Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: geefree on December 27, 2010, 09:48:15 am

Title: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: geefree on December 27, 2010, 09:48:15 am
Just wondering if anybody sells anything through an e commerce store as a second income,

After this winter, i want to prepare properly for next year,....

i know it wont make me a millionaire lol , but a few extra quid all helps,

does anyone else have an online store and sell on ebay?
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Poles R Us on December 27, 2010, 09:52:56 am
i sell velcro on ebay.........

Item number: 320631346510   paste this number in ebay search then look at other items.

ive just started selling carp & pike rod bands  put them on last night.
 im trying to  think of something for wfp with the velcro. ???
the only thing is something to strap the poles together for storage .
i do self adhesive and sew on VELCRO black and white.

i do a dual lock too very strong.


http://www.indigo.co/ecom-prodshow/3m-duallock-dual-lock-reclosable-fastener.html
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Nathanael Jones on December 27, 2010, 10:06:32 am
My wife sells organic soaps online.

Its a new business so the income is minimal to be honest,.. but hopefully by next winter it'll be enough to take some pressure off!
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Poles R Us on December 27, 2010, 10:10:23 am
same here nathanael , good luck with it.
i herd it takes 3 years for any business to get going .
i too only started about 2 months ago
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Poles R Us on December 27, 2010, 10:12:28 am
My wife sells organic soaps online.

Its a new business so the income is minimal to be honest,.. but hopefully by next winter it'll be enough to take some pressure off!

does she want any tissue paper to wrap the soap up with ;)
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: geefree on December 27, 2010, 10:17:11 am
Thanks,

i think i may have had this chat with you a couple of years ago, Nath.

finding the products etc...

going to look at cosmetics, so our lass can get involved,  ;)

but have done a little research not much as yet,.. but some wholesalers are priced at high street prices, meaning no profit etc,

then there are the e commerce free web stores that promise the earth for free .... but not really, once you add your products,

example below,

http://www.freewebstore.org/
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Nathanael Jones on December 27, 2010, 10:50:29 am

The target audience we found most enthusiastic about the products was the ones who wanted products that are completely handmade, zero chemicals and 100% organic. Its much harder to source the ingredients & much more expensive & labour intensive too,.. but it sets her products apart,.. there is no one else doing the same anywhere near us.

It also means that high street prices are irrelevant,.. even the so called "organic, chemical free" high street products contain ingredients many ppl don't like,so prices are set more to the value of the actual product.

Personally I've avoided the online shop software & stuck with the very basic paypal cart. Its easy to control, free & there's still an option to upgrade to the full online shop software once the business has grown a bit. The website link is in my sig if you want to check it out. The website still needs work, it was built in a huge rush trying to get ready for xmas!
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: geefree on December 27, 2010, 11:06:35 am
That sounds the best way to go nath,

but i will have to go down the free software route as i dont have the skills to create my own store etc. :(
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Poles R Us on December 27, 2010, 11:16:47 am
this is for anyone that might need some ..
Item number: 320635353485  ebay .

i cant get the link up for some reason
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: geefree on December 27, 2010, 11:49:38 am
this is for anyone that might need some ..
Item number: 320635353485 ebay .

i cant get the link up for some reason



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320635353485&ru=http%3A%2F%2Fshop.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2Fi.html%3F_nkw%3D320635353485%26_in_kw%3D1%26_ex_kw%3D%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_okw%3D320635353485%26_oexkw%3D%26_adv%3D1%26_udlo%3D%26_udhi%3D%26_ftrt%3D901%26_ftrv%3D1%26_sabdlo%3D%26_sabdhi%3D%26_samilow%3D%26_samihi%3D%26_sadis%3D200%26_fpos%3DPostcode%26LH_SALE_CURRENCY%3D0%26_sop%3D12%26_dmd%3D1%26_ipg%3D50%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Poles R Us on December 27, 2010, 12:03:39 pm
how do you do that , ebay always seem a problem for me
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: bobby p on December 27, 2010, 12:17:48 pm
more as a joke than serious i started selling old tat on ebay . a teaspoon  then old padlock and broken beach shoes (garden ornament? )   i believe if i  did it on a big enough scale itd be an earner.
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: GoodFella2006 on December 27, 2010, 12:39:49 pm
this is for anyone that might need some ..
Item number: 320635353485  ebay .

i cant get the link up for some reason

http://bit.ly/h0DfZQ

You can use URL shortening sites like bit.ly and tinyurl.com  ;)

I had a dating site for a year,ended up flirting with all the female members  ;D


Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: dave0123 on December 27, 2010, 01:04:53 pm
where do people get the stuff to sell on ebay though?

