#They have amazing customer service and pack your books safely and there's no shipping costs

[magnusbae]

For those of you who didn't hear, Book Depository is shutting down (thanks a lot Amazon) and so it's basically your last chance to order from this excellent place

#The only place I ordered books from for a decade #I guess no more books for me since I sure as hell ain't payin 3 times per book from now on 😂 😂 😂 😂 #They have amazing customer service and pack your books safely and there's no shipping costs #They're also extremely fast #So yeah #I am actually pretty devastated about it #Buying book locally can be up to 3 times if not more the cost it is for me to buy through them 😅😅😅 #I do love when reading is...... Accesable to the masses.... Lmao. #buns.txt

[havekiddoswilltravel]

Cuba Travel Tips

Havana, Cuba trip report and pro tips for a safe, personalized family travel adventure to Cuba.

Tips for family travel to Cuba - A guide to exploring Cuba with kids, friends, family or multigenerational groups.

Did you know that you can in fact still travel to Cuba independently?

Updated: July 2019 with new Cuban travel rules.

We cruised prior to the US restrictions. You can however, still enjoy these Cuban tours by traveling by air to Cuba. Keep reading for more details.

Our family of six enjoyed a 5 night Key West and Cuba overnight cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Majesty of the Seas in December 2018 prior to the cruise ship restrictions. We traveled with four kids ages 13, 10, 7 and 5 and thus felt that a cruise was a comfortable way for us to explore Havana. We’re hooked and already planning a return land trip in order to enjoy more of the island. The Cuban people were gracious, funny and talented. Our guide Dayami is fluent in both English and Spanish and a breath of information about the history, culture, art, music, architecture and food of the island. 

2018 Cuban travel update: The U.S. announced new travel rules for Cuba. Americans can no longer travel to the island under the People to People category as an individual and you're unable to patronized any military - owned business. 

Legal travel to Cuba is still possible under the Support For The Cuban People category and my recommended tours can assist you in planning a safe, educational and cost effective trip to the island. 

Have Kiddos Will Travel Cuba Tours offer: A one of a kind safe, private tour option for those wanting to visit Cuba and experience it like a local.

What we did in Havana:

Dayami picked us up at 9:00 am at the Saint Francis of Assisi Square

(the plaza right across from the cruise ship terminal in Old Havana).

We started with a guided walking tour in Old Havana (about 2 hours) which included:

-       All four main squares

-       Some of Hemingway’s favorite places in the city

-       Handcrafted perfume shop - the perfume is inexpensive and comes in beautiful hand made pottery. 

-       Free entrance museums - our kids loved these museums. We had to drag our 10 year old son out of the art museum. 

-       Cigar/coffee/rum shopping - Dayami was an angel and sat with our kids at a nearby table while my husband and I enjoyed this amazing tasting. I can’t recommend it enough. There was a live band playing during our tasting. In fact, music and dancing was everywhere in Havana. Buy Cuban coffee (I regret not buying more as gifts). Dayami is incredibly knowledgeable about Cuban rum and cigars. We bought two boxes (4 bottles total) of Havana Club 3 year white and 7 year dark rum for approximately 20 CUC. We also brought back 25 (fiftieth anniversary) Cuban Cohiba cigars. We bought handmade individual cigar boxes for the ones that we gave as gifts. 

We did a coffee-rum-cigar tasting/sampling. This service (about 1 hour) is provided by a Habanos sommelier Cuban cigar expert). I highly recommend this tour option. We learned so much and it added to our overall experience in Havana.

After the walking tour, Dayami had a air conditioned car with ready to drive us to the main places of interest in the city. I loved that she was flexible and worked with our children. We took extra breaks for water, snacks and to use clean bathrooms. She knew all of the best places to use the facilities and though I was prepared with my own toilet paper, we ended up never needing it. 

Our family’s personalized itinerary:

-       Ride along the Malecon (sea wall drive)

-       Colon Cemetery (World Heritage Site)

-       Callejón de Hamel (rumba performances/Afro-Cuban religion/art scene)

-       Central Park

-       Capitol building

-       National Hotel

-       San Jose Handicraft market

-       Fusterlandia community/art project

-       Revolution Square

-       Rainforest of Havana (National Park)

-       Bay fortresses and the Christ of Havana (viewpoint)

Dayami made a reservation for us a privately owned restaurant and we enjoyed it. We were lol a bit when we arrived because we literally walked behind a normal looking home in Havana and entered a massive outdoor restaurant which was packed with people and even had a live band. Our total lunch cost was 74 CUC which included drinks, 3 orders of chicken and all you can eat white rice and beans. 

The whole tour was from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, take into consideration that lunch may took over an 1 hour.

What to buy in Cuba:

- While cigars and rum are the main things that people buy when in Cuba, we also bought an amazing art piece (beware that customs will attempt to charge you art fee if you travel back with it in an art tube), engraved leather baseballs, Cuban key chains that I then turned into Cuban Christmas ornaments and a small piece of wood art. We ran out of time to stop by Clandestina, but they do have an online shop that you will not want to miss.

Pro - tips: - Everyone (including children) will need a passport book (not a passport card) that is valid for at least 6 months after your trip. Two pages are required for entry - exit stamps. 

- Each traveler will need a Cuban Visa if you're a US citizen (please research Visa laws for other countries) which cost $75.00 per person. Take your time completing this simple form, as mistakes are not accepted and you will have to buy another one.

-   U.S. credit and debit cards generally do not work in Cuba. Bring cash to cover your stay. The Cuban government requires that travelers declare cash amounts over 5,000 USD. Travelers should note that the Government of Cuba charges a 10 percent fee for all U.S. dollar cash conversions; this does not apply to electronic transactions or cash conversions in other currencies. - US dollar and credit cards are not accepted in Cuba. Do your research regarding how much money you will need and plan accordingly.  I recommend changing money into Cuban Convertible Pesos (CUC) before meeting your guide (for lunch, souvenirs, rum, the sampling, etc.). It is recommended that you change US currency to Euros prior to your trip (AAA will do this without an additional conversion fee for members) and then change euros to CUCs upon arrival. At the time of our visit   The official exchange rate (at the time of our trip in 2018) is 0.87 for every 1 USD (due to the 13 percent US dollar fee). The exchange rate for the euro at the time our trip was 1.15.

-  The export of Cuban convertible pesos (CUC) is strictly prohibited, regardless of the amount. When departing Cuba, U.S. travelers are advised to exchange Cuban convertible pesos (CUC) back to US Dollars well before reaching airport security checkpoints to avoid potential confiscation of the CUC. For other currencies, travelers may export up to the equivalent of 5,000 USD. Anyone wishing to export more than this amount must demonstrate evidence that the currency was acquired legitimately from a Cuban bank. - Dayami was very helpful in regards to helping us figure out how much cash we would need for all of our tours, meals, and shopping.

Getting there:

- You can fly to Havana depending on your group size and family needs. We’ve had family members fly and we did an overnight Havana cruise with Royal Caribbean as we were traveling with small children and wanted access to the comforts of the cruise line. Cruising if no longer an option as of June 2019.

Where to stay:

- If you’re flying, I highly recommend Casa Habana for a one of a kind, local Cuban experience. 

What to pack:

- Bring sunblock, hats, and sun glasses. I packed a back pack with safe drinking water, snacks and treats for our kids.- Wear comfortable walking shoes. Havana streets are beautiful, but the cobblestone is hard on your feet. 

What NOT to do:

- Leave your jewelry and fancy items at home. 

- Don't take pictures of Cuban police or military.

- Keep your strong tourist opinions about Fidel, the Castro family, the Revolution or communism to yourself. Avoid discussing politics (history discussions are okay) and you're good.

- There are two currencies in Cuba. The first is the Cuban Convertible Peso CUC  (which tourists use) and is worth 26 Cuban Pesos CUP. Count your change and keep your street smarts about you.

- Don't expect to have access to the many comforts of home. There is almost no access to many of the consumer goods that are common for us in the United States. So, make sure to bring that which you can't live without. If you wan't toothpaste, a toothbrush, toilet paper, hand disinfectant, mints or snacks, make sure to bring them with you. 

- Print out all of your relevant travel documents prior to your trip. I know, we’re digital people but access to technology in Cuba is pretty much nada. If you think you’ll need it, print it at home. 

- We’re big foodies and thus find it crucial to discuss Cuban food in Havana versus Cuban food in the United States and other parts of the world. Due to trade restrictions and general lack of access to ingredients that we take for granted, (our guide Dayami did a great job explaining the Cuban rations to our kids) we found the food to be good enough, but not something to write home about. The saving grace was that our kids love white rice and beans and literally were “starving” from all of the walking. They ate their food and loved it, with no complaints. Pro tip: if you’re traveling to Cuba, pack some salt and hot sauce. You’ll thank me. 

- Book your Cuba tours before you travel. The internet is hard to come by in Cuba and thus, don’t expect to be able to research or use the internet to communicate with tour guides while on the island. We arrived via a cruise ship, and I had all of my confirmation information from Dayami printed and I had confirmed pick up times and location with her while we were in Key West and still had internet service. 

By booking a trusted private tour, you will save hundreds of US dollars on your excursion time while on the island. Our tours are priced per car, not per person for a group of four and can be coordinated to accommodate larger family - group sizes.

- Lastly, let’s talk about safety. We’re a family of avid travelers. Our kids have had passports since they were newborns and we travel extensively throughout the United States and abroad. This cruise to Cuba was our third cruise in 2018 alone and all six of us are Diamond Crown and Anchor with Royal Caribbean International. Even with all of the stamps in our passports, I was perplexed by how safe we felt in Havana. Despite what our history classes and news tell us about communism and Cuba, we felt safer in Cuba than any other place that we’ve traveled to. Use common sense and respect the local culture and you’ll have a blast. 

Havana, Cuba - YouTube

https://havekiddoswilltravel.net/cuba-tours

Check out the link above for a full list of tour options and contact Dayami Interian [email protected] to discuss further planning. Your won’t be disappointed!

About Ruth: I’m a wife and mami of 4 active and globe-trotting kiddos. I’ve always loved a good adventure and truly believe that it’s possible to travel with kids. Join me, as I share our adventures and inspire you to get out of the house with your kiddos. Whether you’re planning a family vacation, a road trip or a trip of a lifetime to an exotic destination, I’ll share insights, trip reports and information that will inspire you. Check back often to stay up to date on things to do with kids at your next travel destination.

family travel - adventure - explore - Travel with Kids

#havekiddoswilltravel #familytravel #adventure #explore #travel #homeschool #teachingkids #havana #cuba #habana #caribbean #majestyoftheseas #rccl #royalcaribbeaninternational #havanexcursion #havanatours #familyfriendlycuba #bookcuba #cubafoodies #cubancigars #cubanrum #cubanart #cubanshopping #bloggervibes #dayamiinterian #cubafamilytravel #guidetocuba

[captain-jackharry12]

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Reference:

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#BookSubscriptionBox #CustomBookBoxes #BookStorageBox #BookendBoxes #BookBox

[chatoyantluster]

Skin Care Shopping Review

Show cased here are sites that I have ordered from. To see reviews for each individual product, please refer to that post.

Yesstyle.com -  https://www.yesstyle.com

Review; In terms of Korean beauty, this is number one on my list. As long as you watch out for the sales, no other site can beat them out in price. Of course, when not on sale, their prices can be pretty ridiculous. Buying items within the 24hr shipping period guarantees delivery in three to five days. I have noticed some items, will state in stock in 21 days, but three days later, it will say 24hrs, so it’s always best to keep an eye out! Their products are amazing, legit (not scam/dupes like Amazon), secured packaging (nothing is breaking!), prompt and friendly customer service (I had a reply within 24hrs!). Overall I am happy with this shopping service and I highly recommend them.

Taken from Google about their shipping, as I find this to be true, also from my personal experience. “In my experience, items that are marked as “24” hours took 3 days to arrive. Items marked with 7-14 days took 23 days to arrive. When placing an order, it is important to know that no matter what the shipping time says on each item, YesStyle will not ship your order until all items arrive in their warehouse.” You also cannot remove an item after you ordered. And expect a long wait if the item is truly “21″ days for stock. If you are lucky, sometimes that status can change during an order. I know a 7-14 item status changed to 24hrs in two days and I was able to get all my items quickly.

I also would not trust the reviews, as this site rewards with points to do reviews, and most are always five star, regardless if the product is good or not.

Speaking of rewards, filling out reviews and making product purchases, provides points, and rewards levels of VIP status. This will in turn give you additional % off at the end of your order as well as gift cards and coupons.

Shipping;

Look at this glorious packaging! Nothing breaking in there. Very well packed and everything was snugly and safe inside. Only took a little over a week for everything to be ordered and delivered.

Products;

Secret Nature - From Jeju Mist, COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power, I'm from - Ginseng Serum, Dear, Klairs - Midnight Blue Calming Cream, Beauty Artisan Face Cleansing Brush, THE PLANT BASE Time Stop Collagen Ampoule, Eggshell Houseware Fabric Hairband Cat Ears - Pink - One Size, Dear Klairs Rich Moist Foaming Cleanser, I'm from Mugwort Essence.

Free Gift; TONYMOLY Pureness 100 Mask Sheet (Random) 1pc. I got the Hyaluronic sheet.

Soko Glam - https://sokoglam.com/

Review; Great product selection. They also do have some exclusives. A bit pricey. Ordering and shipping took a week. Do watch out though, as some products have remained in the “out of stock” option for weeks. So you have to opt to buy things from the original manufacturer or wait. I often like to wait, so I can bundle orders for free shipping.

Shipping; Decent packaging, too a week to order and deliver. Nothing was damaged.

Products;

D'ALBA PIEDMONT Peptide No-Sebum Balancing Toner, KLAIRS Rich Moist Facial Soap, NEOGEN Day-Light Protection Sun Screen SPF 50/PA+++, COSRX Triple C Lightning Liquid, KLAIRS Toner Mate 2 in 1 Cotton Pad.

Free sample; Benton fermentation eye cream.

Glow Recipe - https://www.glowrecipe.com

Review; Very good products and selections. They also have exclusives that are worth checking out, like Whamisa. Their customer service is exceptional - as I made a mistake in my order - they do not remove items after you order, so the whole thing will be canceled. I got a reply within 24hr hours, they did however, mess up by canceling my order entirely, and refunding my money. I specifically asked for a credit/gift card after the cancellation so I could immediately reorder, but because they did this, I did not have the funds, and it takes my bank almost a week to see credits. So what do they do? Gave me a nice credit towards my purchase! Loving them already.

Shipping; Took two weeks for everything to be ordered and delivered, but this was because they had to cancel and re-do my order. I am sure if that was not a part of it, the whole process would of only taken a week.

Products;

Organic Flowers Deep Rich Essence Toner, Organic Flowers Cleansing Oil, Organic Flowers Cleansing Oil, Asiatica Calming Ampoule.

Free sample; Avocado melt sleeping mask.

The Ordinary - https://theordinary.com / DECIEM - https://deciem.com

Review; Definitely one of the more interesting sites of the bundle. The Ordinary products have to be, not only the cheapest, but provide excellent service and products. I only just started using their line, and I am already impressed. They take out all the frills of packaging and advertisement, so they can deliver products that rival competition. You can buy a $6 hydrator while their competitor, for the exact same ingredient, will charge you $60. A+ in my book.

The Ordinary is part of the main site/line, DECIEM. I am highly interested in there other products - mainly NIOD - but I am opting to do more research, to see which ones are best for me before I purchase.

Shipping; Took a little over a week for product to get ordered and delivered. Decent packaging. Nothing was damaged. Had a cute receipt. :3

Products;

The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics, The Ordinary 100% Plant-Derived Squalane, The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil, The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2%, The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%.

Era Organics - https://www.eraorganics.com

Review; All natural site. I have only purchased the moisturizer, but the ingredients are very alluring, and they don’t have any yucky fillers. I can’t wait to try there other products, as I am eyeing them. But so far I am happy with my current purchase! 

Shipping; They had pretty fast shipping, ordering and delivery, took less then a week. Though the packaging is very sub-par, it came in a flimsy bag, no box. The top did come with a little ding. I am sure it was due to workers man handling the package during transport. It did not spoil the product and it was still tightly sealed, so it was purely cosmetic.

Products;  Oasis Extra Hydrating Moisturizer for Dry Skin

Derm store - https://www.dermstore.com

Shipping; Very overboard in packaging for one small item lol. Took only a week for items to be ordered and delivered.

Products; COSRXAcne Pimple Master Patch (24 count) (bought 2)

Free sample; Jane Iredale, Triple Luxe, long lasting naturally moist lipstick. Three sample colors.

