The Secret to Getting Designer Shoes Cheap

You guys all know I make a small profit on the shoes I sell online.  That's the business I'm in.  And as expensive as many of these shoes seem, most of my prices reflect a 70% discount, even after I've incorporated eBay fees and a small profit into the price.

I mentioned before in this post that there are a few very easy things you can do to get shoes at a steep discount.  Today I'm going to give you a real life example of how I got $900 shoes for $240.  I won't tell you which shoes, but let's just say it's a shoe that's been among my eBay items, either past or present.

I visit my secret supplier just about every other weekend.  Once there, I scout the shoe section for shoes in desirable - but most importantly - well known designer brands.  The place I visit generally has ongoing discounts as well as regular-price items (which are already discounted off the original retail price, but still not discounted enough).  Brands I look for include Louboutin (always on the lookout for red soles!), Blahnik, Choo, Gucci, Prada, Zanotti, and to a lesser extent Kate Spade, Tory Burch, and other contemporary non-premium designers.  Once in a while, an Alaia will catch my attention and I'll consider getting one (I have two in my stores right now), but as premium as Alaia shoes are most people who shop on eBay don't recognize the brand.

A few weeks back  I spotted one very desirable shoe in a good size still at regular price.  The shoe was $400, marked down from $900.  Still too expensive for me to resell, since I'd have to sell them for close to $500 - less than 50% off - to make a profit on eBay.  However, it was a shoe that I knew wouldn't last long, so I had to be willing to take a risk if I was going to let it go.  I also know that my secret supplier regularly gets good, discounted shoes in this brand, and that if I set this one free another one would come along shortly.  Finally, I also knew that, with the 4th of July coming up, a sale had to be just around the corner.

So I waited.  Bided my time, if you will.  Finally, about a week into my wait I received a coupon in my inbox for my secret supplier. 40% off for two days only.   I also received an invitation to participate in their 4th of July sale - 30% off your entire purchase.  Sadly I couldn't combine the two offers, but the emails did give me an idea for the time frame for purchasing my shoe.  At that point, I knew it was time to act BEFORE the hordes descended onto my secret supplier for the 30% off sale and discovered my previous shoes.  The day BEFORE the sales and the coupon period were about to start, I called the store and asked to speak to a Sales Associate I work with often.  I told her I wanted to come down that night and buy the shoe and could she please set it aside for me.  She agreed, of course, but let me know she could only hold it until the end of the day.

Now, since I frequent my secret supplier so often, I knew what would happen to my shoes once the store closed.  They would stay in a "hold" drawer behind the cash register overnight, and be put back on the racks first thing in the morning.  So at 11:01 - one minute after the store opened - on the day my coupon became valid I called the store again and asked if my shoes were still there.  They were, of course, otherwise I wouldn't be telling you this story.  I asked whether I could but them over the phone and use my coupon.  And of course, I could.  The fate of the shoes?  They came home with me, and lived happily ever after, for $240.

The End

For the Love of All That's Holy, Don't Pay Retail!!

One of the questions I get most frequently from people who read my blog is "who is your secret supplier?"  What if I told you there's absolutely nothing special about my "secret supplier" and that if you wanted to you could get the same kinds of things I get for CHEAPER than my asking price?

The shoe in the picture is a Christian Louboutin Declic 90 mm in a black patent.  It retails for $675 at Saks, Barneys and Neiman Marcus.  These shoes sell out quickly and never go on sale.

A while back, when I first started buying designer shoes to resell on eBay and Bonanzle, a friend of a friend (let's call her Maria) contacted me about the first pair of Louboutins I had for sale.  They weren't what she was looking for, but she wondered whether I could help her find a black Louboutin pump with a relatively low heel for less than the retail price.

Without giving away trade secrets, I located the gorgeous pair you see here from a seller abroad, had them shipped over and then sold them to Maria for about $100 less than retail.  I've had them authenticated TWICE, with the same results - 100% authentic.  And I made money.  Not huge buckets of money, but a little money.  Best of all, I had a great time trying to figure out how on earth I was going to get the shoes that never go on sale, well, on sale.

