Soldato
I was going to put this into this business and moment, but figured I'd slap it in it's own thread. You might be thinking, "How does one accidentally do something like this?"
Well, let me start at the beginning.
It's approaching Christmas and as an expat (immigrant if you will) I miss cadburys chocolate. We get Milka, similar but not the same. We can't really get cadburys here, or many Christmas things we actually miss. (mince pies, selection boxes, crackers etc)
I bought 12 advent calendars on amazon for about 40 EUROs shipped. I looked at individual ones, but 5 of those was more inc shipping. I needed 5 (one for each of me, wife and 3 kids) and had 7 spare.
As with all areas we have 2 local buy and sell groups that are very active. I told my wife I was going to sell the other 7 for 10er each. She said I was stupid.
I put up the post and in a matter of a few hours, I had not only sold the 7 I had but I could have sold at least 50. So I quickly went on amazon and bought more and selection boxes too. I had now spent about 150 EUR total. People picked up the 7, and in a few days I'd got back all the money put in and had a nice pile of stock.
I figured I must be able to get it cheaper than amazon, so asked a friend in the UK if I could order from Tesco to his and arrange a courier. I spent 150 EUR at tesco and in total 45 on a courier. I was now in for 345 EUR.
My tesco shop was crackers, mince pies, calendars (on offer for 1quid, selling for 10...) and selection boxes.
I am just getting to the end of that haul and arranging collections. The last few people are arranging collections at the moment. I should be clear by the weekend, but still have people asking for more crackers so might have to do one last cracker shipment. (buy for 3 sell for 10, so not as much a mark up but damn good even factoring in shipping).
I didn't mean for this to happen. I just couldn't help it. I don't need the money (it's nice, sure, it'll go in my lambo fund that the wife won't let me use my salary for
) but it's not even about the money for me. I just love the whole part of it. Each sale just gives me that great feeling.
In total I should clear gross of about 2k, costs as mentioned were so far 345 and I'll chuck my mate 100 for his boxing up in the UK, so 445 in costs and 1555 profit (for my time).
Again, really not about the money. My time is really (as a contractor anyway) worth more than this but it's just something I really love.
It also goes to show that there are many opportunities out there. Things that pop up when you don't even think about it. If I was in a worse off position, this could have really saved my Christmas. It could for anyone.
So here we are, a lady is picking up 4 mince pie boxes and 4 advent calendars later. One guy picking up 2 calendars and the US is off at work for thanksgiving and so I thought I'd share my little tale of that time I accidentally started a small seasonal venture.
Easter will be coming up soon...
Well, let me start at the beginning.
It's approaching Christmas and as an expat (immigrant if you will) I miss cadburys chocolate. We get Milka, similar but not the same. We can't really get cadburys here, or many Christmas things we actually miss. (mince pies, selection boxes, crackers etc)
I bought 12 advent calendars on amazon for about 40 EUROs shipped. I looked at individual ones, but 5 of those was more inc shipping. I needed 5 (one for each of me, wife and 3 kids) and had 7 spare.
As with all areas we have 2 local buy and sell groups that are very active. I told my wife I was going to sell the other 7 for 10er each. She said I was stupid.
I put up the post and in a matter of a few hours, I had not only sold the 7 I had but I could have sold at least 50. So I quickly went on amazon and bought more and selection boxes too. I had now spent about 150 EUR total. People picked up the 7, and in a few days I'd got back all the money put in and had a nice pile of stock.
I figured I must be able to get it cheaper than amazon, so asked a friend in the UK if I could order from Tesco to his and arrange a courier. I spent 150 EUR at tesco and in total 45 on a courier. I was now in for 345 EUR.
My tesco shop was crackers, mince pies, calendars (on offer for 1quid, selling for 10...) and selection boxes.
I am just getting to the end of that haul and arranging collections. The last few people are arranging collections at the moment. I should be clear by the weekend, but still have people asking for more crackers so might have to do one last cracker shipment. (buy for 3 sell for 10, so not as much a mark up but damn good even factoring in shipping).
I didn't mean for this to happen. I just couldn't help it. I don't need the money (it's nice, sure, it'll go in my lambo fund that the wife won't let me use my salary for
) but it's not even about the money for me. I just love the whole part of it. Each sale just gives me that great feeling. In total I should clear gross of about 2k, costs as mentioned were so far 345 and I'll chuck my mate 100 for his boxing up in the UK, so 445 in costs and 1555 profit (for my time).
Again, really not about the money. My time is really (as a contractor anyway) worth more than this but it's just something I really love.
It also goes to show that there are many opportunities out there. Things that pop up when you don't even think about it. If I was in a worse off position, this could have really saved my Christmas. It could for anyone.
So here we are, a lady is picking up 4 mince pie boxes and 4 advent calendars later. One guy picking up 2 calendars and the US is off at work for thanksgiving and so I thought I'd share my little tale of that time I accidentally started a small seasonal venture.
Easter will be coming up soon...