Costco;

Review;

Products;

Sites to avoid;

Amazon. They are a good go to for every day household items, but DO NOT buy beauty products on this site. Skin care, makeup, body washes, etc. A lot of items are dupes of the originals (even if the item is a dupe from a name brand, that dupe is duped by low cost Chinese companies), or just plain scam - not even containing similar ingredients, because they often are swapped for a harsh, cheaper version. Good signs that indicate this are; different label, products look opened/damaged/used, the product causing adverse reactions, and missing ingredient list. A Google search will yield you the same information about the Amazon product scam. Do yourself a save, and just purchase from reputable sites and or directly from the manufacturer!

#beauty #skincare #korean skincare #all natural #yesstyle #soko glam #glow recipe #era organics #amazon

[cambrasine]

Zine Organization Guide/Tips

There’s been a huuuugee influx of friends and friendly strangers asking me about how to run a zine -- so under the cut is my spiel! 

Wait, who are you? Hey! I’m Jennie. I’ve run a couple zines and am working on a couple more. I’ve participated in hmm let’s see one two three four (more?) others, too! Okay, now for the guide.. First off, though It’s incredibly rewarding, don’t underestimate how much time running a zine takes. Most projects I’ve been a part of have run over the course of 3 - 8 months. Admin stuff takes a lot of time day-to-day too - setting up a blog, forms, spreadsheets, store, answering questions you’ve answered 1000 times, assembling, packing, etc. etc. Don’t take this the wrong way - I am a zine enthusiast but just make sure you have enough time to take this on, or team up with a friend or two to multiply the fun and share the workload! :)  ORGANIZATION If you open for applications / submissions then I suggest using google forms. That way everything is in one place and organized in a spreadsheet. Similarly, I suggest google sheets for keeping track of things. For example, we made a google sheet to share with all participants. Next to their username they can fill out things like their e-mail address, how they wanted to be listed in the artist directory, what they will be drawing (to avoid excessive repeats), etc. plus a little box to check off when they complete their piece. You can also make multiple tabs which is fun (For YoI zine we had a cover sheet (explanations of each tab, announcements), participant info, templates, FAQ, timeline, wip share, and bundle sign ups). It’s all in one place makes it easy for the organizer as well as participants to keep track of! For your own sanity MAKE A TEMPLATE for your participants to make their art on — At the correct size (including bleed if you’re printing full bleed), resolution (300 dpi+), and color profile (CYMK) for printing. SOME PEOPLE WILL STILL NOT DO IT CORRECTLY. Mentally prepare yourself LOL  > Make sure to leave room for title page/credits/thank you - whatever!  > Printing goes in multiples of four so be prepared with a back up if someone drops out and screws up your page count! > Leave cushion room around your deadlines. Build in a week after your deadline for people who need extensions because people ALWAYS need extensions! > Making a WIP/check in deadline was really helpful I think > It’s a nice thing to do to offer participants a copy as long as you can afford it. Otherwise there’s not much motivation to participate;; If it’s for profit, give them a cut. DISTRIBUTION DIGITAL As far as distribution, gumroad is a classic for digital downloads, plus they have this nifty ‘pay what you want’ option. They do take some fees though, less if you pay $10 for a month but you have to balance an equation to see if it’s worth it. Since we didn’t know when to set the release date for, we skipped this and will just be emailing the file ourselves, but I have used gumroad in the past. PHYSICAL > I would try out bigcartel - it’s totally free to have 5 items or less. Haven’t tried it myself. > Storenvy is probably best option after that. There’s a 10% fee for purchases made through the marketplace, but you can turn it off and just sell from your custom storefront.  They introduced ‘’'Storenvy fees’'’ where they charge customer an extra fee now (usually .99 I think) which they withdraw from your accounts afterward > Etsy is fine, there’s the .20 listing fee but it’s not very customizable visually... I just don’t love it, ok? lmfao You can give it a go > Tictail is OK (can’t turn off marketplace / 10% fee from marketplace orders, doesn’t integrate with shipping easy easily, can’t make different item groups for shipping, etc.) PRINTING If you’ll be printing, check with local printers. Get quotes. GET A LOT OF QUOTES. Some people will not respond at all. Some will be crazy and not understand how to price books/booklets and try to price you for 1000 prints instead. You just have to look around.  Side note: Hard copy proofs are great! If it’s your first time assembling a zine, I’d highly recommend you get one. Some recommended printers: 

Smart Press US based. Love them!! Good quality, good customer service, usually one of the less expensive options. Solid A grade :) RA Comics Direct/Nations Print California based. Haven’t used them myself, but heard very good things. They'll mail ya a free paper sample booklet if you ask! Pixartprinting Based in Italy. Usually the cheapest option, print quality is good, but not /amazing/ No hard copy proofs.  Catprint NY Based. They only do saddle stitch binding, and I’ve never used them for books but their print quality was great. You can get a paper sample booklet from them too, and they have so many freaking paper options.  PrintNinja China Based. Everyone and their mother seems to love their quality. They have high minimums and very little flexibility on them (250, 500, 750, etc.) but they also have lots of cool options like foil, embossing, debossing, etc. if you’ve got the cashflow. SHIPPING (from US) USPS is pretty much always the cheapest option. Once you know the weight, you can easily calculate on the site how much it will cost to ship. For reference, a 20 page book I made weighed about 5 oz, a 60 page one weighed about 7 oz. Bubble mailers are your best friend! I like the poly ones vs the paper ones bc they’re waterproof. I like these ones a lot, the adhesive is strong!! For shipping the 20 page one, I included a piece of cardboard for rigidity. For the 60 page one, it wasn't necessary and only /one/ out of the 400+ shipped was damaged. The easiest to way to ship through USPS though is to use a service like ShippingEasy. You can do buy postage for 50 packages each month on their free plan but if you ship more than that and want to use them, you'll have to pay $x a month. With ShippingEasy you import your orders, can choose your standard shipping settings, etc. and buy postage online. That way you can do it any time of day, don't have to hand write labels, etc. I also bought these labels so that you just peel and stick them on the package - no tape necessary! If you use Etsy or Storenvy, you can set it up to automatically receive your orders. If you use Tictail, you're going to have to export them to a spreadsheet, then import them - which is a pain and is only available on paid ShippingEasy plans. There's a free month trial tho if you time it right! Also with USPS - if you can safely leave packages outside - you can schedule a pick up online and they'll come pick your packages up at your house! No lugging heavy boxes to the post office! END NOTES Every project is different. You’re bound to hit a few bumps in the road but hopefully the above will help keep those to a minimum!  It’s hard work, but it feels amazing once you have the book in your hands! I’ve met lots of my amazing artist peers this way. It’s great for making connections and even a few friendships! If you have any specific questions please feel free to ask!! Good luck with everything!! <3

OTHER GUIDES: By the lovely Jeanne who co-organized the ML fashion zine and Menons la Danse with me Another and another by artists I admire By May, who ran the Ladybug Charity Zine 

#zine #fan zine #zine guide #zine tips

[walteregivensky]

Relocating During COVID-19

The Ultimate Guide to Relocating During COVID-19

So, you’ve decided to take an exciting new step in your life and relocate to a new town or even a different state. You may be feeling stressed and overwhelmed with all the scheduling, packing, and expenses that go into relocating, not to mention you have to do it all while the Coronavirus pandemic is affecting most things around you. Whether you’re relocating to a more rural area because of COVID-19, or you no longer have to commute into work every day and moving to a small town just seems more ideal for you, there are important steps in the relocation process that can often be overlooked. That’s why we’ve created the ultimate guide to relocating during COVID-19, including steps to take before, during, and after the move.

Before Relocating

Learn about your new city or town

Once you find a new area that you are interested in, make sure you do your research about how your new city is handling the coronavirus pandemic and what restrictions and guidelines they have in place. In addition, become better acquainted with your new community by researching the local culture, weather trends, cost of living, public transportation, while also finding out how much house you can afford in different neighborhoods. If you have any relatives or friends who live in the city, reach out to them for any suggestions or advice. Familiarizing yourself with the new area will help you begin thinking like a local in no time.

Find the right neighborhood for you

The best way to truly get a feel for every neighborhood is by simply visiting and spending time in each one. While you’re exploring and keeping socially distant, decide what qualities are important to you and don’t hesitate to jot down the pros and cons of each area. Perhaps you value restaurants and shops within a short distance, parks and schools nearby for convenience, or just the quirkiness of a quaint neighborhood. Once you’ve narrowed down your options, you’ll be able to compare information like median home prices, walkability, school reviews and rankings.

Lean on your realtor

It’s the real estate agent’s job to support you through the homebuying process, so take advantage of their neighborhood expertise and industry knowledge. And during this time of Coronavirus, you’re still able to get an in-person perspective while reducing the risk of being exposed to the virus. You can see homes virtually through live video-chat tours or 3D walkthroughs, make an offer online, and close on your new home electronically if need be. Your agent will be aware of housing market trends, potential red flags, or anything else you may have concerns about. When it’s time to make an offer, they will help you make a good offer and assist with the negotiating process. Buying a home is a big decision and can be an emotional process, but working with an agent you trust will give you the support you need.

Research storage options

If you are choosing to move some of your belongings in stages or looking to store items for an extended period of time, you’ll need to consider all of your options and factor in storage costs. You can contact us about what options we offering about the time you’ll be storing items, the size of the storage space, and any additional services that we offer.

We are still operating but we are taking extra precautions to protect our customers from COVID-19. You may also be interested in the portable storage option, a popular alternative among those storing belongings for a short duration. Our company will drop the container off at your home and once you’re done packing it with your belongings, you have the option of storing the container at our facility or shipping it to a specified location.

Hire a cleaning service

Before getting settled into your new home, save time and start fresh by hiring a cleaning company to clean your new home before all your belongings are moved in. During this age of COVID-19 it is very important that your new home be completely cleaned and sanitized before you move in to help you and your family avoid any illness. Sometimes the previous owners of your new home haven’t done a thorough cleaning (which they are not required to), so paying for a cleaning service will allow you to focus on packing and moving safely. The cleaners will be sure to leave your home spotless.

Update your mailing address and retrieve important documents

Before relocating, remember to forward your mail and notify banks and credit cards of your new address. If you have kids, inform the school district of your upcoming move, and request transcripts in advance for a smooth transfer. Don’t forget to retrieve medical records, and cancel any subscriptions or memberships – anything from gym memberships and magazine subscriptions to utilities, electricity, cable, and internet. Consider creating a moving checklist to revisit while you’re packing and on moving day.

Organize and Declutter

Set aside a binder for move-related paperwork so you’re able to access any documents quickly. Before packing, remain organized by creating a detailed inventory of your belongings noting the condition, location, and size of the items. This will help you get a better idea of how much you’ll actually be moving and if any belongings require specialty packing services because of their size or fragility. Also, if your belongings are damaged during the move and you need to submit an insurance claim, an inventory list will come in handy. You can also begin to sort through your belongings and decide what items you’ll keep, discard, or donate. If you’re downsizing, don’t be shy when giving items away – consider organizing a garage sale or donating to a charity. It can be helpful to hire a professional organizer or decluttering service to help you with these tasks.

Sell your home

Before listing your home on the market, be proactive by hiring a home inspector, then make any repairs or minor updates necessary. The time you would save sure beats having to do repairs during the negotiation phase when the homebuyers hire out their own home inspector. Also, research the U.S. housing market and homes that have recently sold in your area to get an idea of what your home is worth and how competitively you should price your home. This will just be an estimate, so don’t forget to hire a professional to get your home appraised. Make your home stand out by hiring a cleaning service and working with a staging company to prepare your home for professional photos and open houses. Staging your home to sell with professional real estate photos will, on average, sell for more.

Make sure you are taking all the necessary precautions if you are holding open houses and during house tours. Have hand sanitizer ready at the door and supply extra masks in case someone forgets theirs. Your real estate agent will be able to assist you with all the proper COVID-19 safety measures.

During the Move

Pack strategically and stay organized

It’s common to begin packing and realize that you’ve accumulated far more than you’ve ever imagined. In this situation, staying organized and creating a plan of attack is essential. While tossing everything into uncategorized boxes may be the quickest option, unpacking identical boxes will create unnecessary work. Instead, label your boxes strategically using stickers, a numbering system, or even color-coding.

About three weeks before relocating, pack non-essential items that you won’t be needing during the move, such as decorations and books. One week before moving day, begin packing the essentials, with the exception of enough plates and silverware for everyone in your household. Be sure to label “open first ” on a few of your boxes containing bedding, toiletries, towels, and tools, and a “valuables” box including birth certificates, fragile belongings, and passports.

Check-in with yourself

Make sure you are staying healthy during the moving process. It is most important to keep you and your family safe and healthy. It’s common for people to experience moving anxiety and relocation depression, especially when relocating during a pandemic. We tend to underestimate the toll moving can have on our bodies, physically and mentally. If you are feeling overwhelmed or stressed during this time activities like napping, journaling, exercising, and refueling with food and drink can change your mood and give your body the break it needs. Your health comes first so be sure to listen to your body and recharge when you need to.

Settling into Your New Home

Unpack

If you’ve labeled your boxes and can identify the contents of each, unpacking should be a breeze. Be sure to check all boxes and furniture for any damages associated with relocating, especially valuables and appliances such as the stove, dishwasher, washer or dryer. Refer back to your inventory list to make sure nothing was lost in the transition. As a safety measure, it is best to sanitize all items before placing them in your new home to avoid the further spread of germs. To avoid becoming overwhelmed when you’re unpacking, focus on one room at a time, and if possible, even one box at a time.

Perform a general safety check

Even if you hired a home inspector during the homebuying process, it’s important to perform a safety check throughout your new home. Change locks on the doors, be sure all windows lock, and perhaps look into installing a new security system. Other precautions include checking the electrical system and water pipes, the fire and smoke alarms, and the air filters and HVAC systems.

Decorate with purpose

With the help of an interior designer, you’ll get expert guidance and can make your new space feel like home even prior to moving in. Examine the floor plan or blueprint to find what works best with the layout of your new home, and begin creating your masterpiece. Not only will you get amazing results and save time, but your interior designer can help your vision come to life while staying under budget. Moving into a space that already has a touch of your style can even support an easier transition.

Register to vote and update your driver’s license

If you’re moving to another state, visit the DMV with a couple of forms of identification – like your current driver’s license, social security number, and proof of residency – to obtain a new state driver’s license. Pay attention to time restrictions as some states require you to update your driver’s license within a certain time-frame. You may be able to kill two birds with one stone by registering to vote while at the DMV. Otherwise, register online or visit the local town hall to update your voter registration.

Find new services and professionals

During this time it may be more difficult to find new services providers, be patient and stay persistent. Find new healthcare providers, including a new dentist, doctor, veterinarian, day-care, and optometrist. Research different options to find one that is best for you and your family’s needs. When you’ve chosen, keep the contact information handy, and make sure all family members know where these numbers are located.

Check-in with your kids

Moving can be tough on kids, especially during a pandemic, and could possibly affect their mental health. They may have concerns of their own that you’ll need to talk through with them – like going back to a new school, being in a new area that is affected by COVID-19, leaving their friends, or missing their previous home. Explain that the feeling of uncertainty is only temporary, and illustrate the move as a positive shift. Make sure your kids are comfortable in the new spot, maybe even unpack and decorate their room first. Stay consistent with any daily routines they’ve developed and don’t forget to stay positive so your children will too.

No matter your reasoning to move, relocating is no doubt a stressful task, especially right now, but staying organized, planning ahead, and using your resources can help. Follow this guide so you can focus on what is important: enjoying your new adventure.

source https://dosemoving.com/relocating-during-covid-19/ from Dose Moving And Storage https://dosemoving.blogspot.com/2020/08/relocating-during-covid-19.html

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Searching out discounts might be a full time task for some, but many of us don t have got a way of living which may support this pastime. What do perform alternatively? We use the internet making use of the amazing suggestions identified on this page, saving cash on every thing we acquire and making certain we look for the best discounts probable.

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11 Rookie Mistakes to Avoid On Your First Solo Trip

Solo traveler in Norway; Jérémie Crémer/Unsplash

1.Thinking You Need a Travel Partner to Have Fun

We get it, travel is usually marketed towards couples and families, so it can feel a little lonely and daunting to go ahead and click “buy” on a round-trip airline ticket for one. Forget all that! One of the biggest roadblocks to successful solo travel is the stigma that can go with it. Instead of worrying what people might think or being afraid of boredom, focus on your own happiness and decide to have fun. A positive mindset turns solo travel into a fun adventure where you’re in charge of your entire trip and vacation destiny.

