Limited Resources? You Can Still be Successful Selling on Amazon

If you think you need deep pockets to start selling on Amazon, think again. You can make money on Amazon even if you lack capital and time. If you haven’t tried selling through Fulfillment by Amazon, it’s a cinch. Amazon has one of the most sophisticated fulfillment networks in the world. All you have to do is ship your products to Amazon. They store your products and pack and ship them to the buyer when they sell. They’ll even send products with free two-day shipping at no extra cost to you. They handle any ongoing customer service (complaints, returns, etc.), saving you time and headaches.

You may be wondering what to sell on Amazon. Should you acquire huge stocks of inventory? What if they don’t sell and you’re stuck with your bad investment? If you’re not up for this kind of gamble, start small. Here are a few places you can explore to build up your inventory while spending very little:

• Craigslist or eBay – Watch for collector’s items. For example, you might be able to buy a lot of Pokemon cards for a steal, then resell the valuable cards individually. Legos and other collectors’ toys are hot items, too.
• In your garage – As the maxim goes, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. Look around. Do you have any used books? You’d be surprised at what types of books sell well. Do you have a manual from a used car? Or a book for budding scientists or nature enthusiasts? Niche books can fetch a very high price on Amazon. New in box items or vintage toys sell well, too.
• Yard sales or second-hand stores – You can get unique, high-value items second hand—often priced well below their actual worth. Keep an eye out for unused printer cartridges, name brand clothing, books, flatware, and anything that’s new in its package.

There are a number of platforms on which to sell your treasures, but nobody makes it easier than Fulfillment by Amazon. If you sell through eBay, you’ll have to take a picture of each item, create a listing, and ship it yourself. Amazon FBA does it all for you, freeing up time for you to sniff out more bargains.

Need more guidance for your Amazon business? Try attending our Amazon sellers workshops, where you’ll get great tips from e-commerce experts to accelerate your growth.