I Still Heart Vintage Valentines

Well, it's now April, and antique and vintage Valentines are still selling! They were one of my best sales categories the last three months. I absolutely love vintage Valentines and enjoy scanning them, researching them, and listing. A tip for sellers or collectors -- maker of Valentines is all-important. If the Valentine is an older Carrington or Beistle or Whitney, collectors will want to know this. With newer cards, you will want to mention A-Meri-Card or Hallmark.

Here are my Valentines, if you'd like to take a look:

http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Birdhouse-Books__W0QQ_sidZ81052548?_nkw=Valentine*

Interview with Kat of Katskloset

I enjoyed visiting with Kat and learning more about her successful eBay business!

Your eBay name: katskloset

Link to your store: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Kats-Kloset__W0QQ_armrsZ1

Link to your blog: http://therivertheranchandthebay.com/ and http://ebayinginthesprings.blogspot.com/

What first sparked your interest in eBay? TY Beanie Babies - buying and then Selling

What do you sell? I'm a trading Assistant, so my inventory is always changing. A Few constants are The Bearington Collection, WebKinz by Ganz and Camille Beckman

Where do you find the items you sell? From Consignors, I do some drop shipping and have a few Wholesale Suppliers

What advice would you have for a new seller? Just Do It!

How did you come up with the name of your eBay store? I just Love Alliteration! But I wish I'd thought about how hard it would be to teach people to spell Closet with a Kay, LOL

Dog-Gone Cute: Tips for Listing Vintage Dog Ephemera

One of my favorite collecting - and selling - areas is vintage ephemera. I particularly love vintage dog ephemera.

I collect vintage Dachshund ephemera (especially Valentines and Christmas cards) but that is another blog entry - or perhaps a whole separate blog!

I love the cute, often whimsical vintage dog illustrations, of course. But it is also fun to peek into another time and see people with their pets.

My axiom as an eBay seller has always been: if it has a dog, mention the dog. Prominently. In the title and in the description.

I also recommend being as specific as possible -- not just Cute Dog Card, but Cute Poodle Card, or better yet, Cute BLACK STANDARD POODLE Card.

Although I started on line selling vintage children's books (and that will always be my first love), over time I've also come to really enjoy vintage ephemera. I have a big box of it here waiting to be listed (perhaps 400 - 500 pieces). It's a little like a treasure hunt; you never know what goodies you will find!

I certainly hope there are more vintage dogs waiting for me in my ephemera box.

A few of the dog postcards, Valentines and greeting cards I have listed online:

http://search.stores.ebay.com/Birdhouse-Books_dog-cocker-beagle-poodle-puppy-puppies-dogs-card-valentine-postcard_W0QQfcdZ2QQfciZQ2d1QQfclZ3QQfromZR10QQfsnZBirdhouseQ20BooksQQfsooZ2QQfsopZ2QQsaselZ81052548QQsatitleZQ28dogQ2ccockerQ2cbeagleQ2cpoodleQ2cpuppyQ2cpuppiesQ2cdogsQ29Q20Q28cardQ2cvalentineQ2aQ2cpostcardQ29QQsbrsrtZdQQsofpZ0

A Visit with Dar, the Glass Guru

I enjoyed visiting with Dar, the Glass Guru. She has great knowledge of vintage glass, and has helped me identify items I wanted to list. (Thanks, Dar!)

Dar's eBay link: http://stores.ebay.com/Dars-Glass-and-More?refid=store

Dar's Blog link:
http://darsayre-theglassguru.blogspot.com/

What sparked your interest in selling on eBay?
I inherited a lot of glass and antiques. Selling locally didn't give me a good price for my glass, because the places around here wanted to pay pennies for it. Plus, selling on eBay opened up an entire world to sell to. So I sold all the glass I didn't like or want and bought glass and items I did want for my collections.It was the best of both worlds!


What do you sell?
I sell glass, but learned early on that I needed to branch out with items that a lot of different buyers would like, so I started selling just about anything I think will make money and also items I personally look for when I am buying.


Where do you find the items you sell?
I find items on eBay cheaper from buyers who don't know what they have. This lets me get it much cheaper and allows me to resell higher. I also look at yard sales , thrift stores, antique shops.


What advice do you have for a new seller?
My best advice for a new seller is first, sell what you know about. Write a good description and take fantastic pictures...I know when I am buying the pictures sell the item. Good pictures are a must!


How did you name your store?
My eBay store name was mainly my nickname and what I sell, but had to add the "more" because I don't sell JUST glass anymore.

Meet Marshell, Successful Bonanzle Seller

Today I'd like to introduce my friend Marshell, who is successfully selling at new sales venue Bonanzle.

Link to your store: http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/JimmyandMarshell

Link to your blog: http://jimmyandmarshell.blogspot.com/

What first sparked your interest in eBay? As far as Bonanzle goes, it was the newness, the ease in which one can list. I love the whole site.

What do you sell? Collectibles

Where do you find the items you sell? Everywhere! Yard sales, flee markets, "junk" stores...sometimes folks just give me stuff...friends, relatives; you name it!

What advice would you have for a new seller? Take your time...READ! Read EVERYTHING, with no exceptions. This is your JOB...and your LIFE...make it right the first time. As long as you keep reading, you will keep understanding, and there will be no surprises...but, if you skim through, thinking I'll join now, and read later? NO! Read it now!Trust me, it'll do your business good!

How did you come up with the name of your eBay store? Jimmy and I started selling online, and it just became our "brand" name. I figured folks would be more confident in buying from 2 real people, rather than from one woman or a pic of nothing...I know I would be.