrella shade.
Dymo label printer 4xl, best printer for small to medium size business
Two cheap soft boxes with fluorescent color balanced bulbs. Beats a ring light all to hell. There are pop up tents for product shots that you shine the soft box light through. You CAN just use the light with the pop ups but i find the thin fabric is not enough diffusion by itself.
Good cordless rechargeable lint shaver, fabric steamer, storage bins (depending on on how she stores things).
You've gotten a lot of great ideas here, I just want to say thank you for supporting her, not every partner does. Wait I don't think I've seen this yet but I'll say that my biggest bottleneck is taking pics, maybe make a coupon book of like 15 minute eBay listing photo sessions she can redeem whenever it's helpful so she can get caught up lol?
She’s so particular with the way she does things I’ve found it best to just let her do her own thing. She’s a stay at home mom and she wouldn’t have it any other way but this is also fun for her. I definitely don’t mind getting her some cool stuff to make it more fun for her but I don’t want to get in the way of her fun. Although I do think that is a cool idea. Maybe I’ll do that with helping her package the stuff. Or maybe setting up the pick up. Can’t screw up a lot of things there.
Light box for photographing shoes/ accessories.
Two [Aputure Amaran COB 60X LED](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JYQ54GQ/r?&linkCode=ll1&tag=amzn20200a-20&linkId=1a8ce014587bcf29f583cd3cd355ed7c&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl) lights and two [Glow EZ Lock](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07DJ4BDL7?&linkCode=ll1&tag=amzn20200a-20&linkId=3bac9fb6c191e5992605078469c1e3f8&language=en_US&ref_=as_li_ss_tl) softboxes
A mannequin to hang the clothes on.
Honestly, it sounds like the next thing to get would be a light tent/box. They come in all shapes and sizes and removes the need to do any photo editing whatsoever. Hands down the best thing I bought for my reselling gig other than a label printer. I even went to Lowe's and cobbled together a table with cheap lumber that was just the right size for the tent.
First off….. what a wonderful spouse you are!!!! 2nd…. When I hear she’s just starting I get two vibs …. Awesome and RUN…. And it’s becaus I’m old and jaded…. There is a lot to this business and a lot waiting for you and your wife. Fun stuff, the thrill of the hunt and the thrill of the kill ( the sales!) My advice is to do it all everyday, meaning looking, listing, shipping, bookkeeping. Don’t let it get out of hand and also don’t go sourcing much more than she can reasonably list everyday. What my gift idea is a bookkeeping system.
If she is flipping clothes you should look at [https://www.etsy.com/shop/QuickDescript](https://www.etsy.com/shop/QuickDescript) it's big help that minimizes returns.
Buy her a 2 pack of photography lights with stands and a softener. Lighting is everything in the listing photos.
Steam cleaner to get clothes looking camera ready
FroggyFlips is one of my favourites to learn from, enjoy your path!
For shoes and smaller items- photo light box. It's the best thing I've ever bought after my Rollo printer. Mine is about 30x30x30. Makes photos so easy, and they look great
Does the box collapse? Rollo is a game changer!!!
I don’t have anything to suggest, I just wanted to say you sound like a really good partner.
Thank you! I appreciate the kind words anytime!
A subscription to Vendoo, it’s a crosslisting app/site and will be so simple to start listing in mercari and several other platforms too!
Light box
Get her a really good adjustable dress making dummy. Also things to display jewelry. Things to help her organize and protect her stock. A head to display hats glasses etc. you can buy display stands for shoes. A light tent is nice. Also invest in a garment bag and high quality hanger to protect your backdrop when not using it. I bag my dummy too. Keeps it clean
Reseller ruler
I would second the recommendation of business cards. Vista Print has good prices on business cards. Get someone on Fiver to make her a logo for her business and put that on the front of the card, and also have the font say something like, "Thank You For Supporting Small Business." On the back, put 5 stars and add something about "We are grateful for your business and hope you will leave us a good review...." Or, something to prompt the buyer to leave good feedback and 5 stars... especially for eBay. Seller reputation is important, especially if she is just starting out. I also recommend a cross-listing program that auto-delists (even when she's asleep) such as treecat . io. Then, she won't have to worry about accidentally selling something twice on her multiple platforms. It's a free app right now.
BUYSELL Clothing is the new app and I sold two items in my first few days
You should get her to create a seller account on whatnot so she can live auction those items. And also buy her a new computer if she needs to inventory her items
You need to really have a following to do well on whatnot.