The truth is I've developed a knack for hunting things down and figuring out a system to obtain a discount. Which got me to thinking.  What if my next venture were to write an e-book about how to get discounts on expensive items?  It's not an elaborate system, but it does take time and persistence.  Since you guys have been supporting me all this time, here are a few tips:

1) Sign up for the email list to Off 5th (Saks), Last Call (Neiman), Nordstrom Rack, and any other brand that you're a fan of.  The stores will then send you information about upcoming promotions, as well as coupon you can use to get even better prices on your purchases.  It doesn't matter if you don't live close to the outlets.  Most shops will allow you to buy things over the phone and ship them to you for a low fee.  Once you've identified an item you want, call around, use your discounts and buy your item for 75% off.  Woohoo!

2)  Check eBay, Bonanzle, and if you live in the United States, Craigslist!!  You can use this link here to search all of Craigs, and despite the fact that Craiglist encourages users to trade locally, you can still safely purchase things from willing sellers and protect yourself from fraud by using Paypal and a credit card to complete your purchase.  Have the seller send you an invoice through Paypal with a detailed description of the item you're purchasing.  If something goes wrong you have the option of filing a case through Paypal, or even better, requesting a chargeback through your credit card.

3) Hoard coupon codes.  Right now I'm sitting on coupon codes from Piperlime, Endless, Banana Republic, Neiman Marcus Direct and a few other online retailers.  Using these coupon codes will allow me to buy hard to find items that never hit the sales racks at a discount.

4) Email me! :)  I may not be able to help you find what you're looking for, but I'd be more than happy to give it a shot!

I'm Officially LEGIT - My First Joint Venture!

I've been keeping secrets from you.  Now that we know each other better, I think I might be ready to share.  My "secret supplier" is actually the clearance rack at a local factory outlet, which is why I am SO excited about what I'm about to tell you.

For the longest time, I've been an admirer of a really trendy but small designer and importer of luxury handbags called Kalah.  They have an INCREDIBLE collection of bags and accesories, all hand made in Nicaragua.  I learned about them because the owner and designer is a friend of mine's sister-in-law, and my friend was always sporting the most envy-inducing bags, including the one you see in the right.

Well, since Kalah is a small but growing brand, and considering I have a small "in" with the owner, I thought I might have an opportunity to sell some of their bags on eBay or Bonanzle (and maybe get a couple for myself at a reduced price - wink wink).  They have all the qualities of an eBay best seller:

1) They're unique.

2) They are reasonably priced.

3) They're one size fits all.

Well, I spoke to Kalah's owner this afternoon and GUESS WHAT???  She's willing to let little old me carry some of her products in my stores!  Up until now, I've managed to procure my items either by selling my own stuff or my friends' stuff, or by reselling at a mark-up things I buy from the clearance racks and outdoor markets, so as you can imagine the profit I can fairly collect is minimal.  I've said it before and I'll say it again - for me, the secret to selling on eBay has been not to get greedy. 

So you can image how thrilled I am to finally get a legit supplier, and for a super high quality product to boot!  Plus, what I love most about this joint venture is that because I am a wholesaler I can offer these bags at a modest mark-up and still boast absolutely fantastic prices on a great, great item.  It's win-win...win!

Wish me luck!!!  I'm sure you'll hear about how this goes!

Big Apple Shopping Extravaganza

I'm going to New York tomorrow to find a new secret supplier.  The old one is getting - well, old.  Any requests for new kinds of stuff I should get for the store(s)?

MM - Your black Louboutins are still my #1 priority!

Busy Day in eBayland

I think I went a little overboard with the inventory.  The bad thing about having this eBay business is that it gives me a good excuse to go shopping, which I get an HUGE rush from.  You know that first Shopaholic book?  That is so me.  I had completely weened myself off the shopping but now I get to do it because it MAKES me money. :)  Anyway, went back to the secret supplier today (read: pusher!) and got three more pairs of shoes.  I couldn't resist, they were GIVING them away!  Here are a few more pictures of the things I'll be listing tonight:

I would usually wait to list these things throughout the week but eBay is offering free auction style listings, and today is the last day to take advantage of the promotion.  This is an obscure fact that only eBay sellers know but eBay gives auctions higher visibility over Buy It Now items, but charges higher fees for listing auctions that start high.  It's a catch-22: if you want buyers to see your item and pay fewer fees you have to list them for a very low price and risk taking a loss.  Meanwhile, if you list at a fixed price you minimize your risk of taking a loss but maximize your risk of not selling your item, since fewer buyers will see it.  Needless to say, I will be taking FULL advantage of eBay's promotion tonight!

