What else do I look for at thrift stores?
Posted on 21. Apr, 2010 by Brigitte in Uncategorized
Hi friends! I had the pleasure this past weekend of having one of my readers and mutual online friends join me in my home form some thrift store shopping training. I’m having some people sell for me now (I’m moving up in the world) and had this one gal reach out to me wanting to help me. It was loads of fun. I think she’ll agree with me that it was a fun time but tiring too. I think we spent about 5 hours together and that doesn’t include her almost 2 hour drive to my home.
So, we were doing some training in my office and some of the ways I showed her to research items was by utilizing google images. She had not tried that before so it dawned on me that maybe some of you might not be either.
Google images is great for visual learning. I use it all the time! How do I use it in relation to eBay selling? Well, when I notice a keyword that I find in Hammertap or from eBay’s site itself, and I’m not quite sure what they mean, I go to google images and search for that word and then I can see a visual of what it is. I have many “aha” moments this way.
For example, in my research for vintage lingerie, Hammertap kept bringing back the keyword “peignoir” (very French which is what I am) so it got my curiosity. I’ve heard of the term but wanted to make sure of what it was as you never know. Well this is the result from my google images search. I then had that “aha” moment. I have tons of these! I had not gotten around yet to listing them but now that I know they are hot (because Hammertap told me so) I’m focusing my energy on listing those AND looking for those at thrift stores. (Don’t forget from my book I show you that section on vintage lingerie.)
I hope this was helpful for you. We should not all assume that we know it all and that we all utilize the same resources.
Have anything to share? How do YOU research your items?
Deena
22. Apr, 2010
Hi Brigitte,
Great tip! Is Google Images separate from Google.com? How do you access Google Images? When I’m researching an item, I google the item I’m selling to get more background, compare prices, etc. And of course Ido an advance search on eBay for completed items to see whether and for how much the item sold.
Brigitte
22. Apr, 2010
Hi Deena, Google Images is part of google. You can either search for your term and then when results show up , click on “images” at the top of the screen. Or, go to google images direct by clicking it at the top. You can also go to http://www.google.com/images.
Sweetpea2407
22. Apr, 2010
Thanks! I will be using this tip and will lots of “aha” momets I’m sure! I have been googling the word but not not images. That it what I was really looking for in the first place! Please keep up the great tips! OH and I do use your book which it also great and lots of help!
Linda G
22. Apr, 2010
I find eBay’s research lab (free) most helpful.
http://labs.ebay.com/
Just enter your key word into the Query Builder and it will show two categories of key words being used
1) Distinguishably Desirable
2) Annoyingly Abundant
If you click the search button it will take you to the listings.
From the landing page you can also click on BayEstimator (link at the top)
Enter Your Item Title i.e. “pink peignoir”. It will show you the Popularity and Availability.
Click on the word/phrase with the highest popularity and lowest availability.
It will show Keywords buyers like/dislike when searching for that word/phrase.
The larger the green dot the more desirable.
Select the keyword with the biggest green dot that fits your item and it will let you enter it into you item title.
As you add keywords it will add them to the list you can check.
The goal is to get as many large green dots as possible and still have the title fit, and make sense.
Serena
22. Apr, 2010
Yes! I use Google Images, too, to get a quick idea of what something looks like. As they say, “a picture is worth a thousand words!” I also use eBay’s BayEstimator tool to help me come up with keywords that buyers actually use when looking for an item on eBay. You would be surprised to find out what types of words are popular. For example, many buyers will type in descriptive words, like “cute” for certain items, and they will search with the word, “the” when it comes to book titles. And a lot of times, buyers will spell words differently from the way eBay spells them. For example, more buyers will use the words, “paper weight,” rather than “paperweight,” which is the correct spelling, when searching for paperweights.
Ilene
22. Apr, 2010
Well, as always, this was most informative. I’ve used google pics before, but had never heard of the ebay/estimator. A definite convert here. Thanks to all of you.
Linda Lyna
18. Jul, 2010
In the past, purchasing lingerie has been difficult for various reasons. However, todays powerful ecommerce sites allow you to buy sexy lingerie and intimate apparel with ease.