By Opal R. Gilbert

Just a few years ago, when one thought of a home-based sales business, Tupperware, Avon and a host of multi-level marketing schemes might have come to mind. Today, however, changing market conditions and evolving consumer habits have converged to make home-based selling businesses a realistic opportunity with real profit potential.

This is especially true in world of collectibles and giftware. In years past, collectors—who are among most discerning shoppers—had few avenues for conveniently finding and then purchasing items they were seeking. They would have to visit specialty shops and expensive boutiques. They often waited for right specialty event or show, and then would drive many miles to attend so they could look for that exceptional piece. With Internet retail sites, online auctions, and a growing body of home-based entrepreneurs, these shoppers now are able to take advantage of many new resources.

For those considering home-based businesses, there are many avenues. There are franchises, partnerships and other business relationships that involve other people. Many of these require an investment in someone else’s business, and unfortunately, many of them turn out to be scams. For those looking to sell collectibles and giftware from home, only investment that is made is in that person’s own business. The start-up costs depend on how much inventory entrepreneur can afford to have at first.

With our economy poised for what some economists are calling a potentially unprecedented recovery, those searching for high-quality collectibles and giftware will have more money to spend on those items they cherish, and they will be looking for convenient and inexpensive ways to collect them. Selection, price and superior customer service will differentiate successful entrepreneurs in this area.

Collectibles and giftware are sold by home-based entrepreneurs using several marketing programs: retail sites on Internet, online auctions such as eBay and others, swaps and flea markets, mail-order, catalogs and in-home parties. Some people sell collectibles and giftware for supplemental income, and some make a business of it. Either way, selling collectibles and giftware is a proven way to immediately improve cash flow. Collectibles and giftware are also often sold or auctioned to raise funds for nonprofit organizations.

Entrepreneurs often get into business of selling collectibles and giftware in stages by setting up a small Internet retail site, or attending flea markets on weekend, or putting a few items up occasionally at an online auction site. Because profit margin in selling these items can be great, in many cases these people soon “quit their day jobs” to sell collectibles and giftware full time.

Dee Sponsler of Mt. Shasta City, Calif., has been selling collectibles and giftware for more than 20 years to supplement her income. “In flea markets, people who do this always have a love of it,” she said. “They’re always in search of Holy Grail, and they’re selling all of their little treasures on way to their search for Holy Grail. That’s way I look at it. It’s like being on a treasure hunt all of time, whether you’re buying or selling, and it’s fun.” She also has another goal in mind soon for her sales. She plans to “gear up for retirement” by selling collectibles and giftware to build a nest egg.

As we stated before, collectibles and giftware shoppers generally know what they’re looking for and they now have many more options for finding what they want. Entrepreneurs who want to succeed need to do four things:

From mid June to about mid September, life on Internet does a slow meltdown. The lucky ones escape screen and get away on holiday; that is, those who have made reasonable profits for their Online endeavors. For rest of us, it means double effort for same, or less, results.

But during these weeks there are some good benefits if you are in for long haul; and I hope this includes you. Almost without exception offers for advertising space goes “on sale” just to get your business. The “buy-one-get-one-free” pleas are numerous.

And this is an advantageous time for you to place ads in an Ezine with over 100,000 subscribers. The rest of year these high-end publications are generally beyond our budget. Generally they have “paid” subscribers. And because they “pay” for their subscriptions, they are more apt to read each issue even on vacation. Now that’s an audience “on point”, so to speak.

Another advantage to these weeks is purchase of some opt-in subscribers to your list. Over summer months you can work more closely with your “new signups”, and prepare them to make money not just for themselves but for you as well.