I Hit the Inventory Motherlode (and Other Details)

Just as I was moaning about running out of inventory I discovered an untapped source of promising eBay items: my baby brother.  Remember how Saturday I was blogging from my Blackberry because I was my way to Charlottesville?  Well, the trip turned out to be more profitable than I expected!

My brother is a Junior at University of Virginia.  Like most Juniors at University of Virginia and universities all over the world, he's put on a few pounds since he started school.  More than a few.  Furthermore, like most college Juniors it had been a looong time since he'd cleaned out his closet.  It took little convincing to relieve him of several nearly intact J. Crew button down shirts, one pair of dress slacks, three pairs of cargo pants and a suit jacket.  Little does he know the J. Crew shirts alone are worth about $50!

I know what you're thinking.  How could I take advantage of my little brother that way? :)  Don't worry, he'll definitely get a cut, I just don't want him to flip out when I list his shirts for 99 cents and free shipping!

But that's not all.  On the way home, my husband and I were talking about my new venture into men's clothing, and for the first time he let me clean out HIS closet.  I found a pair of Salvatore Ferragamo dress shoes in GREAT shape that never fit him properly, listed them as soon as we got home and SOLD THEM the same night.  Then, inspired by these new finds, I gave my own closet a once over, just one more time, to see whether I'd missed anything the last time I was hunting for inventory.  I found two tops, a pair of Manolo Blahnik slingbacks I haven't worn in over a year and a pair of Kate Spade suede pumps that have graced my feet a grand total of twice.  I plan on listing them tomorrow night.

All in all, I think there's a pretty good lesson here to add to the list.  It goes something like this:

eBay Lesson Number (what number were we on?): If you think you've completely cleaned out your closet, think again.  If you've really totally and completely cleaned out your closet, clean out your family's closet.  There's stuff to sell EVERYWHERE, and just because you can't use something doesn't mean there aren't thousands of buyers out there who can.

Check out my updated earnings - closing in on that $300 mark. :)