 I have looked at selling on ebay before the prices i can source things "cheep" usally same price as ebay so they must get the stuff at really low prices but WHERE!!
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Poles R Us on December 27, 2010, 02:00:15 pm
car boots
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Klean07 on December 27, 2010, 03:13:15 pm
Cash and Carry maybe.
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: jeff68 on December 27, 2010, 04:19:00 pm
Yeah carboots are excellent for getting designer clothes next to nothing and then you can sell on ebay for huge profits.As an example I bought a ralph lauren gents shirt for 50p and sold it 7 days later on ebay for £25....I useually make around £50 -£100 a week buying at carboots and then selling on ebay.But its just throughout the summer at the moment as most carboots don't run through the winter down here.What I might do is rent a storage unit and store all the stuff I buy from carboots and sell them in the winter..
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: DaveG on December 27, 2010, 04:35:12 pm
ccmids, velcro is really good for strapping taps onto poles
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Poles R Us on December 27, 2010, 04:44:09 pm
ccmids, velcro is really good for strapping taps onto poles

i know do you want some  ;) ive got some 1" x 12" straps in the window cleaning section of ebay gazzas got a link to it .
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: dave0123 on December 27, 2010, 04:58:30 pm
Quote
Cash and Carry maybe

Dont thik so because for example you see a telly for £100 un cash n carry RRP 150 go on to ebay youd see it for 100 same as cash and carry ..

Id love to know were they get new stuff really cheap
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: formb on December 27, 2010, 05:22:18 pm
Quote
Cash and Carry maybe

Dont thik so because for example you see a telly for £100 un cash n carry RRP 150 go on to ebay youd see it for 100 same as cash and carry ..

Id love to know were they get new stuff really cheap

I got headphones they were Sony but clearly fake.

Alot of the ebay shops buy in bulk from the manufacturer.

Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Neil Gornall on December 27, 2010, 05:44:53 pm
where do people get the stuff to sell on ebay though?

 I have looked at selling on ebay before the prices i can source things "cheep" usally same price as ebay so they must get the stuff at really low prices but WHERE!!

Most sellers on ebay never even see the product they are selling.

In order to do this you need to find a good quality dropship company.

If you dont know what dropshipping is read this....  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drop_shipping
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Richard Neal on December 27, 2010, 06:04:04 pm
My wife had a large ebay business wth over 900 items on at any time,
all new items brought wholesale, she also ran 2 websites, the trouble with ebay is that it is all set up for the buyer, if youre selling a lot and get a few negative feedbacks (ours were all down to royal mail being slow) then you can have restrictions put on your account, she used to get so stressed out about it all that i told her to stop, money is dfinately tighter without it but not having to pack 60 parcels a night or have her stressing around the house is much better!!
If anyone wants any stock to start up on ebay let me know and i can sort tons of very sellable stuff we have here! id sell it very cheap just to make some room!
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: jouk45 on December 27, 2010, 06:36:58 pm
i sell self healing wands world wide, just started 3 months ago,as an affiliatte  and i am doing extremly well, http://www.iyashiwand.co.uk/  i know i will earn thousands next year,  if anyone is interested better get in now as it is taking of big time in the uk join up here  http://www.iyashiwand.co.uk/home/-iyashi-affiliate-program
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: jouk45 on December 27, 2010, 06:48:21 pm
they do work, i have one, i thought it was a scam, this company i sell for are the real thing
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: scud on December 27, 2010, 08:03:42 pm
they do work, i have one, i thought it was a scam, this company i sell for are the real thing

  The latest incarnation of pyramid selling, only targetting daft hippies!
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Londoner on December 27, 2010, 08:14:19 pm
We have been selling stuff on ebay for years but its not a level playing field.

First,-anything you can buy from a wholesaler can equally be bought by hundreds of other people who will also be selling it. So some of them will be selling it at such a low price its hard to make a profit.

Second,- the wholesalers is often selling it as well under a different name.