2. Going Too Far, Too Fast

If this is the very first time you’ve traveled alone, and you’re not an avid traveler, now isn’t the time to stray too far off the beaten path. It might sound amazing to bike across Cambodia, but if you’ve barely biked across the street, you’re doing too much. For your first solo trip, go slow. It’s okay to take a long weekend somewhere domestic (hello, Miami and Portland) before you jet off for two weeks to a country where you don’t speak the language or understand the customs. Get a few solo travel trips under your belt, then book the solo Patagonia hiking adventure.

3. Paying for a Double Room

The Lilak Tree at the Cheers Hostel/Oyster

Paying for everything on your own is the biggest bummer of solo travel. Not having a buddy to split the cost of accommodations is the most expensive line item in your solo budget. Hotel prices are almost always based on double occupancy, which means two people can use the room (and split the price) without a cost penalty. There are a few ways around this solo travel double standard. You can book a group tour and request to be paired with another (same sex) single traveler. Companies like G Adventures organize international tours, and they specifically cater to different age ranges if you want to bunk up with a peer. Hostel dorms are another easy way for solo travelers to save money on sleep. Lastly, Norwegian cruise ships have a dedicated area for solo cabins and the space also offers a private lounge where solo travelers can meet up for a drink and chat on the high seas.

4. Overpacking

Let’s get real. If you can’t carry your backpack and suitcase (and place them in the overhead cabin) without assistance, you packed too much for solo travel. Sure, if you booked a luxury resort and private shuttle service, there’ll be a driver and bell staff to assist with heavy bags, but don’t count on strangers for bag assistance. Mid-range and budget travel destinations + public transportation = packing light.

Need packing light tips? Here’s how to live out of a carry-on for months at a time. 

5. Ignoring Safety Concerns

Travel can pose safety risks, no matter how many people you’re with, but solo travelers need to be extra cautious. On your first solo trip, it’s important to over-plan and share that itinerary with a loved one at home. Check in every day, a simple text or Instagram post is fine, and have a plan of action in case of emergencies. Be sure you know where you’re going and the safest route to get there. That means downloading maps ahead of time, double checking directions with hotel staff, and being cautious about using public transportation or walking alone in isolated areas at night. Be sure to book a hotel with 24-hour front desk staff (especially if you’re arriving late). In the room, double check your windows and doors are locked and leave valuables in the hotel safe (or better yet, at home). In bars and restaurants, don’t leave your drinks and food unattended for any length of time, or accept drinks from strangers. It’s also a good idea to know where tourist police stations and embassies are located.

6. Only Booking a Fancy Hotel

Pools at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai/Oyster

If your solo travel goal is to rest, be pampered, and have uninterrupted me time — then by all means, book the most luxe hotel you can afford. We’d recommend going for a luxury all-inclusive with included spa visits to really lean in to the unplugged vibe. But, if you want to meet other travelers and make new friends, an expensive hotel is your worst nightmare. Five-star hotels are usually filled with honeymooners and business travelers, not the most inclusive bunch. Instead, go for a hostel (if you don’t want to share a bathroom or a room, many hostels have affordable private rooms) or a mid-range hotel that has a pool or bar — places where singles and friend groups tend to mingle and meet.

The Eight Best Hostels for When You’re Too Old to Stay at a Hostel

7. Ordering Room Service

It’s fun to order breakfast in bed as an indulgent treat, but don’t hide out in your hotel room for all your meals because you’re too nervous to go to a restaurant by yourself. Dining alone can feel like the biggest barrier for rookie solo travelers, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re really nervous to ask the host for a table of one, get a seat at the bar counter. Coffee shops, food halls, food trucks, and beach vendors are also single-friendly (and affordable) places to grab a local bite and be part of the destination’s foodie scene.

8. Skipping a Selfie Stick

It might be a little embarrassing to whip out a selfie stick in public, but if you want to capture your travels for Instagram, this gizmo is the best way for a single traveler to take a flattering photo. Best of all, you won’t have to hand your phone to a stranger and hope they know your best angles and that you prefer a horizontal shot that follows the rule of thirds, thanks.

9. Advertising Your Solo Status

The Pool at the Nostos Apartments/Oyster

This one goes in common sense safety practices. If a stranger (or even hotel staff) is wildly questioning your single status or asking why you’re alone, it’s okay to lie and make up that a friend or partner is waiting for you or meeting you soon. Some single women wear a simple fake wedding band while traveling, to deter unwanted conversations from men. It’s unfortunate that women are especially at risk from assault, but fear shouldn’t take over your solo trip.

The Seven Solo Safety Tips to Travel By

10. Following the Crowds

The absolute best part of taking a solo trip is that you don’t have to do a single thing you don’t want to do. Not interested in checking out Mona Lisa at the Louvre in France? Skip it. Hate the idea of snorkeling? Don’t. You are in absolute control of your single-person vacation, so do what makes you happy — not what you think you should be doing. Solo travel might be the only time you don’t have to take someone else’s opinions and desires into account. Relish your solo control!

11. Skipping Single Necessities 

Packing for a single person requires a bit more planning. You can’t share toiletries, snacks, or water, so make sure you have everything you need. If you’re hitting the water, buy a waterproof cellphone bag so you can safely swim with your phone and wallet; buy spray-on sunscreen (for those hard to reach places); and don’t forget an external battery charger for safety’s sake. Other necessities to have on hand for single travel are a luggage lock, healthy snacks, and a refillable water bottle. Don’t forget individual entertainment, like headphones and an e-reader for solo downtime.

Our Favorite Solo Travel Hotels and Hostels

The Freehand (Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and Chicago)

The Penthouse-2 at the Freehand Chicago/Oyster

The Freehand brand is a dream for solo travelers. The quartet of hotels combines high-end vintage-inspired design, the option of affordable hostel-style accommodations, and lots of fun organized activities like yoga, cocktail classes, happy hours, story times, tarot card readings, and comedy shows. Room types includes quad rooms in Chicago, shared rooms for four to eight people in Los Angeles, and three- and four-person bunk rooms in New York. Oh, and the swimming pools in Miami and Los Angeles are some of the best in either city.

Hotels in this story

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Freehand Los Angeles

Freehand New York

Freehand Chicago

Freehand Miami

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Generator Hostels (Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Copenhagen, Dublin, Hamburg, London, Madrid, Paris, Rome, Stockholm, Venice)

Bar at the Generator Hostel Rome/Oyster

If you don’t think you like hostels, you need to check out the Generator brand. Chic design, a fun vibe, and bargain rates come together for a memorable stay. Hostel life at Generator properties centers on spacious chill-out areas with lots of plush seating and extras like billiards, foosball, board games, and photo booths — plus regular social events like DJ sets. Some Generators (Copenhagen and Dublin) offer free extras like daily walking tours. The line should hit the sweet spot for solo travelers whose no-frills backpacking days are behind them but who want something a bit closer to a hotel.

Miraval Arizona

The Villa at the Miraval Arizona Resort & Spa/Oyster

  If you’re looking for more of an eat, pray, love vibe on your solo vacation, may we direct your attention to the Miraval Arizona? Set in the Sonoran Desert foothills, the all-inclusive Miraval Resort is a luxury wellness oasis where guests revamp their minds, bodies, and lifestyles. If you’re worried about being bored on your own, Miraval has you covered. Each stay is individually customized from a weekly catalogue of 120 fitness and yoga classes, outdoor activities, and wellness workshops. Plus, you’re going to meet kindred spirits at the three swimming pools, cutting edge spa, state-of-the-art gym, and over wheatgrass shots and organic breakfast bowls. Single travel, reinvented.

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You’ll Also Like:

How to Plan Your First Solo Trip

The Best Trips for First-Time Solo Travelers 

12 Reasons You Should Take a Solo Trip 

The post 11 Rookie Mistakes to Avoid On Your First Solo Trip appeared first on Oyster.com.

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Hey - Pat from StarterStory.com here with another interview.Today's interview is with Elizabeth Grojean (u/Eliz008) of Baloo Living, a brand that makes luxury weighted blanketsSome stats:Product: Luxury Weighted BlanketsRevenue/mo: $100,000Started: April 2018Location: New York CityFounders: 1Employees: 2Hello! Who are you and what business did you start?Baloo Living is asleep and wellness company launched from Bali in 2018. Our signature product is a weighted blanket, an incredible tool for calming the nervous system with gentle pressure, similar to the way being hugged or held makes us feel naturally comforted. These blankets have been used for decades by therapists and are only now going mainstream as people discover just how powerful they can be for improving sleep and soothing anxiety--without the use of medication.It’s exciting to be bringing a product to market that does so much good and only beginning to reach critical mass. The market for weighted blankets is exploding - currently, on Amazon, there are millions of dollars in sales monthly, and we know that e-commerce generally represents 10% of retail sales in the US. We reached six figures in our third month, and seven figures after our first holiday season before even a year has passed! Baloo took off like crazy, partly because we stand for the highest product quality, customer service, and thoughtful design.imageWhat's your backstory and how did you come up with the idea?In 2017 I quit my job in marketing and publishing in New York City and booked a one-way flight to Bali. I was completely burned out and confused about the direction of my life. I’d been working so hard, yet felt unfulfilled. In the process of leaving every familiar security behind, I came to understand that I’d been looking for wholeness through external validation. In the first weeks without a title, company, or convenient identity, I felt completely naked. Over the course of weeks that then became months, I softened my external cover and started to discover what life could be like when there’s nothing to prove, nothing to justify, and no one to impress; the experience of being enough, satisfied and happy, just because, was the greatest and most beautiful discovery!I came back to New York City feeling so good and got smacked in the face with reverse culture shock. I tried to go back to life as I’d known it, but I had changed so much, I could never go back to working in an office for someone else. I’d spent almost all of my savings and had just a few thousand dollars left, but made the difficult decision to choose the path of uncertainty and risk, and go back to Bali with no income, with the intention of launching a business that I could run remotely and independently. In Bali, I met so many people running businesses while traveling, and I knew the secret to learning was to be surrounded by a community of kind people who could teach me.Back in Bali, I quickly went through an online course to launch a brand through Amazon FBA. Through product research, I discovered weighted blankets, and less than a week later, booked a flight to visit with suppliers and pick up samples. The moment I tried my sample weighted blanket for the first time, everything changed--I fell in love with the surprising, deeply relaxing sensation that crept in. At that moment, this business went from a project to a passion; the miracle of our bodies to self regulate and heal when given a nurturing environment is amazing to me.Baloo Living is a product company standing for respect for the body’s wisdom and gentle self-care and comfort. I was inspired to share the experience I had of reconnecting with myself by escaping to Bali with the rest of the world who can’t take the time to travel but can take a few minutes for quiet time with a Baloo blanket to find stillness and peace within.imageAt my home office in Ubud, Bali, Spring 2019Take us through the process of designing, prototyping, and manufacturing your first product.Right away, I knew that I could improve on the products being offered in the market. The blankets I saw were either made of synthetic materials or low-quality cotton. Baloo is made using a very soft, premium cotton that feels luxurious as soon as you take it out of the box. It’s heavy but super breathable and cool, so it can be used all year round because good sleep should not be seasonal!Baloo also uses a lower profile batting because the thinner the blanket, the more finely the glass microbeads inside contour the body, giving a more immediate, grounding feel. We also eliminated plastic from our packaging, and we only use materials certified by the Oeko-Tex Standard 100, which means free of chemicals, clean and safe. Finally, we include a small gift--a link to Tibetan and crystal bowl recordings, which have been shown to help the mind and body relax.Despite the best product design, our first order hit some snags. The inspection report came back with a failing grade, just one week before the Chinese New Year. Factories close for the entire month, so I had to pause the shipment and wait before I could visit the factory personally to inspect the order. We sorted through each piece and eliminated almost twenty percent of the pieces that were damaged. The experience taught me to know the production process very well, and also gave me peace of mind to know that each blanket we shipped was perfect.Since then, I’ve found a new manufacturing partner who is incredible to work with. The prices are higher but the facility is sparkling clean, the management team is excellent, and I can sleep at night knowing our products meet the highest standards.This is a photo of my sister Kimberly and a friend tying ribbons around our product inserts at a coworking space in Ubud, Bali. I hand-carried the inserts to the factory, where we inserted them as we inspected each blanket:imageDescribe the process of launching the business.I launched Baloo through Amazon initially. We shot beautiful photography at a villa in Bali and optimized the listing for the best keywords. The first order came within a day, and I can’t describe the joy at seeing it! Soon, we were selling three to six weighted blankets a day, and I didn’t think I could stand it--it was beyond my wildest dreams to have a product that someone would exchange money for!The first person who contacted us for a return made me so sad; I was in Bali, and I arranged for a courier to pick the box up from the woman’s apartment building in Manhattan and deliver it to my sister’s for safekeeping. The courier cost $40! It’s so funny looking back, but I feel a personal connection to each customer, and want people to be well taken care of.For the first few months, sales were made only on Amazon, but as the holidays neared, I reached out to a PR firm to help us with placements in gift guides. PR takes a couple of months at least, as the editors need time to learn about your brand and work it into their editorial calendars. Fortunately, we got an unexpected piece of the press just at the end of November when New York Magazine’s The Strategist named us the “Best weighted blanket to gift” - in just two days our website, balooliving.com, was flooded with orders and we completely sold out of our entire Q4 stock.We had hundreds of people emailing us to be put on the waiting list, and at this point, I was the only person doing customer service! I called my mom and asked her if she could stop what she was doing and help me respond to emails. She worked with me for the entire month of December and we started to take pre-orders for January delivery.Now, my mom is a permanent member of our customer service team and answers our phones to help customers decide which blankets to order. Her background is in mental health and counseling and she’s a certified life coach, so I couldn’t imagine anyone better prepared to take care of our customers.Now that we are a year and a half in business, we have received a number of accolades and high profile reviews, and the press is one of the main drivers of our website sales. We also invest in organic SEO, Google shopping ads and paid search. Our channels have shifted so that Amazon represents a bit under half of our sales with the rest from our website and select partners like Macy’s, Verishop, and The Grommet.imageBaloo’s operations and fulfillment team - Sean Zhang, Hasimew Jallow, Nancy Grojean, Elizabeth Grojean, Benjo BoteSince launch, what has worked to attract and retain customers?I believe it’s a combination of touchpoints that help us build and maintain a relationship with customers. The unboxing experience, which is the moment of the first impression with our physical product, can’t be overemphasized. That’s why we made the move to pack our blankets in a reusable cotton dust bag, and tie the product inserts with a ribbon. So much care has gone into the product and the brand, that we do everything we can to deliver that experience to the customer.Email and social media are the other ways we stay in touch. While we take a restrained approach to discounts and promotions, we do offer discounts at key gifting times, and we find that once someone has tried the blanket, they want to share it with friends and family members, so it makes a natural gift. So while it’s not a consumable product, we do see anywhere from 15-20% of our customers are returning customers.How are you doing today and what does the future look like?I’m committed to running a lean and bootstrapped company. It makes things harder in some ways but also keeps us creative. In addition to our original weighted blanket, we now offer a smaller size (the Mini Baloo), duvet covers, and French linen pillowcases. We are launching a new product right before Black Friday that I can’t yet reveal, and turning on global shipping, which will help us gauge interest in markets outside the United States.One of our greatest opportunities lies in the heart and story of our brand, so we will be looking for new ways to share that, and connect with people on an emotional level; through Facebook ads and organic content, plus videos on-site and in email.I have several product ideas that I’m so excited to launch and will plan for next year. These will help us build a stronger foundation as a brand that stands for comfort and self-care. We’re also looking for ways to grow our giveback to our nonprofit partners: the Pajama Program, which gives children and their caregivers’ tools for building reassuring bedtime routines; and Carbonfund.org Foundation, to offset our carbon footprint. We're also looking to do more for the environment through corporate givebacks, such as giving a percentage of our sales to the Rainforest Alliance, which we did for a time.After spending a couple of years in Bali, I’m really excited to be back in New York City and meeting so many inspiring entrepreneurs and creative people. I’m challenged every day and can’t wait to see what happens next!imageThrough starting the business, have you learned anything particularly helpful or advantageous?Be thoughtful about engaging consultants or agencies. I’ve made the mistake of rushing forward into contracts with a person or team because I’m impatient and want things to move forward, but it’s far more efficient to take the time to make sure the person or company is the right fit.But, hire experts! It will quickly reach the point when you cannot take the time to learn everything yourself and cheap freelancers can also waste time. When you bring someone on who is a true expert, make sure they’re open to explaining their thought process or methods with you, so you can learn from them while they support your project.What platform/tools do you use for your business?Our website is built on Shopify and we’ve just launched with Shopify Fulfillment Network to the warehouse and fulfill orders from the East Coast. I’m excited to see how the faster shipping speeds to the East Coast improve our conversion rates.Border Guru is a great service that our west coast fulfillment center uses to calculate duties and shipping at checkout for international orders. This means the customer isn’t surprised with a customs bill upon delivery.I use FreeeUp to find high-quality freelance help which comes vetted (unlike Upwork). I also hear that Jobrack.eu is quite good but I have not yet used it, it’s primarily for sourcing technical talent from Eastern Europe.Our team communicates throughout the day on Slack, our headquarters is in New York, and we have team members in San Diego, Denver, North Carolina, Barcelona, New Jersey, and Austin, so we try to have video calls every two weeks to connect and share updates as a team.Brexhas helped us manage our cash flow, allowing us to borrow cash for 60 days with no fees or interest.Transferwise has made it easy to send money without paying wire fees.We use Klaviyo for email because it is powerful segmenting lists and creating user journeys.Orderly Emails is an app that saved us a lot of time, it allows you to synch the design of your Shopify store’s automatic emails all at once, versus updating each template.What have been the most influential books, podcasts, or other resources?Power vs. Force by Sir. David R. Hawkins examines human behavior and the fundamental access to the truthfulness or falsehood of any statement or supposed fact. This, I find most interesting in honing the ability to read situations and my own motivations and decisions, as I try to move forward with integrity and awareness.I’m a big fan of Dr. Joe Dispenza, and most recently read Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself, which helps me expand my thinking outside my familiar bounds.I love Shopify’s podcast, Shopify Masters, which hosts a wide variety of e-commerce business owners with different business models, goals, and strategies. I learn something from each episode, no matter the guest’s background.I find belonging to groups and attending events to be extremely valuable for building and growing a supportive network. I recommend AMZ Innovate in New York City each September for Amazon sellers, and Digital Marketing Skill Share (DMSS) in Bali each October for diverse digital marketing tactics. I’m a member of Dynamite Circle, which is for all digital entrepreneurs, not only product-based businesses, and I participate with the NYC Fair Trade Coalition to stay abreast of innovations in sustainability, textiles, and sourcing.I always recommend getting involved with groups or organizations in your space, either in person or online; one small insight or learning can pay off exponentially against the time or money invested.Advice for other entrepreneurs who want to get started or are just starting out?Know that no one knows what they’re doing, especially gurus. Each person’s business is unique and comes as a result of timing, effort, circumstances and luck, and the future is always changing. I suggest educating yourself as much as possible, be it through webinars, books, courses, or any other resource, but take action quickly, even in small ways, to make the jump from conceptual thinking to practical application. You will learn SO much through doing, and even a small step might feel irrationally scary at the time, especially if you’re challenging your self-imposed limits or ideas about what you “should” do or beliefs about the “way things are done.”The BEST piece of advice I took was to list a product for sale on Amazon that was a small test product. The process of creating a barcode, labeling the product, shipping it to FBA, writing the listing, and then actually selling the product gave me confidence. Even if I lost money, the experience of taking each step was well worth it. In the end, I found something that made $300 a month, which was a huge victory!Last but not least, find people who understand and support what you’re trying to do. It’s hard enough to believe in yourself when you’re doing something for the first time, so do yourself a favor and put people around you who can believe in you, when you don’t.Where can we go to learn more?WebsiteInstagramElizabeth’s InstagramElizabeth’s LinkedinIf you have any questions or comments, drop a comment below!Liked this text interview? Check out the full interview with photos, tools, books, and other data.For more interviews, check out r/starter_story - I post new stories there daily.Interested in sharing your own story? Send me a PM

