Back in the saddle

No, not riding horses - although I'd like to!

I'm getting back to my ebay business. I've found a new way to create my listings that works better with my crazy day-job schedule, and my kids' needs too.

On the weekend - usually Sunday afternoon - I take pictures.

When I have 30 free minutes at lunch time during the week, I create a basic listing for an item or two. The pictures and initial descriptions are wrong...but at least the listing is up!

That night, I spend another 30 minutes once the kids are in bed making changes to my new listings - changing the picture links, adding measurements, and so on.

It's slow, granted...but 2 or 4 listings a week is better than nothing!

Of course, this works because right now I have a backlog of inventory that needs listed - both consignment items from family, as well as my own purchases. Once that inventory runs out, I'll have to find time to shop again. But I'm not going to worry about that right now!

And don't even ask me about my jewelry making...

Ouch

So I'm doing my 2008 taxes this weekend. The personal part isn't so hard - two W-2s, some mortgage statements, few goodwill receipts.

The business part however...wow. I've easily spent 4 hours putting everything together (s0 far), and along the way, I've noticed the following:

1. The first half of the year was OK. My total sales and profits were on track to beat 2007.

2. Starting around August, everything tanked. Views and sales were DOWN. Big time.

3. Averaging the year out, my net profit actually shrank $2, about 10%.

So I'm starting to wonder...should I keep going? I'm going to report a loss for 2008 - I can deal with that, since it includes things like vehicle depreciation that don't really hit my wallet. But at what point do my profits become small enough to make this not worth my while?

You'd think that a resale business would do well right now - everybody wants a bargain, right? But I have two major problems going on. For one, more people are shopping "my" thrift stores, so there's less good inventory available. And for two - people are seriously bargain hunting. It's not enough that a brand new, designer pair of shoes is listed for 20% of original retail - darn it, that's still $50! They want it for $45, or $40...or even $20.

For the moment, I still enjoy my bargain and thrift hunting - so I'll keep at it. (And the jewelry business will stay open, just because I enjoy creating so much)

My Divided Time

So, for those who don't read this blog regularly....I'm a busy lady.

I have a day job as an engineer - no stress there. Ha.

I have 4 great kids, all elementary school age.

I also have my own business - running both eBay auctions and an Etsy store.

eBay is our "fun" money generator. I go shopping, sometimes alone, sometimes with kids, then post my great finds (new and used) and make a little extra money. Last year we used the money to visit Disneyland. This year...well, to be honest, part of that money is going to bills of various kinds.

Etsy is my release - I make jewelry to relax, and express myself. That people want it enough to buy it is wonderful, but mostly it self sustains. That is, I use my Etsy profits to make more jewelry.

Except that...both eBay and Etsy have slowed down in sales. And my time has more demands this fall. So I find myself putting what little energy I have into the eBay business...and neglecting my jewelry.

Not that I don't have ideas - I sure have tons of them! I just can't seem to carve enough time to finish anything! I have a bracelet, a ring, and a pendant all semi-done. Ugh.

Oh well. In the grand scheme of life, this isn't such a terrible thing. I'm sure I'll get back to jewelry soon...and with the time for jewelry, will hopefully come time for blogging again!

Yah for new Business Cards!

I'm inordinately please by this...I feel like Steve Martin in the Jerk..."The new phone books are here, the new phone books are here!"



But...here's my new business cards, professional printed and everything! (Bit washed out by the flash....and that's my 5 year old holding it)