Third,- ebay favours the top rated sellers who's adverts come up first when you do a search. So your advert is way back on page ten and never gets seen. Often the top rated seller is also the wholesaler you bought the stuff off and is selling it on ebay for the same price he sold it to you.

Fourth- Top rated sellers get charged less than you do for listing and selling fees.

Fifth- You can buy stuff from car boot sales and charity shops to sell but by the time you go and buy it, list it, post it and pay the fees its not worth the effort.

Siixth- Buyers are plonkers who complain and moan and say things haven't arrived when they have

This is just the start, do I have to go on?
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: dave12345 on December 27, 2010, 08:31:10 pm
ive got my own tutoring business.i dont tutor but have teachers to do it for me.
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Clive McDonald on December 27, 2010, 08:44:08 pm
I've never done this but have looked at it.Vince etc have outlined the numerous problems.I wrote a business plan for a website once and it didn't work.i have friends with websites and they don't work, the reason for this is mainly because they are boring.One friend does quite well- marketmusic- he sells tee shirts and youngsters find his site interesting.

Ebay is a lot of work and if you do find a winning combination you'll get more start ups than wcing.

The tutoring model mentioned is quite brilliant, find something the same but different than this and you'll make money.
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Richard Neal on December 27, 2010, 10:56:19 pm
i sell self healing wands world wide, just started 3 months ago,as an affiliatte  and i am doing extremly well, http://www.iyashiwand.co.uk/  i know i will earn thousands next year,  if anyone is interested better get in now as it is taking of big time in the uk join up here  http://www.iyashiwand.co.uk/home/-iyashi-affiliate-program


Self healing wand
 self cleaning glass

Thought it sounded familiar
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: jouk45 on December 27, 2010, 11:58:18 pm
richard they are selling millions of them, am not here to convince anyone, we all have our own opinions, there is good money to be made if anyone is prepared to do a few hours a week , i do other things to make money, they all ad up every month, this month i earn £167.60 just from that site,
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Nameless Drudge on December 28, 2010, 12:06:25 am
richard they are selling millions of them, am not here to convince anyone, we all have our own opinions, there is good money to be made if anyone is prepared to do a few hours a week , i do other things to make money, they all ad up every month, this month i earn £167.60 just from that site,

What was the gross £ figure on items sold to net you that?
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Clive McDonald on December 28, 2010, 07:57:51 am
You've got to love joe, he has the best bonkers ideas.Self healing wands, twenty pound note give aways, electric brushed poles,water collecting squeegies,various applications at the patents office.One of these days he'll hit the big one we'll all be wondering why we didn't think of that.
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Poles R Us on December 28, 2010, 10:28:46 am
We have been selling stuff on ebay for years but its not a level playing field.

First,-anything you can buy from a wholesaler can equally be bought by hundreds of other people who will also be selling it. So some of them will be selling it at such a low price its hard to make a profit.

Second,- the wholesalers is often selling it as well under a different name.

Third,- ebay favours the top rated sellers who's adverts come up first when you do a search. So your advert is way back on page ten and never gets seen. Often the top rated seller is also the wholesaler you bought the stuff off and is selling it on ebay for the same price he sold it to you.

Fourth- Top rated sellers get charged less than you do for listing and selling fees.

Fifth- You can buy stuff from car boot sales and charity shops to sell but by the time you go and buy it, list it, post it and pay the fees its not worth the effort.

Siixth- Buyers are plonkers who complain and moan and say things haven't arrived when they have

This is just the start, do I have to go on?


yes the only way you will do well at ebay is to get the feedback count high , otherwise you are better off doing the auction at low postage,
that way you get on the first page listings
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Nathanael Jones on December 28, 2010, 10:48:16 am
The problem with buying from car boots & wholesalers to sell online is that there are so many others doing it. If you have a unique product you play on a completely different field.
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Poles R Us on December 28, 2010, 11:04:17 am
The problem with buying from car boots & wholesalers to sell online is that there are so many others doing it. If you have a unique product you play on a completely different field.

if you look out for railway , buses , dr who ,anything to do with motor cars , dinky toys,
old pipes , stamps they sell well.

Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: AuRavelling79 on December 28, 2010, 12:21:44 pm
Yeah - 00 gauge railway stuff is a good one. A sought after locomotive will top over a £100. Rather more with its box.
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Londoner on December 28, 2010, 01:07:42 pm
Its all very well knowing what sells well, Its finding it thats the problem, and finding enough and regularly at the right price.

classic catch-22

Most people that do well on ebay have the buying power to go back the factory gates in China and buy in thousands. That way they get the right price. It allows them to sell at the right price. They get lots of feedbacks and their adverts go to the front. So they spiral upwards.