#/r/entrepreneur #reddit

[kennethherrerablog]

20+ Best Places to Sell Stuff Online and Paid Quickly

Are you trying to sell stuff online and get paid quickly?

One of the best ways to speed up the path to your financial success is by turning your stuff into cash. The good news, now is the best time to sell stuff online because there are so many free ways to sell right away.

Whether you looking to make extra money this month or you are simply trying to declutter your home, selling stuff online is the fastest way to turn your stuff into cash.

I’m always amazed at the process of buying and selling stuff. The myriad of items people buy and sell online and elsewhere are endless.  Buying direct from owners is a terrific way to get things you need and want at a discounted price.

And selling things you no longer need or want is a great way to de-clutter your house and bring in some serious extra cash. The list of things we’ve sold online is endless, from cars to clothes to toys to electronics.

Our Top Ways to Sell Stuff Online

With the ever-increasing popularity of smartphone apps and marketplace websites, buying and selling online is easier than ever. Here are our most popular smartphone apps and sites that can help you sell your stuff online and bring in some serious extra cash this month.

1. OC Buyback

OC Buyback is perfect if you have an iPod, tablet, Smartwatch, AppleTV or GoPro that you need to get rid of. Also, if you have are selling your old phone, definitely compare the price with BuybackBoss because of Buyback’s highest price guarantee.

It’s extremely simple to get started with OC Buyback. First you just need to select the device you are selling, ship your device for free (or drop off locally for free) and the get paid!

You can get paid via a mailed check (USPS First Class Mail) or get your money sent to your PayPal instantly (or up to 24 hours).

Also, there is no limit on how much you can sell on OC Buyback. Therefore, it may not be a bad idea to take some of that “junk” your friends are throwing away and turn that into some quick cash! 

  2. BuybackBoss (Top cash for old phone)

BuybackBoss is another great place to sell your old phone because they guarantee the MOST money when it comes to selling your old phone. However, you do have to prove it to them.

Since everyone today has a mobile phone, you probably also have an old phone lying around somewhere, right?

Turn that old phone into quick cash by getting the highest price for your old phone – guaranteed.

They have three simple steps when it comes to selling your old phone.

First it only takes 30 seconds or less to get your quote. Then, you simply ship your used phone for free and even track your shipment as well. Once your item is shipped, you get the choice of getting paid via check or through PayPal.

Also, if you do happen to find somewhere online that offers you a better price, you can simply send them an email (explanation on their website) with a link to the higher offer. Once they see the better offer, they will update your offer to beat their competitors and notify you once it’s ready to go.

With a Trustpilot rating of 9.6 out of 10 and the best-price guarantee, BuybackBoss is a no-brainer for selling your stuff online.

3. Decluttr

If you have other electronics besides a cell phone, Decluttr is one of the best ways to sell your unwanted stuff online. Here’s how it works:

First, you go to the Decluttr website to get the link for the free app and get a free instant evaluation of what you’re selling.

Once you accept their offer, simply put into a box for shipping and they will send you a pre-paid shipping label.

Next drop your package off at any UPS store, with any UPS driver, or with an authorized shipping dealer (you can search by your zipcode on their site)

As soon as Decluttr receives your package, they will pay you the very next day by Direct Deposit, PayPal, by Check, or they will even make a donation to a charity of your choice on your behalf!

Decluttr is also a really safe way to sell your items because you aren’t selling to other individuals. Instead, Decluttr buys your stuff directly and then resells it on their site.

Categories you can sell on Decluttr:

CDs and DVDs

Video games

Gaming systems

Textbooks

Smartphones

Apple products such as iPods, iPads and iPhones

Kindles

Lego sets

I know. The Lego thing kind of threw you for a loop, didn’t it! It doesn’t really fit in with the other categories Decluttr sticks to, but apparently there’s a serious market for used Lego sets!

Get the App:

Decluttr for iPhone and Android

4. OfferUp

OfferUp lets you list and sell for free. It’s more of a “you’re on your own” site like Craigslist and LetGo, but is fairly popular and is well-organized. In my area it didn’t seem to have quite as many listings as LetGo, but still could be worth your effort when selling. After all, less listings often means less competition for the things you sell.

Categories

Antiques

Appliances

Arts and crafts

Cars and trucks

Auto parts

Baby and kids

Beauty and health

CDs and DVDs

Cell phones

Clothing and shoes

Farming

Furniture

Games and toys

Household

And many others as well, including Collectibles. You could sell in just about any category on this site.

Get the App

OfferUp for Android

OfferUp for Apple

5. Amazon Seller Marketplace

Amazon has a popular program for selling your stuff online. The Amazon Seller Marketplace allows you to sell a variety of items online, including used items in many categories, as well as new items you’ve made or bought at a discount.

Categories

Amazon devices and accessories

Kindle devices and accessories

Automotive and powersports parts, tools, equipment and accessories

Baby gear (new only, excluding clothing)

Beauty (new only)

Books

Business products

Camera and photo

Cell phones

Clothing and accessories (new only)

Collectible coins

Electronics

Fine art collectibles

Grocery and gourmet food (new only)

Handmade items (new only)

Health and personal care items (new only)

Historical and advertising types of collectibles

Home and garden

Industrial and scientific (new only)

Jewelry (new only)

Luggage and travel accessories (new only)

Music

Musical instruments

Office products

And many more. Listing and selling fees apply, and the prices you’ll pay for selling stuff on Amazon vary based on how many items you plan on listing or selling in a given month and other criteria. For certain membership levels you’ll pay a monthly fee as well as individual listing and selling fees.

Given Amazon’s market share, the amount of exposure your items get could easily make up for the fees you may have to pay to sell.

Get the App:

Amazon Seller for Android

Amazon Seller for Apple

  Do you shop on Amazon? Here’s a list of companies that will pay you in the form of Amazon Gift Cards. 

  6. Poshmark

Poshmark lets you sell fashion clothing and accessories online. You can search by who you want to shop for (i.e. women, men or kids), by brand name, or by item (i.e. shorts, dresses, handbags, etc.).

When you sell an item on Poshmark, they’ll send you a prepaid shipping label to send it out. They charge a small commission based on the dollar amount of the transaction as well.

Categories

Women’s clothing

Men’s clothing

Kids’ clothing

Makeup

Shoes

Handbags

Jewelry and accessories

Posh’s Posh Protect program, along with their customer service team, helps ensure you get authentic items when you buy, and that you get paid promptly when you sell.

Get the App:

Poshmark app for Android

Poshmark app for Apple

7. 5miles

The premise behind 5miles is that it will help you buy or sell anything within 5 miles of your location, but when I looked online I was relieved to see that they offered plenty of buying selections in a broader range, up to 40 miles or so away from where we live.

It’s free to list and sell on 5miles, just like it is on Craigslist and similar sites.

Categories

Cars

Furniture

Cell phones

Household

Women’s clothing and shoes

Electronics and computers

Baby and kids

Auto parts

Jewelry and watches

Sports and outdoors

Collectibles and art

Jobs

Housing

Services

Garage sales

You can search by category, by specific item or by city. This is an easy-to-use site that seems to be pretty popular in many large metropolitan areas.

Get the App:

5miles app for Android

5miles app for Apple

8. LetGo

LetGo uses your location to help you list stuff for sale online and find stuff you want to buy as well. It’s a free site like Craigslist and doesn’t charge any listing or selling fees.

Categories

Free stuff

Electronics

Cars

Other vehicles and parts

Baby and child

Fashion and accessories

Movies, books and music

Sports, leisure and games

Home and garden

Other

Not much more to know about LetGo. The site is super easy to use and seems to be increasing in popularity these days: I find more and more listings – at least for my somewhat major metropolitan area – as I browse on a weekly basis.

Get the App:

LetGo app for Android

LetGo app for Apple

  9. OLX

OLX helps millions around the world buy and sell things. They share listings from dozens of countries including the United States, India, Russia, the Philippines, South Africa, Portugal and many, many more.

There’s no cost to list or sell with OLX; this is a true free classified ads site.

Categories

Personal items

Properties

Electronics and appliances

Fashion

Jobs

Pets

Books, hobbies and sports

And more. Categories may vary based on the country you are browsing. NOTE: if you are visiting OLX’s United States site you will be redirected to Letgo.

Get the App:

OLX for Android

OLX for Apple

10. Cash4Books

Cash4Books buys your used textbooks and other books. As with Decluttr, all you have to do is enter the ISBN (the number at the bottom of the barcode) of the book you’d like to sell and they’ll give you an offer price.

Once you’ve entered all of the ISBN numbers for the books you want to sell, and accepted the Cash4Books offer prices, they’ll send you a free prepaid shipping label that you can use to pack up and send your books to them.

After they’ve received the books and had a chance to assess their condition, etc., they’ll send you your earnings via PayPal. The site says that on average it takes about two weeks from the time you click “Sell my books” until the time you get your cash via PayPal.

Although the site buys all types of books, it looks as if the biggest payouts come from up-to-date used college textbooks.

If you’re a recent college graduate, know someone who is or can find newer versions of college textbooks at garage sales, this could be a great way to make some cash.

Get the App:

Cash4Books for Android

Cash4Books for Apple

11. Trove Marketplace

Trove Marketplace focuses on buying and selling vintage furniture and decor items. You can browse via keyword, or go straight to cities near you where items are for sale.

Trove Marketplace isn’t in every major metropolitan city, however you could offer for items you’re selling to be shipped if you want to appeal to buyers outside of your area. Current cities with Trove listings include:

Atlanta

Austin

Boston

Charlotte

Chicago

Dallas

Detroit

Houston

Los Angeles

Miami

New York

Philadelphia

Phoenix

San Francisco

Seattle

Washington DC

More cities may be added by the time you’re reading this.

Note: there is a selling fee for selling your items on this site. At the time of this writing the Trove Marketplace website showed it to be 10%.

Get the App:

Trove Marketplace for Android

Trove Marketplace for Apple

12. Mercari

Mercari allows you to sell your stuff online without any listing fees. However, you will pay a selling fee of 10% of the listing price, so be sure to price carefully. In other words, if you list something for $100 and a buyer bargains you down to $50, you’re still paying Mercari a $10 selling fee.

If you end up selling to a buyer who wants an item shipped to them, Mercari will help you do that by offering to print (and charge you for) a shipping label, or you can ship on your own.

Categories

Women

Men

Kids

Home

Vintage

Beauty

Tech

Sports

Handmade

Other

The “other category” can include a variety of items such as automotive (they even had cars listed in addition to auto parts), daily and travel items, musical instruments, office supplies, pet supplies and more.

As I searched the site looked like they had many items for sale in all 50 states, which indicates Mercari is a well-known and well-used site.

Get the App:

Mercari for Android

Mercari for Apple

13. Dealo

Dealo touts itself as a “faster, safer way to buy and sell anything”. The site itself has very little information about how Dealo works, who is using it and where or what the fees are. Categories are not listed either, however the site states you can register, list or buy within 30 seconds.

Get the App:

Dealo for Android

Dealo for Apple

14. Carousell

Carousell helps connect buyers and sellers by listing things people want to sell and coordinating groups based on similar interests.

You can browse the listings via the home page or the specific category you’re selling or buying in, or you can search via location. No listing or selling fees; you just meet up with your seller or chat online to arrange trade of money for your item.

Categories

For him

For her

Furniture and home

Kitchen and appliances

Beauty products

Design and craft

Baby and kids

Bicycles and bicycle parts

Outdoors and gardening

Musical instruments

Books

Textbooks

Community

Housing

Games and toys

It’s fast and easy to list on Carousell with their app.

Get the App:

Carousell for Android

Carousell for Apple

15. Depop

Depop is sort of an online flea market type of a site. Lots of fun vintage items on this site. Browsing through the listings was like taking a serious step back in time and was really fun. You use the app to buy and sell, and there are no fees or commissions paid.

There are no specific categories listed; the site just says “Find something that means something”. Most of the listings that I found on the site were clothing and accessory type items such as shirts, hats, jeans, jewelry, etc.

Most of the sellers on the site listed shipping fees to appeal to those who were buying from out of the area. The site is pretty simple and easy to use with the app, so if you have some cool, different or vintage clothing or accessories, this could be the way to go.

Get the App:

Depop for Android

Depop for Apple

16. Tradyo

Tradyo helps people buy and sell right in their local area. The site seems to be European based, however there were plenty of listings in my major metropolitan area in the U.S. Listings are free, and you can use instant chat to connect with potential buyers.

I typed in my zip code and found several items available for sale nearby. Then, just for fun I typed “90210” in the search bar (the only out-of-state zip code I know off the top of my head; yeah, I know – I’m dating myself), and there were a lot of listings for that area as well.

Categories

Art, antiques and collectibles

Autos, cars and other vehicles

Baby and kids

Bikes

Books and comics

Car accessories and parts

Clothing and fashion

Electronics, cell phones and cameras

Free stuff

Gaming consoles and games

Garage sales

Health and beauty

Home and furniture

Music

Services

Sporting goods and exercise

Tickets

Tools and equipment

Other

Lots of categories to choose from, and Tradyo is a site that is easy to use.

Get the App:

Tradyo on Android

Tradyo on Apple

17. Varage Sale

With Varage Sale you can list your items for sale and then meet up with buyers in your neighborhood. There are no categories listed for searching on this site, but there is a search bar that allows you to enter what you may be looking for, along with your location so you can find items near your home or work.

You need to sign up with Facebook or an email account so they can verify who you are – all buyers and sellers have to go through a verification process before they’re approved to buy or sell on the site.

