Entries from February 2008 ↓

Colette: Today we're taking a closer look at what resellers should look for when sourcing liquidated merchandise with Chad Maslak, President of Surplus2Profits.com.

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Colette: Thanks for joining us today. I'm Colette Marshall, Worldwide Brands Marketing Director. Unfortunately, Chris is out today, he has caught a case of the flu. Seems to be a lot going around this time of year. Liquidation presents a great opportunity for online sellers looking to see some serious profit margins, but you really have to know what you're doing or you can really get burned. So today we're talking with Chad Maslak of Surplus2Profits.com about what his own extensive was placed with liquidation sourcing has taught him and about what to do and what not to do when buying surplus goods.

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Whether he knows it or not, [tag]Seth Godin [/tag]has summed up exactly what happened to eBay.

They started crisp, they added lots of things to the site, and rose quickly like a hot air balloon. Then they started to go "Holy crap! What if somebody screws this up?"

The problem is, a hot air balloon is never still, unless it's on the ground. It is always moving - and the [tag]eBay [/tag]community likes the status quo.

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With all the hubbub over the recent changes still being debated, cooler heads are starting to prevail. Many bloggers such as Randy Smythe and Gary at The Auction Rebel are suggesting eBay may be around for awhile. Whew!

Randy brought up an idea that has been kicked around by us armchair quarterbacks for some time. Would eBay be better as two sites? One would have the collectibles, and one would have the practicals, or new merchandise. Interesting thought, but not likely.

But could the sellers effectively "split" the site themselves? It seems many are taking stabs at other auction sites, although with little success so far. eBay is still the best venue for these items. They have the traffic, the "critical mass" is still decidedly eBay's. Even if I sell on other sites, like Amazon, I will list my collectibles on [tag]eBay[/tag].

Speaking of [tag]Amazon[/tag]...

If you are a seller of newer goods, with UPC or IBSN numbers, you can take them to Amazon quite easily. Many sellers appear to be doing this. By doing so, could they be doing what eBay won't do for itself? Splitting the site in two?

For now at least, the most powerful decision sellers have over their eBay existence, is what they sell and where they sell it.

Use eBay for the good parts, and toss out the rest. Quit complaining and go sell stuff...somewhere.

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[tag]Super Tuesday[/tag] is here and people are [tag]voting[/tag] in 21 states across the nation. I have used Terapeak to track [tag]eBay[/tag] sales related to the various candidates throughout the past several months. In doing so, I've seen a very interesting trend over the past month. (See the chart below)

Barack pulls way ahead of Hillary

Throughout the entire year, [tag]Hillary Clinton[/tag] supporters or fans have kept her name at the top of the list with the highest number of listings, sell-through rate, and total sales. In the month of January though, [tag]Barack Obama[/tag] has swamped her on eBay. Over twice as many listings, 10% higher sell-through rate, higher average price, and $15,000 higher total sales. Wow. Talk about a surge, Mr. Obama even beat Ron Paul, and Hillary only did that once. This surge of support for Barack Obama has me predicting he will be the overall winner at the end of the day today, and ultimately receive the Democrat nomination for president.

Ron Paul still ahead, bless his heart

[tag]Ron Paul[/tag] has led one of the most interesting campaigns I've ever seen. His supporters are fascinating. They have used eBay in ways no other presidential campaign ever has. More than any other candidate, his supporters have used eBay to sell campaign materials supporting their man. They've been amazing.

The actual results though, show he doesn't have much of a chance at really receiving the nomination. So although he's been on top of the Republican list all year, I'm looking further down the list.

[tag]Mike Huckabee[/tag] has also had a following on eBay, but again, looking at the situation so far this year and the states since Iowa I have to say there hasn't been much new movement. I'm moving down the list to [tag]John McCain[/tag].

McCain has had the biggest surge in eBay activity over the past month. In fact I actually took him off the list at one point because I thought he was about to pack up and quit. So to see him have over a thousand listings to his name, with a 55% sell-through rate is pretty impressive. I think things are building for John McCain. I predict he'll squeak by tonight when all the votes are in.

[tag]Mitt Romney[/tag] continues to be the most boring candidate left. With a 39% sell-through rate, I won't be buying any Mitt Romney merchandise just yet for resale on eBay. It's ironic too - since he, Meg, and [tag]John Donahoe[/tag] are acquaintances. Is Mitt getting the eBay seller backlash? Could eBay's recent changes have shifted the [tag]Presidential Race[/tag] and ultimately changed world history? Oh the humanity!

Here's the chart:

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Colette: The biggest question on everyone's mind in home-based internet business is "where do I find products to sell?" Well, you find them right here on our show. Every week we interview a genuine wholesale supplier that we have fully verified and listed in OneSource at worldwidebrands.com which you can use for your own home-based internet business. Today we're speaking with John Conners, Sales Manager of LA Baby Company. You can find them online at LABabyCo.com.

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Colette: We're speaking with Lisa Suttora of WhatDoISell.com about the latest product sourcing trends that affect your eBiz.

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Colette: Today we're taking a closer look at tapping into new evolving product markets with Lisa Suttora, founder of WhatDoISell.com.

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Colette: Thanks for joining us today. I'm Colette Marshall, Worldwide Brands Business Development Manager. I'm in for Chris Malta and Robin Cowie. You know, every year we see new trends driving product sales and every month or product trending editor, Lisa Suttora, of WhatDoISell.com, brings us the latest in consumer product trending news. Last month Lisa profiled five of the top new product trends and developments for 2008 and today she is back to continue telling us what consumers are going to be buying this year.

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Yesterday I needed something from the hardware store. In my small town, there is a Home Depot and at the opposite end of town, a locally owned hardware store.

I would rather go to the "hometown" store to shop. It feels like a hardware store instead of a warehouse, which is good. However, I couldn't help noticing that when I go there I get a negative feeling about it. In fact, I actually sneak in through the garden section when I go there.

The reason is, I like to browse. I love to browse. I like to know what they have on the shelves so when I need a certain thing, I can go there and buy it. But before I get ten feet inside the store, employees start asking me questions. "Can I help you find something today?" or "What can I help you find?" So, either I tell them, and they walk me to the item or I tell them I'm just browsing and they leave me alone.

Unfortunately (I guess), the other half dozen staff members throughout this small store do not know about the exchange I've just had with their colleague. So every time I encounter another one, I have to go through the same routine. It gets to the point that I feel I have to get what I need and get the heck out. They literally smother the shopping spirit. They are really, really nice. But if I could just browse in peace, I would buy more stuff.

On the other hand, at Home Depot, I see the elusive people with the orange aprons, and need help in that cavernous warehouse - but by the time I get to where I saw the person last, they are gone. That is the other side of the customer service experience.

Where is the balance? And is there a comparable online experience? We know what bad customer service is, but can a person be smothered with good customer service in the online world?

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