I Think I Died and Went to Shoe Heaven

I got here yesterday and I'm leaving within the next hour, but I couldn't come to California and not go check out a new secret supplier.  After my business meeting today I drove about an hour south of the city today to visit an outlet in this area.  I didn't think it would be worth it, but wanted to give it a shot.

HOLY BONANZA, Batman!  I've never seen so many cheap red soles together in the same place.  AND I made friends with the shoe section manager, who said she would keep me updated on new styles that come into the store.

Woohoo!!

Evaluating My Progress - 56 Stars Later

It's been a while since I sat down and re-evaluated my progress. When I first started this blog I had a measely 25 stars under my belt, and while I still only have a measely 81 positives, a lot has happened since you and I first met.

Remember my eBay accounting post, where I talked about conversion rates, margins and profit per item?  I was selling $10 items for $8 in profit back then.  My first big profit item was that skirt you see on the right - I made $18!  There was no "secret supplier," no CAMERA, no Facebook page, no Bonanzle and dirty carpeting gallore.  And after all this, where have I landed?  Well, I'm making more revenue, that's true, but what about profits?  And margins?  And conversion rates?

Back of the envelope, I would say my conversion rate has dropped to about 50%.  Half my items sell, but the other half doesn't.  Not surprising, considering not everyone can plunk down $200 on a pair of shoes.  However, my profit per item has increased from $9 to roughly $35, and I'm now selling an average of 15 items per month.  What's interesting though is that I've also started to develop a side business of finding things for people OFF eBay, which combines the two things I enjoy most about this venture - customer service and SHOPPING.

I'm currently working on three projects, with varying degrees of difficulty.  They all involve locating specific types of ladies shoes to sell to friends old and new.  And while I'm never going to become a millionaire in this line of business because I don't yet have the resources to find things cheap enough to add a good mark-up and still offer the people I'm helping a good deal, I can't begin to tell you how satisfying this is for me!  I LOVE the challenge of tracking down exactly that thing that will make my customer happy.  I looooove figuring out how I'm going to do it, where I'm going to find it, what strategy I'm going to use.  It's almost like a riddle, and I've always been obsessed with riddles.

Am I making a ton of money?  Not yet.  Do I have my ups and downs?  Yup.  Do I sometimes feel like this is a wasted effort?  You bet.  And then I make that sale, or find that thing, or get good feedback, or get a new blog visitor, and it makes my day.

Some bloggers celebrate their 100th post.  My 100th post came and went, business as usual, but given how far we've come, I'm thinking we've got to set something up to celebrate my 100th feedback whenever that happens.  After all, who else would I celebrate that milestone with if you not you, who have stuck it out with me since my $9 item days?

Thanks guys. Thanks for your support.

Say Hello to Mr. Choo. Jimmy Choo.

Black Jimmy Choo Cutout Pump in 38.5

I went to a store secret supplier I don't normally go to on Weds and found these beauties waiting for me.  I've also just purchased my fourth pair of Louboutins, in shocking pink.  They'll be here sometime next week.  I'll post pictures once I get them. :)

I'm posting these on eBay tonight but as always if any one of you wants them do email me and the blog-reader discount will apply.

Oh yes, and the carpet is back.  I didn't have time last night while my son was wrestling me for the camera and trying to get to the shoes (which he calls "pates" for the Spanish word for shoes - zapatos) to lay out the construction paper.

Buy Low, Sell High ... or Something Like That

Driving out to the outlets every weekend is getting old, and truth be told my secret supplier works really well for shoes but hasn't proven to be as reliable for clothes.  I'd really like to start selling slightly trendier items than Banana Republic, so I've been looking into options for sources of other popular brands of clothing.