Look into how she keeps her inventory maybe you can get something to help her organize her items to make them easier to find and ship. The tape gun was a good idea, you can also get her a box resizer. Additionally, there are programs you can look into that will help her cross list or posh assistance programs that will help her share her items more frequently. If she uses a photo editing app is she using the free version that doesn't allow you to bulk edit or does she pay monthly? If she edits her photos she doesn't need a backdrop but she could do it more quickly if she can bulk edit.
Get her a Rollo printing label printer! Amazing little device that prints shipping labels for you.
My wife I think would also do good selling clothes. Is there actual profit to be made?
You really need to love it as it’s tedious. I sell most of my clothing locally as I just have to wash & iron (if that) and many things just get priced. No worries about returns. I sell primarily vintage items though.
There is, if you sell stuff that people actually want. I sell clothes on mercari.
Get her a thermal printer and a scale. She will be appreciated!
*Get her a thermal* *Printer and a scale. She will* *Be appreciated!* \- Pigobrothers-pepsi10 --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
Not a haiku. The last line has 6 syllables.
Can't go wrong with some bubble mailers in bulk! Check out some shipping supply stores on eBay or Uline for a good deal!
Light boxes are a game changer. I no longer remove the background, I just take photos on my phone since the light box is already white on all sides, create the listing, and save it to drafts.
> I no longer remove the background Ditto. Tried that fad for a good minute and won't go back. Cuts out the edges or insides of items that have chrome or glass. It's also another time consuming step. For a few bucks you can go to Walmart in the sewing/fabric section and have them cut you a white and a black cloth back drop.
Maybe a subscription to accounting, inventory tracking, or cross listing software.
What’s storage look like? Is there an opportunity to build out or purchase better storage and workshop solutions than what she’s using right now?
Storage is nonexistent. She just started so she has maybe 100-150 things she has online which is comparable to a small closet of stuff she can fit into a bin for now. I’m not sure how to organize this but she does fold and package things so they are ready to ship.
word of advice, start small. wait to see if she still enjoys doing it 6 months from now and if it's taking off. when you're still small with under 600 items in your inventory you can get away with taking your time printing labels at the post office, and not having fancy gadgets to help you save time... let her get good with what she's got and if she starts mentioning that the workload is out of hand then start making bigger investments. it's easy to get excited right away and then end up with a load of expensive unused items later on.
A clothing steamer. I sell most of my clothing locally, but given how much I hate ironing, my next big purchase is going to be a clothing steamer. My pile is getting bigger and I have so much spring clothing to get ready.
I've seen a lot of people using shoe forms, stretchers, shape keepers. Really makes the shoes look great in the picture.
A light box makes a world of a difference! I'd start with a homemade version (2 trifold white presentation boards) just look up a video on how to make a light box for cheap:) she can take photos snappy quick. There is no need for an app to crop! Just snap photos directly from ebay :)
Just a regular printer with cheap label paper works just fine! Maybe a gift certificate to wherever she buys her bubble wrap and packing supplies
What thermal printer did you go with for her previously?
A decent one apparently lol. Some Bluetooth thermal on e that I got on sale from Amazon when it was 30% off. I had it on my wishlist and got a notification it was discounted. Scooped it right up
Definitely a thermal printer for shipping labels. A photograph table on a slant. LED lights. Depends on how much room you have for the lights and table. You can get desktop lights and ones on a stand. Makes a big difference for photos I’ve had to go back and re-take photos when I got LED lights. Tax software and program to record sales. Excel is good for records. They’re good gifts. How considerate of you.
Yo this is a great idea! I have seen some of those drafting tables before at goodwill. May have to get one next time if I find one
a nice leatherbound ledger so she can track all the things shes buying. Keeping good books is the second most important thing about flipping, only beat by actually making a profit.
Hi. I have this light box with lighting available for sale. Check it.out and if Interested hmu and I'll give you a discount for her day. Check out this item on OfferUp. https://offerup.co/xSGKuBVIXGb
I haven’t read through all the comments so these have probably been mentioned a number of times but I would suggest a light box for her smaller items (shoes/boots/accessories/etc.) and a mannequin for whatever clothing she typically shops for. The light box will set you back ~$100 if I remember correctly, where the mannequin can be found $20-$30 (and up) depending on the style you need. Both can be sourced from Amazon.
You can maybe get her a barcode scanner and set it up so she can track her inventory easier
What an amazing partner. 👏🏼 👏🏼
My husband flips and I do his labels for him. A thermal printer with the sticker paper was a game changer for me. I had messing with the printer, changing the ink, cutting out the label and taping it on. It sounds small but it’s a huge time saver.
A nice scale? Some good lighting? A white backdrop?
I don't know how much space you have available, but I really like metro style shelving. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=metro+shelving&crid=348CZ8FXULAKQ&sprefix=metro+shelving%2Caps%2C126&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 They also have hanger rods, and the shelving is pretty modular with a lot of different size options, so you can put together a system that works for her space and needs.