In other words, you can browse the site’s listings, but both buyers and sellers need to sign up in order to get access to contact others within the site. This is a safety precaution that many buying and selling sites are implementing these days.

No listing or selling fees and no charge to bump your listing to the top of the site. A great alternative to the traditional garage sale.

Get the App:

Varage Sale for Android

Varage Sale for Apple

18. Chairish

Chairish is an online consignment store where you can sell used items in a number of categories. The site says it takes less than two minutes to list your item, and that you take home 80% of the sale price.

That’s a much higher percentage than what many brick-and-mortar consignment shops will offer to pay you since they have to cover space rental costs and employee pay and benefits.

You can sell items on Chairish to local people or ship the items out of state. Chairish helps you organize shipping arrangements too. This could be a good venue for you if you have lots of art deco or vintage items for the home.

Categories

Furniture

Art and mirrors

Rugs

Lighting

Decor

Outdoor

And more. Listing is free, the site has great tips on how to take the best photos to sell your item, and they have 24/7 customer service support as well.

Get the App:

Chairish for Android: No Chairish app for Android users as of yet

Chairish for Apple

19. Wallapop

Wallapop offers free local classified ads for you to sell your stuff on. Kind of like other flea market or classifieds apps, you simply use your app to write a short description and name your price.

Sellers figure out a plan for meeting up with buyers to exchange money and products, whether it’s meeting up in your local area or arranging shipping.

Get the App:

Wallapop for Android

Wallapop for Apple

20. SocialSell

SocialSell has a variety of listings in many areas in the U.S. Their website isn’t worth heading to at this writing; the apps have all the information you need for buying and selling.

Categories

Electronics

Men’s apparel

Women’s apparel

Household and yard

Entertainment

Music

Antiques

Automotive

Children and kids

Collectibles and memorabilia

Education

Living

Outdoors

Sports and fitness

And more. Like Craigslist there are no listing or selling fees. Mandatory user profiles help keep sellers and buyers safe.

Get the App:

SocialSell for Android

SocialSell for Apple

21. Vinted

With Vinted you can sell or buy used second-hand wardrobe items such as shoes, clothes, and accessories. There’s no cost to list or sell with Vinted, and like many other selling sites these days, users have to create a profile in order to enhance safety and security.

Categories

Women’s clothing, shoes and accessories

Beauty

Kids

Men’s items

You can meet up in person if you find a local buyer, or ship and get payment via PayPal.

Get the App:

Vinted for Android

Vinted for Apple

22. Shpock

Shpock helps you buy and sell things in your local area. There are no listing fees or selling fees and the app makes listing your items and communicating with potential buyers easy.

Get the App:

Shpock for Android

Shpock for Apple

23. Pxsell

Pxsell is the “easiest way” to sell your stuff, according to its app site. Just snap a picture, enter a few details and you’re done. This app focuses on selling in your local area and helping you designate a meet up with sellers.

You won’t pay listing or selling fees with Pxsell.

Categories

Electronics

Video games

Books

Music

Movies

Sports

Recreation

Cars

Clothes

Health

Beauty

Home

Baby and kids

Art

Antiques

collectibles

Pxsell requires community profiles for users in order to help ensure safety for buyers and sellers.

Get the App:

Pxsell for Android

Pxsell for Apple

Don’t Get Ripped Off (Here’s How)

Now that we’ve shared some of the more popular apps for selling stuff online, I want to take just a few minutes to talk about online selling and buying safety.

The world is full of con artists and other unsavory people, and it’s important to make sure you’re ahead of the game when it comes to online scammers in the selling and buying marketplace. Here are some tips that I’ve found helpful when it comes to avoiding selling scams.

We’ve not been the direct victim of a scam when selling stuff online, but that’s only because we’ve educated ourselves on what to look for to avoid getting ripped off.

Selling stuff online can be daunting, intimidating and sometimes frustrating. One time when we were selling a fishing boat, a guy got super angry at us because we had several potential buyers on the line and wouldn’t hold the boat for him until he got off work.

Another time we were selling some used furniture and a gal said she’d show up but never did. When I contacted her to ask why, she said “Oh, it was raining and I didn’t feel like going.” No phone call – nothing. She just didn’t show!

Just recently we listed a snow plow for sale. My husband got a weird text from a guy who offered to pay us over and above what we were asking if we’d accept a PayPal payment, and that he’d send his “agent” to pick up the several hundred pound plow. Sounds fishy, right?

Here are some things you can do to protect yourself as you sell your stuff online.

Don’t Deviate From Normal Payment Options

Most sites have you pay one of a couple of different ways: you can meet in person and accept cash or a cashier’s check, or you can accept a PayPal payment if you’re shipping an item.

When selling something and meeting a person directly we only accept cash – never a personal check or money order. We will accept a cashier’s check for big ticket items, but we always call and verify with the bank it’s issued off of first.

Have a First Come, First Served Rule

Don’t offer to hold items for people that may never show up unless you have a good and valid reason to do so. Holding items puts you at risk for losing out on selling your item.

If someone wants your item bad enough they’ll find a way to make it there quickly.

Beware of Giving Second Chances

If someone doesn’t show up or doesn’t do what they’ve promised, be wary. In our case with the lady who wanted to buy our furniture but never showed up, she asked if she could come another time. We didn’t answer.

We like to follow the “Screw me once, shame on you, screw me twice, shame on me” mantra when selling stuff online. If someone disses us once we won’t give them a chance to do it again.

Meet Up with Potential Buyers in a Public Place if Possible

We don’t follow this rule always, but many times we’ll meet buyers at a central location as long as it’s somewhere with a lot of traffic, such as across the street from the local police department or at a big box store such as Walmart.

It’s important to not put yourself in a situation where you’re in an isolated area with strangers.

Never Meet Up with Buyers Alone

Always bring somebody along if you’re meeting up with potential buyers too. I don’t recommend ever going alone, simply for safety reasons.

Always Tell Somebody When You’re Meeting Up with a Potential Buyer

When you’re meeting up with a potential buyer – whether alone or with somebody else – always, always leave information about where you’re going, who you’re meeting (leave the contact info you’ve been using to communicate with them), what you’re doing and when you expect to be back.

Tell your loved ones to call you and check in if you’re not back when you say you expect to be back. It probably wouldn’t hurt to bring pepper spray or some other item to protect yourself if need be too.

If Something Seems “Off”, Go With Your Gut

When you’re selling or buying something online and something seems off, it’s probably best to pull out of the deal. If someone is offering you way too much for an item, or is trying to finagle some weird payment arrangements other than what is typical, I’d bail on the deal.

There are many scam artists out there who offer to give you “this” if you’ll do “that” when you’re doing online selling and buying. For instance they’ll arrange for third-party payment, or send you over what you want and ask you to give them back the difference, or other similar odd types of requests.

These requests often come with a sob story that will play on your emotions in hopes that you’ll ignore the warning signs in an effort to help. Don’t fall for it. The world’s struggles are not all on your shoulders.

Stick to the rules and make sure you’re paid as promised with no goofy back and forth stuff. Selling stuff online can be a lucrative income source, especially if you’ve got a house full of unused stuff.

Just be sure to use selling sites and apps the way they are intended and keep a leg up on potential scam artists. This way you’ll maximize your income and make big strides toward reaching all of your financial goals and dreams.

Summary

As you can, there are so many options for you to sell your stuff online. Selling apps for both iOs and Android are picking up in popularity and people are looking beyond just eBay and Craigslist to buy your stuff. You can literally sell anything online. From cars, to selling refrigerators, to clothes and even old phones, you have money sitting in your house in the form of “stuff”.

What have you used to sell stuff online?

20+ Best Places to Sell Stuff Online and Paid Quickly published first on https://justinbetreviews.tumblr.com/

[gingerhotelsindia]

What Do The Dream Hotels In Ahmedabad Look Like?

Everyone looks forward to witnessing a once in a lifetime experience while staying at the best hotels in Ahmedabad. There are many 3-star and 5-star hotels present throughout the city where you can book your room and enjoy an amazing and comforting experience. These hotels extend all sorts of amenities that you have always expected from a hotel.

But have you wondered what these best hotels in Ahmedabad near airport look are like? Following amenities give you an insight into your dream hotels in Ahmedabad and how your experience with these hotels be like:

Chauffer Check-in

Whether it is a 5-star hotel in Ahmedabad city or the hotels in Ahmedabad near the airport, the best hotels in the city will always offer the service of chauffeur check-in. While most of the luxury hotels in Ahmedabad already provide you with private airport transfers and pick-ups, some of these hotels go an extra mile by starting the check-in process in the car. This also serves as the perfect option for all those hotels who have their guests arriving late at night or around midnight. The chauffeur check-in is certainly an exclusive trait.

Breakfast and meals anywhere and anytime

The guests certainly love when the hotels allow them to finish their breakfast late. However, do you know what is even better? When the breakfast at the hotel doesn’t have a timeframe at all. Yes, this is what dream hotels in Ahmedabad offer.

You can have your breakfast anytime during the day and the same could also be delivered to your room without charging you any extra cost.

Complimentary service of picking up and dropping off

One of the best things that a number of people seek in their dream hotels in Ahmedabad is the complimentary service of picking up and dropping off all their guests. Fortunately, the same kind of service is being extended by a number of resorts and hotels in Ahmedabad near airport and all those hotels that are located far from the city. Some hotels in the city do offer van/shuttle services which depart from the hotel at particular times and vice versa. However, all the 5-star hotels in Ahmedabad offer private services to all their guests so as to make their experience worth cherishing.

Luggage forwarding service

The majority of 5-star hotels in Ahmedabad have this feature. These hotels offer luggage forwarding services to all their guests, whether these guests are incoming or departing.

This service includes features such as packing or unpacking for all their guests. This factor helps the guest save a lot of his time, as well as worries, of making sure that all their things arrive safely within or outside the hotel premises. It is important to mention that the luggage forwarding service offered by these hotels in Ahmedabad is not complimentary. This service involves a third-party freight company. Most of these Ahmedabad hotels do not charge a fee on the top of the shipping or forwarding service respectively.

Custom-stocked fridge or minibar

Your dream hotels in Ahmedabad near airport surely offer a custom-stocked fridge or minibar. Fortunately, a number of luxury hotels in Ahmedabad offer their guests the option to advise or pre-check-in if the guests want various items on their fridge and minibar. Almost all the luxury hotels now provide private chefs to the guests who are able to cater to every dietary requirement offered by their guests. However, the amenity of custom-stocked fridge or minibar is still a bonus which gives the guests a personal preference throughout their stay within the hotel premises. This particular feature is designed to offer all sorts of comfort to the guest at the hotel.

Complimentary movie library

If you are a movie buff, this is the best deal for you during your stay at your dream hotel in Ahmedabad. Complimentary movie channels have become a common thing at the hotels these days. At the same time, it is also very common for some hotels to have their own DVD library where all the guests could choose individual DVDs and indulge in a movie marathon.

The luxury hotels in Ahmedabad do not give you a single doubt in terms of extending their hospitality to you. You can enjoy watching your favourite movie whilst eating your favourite meal in your air-conditioned suite/room.

Luxury hotels in Ahmedabad are designed to extend a dream-like experience and services to all their guests, and guess what – they certainly leave all their guests spell-bounded. Yes, this is what your dream hotels in Ahmedabad are all about.

#hotel in Ahmedabad #hotels in Ahmedabad near airport

[darcyfarber]

21 Best Apps to Sell Your Stuff Online

One of the ways that Peach, myself and many other people reach financial goals such as paying off debt, saving for something important or working toward financial independence is to sell stuff.

I’m always amazed at the process of buying and selling stuff. The myriad of items people buy and sell online and elsewhere are endless. Buying direct from owners is a terrific way to get things you need and want at a discounted price.

And selling things you no longer need or want is a great way to declutter your house and bring in some serious extra cash. The list of things we’ve sold online is endless, from cars to clothes to toys to electronics.

Our Top Ways to Sell Stuff Online

With the ever-increasing popularity of smartphone apps, buying and selling online is easier than ever. Here are our top 21 popular smartphone apps that can help you sell your stuff online and potentially bring in some serious extra cash.

1. Decluttr

Decluttr is one of the best ways to sell your unwanted stuff online. Here’s how it works:

First, you go to the Decluttr website to get the link for the free app and get a free instant evaluation of what you’re selling.

Once you accept their offer, simply put into a box for shipping and they will send you a pre-paid shipping label.

Next drop your package off at any UPS store, with any UPS driver, or with an authorized shipping dealer (you can search by your zipcode on their site)

As soon as Decluttr receives your package, they will pay you the very next day by Direct Deposit, PayPal, by Check, or they will even make a donation to a charity of your choice on your behalf!

Decluttr is also a really safe way to sell your items because you aren’t selling to other individuals. Instead, Decluttr buys your stuff directly and then resells it on their site.

Categories you can sell on Decluttr:

CDs and DVDs

Video games

Gaming systems

Textbooks

Smartphones

Apple products such as iPods, iPads and iPhones

Kindles

Lego sets

I know. The Lego thing kind of threw you for a loop, didn’t it! It doesn’t really fit in with the other categories Decluttr sticks to, but apparently there’s a serious market for used Lego sets!

Note: Decluttr will probably give you less money for your stuff than if you sell it to an individual, however you get an immediate offer price and get your money quickly – and you don’t have to meet anyone to make the exchange.

Get the App:

Decluttr for iPhone and Android

2. OfferUp

OfferUp lets you list and sell for free. It’s more of a “you’re on your own” site like Craigslist and LetGo, but is fairly popular and is well-organized. In my area it didn’t seem to have quite as many listings as LetGo, but still could be worth your effort when selling. After all, less listings often means less competition for the things you sell.

Categories

Antiques

Appliances

Arts and crafts

Cars and trucks

Auto parts

Baby and kids

Beauty and health

CDs and DVDs

Cell phones

Clothing and shoes

Farming

Furniture

Games and toys

Household

And many others as well, including Collectibles. You could sell in just about any category on this site.

Get the App

OfferUp for Android

OfferUp for Apple

3. Amazon Seller Marketplace

Amazon has a popular program for selling your stuff online. The Amazon Seller Marketplace allows you to sell a variety of items online, including used items in many categories, as well as new items you’ve made or bought at a discount.

Categories

Amazon devices and accessories

Kindle devices and accessories

Automotive and powersports parts, tools, equipment and accessories

Baby gear (new only, excluding clothing)

Beauty (new only)

Books

Business products

Camera and photo

Cell phones

Clothing and accessories (new only)

Collectible coins

Electronics

Fine art collectibles

Grocery and gourmet food (new only)

Handmade items (new only)

Health and personal care items (new only)

Historical and advertising types of collectibles

Home and garden

Industrial and scientific (new only)

Jewelry (new only)

Luggage and travel accessories (new only)

Music

Musical instruments

Office products

And many more. Listing and selling fees apply, and the prices you’ll pay for selling stuff on Amazon vary based on how many items you plan on listing or selling in a given month and other criteria. For certain membership levels you’ll pay a monthly fee as well as individual listing and selling fees.

Given Amazon’s market share, the amount of exposure your items get could easily make up for the fees you may have to pay to sell.

Get the App:

Amazon Seller for Android

Amazon Seller for Apple

  Do you shop on Amazon? Here’s a list of companies that will pay you in the form of Amazon Gift Cards. Read the post here.

  4. Poshmark

Poshmark lets you sell fashion clothing and accessories online. You can search by who you want to shop for (i.e. women, men or kids), by brand name, or by item (i.e. shorts, dresses, handbags, etc.).

When you sell an item on Poshmark, they’ll send you a prepaid shipping label to send it out. They charge a small commission based on the dollar amount of the transaction as well.

Categories

Women’s clothing

Men’s clothing

Kids’ clothing

Makeup

Shoes

Handbags

Jewelry and accessories

Posh’s Posh Protect program, along with their customer service team, helps ensure you get authentic items when you buy, and that you get paid promptly when you sell.

Get the App:

Poshmark app for Android

Poshmark app for Apple

5. 5miles

The premise behind 5miles is that it will help you buy or sell anything within 5 miles of your location, but when I looked online I was relieved to see that they offered plenty of buying selections in a broader range, up to 40 miles or so away from where we live.

It’s free to list and sell on 5miles, just like it is on Craigslist and similar sites.

Categories

Cars

Furniture

Cell phones

Household

Women’s clothing and shoes

Electronics and computers

Baby and kids

Auto parts

Jewelry and watches

Sports and outdoors

Collectibles and art

Jobs

Housing

Services

Garage sales

You can search by category, by specific item or by city. This is an easy-to-use site that seems to be pretty popular in many large metropolitan areas.

Get the App:

5miles app for Android

5miles app for Apple

6. LetGo

LetGo uses your location to help you list stuff for sale online and find stuff you want to buy as well. It’s a free site like Craigslist and doesn’t charge any listing or selling fees.