To that end, I've been combing eBay for lower-priced items from inexperienced sellers whose listings might not attract as many buyers as Powersellers or other high-volume eBayers.  Soooo, I dug through a few of the eBay categories and tracked a couple of things down, the most promising of which is this dress:

Go to the Listing

I personally think it's HOT, and very well priced (let's see if it stays that way though).  What do you guys think?  If I put this up for sale, would you go for it?  And is so, how much would you pay?

On Hiatus

Hey guys!  I know, I know, it's been a while.

I'm going on a short hiatus from the blog.  I'll still be working on my projects over this weekend and for those of you working with me I will have updates on Monday.  After that I'm going on a business trip to Mexico City so I'll kind of be out of pocket.

Unfortunately my business trip is going to put a serious damper on my shopping activities.  My secret supplier invited me to a super special event to celebrate their new arrivals on October 27th.  I was invited to come to the store 1 hour before opening to get my pick of the best stuff.  Sadly I will be in Mexico that day so no special event for me.  Hopefully there will be SOMETHING left for me to buy after I return even if I can't go on the first day.  Ack.

Wish me luck and I'll speak to you all soon!

Thank You for Sticking With Me!

My first post was entitled eBay Startup - The Road to 50, in reference to the little number that appears next to your eBay username totaling the number of pieces of positive feedback you have received.  At that point I had around 25 feedback, and I was still focusing on selling my own pre-owned clothes, as well as my son's.  My goal was to reach 50 points - a prospect that seemed as reachable as the moon.

The big realization came very soon thereafter.  I was making an average profit of $9 per item, and given the constraints on my time unless I could signifiantly increase my profit per item this business wouldn't even pay for a night out at the movies.  That's when I found the Secret Supplier, and started seriously investing in inventory.

That's also around the time I started making new friends. I wanted to take a moment to thank some of the people who have been here since the beginning, even though I'm afraid I may inadvertently leave someone important out!  If I do, please call me out on it!

• Allie and MM.  MM is one of the best customers EVER, and one of my first off eBay buyers.  Allie has a fantastic eye for what to put in the store - every item she's suggested or given me to sell my store has been unbelievably popular.  Both have gone out of their way to help me succeed, in more ways than I can count. Thanks for your support, guys!
• Tammy from This Mama Works It. Fellow eBay mama and awesome blogger.  I've learned a TON from Tammy over the last few months.  Still your biggest fan, Tammy!  Thanks for continuing to read after all this time.
• Anna Shoesmitten. Anna is a fellow Guiseppe Zanotti and Christian Louboutin lover and a great customer.  She's been very generous in helping publicize my store, and I just can't say enough good things about her blog!  She also introduced me to Shoehunting.com, just about my favorite site to gawk at shoes!
• My blog readers, known and unknown.  I hope you don't mind my calling you out, but special thanks to "Hollywood Maryland", "Equatorial Guinea" and "Pittsburgh Pennsylvania".  I don't know who you are or how you found me, but you've been around for a very long time and for some inexplicable reason you keep coming back!  Thank you!  I'd also mention "San Jose California" but they haven't come back in a while, and I kind of suspect that was eBay spying on me anyway.  And of course, my friend D, just about the most loyal reader EVER.

Happy Halloween!

I'm back in town and trying desperately to recover from a marathon 3 and a half days in Mexico.  I'm trying really hard to get back into the swing of my business, and even went to see my secret supplier for a short while on Saturday to check whether there were any good goods left over from the special event on the 27th.  There were (lots of Prada, YSL, Manolo Blahnik, even some Louboutin), but my heart just wasn't in it.  I ended up buying a pair of flats for myself that I was seriously needing and putting a pair of shoes on hold for a friend of mine.

There were about three or four other places I should have visited to complete the rounds but my son was invited to a birthday party and I couldn't resist considering how cute I knew he would look in his penguin costume.  I did put in a few hours today shopping for some of my favorite clients, but I rarely find good deals online.

Finally, I've still got two pairs of Louboutins on eBay that haven't sold - one because they're a small size (6.5) and one because it's a wedge (people who pay over $300 for a pair of shoes generally want you to be able to tell they paid $300 for a pair of shoes - you can't see the red soles on the wedges).  I've also got a pre-owned Gucci bag for sale, so we'll see how I do this week.  Nothing like a good bidding war to get the adrenaline pumping again. :)

Good night, everyone!  Wish me luck on my first full week back!