Does Social Media Help in Reselling?

I recently stumbled upon a few more YouTube vloggers who specialize in vintage stuff and sell on Etsy. It’s fun to see what they are all buying and selling and what works for them. Surprisingly Andi, a gal in Oregon, said in a recent video that she is having to source daily now because things are selling so quickly!

I nearly fainted. That is not the reality for most of us. In the Etsy vintage sellers FB group I belong to there’s been a lot of chatter and gnashing of teeth about slow sales. A few folks are even calling it quits. Others are cross-posting on other sites or trying in-person venues. It’s not an easy time for many.

But as I often say the main problem is not that we are selling the “wrong” things or have them priced incorrectly, it’s that we aren’t getting enough “eyeballs” on them. And it’s getting worse partly because more folks are joining the fray. How can you possibly get your items seen when there are dozens and dozens like them for sell online? (Of course paid advertising is one option, but sometimes an expensive one for the end result.)

Well vlogger Andi affirmed that part of her success is due to her YouTube and Instagram channels. Her social media efforts are getting more people seeing her stuff and consequently buying it. Plus I think people get a kick out of buying from a seller that they feel like they know in some small part–it’s like buying from a reselling celebrity.

So yes, social media can make a big difference in reselling efforts if you attract a good-sized following.

So what’s a gal to do?

I have no answers. A vintage reselller with a large YouTube or Instagram following will always be able to sell more than me. That’s reality. Plus at some point they’ll start earning money from YouTube. But the downside is the amount of time, skill and consistency it takes to produce the content and the fact that it does attract trolls and haters. Even I’ve had a few nasty comments on my little blog.

So I do what I am willing to do. I write about my vintage stuff which I love doing. And it has brought me a few sales. Other than that I also list “new” things on a regular basis, put items on sale from time to time, try to come up with good search terms and photos, redo old listings, and strive to run my business in a way that maintains my Etsy Star Seller status. I am also listing more things on eBay where I do paid promotion for higher-value items. (My Chairish store is still shuttered.) And I strive to keep educating myself which is a great help in choosing what to buy or not!

While I would love to sell a bit more than I do each month, I am only working at this part time, by choice. And it’s profitable enough to cover some basics (groceries, gas, toiletries, donations), along with extras (clothes, meals out, books, gifts), and money to reinvest in the biz.

So I’m going to just keep doing what I’m doing.

Happy hunting and selling,

Karen

P.S. You can find Andi at: https://www.youtube.com/@AllPutTogether/featured