Categories

Free stuff

Electronics

Cars

Other vehicles and parts

Baby and child

Fashion and accessories

Movies, books and music

Sports, leisure and games

Home and garden

Other

Not much more to know about LetGo. The site is super easy to use and seems to be increasing in popularity these days: I find more and more listings – at least for my somewhat major metropolitan area – as I browse on a weekly basis.

Get the App:

LetGo app for Android

LetGo app for Apple

  Need a little extra money this month? How about a list of the top 84 Side Hustles that actually work? There are 84 of them – I promise you there is at least one for you. Read top 84 side hustles here.

  7. OLX

OLX helps millions around the world buy and sell things. They share listings from dozens of countries including the United States, India, Russia, the Philippines, South Africa, Portugal and many, many more.

There’s no cost to list or sell with OLX; this is a true free classified ads site.

Categories

Personal items

Properties

Electronics and appliances

Fashion

Jobs

Pets

Books, hobbies and sports

And more. Categories may vary based on the country you are browsing. NOTE: if you are visiting OLX’s United States site you will be redirected to Letgo.

Get the App:

OLX for Android

OLX for Apple

8. Cash4Books

Cash4Books buys your used textbooks and other books. As with Decluttr, all you have to do is enter the ISBN (the number at the bottom of the barcode) of the book you’d like to sell and they’ll give you an offer price.

Once you’ve entered all of the ISBN numbers for the books you want to sell, and accepted the Cash4Books offer prices, they’ll send you a free prepaid shipping label that you can use to pack up and send your books to them.

After they’ve received the books and had a chance to assess their condition, etc., they’ll send you your earnings via PayPal. The site says that on average it takes about two weeks from the time you click “Sell my books” until the time you get your cash via PayPal.

Although the site buys all types of books, it looks as if the biggest payouts come from up-to-date used college textbooks.

If you’re a recent college graduate, know someone who is or can find newer versions of college textbooks at garage sales, this could be a great way to make some cash.

Get the App:

Cash4Books for Android

Cash4Books for Apple

9. Trove Marketplace

Trove Marketplace focuses on buying and selling vintage furniture and decor items. You can browse via keyword, or go straight to cities near you where items are for sale.

Trove Marketplace isn’t in every major metropolitan city, however you could offer for items you’re selling to be shipped if you want to appeal to buyers outside of your area. Current cities with Trove listings include:

Atlanta

Austin

Boston

Charlotte

Chicago

Dallas

Detroit

Houston

Los Angeles

Miami

New York

Philadelphia

Phoenix

San Francisco

Seattle

Washington DC

More cities may be added by the time you’re reading this.

Note: there is a selling fee for selling your items on this site. At the time of this writing the Trove Marketplace website showed it to be 10%.

Get the App:

Trove Marketplace for Android

Trove Marketplace for Apple

10. Mercari

Mercari allows you to sell your stuff online without any listing fees. However, you will pay a selling fee of 10% of the listing price, so be sure to price carefully. In other words, if you list something for $100 and a buyer bargains you down to $50, you’re still paying Mercari a $10 selling fee.

If you end up selling to a buyer who wants an item shipped to them, Mercari will help you do that by offering to print (and charge you for) a shipping label, or you can ship on your own.

Categories

Women

Men

Kids

Home

Vintage

Beauty

Tech

Sports

Handmade

Other

The “other category” can include a variety of items such as automotive (they even had cars listed in addition to auto parts), daily and travel items, musical instruments, office supplies, pet supplies and more.

As I searched the site looked like they had many items for sale in all 50 states, which indicates Mercari is a well-known and well-used site.

Get the App:

Mercari for Android

Mercari for Apple

11. Dealo

Dealo touts itself as a “faster, safer way to buy and sell anything”. The site itself has very little information about how Dealo works, who is using it and where or what the fees are. Categories are not listed either, however the site states you can register, list or buy within 30 seconds.

Get the App:

Dealo for Android

Dealo for Apple

12. Carousell

Carousell helps connect buyers and sellers by listing things people want to sell and coordinating groups based on similar interests.

You can browse the listings via the home page or the specific category you’re selling or buying in, or you can search via location. No listing or selling fees; you just meet up with your seller or chat online to arrange trade of money for your item.

Categories

For him

For her

Furniture and home

Kitchen and appliances

Beauty products

Design and craft

Baby and kids

Bicycles and bicycle parts

Outdoors and gardening

Musical instruments

Books

Textbooks

Community

Housing

Games and toys

It’s fast and easy to list on Carousell with their app.

Get the App:

Carousell for Android

Carousell for Apple

13. Depop

Depop is sort of an online flea market type of a site. Lots of fun vintage items on this site. Browsing through the listings was like taking a serious step back in time and was really fun. You use the app to buy and sell, and there are no fees or commissions paid.

There are no specific categories listed; the site just says “Find something that means something”. Most of the listings that I found on the site were clothing and accessory type items such as shirts, hats, jeans, jewelry, etc.

Most of the sellers on the site listed shipping fees to appeal to those who were buying from out of the area. The site is pretty simple and easy to use with the app, so if you have some cool, different or vintage clothing or accessories, this could be the way to go.

Get the App:

Depop for Android

Depop for Apple

14. Tradyo

Tradyo helps people buy and sell right in their local area. The site seems to be European based, however there were plenty of listings in my major metropolitan area in the U.S. Listings are free, and you can use instant chat to connect with potential buyers.

I typed in my zip code and found several items available for sale nearby. Then, just for fun I typed “90210” in the search bar (the only out-of-state zip code I know off the top of my head; yeah, I know – I’m dating myself), and there were a lot of listings for that area as well.

Categories

Art, antiques and collectibles

Autos, cars and other vehicles

Baby and kids

Bikes

Books and comics

Car accessories and parts

Clothing and fashion

Electronics, cell phones and cameras

Free stuff

Gaming consoles and games

Garage sales

Health and beauty

Home and furniture

Music

Services

Sporting goods and exercise

Tickets

Tools and equipment

Other

Lots of categories to choose from, and Tradyo is a site that is easy to use.

Get the App:

Tradyo on Android

Tradyo on Apple

15. Varage Sale

With Varage Sale you can list your items for sale and then meet up with buyers in your neighborhood. There are no categories listed for searching on this site, but there is a search bar that allows you to enter what you may be looking for, along with your location so you can find items near your home or work.

You need to sign up with Facebook or an email account so they can verify who you are – all buyers and sellers have to go through a verification process before they’re approved to buy or sell on the site.

In other words, you can browse the site’s listings, but both buyers and sellers need to sign up in order to get access to contact others within the site. This is a safety precaution that many buying and selling sites are implementing these days.

No listing or selling fees and no charge to bump your listing to the top of the site. A great alternative to the traditional garage sale.

Get the App:

Varage Sale for Android

Varage Sale for Apple

16. Chairish

Chairish is an online consignment store where you can sell used items in a number of categories. The site says it takes less than two minutes to list your item, and that you take home 80% of the sale price.

That’s a much higher percentage than what many brick-and-mortar consignment shops will offer to pay you since they have to cover space rental costs and employee pay and benefits.

You can sell items on Chairish to local people or ship the items out of state. Chairish helps you organize shipping arrangements too. This could be a good venue for you if you have lots of art deco or vintage items for the home.

Categories

Furniture

Art and mirrors

Rugs

Lighting

Decor

Outdoor

And more. Listing is free, the site has great tips on how to take the best photos to sell your item, and they have 24/7 customer service support as well.

Get the App:

Chairish for Android: No Chairish app for Android users as of yet

Chairish for Apple

17. Wallapop

Wallapop offers free local classified ads for you to sell your stuff on. Kind of like other flea market or classifieds apps, you simply use your app to write a short description and name your price.

Sellers figure out a plan for meeting up with buyers to exchange money and products, whether it’s meeting up in your local area or arranging shipping.

Get the App:

Wallapop for Android

Wallapop for Apple

18. SocialSell

SocialSell has a variety of listings in many areas in the U.S. Their website isn’t worth heading to at this writing; the apps have all the information you need for buying and selling.

Categories

Electronics

Men’s apparel

Women’s apparel

Household and yard

Entertainment

Music

Antiques

Automotive

Children and kids

Collectibles and memorabilia

Education

Living

Outdoors

Sports and fitness

And more. Like Craigslist there are no listing or selling fees. Mandatory user profiles help keep sellers and buyers safe.

Get the App:

SocialSell for Android

SocialSell for Apple

19. Vinted

With Vinted you can sell or buy used second-hand wardrobe items such as shoes, clothes, and accessories. There’s no cost to list or sell with Vinted, and like many other selling sites these days, users have to create a profile in order to enhance safety and security.

Categories

Women’s clothing, shoes and accessories

Beauty

Kids

Men’s items

You can meet up in person if you find a local buyer, or ship and get payment via PayPal.

Get the App:

Vinted for Android

Vinted for Apple

20. Shpock

Shpock helps you buy and sell things in your local area. There are no listing fees or selling fees and the app makes listing your items and communicating with potential buyers easy.

Get the App:

Shpock for Android

Shpock for Apple

21. Pxsell

Pxsell is the “easiest way” to sell your stuff, according to its app site. Just snap a picture, enter a few details and you’re done. This app focuses on selling in your local area and helping you designate a meet up with sellers.

You won’t pay listing or selling fees with Pxsell.

Categories

Electronics

Video games

Books

Music

Movies

Sports

Recreation

Cars

Clothes

Health

Beauty

Home

Baby and kids

Art

Antiques

collectibles

Pxsell requires community profiles for users in order to help ensure safety for buyers and sellers.

Get the App:

Pxsell for Android

Pxsell for Apple

Don’t Get Ripped Off (Here’s How)

Now that we’ve shared some of the more popular apps for selling stuff online, I want to take just a few minutes to talk about online selling and buying safety.

The world is full of con artists and other unsavory people, and it’s important to make sure you’re ahead of the game when it comes to online scammers in the selling and buying marketplace. Here are some tips that I’ve found helpful when it comes to avoiding selling scams.

We’ve not been the direct victim of a scam when selling stuff online, but that’s only because we’ve educated ourselves on what to look for to avoid getting ripped off.

Selling stuff online can be daunting, intimidating and sometimes frustrating. One time when we were selling a fishing boat, a guy got super angry at us because we had several potential buyers on the line and wouldn’t hold the boat for him until he got off work.

Another time we were selling some used furniture and a gal said she’d show up but never did. When I contacted her to ask why, she said “Oh, it was raining and I didn’t feel like going.” No phone call – nothing. She just didn’t show!

Just recently we listed a snow plow for sale. My husband got a weird text from a guy who offered to pay us over and above what we were asking if we’d accept a PayPal payment, and that he’d send his “agent” to pick up the several hundred pound plow. Sounds fishy, right?

Here are some things you can do to protect yourself as you sell your stuff online.

Don’t Deviate From Normal Payment Options

Most sites have you pay one of a couple of different ways: you can meet in person and accept cash or a cashier’s check, or you can accept a PayPal payment if you’re shipping an item.

When selling something and meeting a person directly we only accept cash – never a personal check or money order. We will accept a cashier’s check for big ticket items, but we always call and verify with the bank it’s issued off of first.

Have a First Come, First Served Rule

Don’t offer to hold items for people that may never show up unless you have a good and valid reason to do so. Holding items puts you at risk for losing out on selling your item.

If someone wants your item bad enough they’ll find a way to make it there quickly.

Beware of Giving Second Chances

If someone doesn’t show up or doesn’t do what they’ve promised, be wary. In our case with the lady who wanted to buy our furniture but never showed up, she asked if she could come another time. We didn’t answer.

We like to follow the “Screw me once, shame on you, screw me twice, shame on me” mantra when selling stuff online. If someone disses us once we won’t give them a chance to do it again.

Meet Up with Potential Buyers in a Public Place if Possible

We don’t follow this rule always, but many times we’ll meet buyers at a central location as long as it’s somewhere with a lot of traffic, such as across the street from the local police department or at a big box store such as Walmart.

It’s important to not put yourself in a situation where you’re in an isolated area with strangers.

Never Meet Up with Buyers Alone

Always bring somebody along if you’re meeting up with potential buyers too. I don’t recommend ever going alone, simply for safety reasons.

Always Tell Somebody When You’re Meeting Up with a Potential Buyer

When you’re meeting up with a potential buyer – whether alone or with somebody else – always, always leave information about where you’re going, who you’re meeting (leave the contact info you’ve been using to communicate with them), what you’re doing and when you expect to be back.

Tell your loved ones to call you and check in if you’re not back when you say you expect to be back. It probably wouldn’t hurt to bring pepper spray or some other item to protect yourself if need be too.

If Something Seems “Off”, Go With Your Gut

When you’re selling or buying something online and something seems off, it’s probably best to pull out of the deal. If someone is offering you way too much for an item, or is trying to finagle some weird payment arrangements other than what is typical, I’d bail on the deal.

There are many scam artists out there who offer to give you “this” if you’ll do “that” when you’re doing online selling and buying. For instance they’ll arrange for third-party payment, or send you over what you want and ask you to give them back the difference, or other similar odd types of requests.

These requests often come with a sob story that will play on your emotions in hopes that you’ll ignore the warning signs in an effort to help. Don’t fall for it. The world’s struggles are not all on your shoulders.

Stick to the rules and make sure you’re paid as promised with no goofy back and forth stuff. Selling stuff online can be a lucrative income source, especially if you’ve got a house full of unused stuff.

Just be sure to use selling sites and apps the way they are intended and keep a leg up on potential scam artists. This way you’ll maximize your income and make big strides toward reaching all of your financial goals and dreams.

Summary

As you can, there are so many options for you to sell your stuff online. Selling apps for both iOs and Android are picking up in popularity and people are looking beyond just eBay and Craigslist to buy your stuff. Whether you are in a hurry to sell your stuff online or you simply want to get the best offer, you have great options. Try a few of these different apps out and let us know what is working best for you.

What have you used to sell stuff online?

    21 Best Apps to Sell Your Stuff Online published first on https://mysingaporepools.weebly.com/

[auctionarray228]

How to Repair Watch Clock Watches Wheel Work Gearing Practical Horology Books CD

How to Repair Watch Clock Practical Horology Course CD

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                                                                         This CD is copyrighted; any copying, duplicating, reproducing, licensing or sub licensing is strictly

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The post How to Repair Watch Clock Watches Wheel Work Gearing Practical Horology Books CD appeared first on The best deals on the web delivered around the world!.

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21 Best Apps to Sell Your Stuff Online

One of the ways that Peach, myself and many other people reach financial goals such as paying off debt, saving for something important or working toward financial independence is to sell stuff.

I’m always amazed at the process of buying and selling stuff. The myriad of items people buy and sell online and elsewhere are endless. Buying direct from owners is a terrific way to get things you need and want at a discounted price.

And selling things you no longer need or want is a great way to declutter your house and bring in some serious extra cash. The list of things we’ve sold online is endless, from cars to clothes to toys to electronics.

Our Top Ways to Sell Stuff Online

With the ever-increasing popularity of smartphone apps, buying and selling online is easier than ever. Here are our top 21 popular smartphone apps that can help you sell your stuff online and potentially bring in some serious extra cash.

1. Decluttr

Decluttr is one of the best ways to sell your unwanted stuff online. Here’s how it works:

First, you go to the Decluttr website to get the link for the free app and get a free instant evaluation of what you’re selling.

Once you accept their offer, simply put into a box for shipping and they will send you a pre-paid shipping label.

Next drop your package off at any UPS store, with any UPS driver, or with an authorized shipping dealer (you can search by your zipcode on their site)

As soon as Decluttr receives your package, they will pay you the very next day by Direct Deposit, PayPal, by Check, or they will even make a donation to a charity of your choice on your behalf!

Decluttr is also a really safe way to sell your items because you aren’t selling to other individuals. Instead, Decluttr buys your stuff directly and then resells it on their site.

Categories you can sell on Decluttr:

CDs and DVDs

Video games

Gaming systems

Textbooks

Smartphones

Apple products such as iPods, iPads and iPhones

Kindles

Lego sets

I know. The Lego thing kind of threw you for a loop, didn’t it! It doesn’t really fit in with the other categories Decluttr sticks to, but apparently there’s a serious market for used Lego sets!

Note: Decluttr will probably give you less money for your stuff than if you sell it to an individual, however you get an immediate offer price and get your money quickly – and you don’t have to meet anyone to make the exchange.

Get the App:

Decluttr for iPhone and Android

2. OfferUp

OfferUp lets you list and sell for free. It’s more of a “you’re on your own” site like Craigslist and LetGo, but is fairly popular and is well-organized. In my area it didn’t seem to have quite as many listings as LetGo, but still could be worth your effort when selling. After all, less listings often means less competition for the things you sell.