Dickie Heads like me who can't afford to go to China or buy in thousands will always be just the also rans in this game.
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Rogue Trader on December 28, 2010, 01:18:12 pm
My missus sells on line but not on Ebay see below
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: geefree on December 29, 2010, 09:11:03 am
Well, thanks

looks like its going to be a slog , but may try it for the hell of it... speculate to accumulate etc. never know unless i try
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: bobby p on December 29, 2010, 11:00:08 am
Its all very well knowing what sells well, Its finding it thats the problem, and finding enough and regularly at the right price.

classic catch-22

Most people that do well on ebay have the buying power to go back the factory gates in China and buy in thousands. That way they get the right price. It allows them to sell at the right price. They get lots of feedbacks and their adverts go to the front. So they spiral upwards.

Dickie Heads like me who can't afford to go to China or buy in thousands will always be just the also rans in this game.
a friend was telling me about her uncle,he was making a decent living flitting back n forth to China buying stuff to sell over here. but on his return from a trip to china he was suddenly very ill and died . he had bank accounts over in China but none of these could be found by his relatives . they even enlisted help from chinese folk living here-but the veil had come down in China and all was lost.
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: jsm on December 29, 2010, 05:40:47 pm
next year im selling propex heaters - spare pumps - L5's etc etc - all the stuff that breaks in winter of helps keep us working - knowing my luck well have a heat wave ..... :o
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: leights on December 29, 2010, 05:51:38 pm
my wifer makes about 100 to 150 a month from e bay selling junk and shi t...

its shocking because she's made over 500 pound month, plus she got a good job anyway, so its quids in...

my mate has a body building supplement store on line, besides his day job... makes good coin from what i can gather
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: laddermonkee on December 30, 2010, 02:40:27 pm
I have an old meccano set over 50years old is it worth putting on ebay.
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: james44 on December 30, 2010, 03:00:35 pm
My missus sells on line but not on Ebay see below

I could see that selling well in the right places!
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: JoeMax on December 30, 2010, 03:06:06 pm
I used to make a fortune jumping on trends.... those wrist bands... I got a thousand in and sold them on eBay.... also these fancy sunglasses Noel Gallagher wore.... there's loads of examples... items that are on Big Brother do well.
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Richard Neal on December 30, 2010, 03:13:27 pm
I have an old meccano set over 50years old is it worth putting on ebay.

Wouldnt bother mate no one collects that anymore, i'll give you a tenner for it as we're mates.
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Ron Rogers on December 31, 2010, 12:52:25 am
I have 2 ebay shops selling darts, which earn me good money this time of year when there is a lot of darts on the telly but drops off around end of feb so i shut them and re open them in november.
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Poles R Us on December 31, 2010, 07:27:12 am
got a link ron
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: sherco on December 31, 2010, 08:17:24 am
My wife and kids are into horses, and i sell 8x4 rubber stable mats... 6 mats retail for £400 plus delivery  im the cheapest in the area, i buy 6 mats for £150 and sell for £350 inc delivery..the company dropships for me (delivers direct) so i dont even need to touch them. only started 2 months ago selling 2-3 sets per week at the moment just advertising through pony club, and animal feed shops.
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: GB Window Cleaning on December 31, 2010, 09:02:59 am
i hope youve all informed the tax man about your income's !?!
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Poles R Us on December 31, 2010, 09:25:25 am
its not mine its me wifes ;D
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: erithwc on January 06, 2011, 01:39:48 pm
I have been looking at an online store im self empolyed so would i need to do two lots of accounts or can it all be done on one set of books  ???

if you need a second lot of accounts ect it will be classed as a second income and i'll get taxed loads  :'(

What do you guys do can you run it under one business or not  ???
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: dave0123 on January 06, 2011, 05:35:13 pm
Sole Trader can tade under multiple name or diffrent business but it all comes under one set of accounts (tax return) just gets lumped together.
Title: Re: Anyone got an online store as a second income?
Post by: Clive McDonald on January 06, 2011, 07:16:39 pm
50k gross ebay, 50k gross wc'ing, would still be under the limit. I think?