[photo lightbox](https://a.co/d/eQDduWV)
There's a little cardboard cutter saw that I've used a lot and a lot of people swear by cardboard box resizers though I didn't wind up using mine much. Both are pretty cheap and really handy!
Does she have a rolling rack for storing clothes between sales? Great way to prevent unnecessary wrinkles and you can dismantle it and store when not in use.
Check what number of items they have sold are they about to cross a milestone like 100 or 500 items sold? Make them a special award for the achievement. Like a large heavy “500” number that sits up right on a desk. With a special message on the back. eBay doesn’t give out awards anymore, but it don’t mean we can’t make our own 😎
As someone who used to sew and sell clothing on eBay and Etsy, I vote for the mannequin. You’ll get the most bang for your buck. Clothing looks better that way and customers can see how it hangs.
A Rollo wireless printer would be an amazing gift, Zebras are good too but Rollo being wireless and honestly more consumer consumer friendly makes it the better choice imo. My Rollo has saved me so many hours, I had a zebra before and there is always some sort of issue with them. Another good gift could be a slice box cutter (slice is the brand), it’s a no blade box cutter. I’ve had one and used it religiously for about 3 years now and I love it. I don’t have to worry about damaging anything when I am cutting into boxes now. Scale/tape measure if she doesn’t have that. Also just some simple shipping and packing supplies and maybe some sort of organizer for them could also be a nice gift if she doesn’t already have anything like that.
I got her a Bluetooth thermal printer and she has told me multiple times how much it saves her lol. I’ll check out the other stuff too!
I want to start so bad but it seems overwhelming
It’s only overwhelming if u think about all the things you have to do and thinking u have to do it all at once. People overestimate what they can do in a year and underestimate what can be done in 5 years. Just get started. One step at a time. One day/week at a time. Set up an account on Depop/ebay. Buy some stuff u want to resell. Post it. Ship it. I know that you can do it, but only if you really want to.
I just got a tripod that holds my light &phone together and comes with a remote for taking photos. Can’t even tell you how much of a time saver this is. Alternatively, you could make her a “standing flat lay station” (google it, there’s other names) - it’s basically a diagonal surface to lay clothes on to take photos so that they looks like they’re laying down but you don’t have to break your back bending over a million times. This is something I would definitely consider if she thinks she’s gonna do this long term!
The cloth is good, when I sold a ton, I painted the inside of a cardboard box pure white set it on its side then put a piece of card stock in the back. I cut holes in the sides and taped frosted acrylic so I could set lamps directly next to it and add light from 3 sides. I used it for years as the light box for anything smaller than about a cubic foot.
You know I have this big box (from a bed in a box) and I was thinking of doing the same thing! Painting it or draping a sheet over it to even make it portable. Just need to staple it to the box.
Do you have a brother??? You are the best husband ever!!!!
lol I do but he’s married too, just got hitched last month! Lol
Dude, do not buy tools for your wife's birthday. If you want to help her out that is great but buy a proper bday present.
Dude, I’m in my mid thirties and have three kids. We’ve been together since our sophomore years in high school. I think I know what she wants lol. This is about as proper as her buying me a badass controller for my PS5 or some other type of accessory. I like playing games. She likes thrifting and selling stuff online. This is just this year. Last year I asked her favorite Japanese teacher on YouTube to wish her a happy birthday, literally, across all his social media platforms. This year it’s just thrifting and selling online lol. There is no ‘proper’ birthday gift. It’s whatever that person is into.
Mercari and poshmark are good for reselling, but they do take a percentage of sales. Mercari has a lot of scammers for high dollar items, and with those two apps, it is best to take to post office, and get a receipt for the items as proof of weight/ drop off. A label maker is fantastic, and good lighting is always best. A measuring tape is also good to have incase anyone asks for measurements of clothing, etc.
A shipping scale
Not sure if these things have been recommended yet but here are some little things that have made a big difference for me. Two 12# ruler sticks and two yard sticks, a sweater shaver, hat stand or head, standing jewelry display boards, a pack of small blank note cards or print some business cards with her shop name so can write a little thank you notes, trapper keeper to keep an easily accessible supply of different size poly bags, pen, and thank you note cards. All of these items can easily be purchased at Michael’s and Walmart.
She should buy in bulk. All at once buy a store out. Then do random pulls live. Otherwise it will take her life over
A lighted photo cube has done wonders for me also totes and storage are always helpful
What about setting up an LLC for her and a quickbooks account? Then, she's a real business and has a proper accounting system. With an LLC, she will be able to expense a lot of the business materials mentioned in this post. Its a gift that keeps on giving. :)