Categories

Antiques

Appliances

Arts and crafts

Cars and trucks

Auto parts

Baby and kids

Beauty and health

CDs and DVDs

Cell phones

Clothing and shoes

Farming

Furniture

Games and toys

Household

And many others as well, including Collectibles. You could sell in just about any category on this site.

Get the App

OfferUp for Android

OfferUp for Apple

3. Amazon Seller Marketplace

Amazon has a popular program for selling your stuff online. The Amazon Seller Marketplace allows you to sell a variety of items online, including used items in many categories, as well as new items you’ve made or bought at a discount.

Categories

Amazon devices and accessories

Kindle devices and accessories

Automotive and powersports parts, tools, equipment and accessories

Baby gear (new only, excluding clothing)

Beauty (new only)

Books

Business products

Camera and photo

Cell phones

Clothing and accessories (new only)

Collectible coins

Electronics

Fine art collectibles

Grocery and gourmet food (new only)

Handmade items (new only)

Health and personal care items (new only)

Historical and advertising types of collectibles

Home and garden

Industrial and scientific (new only)

Jewelry (new only)

Luggage and travel accessories (new only)

Music

Musical instruments

Office products

And many more. Listing and selling fees apply, and the prices you’ll pay for selling stuff on Amazon vary based on how many items you plan on listing or selling in a given month and other criteria. For certain membership levels you’ll pay a monthly fee as well as individual listing and selling fees.

Given Amazon’s market share, the amount of exposure your items get could easily make up for the fees you may have to pay to sell.

Get the App:

Amazon Seller for Android

Amazon Seller for Apple

  Do you shop on Amazon? Here’s a list of companies that will pay you in the form of Amazon Gift Cards. Read the post here.

  4. Poshmark

Poshmark lets you sell fashion clothing and accessories online. You can search by who you want to shop for (i.e. women, men or kids), by brand name, or by item (i.e. shorts, dresses, handbags, etc.).

When you sell an item on Poshmark, they’ll send you a prepaid shipping label to send it out. They charge a small commission based on the dollar amount of the transaction as well.

Categories

Women’s clothing

Men’s clothing

Kids’ clothing

Makeup

Shoes

Handbags

Jewelry and accessories

Posh’s Posh Protect program, along with their customer service team, helps ensure you get authentic items when you buy, and that you get paid promptly when you sell.

Get the App:

Poshmark app for Android

Poshmark app for Apple

5. 5miles

The premise behind 5miles is that it will help you buy or sell anything within 5 miles of your location, but when I looked online I was relieved to see that they offered plenty of buying selections in a broader range, up to 40 miles or so away from where we live.

It’s free to list and sell on 5miles, just like it is on Craigslist and similar sites.

Categories

Cars

Furniture

Cell phones

Household

Women’s clothing and shoes

Electronics and computers

Baby and kids

Auto parts

Jewelry and watches

Sports and outdoors

Collectibles and art

Jobs

Housing

Services

Garage sales

You can search by category, by specific item or by city. This is an easy-to-use site that seems to be pretty popular in many large metropolitan areas.

Get the App:

5miles app for Android

5miles app for Apple

6. LetGo

LetGo uses your location to help you list stuff for sale online and find stuff you want to buy as well. It’s a free site like Craigslist and doesn’t charge any listing or selling fees.

Categories

Free stuff

Electronics

Cars

Other vehicles and parts

Baby and child

Fashion and accessories

Movies, books and music

Sports, leisure and games

Home and garden

Other

Not much more to know about LetGo. The site is super easy to use and seems to be increasing in popularity these days: I find more and more listings – at least for my somewhat major metropolitan area – as I browse on a weekly basis.

Get the App:

LetGo app for Android

LetGo app for Apple

  Need a little extra money this month? How about a list of the top 84 Side Hustles that actually work? There are 84 of them – I promise you there is at least one for you. Read top 84 side hustles here.

  7. OLX

OLX helps millions around the world buy and sell things. They share listings from dozens of countries including the United States, India, Russia, the Philippines, South Africa, Portugal and many, many more.

There’s no cost to list or sell with OLX; this is a true free classified ads site.

Categories

Personal items

Properties

Electronics and appliances

Fashion

Jobs

Pets

Books, hobbies and sports

And more. Categories may vary based on the country you are browsing. NOTE: if you are visiting OLX’s United States site you will be redirected to Letgo.

Get the App:

OLX for Android

OLX for Apple

8. Cash4Books

Cash4Books buys your used textbooks and other books. As with Decluttr, all you have to do is enter the ISBN (the number at the bottom of the barcode) of the book you’d like to sell and they’ll give you an offer price.

Once you’ve entered all of the ISBN numbers for the books you want to sell, and accepted the Cash4Books offer prices, they’ll send you a free prepaid shipping label that you can use to pack up and send your books to them.

After they’ve received the books and had a chance to assess their condition, etc., they’ll send you your earnings via PayPal. The site says that on average it takes about two weeks from the time you click “Sell my books” until the time you get your cash via PayPal.

Although the site buys all types of books, it looks as if the biggest payouts come from up-to-date used college textbooks.

If you’re a recent college graduate, know someone who is or can find newer versions of college textbooks at garage sales, this could be a great way to make some cash.

Get the App:

Cash4Books for Android

Cash4Books for Apple

9. Trove Marketplace

Trove Marketplace focuses on buying and selling vintage furniture and decor items. You can browse via keyword, or go straight to cities near you where items are for sale.

Trove Marketplace isn’t in every major metropolitan city, however you could offer for items you’re selling to be shipped if you want to appeal to buyers outside of your area. Current cities with Trove listings include:

Atlanta

Austin

Boston

Charlotte

Chicago

Dallas

Detroit

Houston

Los Angeles

Miami

New York

Philadelphia

Phoenix

San Francisco

Seattle

Washington DC

More cities may be added by the time you’re reading this.

Note: there is a selling fee for selling your items on this site. At the time of this writing the Trove Marketplace website showed it to be 10%.

Get the App:

Trove Marketplace for Android

Trove Marketplace for Apple

10. Mercari

Mercari allows you to sell your stuff online without any listing fees. However, you will pay a selling fee of 10% of the listing price, so be sure to price carefully. In other words, if you list something for $100 and a buyer bargains you down to $50, you’re still paying Mercari a $10 selling fee.

If you end up selling to a buyer who wants an item shipped to them, Mercari will help you do that by offering to print (and charge you for) a shipping label, or you can ship on your own.

Categories

Women

Men

Kids

Home

Vintage

Beauty

Tech

Sports

Handmade

Other

The “other category” can include a variety of items such as automotive (they even had cars listed in addition to auto parts), daily and travel items, musical instruments, office supplies, pet supplies and more.

As I searched the site looked like they had many items for sale in all 50 states, which indicates Mercari is a well-known and well-used site.

Get the App:

Mercari for Android

Mercari for Apple

11. Dealo

Dealo touts itself as a “faster, safer way to buy and sell anything”. The site itself has very little information about how Dealo works, who is using it and where or what the fees are. Categories are not listed either, however the site states you can register, list or buy within 30 seconds.

Get the App:

Dealo for Android

Dealo for Apple

12. Carousell

Carousell helps connect buyers and sellers by listing things people want to sell and coordinating groups based on similar interests.

You can browse the listings via the home page or the specific category you’re selling or buying in, or you can search via location. No listing or selling fees; you just meet up with your seller or chat online to arrange trade of money for your item.

Categories

For him

For her

Furniture and home

Kitchen and appliances

Beauty products

Design and craft

Baby and kids

Bicycles and bicycle parts

Outdoors and gardening

Musical instruments

Books

Textbooks

Community

Housing

Games and toys

It’s fast and easy to list on Carousell with their app.

Get the App:

Carousell for Android

Carousell for Apple

13. Depop

Depop is sort of an online flea market type of a site. Lots of fun vintage items on this site. Browsing through the listings was like taking a serious step back in time and was really fun. You use the app to buy and sell, and there are no fees or commissions paid.

There are no specific categories listed; the site just says “Find something that means something”. Most of the listings that I found on the site were clothing and accessory type items such as shirts, hats, jeans, jewelry, etc.

Most of the sellers on the site listed shipping fees to appeal to those who were buying from out of the area. The site is pretty simple and easy to use with the app, so if you have some cool, different or vintage clothing or accessories, this could be the way to go.

Get the App:

Depop for Android

Depop for Apple

14. Tradyo

Tradyo helps people buy and sell right in their local area. The site seems to be European based, however there were plenty of listings in my major metropolitan area in the U.S. Listings are free, and you can use instant chat to connect with potential buyers.

I typed in my zip code and found several items available for sale nearby. Then, just for fun I typed “90210” in the search bar (the only out-of-state zip code I know off the top of my head; yeah, I know – I’m dating myself), and there were a lot of listings for that area as well.

Categories

Art, antiques and collectibles

Autos, cars and other vehicles

Baby and kids

Bikes

Books and comics

Car accessories and parts

Clothing and fashion

Electronics, cell phones and cameras

Free stuff

Gaming consoles and games

Garage sales

Health and beauty

Home and furniture

Music

Services

Sporting goods and exercise

Tickets

Tools and equipment

Other

Lots of categories to choose from, and Tradyo is a site that is easy to use.

Get the App:

Tradyo on Android

Tradyo on Apple

15. Varage Sale

With Varage Sale you can list your items for sale and then meet up with buyers in your neighborhood. There are no categories listed for searching on this site, but there is a search bar that allows you to enter what you may be looking for, along with your location so you can find items near your home or work.

You need to sign up with Facebook or an email account so they can verify who you are – all buyers and sellers have to go through a verification process before they’re approved to buy or sell on the site.

In other words, you can browse the site’s listings, but both buyers and sellers need to sign up in order to get access to contact others within the site. This is a safety precaution that many buying and selling sites are implementing these days.

No listing or selling fees and no charge to bump your listing to the top of the site. A great alternative to the traditional garage sale.

Get the App:

Varage Sale for Android

Varage Sale for Apple

16. Chairish

Chairish is an online consignment store where you can sell used items in a number of categories. The site says it takes less than two minutes to list your item, and that you take home 80% of the sale price.

That’s a much higher percentage than what many brick-and-mortar consignment shops will offer to pay you since they have to cover space rental costs and employee pay and benefits.

You can sell items on Chairish to local people or ship the items out of state. Chairish helps you organize shipping arrangements too. This could be a good venue for you if you have lots of art deco or vintage items for the home.

Categories

Furniture

Art and mirrors

Rugs

Lighting

Decor

Outdoor

And more. Listing is free, the site has great tips on how to take the best photos to sell your item, and they have 24/7 customer service support as well.

Get the App:

Chairish for Android: No Chairish app for Android users as of yet

Chairish for Apple

17. Wallapop

Wallapop offers free local classified ads for you to sell your stuff on. Kind of like other flea market or classifieds apps, you simply use your app to write a short description and name your price.

Sellers figure out a plan for meeting up with buyers to exchange money and products, whether it’s meeting up in your local area or arranging shipping.

Get the App:

Wallapop for Android

Wallapop for Apple

18. SocialSell

SocialSell has a variety of listings in many areas in the U.S. Their website isn’t worth heading to at this writing; the apps have all the information you need for buying and selling.

Categories

Electronics

Men’s apparel

Women’s apparel

Household and yard

Entertainment

Music

Antiques

Automotive

Children and kids

Collectibles and memorabilia

Education

Living

Outdoors

Sports and fitness

And more. Like Craigslist there are no listing or selling fees. Mandatory user profiles help keep sellers and buyers safe.

Get the App:

SocialSell for Android

SocialSell for Apple

19. Vinted

With Vinted you can sell or buy used second-hand wardrobe items such as shoes, clothes, and accessories. There’s no cost to list or sell with Vinted, and like many other selling sites these days, users have to create a profile in order to enhance safety and security.

Categories

Women’s clothing, shoes and accessories

Beauty

Kids

Men’s items

You can meet up in person if you find a local buyer, or ship and get payment via PayPal.

Get the App:

Vinted for Android

Vinted for Apple

20. Shpock

Shpock helps you buy and sell things in your local area. There are no listing fees or selling fees and the app makes listing your items and communicating with potential buyers easy.

Get the App:

Shpock for Android

Shpock for Apple

21. Pxsell

Pxsell is the “easiest way” to sell your stuff, according to its app site. Just snap a picture, enter a few details and you’re done. This app focuses on selling in your local area and helping you designate a meet up with sellers.

You won’t pay listing or selling fees with Pxsell.

Categories

Electronics

Video games

Books

Music

Movies

Sports

Recreation

Cars

Clothes

Health

Beauty

Home

Baby and kids

Art

Antiques

collectibles

Pxsell requires community profiles for users in order to help ensure safety for buyers and sellers.

Get the App:

Pxsell for Android

Pxsell for Apple

Don’t Get Ripped Off (Here’s How)

Now that we’ve shared some of the more popular apps for selling stuff online, I want to take just a few minutes to talk about online selling and buying safety.

The world is full of con artists and other unsavory people, and it’s important to make sure you’re ahead of the game when it comes to online scammers in the selling and buying marketplace. Here are some tips that I’ve found helpful when it comes to avoiding selling scams.

We’ve not been the direct victim of a scam when selling stuff online, but that’s only because we’ve educated ourselves on what to look for to avoid getting ripped off.

Selling stuff online can be daunting, intimidating and sometimes frustrating. One time when we were selling a fishing boat, a guy got super angry at us because we had several potential buyers on the line and wouldn’t hold the boat for him until he got off work.

Another time we were selling some used furniture and a gal said she’d show up but never did. When I contacted her to ask why, she said “Oh, it was raining and I didn’t feel like going.” No phone call – nothing. She just didn’t show!

Just recently we listed a snow plow for sale. My husband got a weird text from a guy who offered to pay us over and above what we were asking if we’d accept a PayPal payment, and that he’d send his “agent” to pick up the several hundred pound plow. Sounds fishy, right?

Here are some things you can do to protect yourself as you sell your stuff online.

Don’t Deviate From Normal Payment Options

Most sites have you pay one of a couple of different ways: you can meet in person and accept cash or a cashier’s check, or you can accept a PayPal payment if you’re shipping an item.

When selling something and meeting a person directly we only accept cash – never a personal check or money order. We will accept a cashier’s check for big ticket items, but we always call and verify with the bank it’s issued off of first.

Have a First Come, First Served Rule

Don’t offer to hold items for people that may never show up unless you have a good and valid reason to do so. Holding items puts you at risk for losing out on selling your item.

If someone wants your item bad enough they’ll find a way to make it there quickly.

Beware of Giving Second Chances

If someone doesn’t show up or doesn’t do what they’ve promised, be wary. In our case with the lady who wanted to buy our furniture but never showed up, she asked if she could come another time. We didn’t answer.

We like to follow the “Screw me once, shame on you, screw me twice, shame on me” mantra when selling stuff online. If someone disses us once we won’t give them a chance to do it again.

Meet Up with Potential Buyers in a Public Place if Possible

We don’t follow this rule always, but many times we’ll meet buyers at a central location as long as it’s somewhere with a lot of traffic, such as across the street from the local police department or at a big box store such as Walmart.

It’s important to not put yourself in a situation where you’re in an isolated area with strangers.

Never Meet Up with Buyers Alone

Always bring somebody along if you’re meeting up with potential buyers too. I don’t recommend ever going alone, simply for safety reasons.

Always Tell Somebody When You’re Meeting Up with a Potential Buyer

When you’re meeting up with a potential buyer – whether alone or with somebody else – always, always leave information about where you’re going, who you’re meeting (leave the contact info you’ve been using to communicate with them), what you’re doing and when you expect to be back.

Tell your loved ones to call you and check in if you’re not back when you say you expect to be back. It probably wouldn’t hurt to bring pepper spray or some other item to protect yourself if need be too.

If Something Seems “Off”, Go With Your Gut

When you’re selling or buying something online and something seems off, it’s probably best to pull out of the deal. If someone is offering you way too much for an item, or is trying to finagle some weird payment arrangements other than what is typical, I’d bail on the deal.

There are many scam artists out there who offer to give you “this” if you’ll do “that” when you’re doing online selling and buying. For instance they’ll arrange for third-party payment, or send you over what you want and ask you to give them back the difference, or other similar odd types of requests.

These requests often come with a sob story that will play on your emotions in hopes that you’ll ignore the warning signs in an effort to help. Don’t fall for it. The world’s struggles are not all on your shoulders.

Stick to the rules and make sure you’re paid as promised with no goofy back and forth stuff. Selling stuff online can be a lucrative income source, especially if you’ve got a house full of unused stuff.

