Lori Sifuentes, a stay-at-home mom turned couponer-extraordinaire, did not have plans to build up a flourishing resale business. Now, as a Nevada-based reseller, Lori contributes to household finances, maintains Poshmark’s Posh Ambassador status, and is a top-rated eBay seller. And while she thanks her husband for his sewing and mending contributions, Lori can proudly say she is a one-woman show.
Most impressively, Lori shares genuine excitement over what she lists–it’s not hard to see why. Her Poshmark contains a plethora of trendy women’s and men’s clothing for great prices. But apparel aside, Lori is not afraid to branch out. From Metamusil to dolls, “I’ll buy anything that makes me money!”
Every reseller’s journey starts somewhere, and in this edition of our Reseller Community Spotlight, we go through the beginnings of Lori’s business and what she’s learned along the way.
Q&A with Lori: Business Beginnings to Now
Q: When did you get started with reselling?
Probably about 10 years ago. I was a stay-at-home mom and I was just trying to look to make some extra money. I was also a couponer, so I always had a ton of stock and I was like, well, let me see if I can sell this stuff on eBay. So I started listing the razors and small things on eBay, and that’s how I kind of got started. And then I started buying Amazon returns and going to thrift stores—it just went from there.
Q: Do you do this full-time or part-time?
I consider myself part-time. I have two kids and I work out of my house. I’ll list 10 to 15 things a day, prep the items, and mail other items. I went to the gym this morning, I went shopping, I just sat down maybe half an hour ago to work and I’ll probably work until 2 pm and then I’ll be done.
Q: Is reselling a good way to make extra income?
My husband has a good job so this is just icing on the cake. This year I’m on track to probably do over one hundred gross. Last year I think I did about $75k and I made about $40k off of that. So, I mean, $40,000. That’s pretty good for part-time out of your home!
Q: What is your favorite part of the business?
There are some brands that are “BOLO” (be-on-the-lookout) brands – brands that you don’t see often. When I get a new delivery and I’m going through my pallets and I find that brand? It’s very exciting. Or sometimes I’ll be looking through it and I don’t know that brand, I’ll put it back, and then later I go back and get it and I realize it was a $400 dress.
You just never know. I think it’s the mystery of what I’m going to get in my pallet. Even though it’s manifested, it’s still a mystery when it arrives. ‘What’s going to be in there? What’s the quality? Oh, this is new with tags, there’s nothing wrong with it.’ Just the mystery of it – I love that part.
Lessons Learned Along the Way
While there is no ‘one size fits all’ to running a successful resale business, there sure are relatable experiences and tips to learn from. Lori shares some of her most valuable lessons below.
Choose your selling platforms based on audience
With her Revolve inventory, which includes apparel and footwear, Lori discovered their clientele wasn’t on eBay and turned to Poshmark. Now, she makes triple what she did on eBay. “The clientele is one hundred percent on Poshmark,” said Lori.
“It’s a different clientele on Poshmark. You’ve got the younger generations that are looking for these really popular, in-style brands that Revolve sells. A lot of the Revolve inventory I have is stuff that’s still selling on their website–people [on Poshmark] are looking for cheaper than getting it on revolve.com.”
Get familiar with the brands
The more familiar you are with the category, the more success you will have in sourcing. In Lori’s experience, learning the popular clothing labels was essential.
“I started following a ton of other resellers and just looking at all the labels and brands they would post. [While at thrift stores] If something looked unique or felt good, I would put it in my cart and look it up. There’s so much free information on Google and Instagram and Facebook.”
Know what seller support is available
Lori spoke about her experience listing on different platforms. She very clearly stated, “I take great pride in what I list.” This is why seasoned resellers know to emphasize minor defects on merchandise (not uncommon when sourcing customer returns). That includes making a note of defects in your product descriptions and including pictures of said defects.
However, even with all the information there, there is still the risk that someone may try to take advantage of lenient return policies on marketplace sites that primarily back buyers over sellers.
“Poshmark can read your listing. You can talk to them and tell them if somebody does have a return, and you noted [any defects] and the buyer just didn’t read it, then Poshmark will not allow the return.”
The proper seller support and thorough listings–whether it’s a $10 top or high-value item–can decrease the likelihood of wrongful returns and lost shipping costs.
Community as a resource
Lori encourages resellers to utilize all resources available to them – from Google and Instagram to dedicated Facebook groups – sometimes the best tool is in your pocket. And in some cases, simply asking for help can be the best approach.
“When I first started on eBay, I literally did not know how to start and I couldn’t follow a video. I asked somebody local to me and they came over and just showed me, literally showed me, how to do a listing and that’s how I learned.”
Looking to the Future
When asked about long-term plans for the business, Lori shared she has no intentions of stopping now.
“I have a lot of dreams to retire, for my husband to retire, the kids to go to college, and just travel a little bit more. But I’ll never go back to having a boss or go to a workplace again.”
We can’t wait to see what future success is in store for Lori! You can shop her Poshmark Closet and check out her active listings on eBay.
Looking to start a resale business like Lori?
Become a B-Stock buyer and start bidding on inventory lots to resell!
B-Stock’s Reseller Community Spotlight is an ongoing series that aims to highlight our unique buyers in the B-Stock network.
Are you a B-Stock buyer who wants to tell us more about your reselling business? Let us know and we can feature you in an upcoming edition of B-Stock’s Reseller Community Spotlight series.
You must first choose your specialization and source goods in order to launch a resale business. Some buyers choose to source inventory in person—or you can bid on and resell inventory lots from websites such as B-Stock. Create online accounts on marketplace sites like Poshmark or eBay and and begin listing your items.
It’s important to ensure you have a steady customer base. Promote your products via social media and SEO, coordinating these tactics to get the most exposure possible.
A variety of abilities are needed for successful reselling, such as an acute sense of what will sell, knowledge of market trends, and a foundational understanding of business administration.
To properly sell your listings, you’ll need abilities in digital marketing, inventory management, customer service, and negotiation. It can also be quite helpful to be familiar with online sales platforms and resources for analyzing product demand and pricing.
Gaining proficiency in photography and product presentation will significantly improve the attractiveness of your listings.
The initial investment varies as B-Stock operates on a bidding model. For example, the minimum bid can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the lot size and the type of merchandise. Always consider additional costs such as shipping and handling, which can affect the overall investment.
Increasing inventory turnover and expanding processes are necessary for resale business growth.
To attract a wider audience, think about expanding the type of products you offer and investigating new markets. Managing greater numbers of listings can be made easier by strengthening your brand’s web presence, streamlining your sales procedures, and utilizing automation technologies.
Additionally, making connections with other resellers and using community resources—like the ones Lori used—can yield insightful information and helpful hints.
Ultimately, your resale business can be as big as you’d like it to be. It makes for a great side gig, work-from-home job, or full-time business. Reinvesting earnings into larger inventory or improved infrastructure, including shipping and storage facilities, will be essential to maintaining business development as it expands.
