Locating More Merchandise to Sell

As you grow your business, you have to feed more merchandise into the pipeline. That means somehow obtaining more inventory to sell; you don't want to be constrained by product availability.

How do you beef up your product inventory? Here are some suggestions:

• If you resell used items you find at garage sales and thrift stores, consider hiring someone to scrounge for you full-time. Also consider buying large assortments at estate sales and live auctions.

• If you're a collector, consider purchasing large collections for resale, or expanding your selection to include related merchandise and accessories.

• If you purchase closeout or liquidated merchandise, consider purchasing larger lots or entire pallets.

• If you purchase merchandise from a manufacturer or authorized distributor, consider upping your orders or expanding your selection.

• If you're an artist, consider selling prints in addition to original paintings. Also consider reselling works by other artists you know.

• If you create your own crafts to sell, consider hiring someone to help you create a larger volume of items.

• If you're a manufacturer, consider increasing your production output.

• If you're a Trading Assistant, consider increasing your advertising and promotion for new clients, or opening a drop-off location.

In short, you need to start thinking more about your purchasing, in addition to your selling. And remember to buy smart. Shaving a few pennies off the price of each item can result in huge profits as you increase your sales volume.