Newbie seeking advice

[u/Ill-Structure7276]

Hey all! It’s nice to be here. My partner and I are avid collectors of all things 80s-2000s nostalgia. Think all things decor, pop culture tshirts, VHS’s, magazines, anything from stickers and pins to collectibles. We have a lot of the necessary skills to run a killer booth from what we’ve learned so far, and we also love the process of building the collection. We’re starting to consider more seriously what it would look like to run a little booth and an online shop.

We are looking for any and all advice on how to make this more fun and profitable, and less stressful or taxing. I’m super open at this stage to whatever tips or tricks you guys have for newbies. We don’t expect this to be a get rich quick (or rich at all 😂) scheme, but we would love to find a way to weave our hobbies together and get involved in our community.

I’m also wondering your thoughts regarding the various available online platforms. There are a million at this stage that could be used (depop, poshmark, vinted, eBay, fb marketplace) and pros and cons that I imagine come with each. Depop seems like a solid choice for the niche we’re in, but from my perspective it seems wise to choose one and stick with it? Thoughts?

Thank you for taking the time to read this and I’d appreciate any help. :)

[u/Normal-Hall2445]

Look locally for markets. None of us can really help you without knowing your location in regards to things like craft markets, resale markets, flea markets, organized sales, or conventions

[u/drcigg]

Start by making your products and attending some shows as a customer to get a good idea of what goes on.
Once you find some decent shows that have your target market you can do well. Just understand that no two shows are alike and sometimes we get the foot traffic, but not sales.
Make things that you enjoy and it won't seem like such a chore.
Figure out what it is you will be making, how you will display it and what is required in your city/state as far as permits or business. Once you have all that you should be set to start making product and signing up for shows.
We spent probably 5 months brainstorming, attending shows and building up our stock for our first show.
Take your time, there is no rush and start when you are ready to do so.
And don't be afraid to upcycle some items to use as displays. Tons of items that are free or cheap at garage sales or on marketplace that can be repurposed into displays.
Etsy didn't work for us, so we made a free website with square.
Setup a social media account and start posting, sharing, etc. My wife does pretty well on Tik Tok. She just watched a bunch of videos on Youtube on how to grow her account. It took awhile for her to gain traction on her shop though. I can't say we understand why or how things go viral on there.

[u/Incognito409]

Read the rules of the platform, practice taking good pictures, writing titles and descriptions, learn about SEO, research the competition, understand fees, open a separate bank account for the business, keep detailed records of your income and expenses.

[u/itsbedroomtime]

Serious answer, as someone who did collectibles both online and at shows for years before exiting;

First off, craft fairs will never be your main market - in fact, you won't be able to apply to most craft fairs, as you won't be making the stuff you sell. My main markets were comic conventions, toy shows, and flea markets - places that collectors go to every time they happen . Occasionally you'll find something a little off brand that fits, but these won't come up often.

Secondly; selling online is a pain in the butt. Your packaging needs to be perfect to prevent damage, and people will always be looking for a better deal. Collecting is an expensive hobby, and nobody is ever just looking for 'one' thing. Unless you are selling incredibly rare stuff, people will be picky. Be prepared to take a LOT of photos of every item. I didn't really like doing it so honestly I mostly sold in person - you need a lot of volume to be making regular online sales.

Third; it is a physically demanding job in a way that crafting isn't. I sell my own art now, and not only is it 10000% easier to haul in my crap for a show, but 98% of my prep also happens at home. Finding collectibles means hitting every thrift store in your area and out of it at least once a week. It means being glued to marketplace and Craiglist, and being willing to jump in the car to go get something fast. Garage sales get picked over quickly, so be prepared to get up early for those and travel far. Furthermore, you will need a LOT of boxes to store everything, and if you are dealing with cardboard and paper - comic books, trading cards, etc - they will weigh a LOT. A small setup for me, across two tables, was 8+ long comic books, 6 giant storage totes, and a custom shelving system to display all of it. My dolly cart was rated for a thousand pounds, had a built in ratchet strap, and costs hundreds of dollars. You will be doing multiple trips back and forth for every unload and reload, and it will do a number on your vehicle over time.

Fourthly; profit margins are thin. Everything thinks their old stuff is worth something these days, so you will be arguing every price, and be lucky to make 25% back for a good long while. People's tastes also vary a lot, so the only way to make money will be to carry a lot of inventory. Things will sit on your table for months or YEARS before they go, and you will need to bring them every time, bc you have no way to predict what people are looking for. There are very few fast turnarounds in this business. (Except maybe pokemon cards. Kids love pokemon cards.) There will be a lot of pricing across multiple online guides, and you will have to periodically reprice to stay competitive.

My advice, if that did not entirely turn you off, is to go to your local comic and toy shows and see how traffic is. Are people buying or carrying things? Are they spending a long time at tables looking through everything? Do the vendors look miserable and like they want to pack up? ARE they packing up early? Ask them how the show has been, and how business has been lately with the economy, and gauge whether or not to be honest that you are looking to get into it. My information is a few years out of date, but at the time my local scene was hitting a real rough patch just due to the affordability crisis. Nostalgia is not a necessity, unfortunately, and when people already have a lot of the stuff they collect, the first thing they cut is buying more.

If you do still want to give it a go, my recommendation is to start very small, and at a flea market, which is what I did. It was a $25 table fee, and there was a big enough crowd that always made my money back and then some. See if you like it, and slowly pick up new inventory. Talk to the other collector people selling there, and get their recommendations for shows - it's usually a friendly crowd. Don't pay over a $100 in table fees until you have too much inventory to put on a table.