Just be sure to use selling sites and apps the way they are intended and keep a leg up on potential scam artists. This way you’ll maximize your income and make big strides toward reaching all of your financial goals and dreams.

Summary

As you can, there are so many options for you to sell your stuff online. Selling apps for both iOs and Android are picking up in popularity and people are looking beyond just eBay and Craigslist to buy your stuff. Whether you are in a hurry to sell your stuff online or you simply want to get the best offer, you have great options. Try a few of these different apps out and let us know what is working best for you.

What have you used to sell stuff online?

    21 Best Apps to Sell Your Stuff Online published first on https://justinbetreviews.tumblr.com/

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Hey - Pat from StarterStory.com here with another interview.Today's interview is with Kristi Soomer of Encircled, a brand that makes Ethically-made womenswear.Some stats:Product: Ethically-made womenswear.Revenue/mo: $200,000Started: November 2012Location: Toronto, CanadaFounders: 1Employees: 10Hello! Who are you and what are you working on?My name is Kristi, I’m the founder and CEO of Encircled. Encircled is on a mission to create versatile, high quality and responsibly-made clothing so that our customers can be truly proud of their wardrobes.Our direct to consumer eCommerce model and small-batch, local Canadian production allows us to offer sustainable clothing at competitive price points. From a design perspective, we focus on creating in two key categories - timeless basics and versatile must-haves.Our timeless basics are well-loved, classic silhouettes upgraded using superior fit, high-quality construction details and sustainable fabrics.Our versatile must-haves explore the idea of wardrobe transformation by literally changing in shape or style, converting from one silhouette to another, offering endless options for your wardrobe.Our customers are highly conscious consumers who are well-traveled, aware of world issues, and are thoughtful about what they purchase. They’re educated, curious and compassionate. I’m super biased, but we have amazing and inspiring customers!Encircled started in 2012 with one product, in two colours, on the floor of my 500 sq. foot condo. We’re now a team of 10, with over 35 products, in close to 2300 sq ft of office space and continue to expand. We’ve experienced over 300% growth alone in the past two years.What's your backstory and how did you come up with the idea?I started Encircled out of frustration with a lack of versatile and stylish travel clothing.While packing for a last-minute yoga retreat, my suitcase broke. I had to stuff everything into a much smaller bag, and it opened my eyes to the fact that I was one - bringing way too much stuff, and two- none of my pieces were versatile, and had potential to be I had a circle scarf packed, and I started to wonder...What if this was made out of better fabric?What if you could turn this into a cardigan AND a dress?What if it would stay in the ways to wear without pinning or tying?When I returned home from the yoga retreat, I felt inspired. I started drawing out product ideas on large pieces of paper and taping them to my condo doors and walls. I brainstormed company names and even bought a sewing machine off craigslist to sew my first sample. That sample, eventually became my first product, the Chrysalis Cardi. An 8-in-1 travel piece made from beautiful fabric, with hidden strategically placed snaps to help the garment transform into various looks effortlessly.I did start really small - making just the Chrysalis Cardi in one size, two colours and retailing it online, shipping from my apartment.At the time, I was employed full-time as a management consultant and making the best money of my career. However, I was never home - I traveled about 4-5 days a week every week. When I was home, I used my time efficiently to work in the business, do customer service, ship orders and write emails. I’d often take bags of orders with me to the airport, and drop them in the airport mailbox pre-flight!I ran the business part-time for almost 2 years before it started to grow too fast to keep working full-time. I had to decide if I’d stay safe in my career, or go for it. And so I lept, and quit my job.Describe the process of designing, prototyping, and manufacturing the product.The product development process has changed dramatically since I first started Encircled.I have no fashion background - I have a finance degree and an MBA, so at the beginning, I had no knowledge of how to make a garment. So, I took an illustration course, a sewing class, bought a few books, and visited a few fabric shows to educate myself on what goes into the fashion design process.In the beginning, everything was outsourced. I was referred to a technical designer who made our first sample, tech specs, and took my design illustrations into an actual product. I also worked with a pattern maker to translate the technical design to a real pattern for production, and a sample maker to sew that perfect final sample.After that, I sourced manufacturers in Toronto (everything we make is made within 30km of our office), through an industry association called the Toronto Fashion Incubator. They had a large list of resources, and I called and emailed them all. It took forever! Many wouldn’t take small run sizes, a lot were out of business, and many wouldn’t work with new businesses or my fabric, but eventually, I found one. We still work with them today.The manufacturer produced a pre-production sample using their team, I’d approve it, I’d order fabric, labels, snaps etc. for production and off they went making it. A few weeks later, the production run was ready.Now that we’re bigger, we have a team managing these steps, and we make big efforts to integrate our customers into the design process. One key thing is that we open up a waitlist pre-design launch and pre-promote our new designs to gain interest and get feedback on the design. As we focus on designing with the mantra that less is more in a woman’s closet, we want pieces to be extremely versatile, and easy to wear. This is actually a harder goal to achieve than one might think! A large amount of detail needs to go into testing samples and perfecting both the fit and function of a garment.A good example of this is our upcoming launch of a T-Shirt dress:It’s designed so you can wear it front to back, or back to front, offering two neckline options. We reached out to customers on Facebook and Instagram about what they love and loathe about t-shirt dresses and had hundreds of comments.Those comments were integrated into our design! We also learned that the majority of woman couldn’t find a t-shirt dress that was long enough, or not clingy. So, we selected a higher density of fabric to reduce cling, and lengthen the dress.We subsequently reached out again to our social media and email list get even more feedback. Many customers wanted pockets, so we tested that in our design. During that process, we realized that pockets aren’t super functional on a t-shirt dress, and actually add ‘bulk’ in an area that women don’t usually want to highlight, so we removed the pockets!This is how we iterate with our designs. Even AFTER a design launches, we go back and revise it based on feedback we get from customer love and reviews.Many of our designs are evergreen, which means they stay in our collection forever. We may swap them out seasonally, but we’re designing timeless pieces that we want to live forever in our customer's closets. So, it’s critically important that our products are well designed, with impeccable fit, and that requires continuous improvement.Describe the process of launching the business.Launching my business was a slower process as I was working full-time (and beyond that with all the travel).My original website started development on Shopify, and then my developer left the project mid-way. I hired a new developer, who convinced me to move to Magento, so I actually launched on that platform.After being held hostage by the developer threatening to take down my website unless I pre-paid six months in hosting fees (he was hosting), and not having freedom or ability to make changes on my own website, I moved my platform to Shopify, and we’ve hosted on their ever since. I actually built my first Shopify site myself, and we still, for the most part, maintain it internally without much development help.To fund the business, I used the proceeds from the sale of my car to fund the initial launch of the company. This was probably around $20k.Post-launch, I invested some of the funds from the sale of my condo, about $15-20k. The most expensive startup costs were the website, product development costs, and photos/videography.Our first product was fairly complex, so I wanted to have amazing photos and videos to story tell how you could get so much versatility out of one garment. A production-ready garment sample takes about $800-$1500 in development costs to create, and the remainder of the funding went to our first production run. Post-launch much of the costs included a PR agency that I retained, more product development, funding production, and influencer partnerships.When I launched in late November 2012, the initial month was pretty slow. I remember celebrating in late December when I finally had a sale from a name I didn’t know. From there, it took some time to get traction but early PR hits definitely helped. However, I found retaining a PR agency to be super taxing financially, and we also parted ways in February. A particular low point I remember was in March 2013, when I sold ONE piece. In that month, we made $138 total.It was at that point that I realized I couldn’t rely on just PR alone, and started to build a more formal marketing plan. This truly transformed my business. In our first full year of business, I did about $40,000 in sales. Now, we’re on track to do several million.The biggest lessons I learned from launching are actually quite simple:Don’t give up control of your website.In the initial stages, when money is tight, and updating your website is key, being able to do that yourself is so important. When you’re an online-only retailer, your website is essentially your window to the world and a key part of establishing your brand.I wish I’d never let that developer talk me out of launching with Shopify because it really is an excellent DIY platform for ecommerce startups. It’s easy to use and has so much functionality like inventory tracking, built in shipping labels, and other apps to help you run your business smoothly.Have a marketing plan.This one is a little embarrassing for someone who worked in brand management for years, but it’s so important to make a plan.I started Encircled and became reliant on our PR agency for generating interest and traffic. That was a huge mistake! Not only is PR not as effective as it used to be, but it’s also expensive, and sometimes takes a long time to come to fruition.Root your marketing plan in numbers. Setting, and having clear, realistic goals combined with a focused marketing plan is what helped propel my business growth exponentially.Don’t quit your day job (yet).The stress created by having limited financial resources, and starting a business is REAL.Having a full-time, stable income while I started Encircled helped minimize that stress. I was able to save for when I was ready to quit my job, and also, I didn’t have to worry as much about money or take on early investors or debt unnecessarily.Yes, it was hard to manage both, and I gave up a lot of fun time on evenings and weekends for years, but it was worth it for me. Though I’ve had some tough financial moments since then, at least initially having that job security was such a blessing.Since launch, what has worked to attract and retain customers?Early in my career, I worked for a home security provider, and I remember the CEO once saying that it costs 10-20x less to retain a customer than to get a new one. That has always stuck with me.Initially, my focus for Encircled was dead set on PR. However, after that low point in March 2013, I created a true content marketing plan with a keen focus on growing my email list, creating engaging content on social and our blog, and working with influencers/bloggers.This was how we allocated our time and efforts for the first 3.5-4 years of the business. It wasn’t until the past year that we started investing in SEO, Facebook and other paid advertising.Facebook ads have been good, and bad. We hired an agency to manage them initially, and though we saw some success, the fee structure and return on ad spend was not there to justify it. Our cash flow suffered greatly, and it hurt our profitability. Since then, we brought Facebook ads in-house, and though we cut our spend, and our revenue from that channel has decreased, we’re seeing a more profitable return on investment.We also hired out our SEO to mixed success. Though our organic traffic has increased slightly, it is hard to find someone qualified in this space that knows SEO inside out and how to execute it to today’s standards and the keywords we want to rank for our brand.Still, we see the highest ROI on owned channels like email. Our conversion rates are the highest, and we put immense effort into creating content on our blog, The Journal that is both engaging and value-added for our customers.I started the blog before I even launched our product. It initially was a journal of my experience developing our original product, and the lessons I learned along the way. In 2013, after taking an online marketing program, I started to plan out the content more seriously, and focused on updating it monthly, honing in primarily on travel-related blog posts. Today, we generally update it weekly or bi-weekly, and regularly invite guest bloggers to contribute.Our most popular blog content is related to styling, how to wear items, and curating a minimalist wardrobe. Not many brands write blog posts with the goal of educating. Many do it is a way to subtly promote their products. Our genuine authenticity with our dedicating to writing great posts sets us apart. If you’re looking to add a blog to your eCommerce store, I suggest spending time on your Ideal Customer - who are they? What types of content is engaging/interesting to them that makes sense for your brand to create? Where and how can you promote this content?Half the battle is writing the content, the other is promoting it so that people can actually discover it!We’re not always selling in our newsletter, but we’re always delivering value. A key way we’ve been able to grow our list is through offering an opt-in bonus for subscribing to our newsletter. Initially, I gave away a printable carry-on only packing list. Since then, we’ve updated it to our Minimalist Wardrobe Workbook which is a beautiful, 18-page workbook that helps customers truly transform their wardrobes. For free.How are you doing today and what does the future look like?Encircled sells 100% direct to consumer. Initially, I did some wholesale but after some major fails there, we decided keeping things online was best for our agile production model. It also works better for our margins.Encircled designs, and sews all of our clothing in Toronto, Canada using fairly paid labour. We also use super-premium, sustainable materials, so our cost base is much higher than traditional retailers. Going direct to consumer allows us to keep our products at an accessible price point while staying true to our values as a brand.We also do some pop-up shops and host in-person events in our studio. Our Shopify store processes 100% of our sales - we don’t do any dropshipping, nor do we sell on other marketplaces or channels like Amazon or Etsy.Our most engaged and profitable social channels are Facebook and Instagram. We invest a lot of time into creating inspiring, and educational content for both of these channels, and truly love connecting with our customers and followers.Today, we have a team of 10 including myself. The team is split into production/design, marketing, and customer love. All fulfillment is done from our studio in Toronto, and we pride ourselves on great customer experience, so we have 2 people working in that area of the business. The remaining team members are split between production/design and marketing.Our business is split roughly 55% Canadian sales, and 40% US, then 5% outside of US/Canada. Our plans are to expand our US sales with more focus on that market.Additionally, I hope to open up my own production factory in Toronto within the next year. This is a move to help improve our agility, reduce out of stocks, and truly bring things full circle. Lastly, I’d like to bring on more senior hires to our team next year allowing me more time to focus on strategic aspects of the business, and also personally, to take a few weekends off!Through starting the business, have you learned anything particularly helpful or advantageous?Being an entrepreneur, and running my own business is one of the biggest challenges of my career by far.In addition to being always resource-strapped (never enough time, money, people), you’re constantly riding the emotional highs and lows of a growing business. We’ll literally have days where our sales are $20,000, and days where it’s $2,000. It’s that variable!I’ve learned that to whether the storm of entrepreneurship in eCommerce you need a few things:A support system - a network of like-minded bosses that get you, and are going through what you are that you can rely on to lend an ear when you need it, and vice-versa.A mentor - someone experienced to push you and guide you when things get tough and to celebrate the wins with you. Every new level in your business creates new opportunities, and new challenges. I have an amazing mentor, Julie Cole. She’s always challenging me, and helping me get through those times when you feel like you’re totally alone.Great time management - In addition to being insanely protective of your schedule, you need to use your time effectively. This means, using your time to focus on income producing activities, but it also means sometimes taking time to yourself to not work.Resiliency - failure in entrepreneurship is all part of the journey. The ability to pick yourself up again, brush it off and keep going is so critical.Consistency - showing up every day, and being consistent with your actions is so key. The most successful businesses are ones that honed in on what worked best and showed up to do it day in, and day out.What platform/tools do you use for your business?We host both of our websites, our US/Global and Canadian on ShopifyOur essential shopify apps:Stitch for syncing and managing inventory across multiple channelsMailChimp for email marketingJudge.me for reviews automationShipstation for shipping orders and managing returnsHelpscout for managing customer love inquiriesOur must-have team collaboration apps:Slack for enabling team communicationGoogle Drive + all appsAsana for project managementWhat have been the most influential books, podcasts, or other resources?I’m a podcast junkie, so this is a tough question to answer, but here are a few of my favs:Being Boss - Hosts Kathleen and Emily, help you feel ‘not alone’ in feeling all of those crazy thoughts you get as an entrepreneur. Advice runs the gamut from getting paid, hiring a team to managing mindset.Online Marketing Made Easy - Amy Porterfield started as a Facebook specialist but now covers off a broad area of digital marketing tactics, and productivity for online businesses.How I Built This - A podcast featuring interviews with some of the most prominent CEOs/founders who started their businesses from the ground up. One of my fav episodes is with the ethical fashion icon, Eileen Fisher. It helps give you the perspective that everyone starts from somewhere, and everyone makes mistakes along the way.Books I love:Blue Ocean Strategy - primer on how to position your business in a way that stands apart from your competitionThe Universe Has Your Back by Gabrielle Bernstein - a book essential for reminding you to have faith in your journey, and the universe.Advice for other entrepreneurs who want to get started or are just starting out?Start small. Launch your business with your ‘minimum viable’ product assortment, and see what works before producing a lot of inventory of your products.You can even leverage pre-orders to test the market for a product to gauge interest. Building a business from scratch requires a ‘test and learn’ mindset. This applies not only to product development but marketing as well. Not all investments in marketing will pay off, but you will always learn something. Start to uncover what is actually moving the needle on revenue, and double down on those activities.Hire slow, but hire sooner than you think. I waited a long time to hire my first employee, mainly out of fear of being able to handle their wages financially.As soon as I hired someone, I realized how many non-income producing activities I was doing on a daily basis. Just having a person to manage shipping and customer love (our version of customer service), freed up so much of my time to actually grow the business. It’s important to balance this advice with taking your time to find the right person. I’ve made many hiring mistakes in my journey, and it’s usually because I rushed the process. Take your time, clearly define the role and the ideal characteristics of the person you’d like in the role, and don’t be afraid to keep searching if you don’t find the right person on the first try.Are you looking to hire for certain positions right now?As of the publishing date, we’re looking for a passionate, new grad to join our team in the role of Marketing Assistant. That said, we’re always hiring - if someone’s a fit, we’ll make a role for them. In particular, I’d love to improve our paid ads channel, and copywriting.Where can we go to learn more?Website: encircled.coInstagram: @encircled_Facebook: @getencircledLiked this interview? Check out more founders that shared their story on StarterStory.com.

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