How to spot a supplier selling fakes

Retailers need to be highly wary of suppliers claiming to be selling authentic branded or designer goods because often their products will be fakes. If you buy into re selling fakes, you could face severe consequences including prosecution. Furthermore, when you buy fakes, you are supporting a syndicate of crime gangs who run the counterfeit industry and often enslave children to produce these fake goods, which is hardly something most people would want to associate with.
Buying branded or designer items and managing to distance yourself from such syndicates of crime is not easy and finding a genuine supplier will take a lot of time. To help you along on your quest, I have put together this trusty step-by-step check list for retailers to refer to when they are researching new suppliers:

Step 1: Check the supplier's web site and contact details
Before you do anything else, start by checking how old their website is by visiting Domain Tools and entering their URL and checking how long their site has been online for. If they have been around for anything less than two years, they are much more likely to be selling fakes.
Verify their contact details by calling and asking a few questions, and sending a few emails to get a feel for the people you will be dealing with. When you call, check that the person answers the phone professionally by telling you the company name and their personal name. When emailing, you should expect to have a fast and thorough response to all your questions.

 Step 2: Check that they have safe payment methods such as PayPal or Escrow.com. If they only accept Western Union or telegraphic or wire transfers, do not do business with them! PayPal and Escrow offer buyer security which means that the buyer only gets paid when you receive your shipment , which means if there is ever an issue, you can get your money back much more easily.

Step 3: Ask the supplier for original documentation from the manufacturer or product owner. This is the best proof that the supplier is an authorized distributor of genuine merchandise. If they don't have original paperwork, ask for a Sanitized Invoice. This should show the legal trademark of the product owner with the price, date, contact info blanked out. It's not as good as original paperwork though.

Step 4:  Order in a few samples from the supplier you are researching. When you receive the items, you'll need to go through them with a fine tooth comb to ensure that they are legitimate. To get an idea of what to look out for, try Googling the name of your product + "how to spot a fake" e.g Armani Jacket + "how to spot a fake". Here are a few links to fake spotting sites for some commonly replicated items:

GHD Hair Straighteners iPods Other Electronics Chanel Handbags  Tiffany and Co Jewelry Fragrances Baby Phat Jeans

Shoes:
Ugg Boots and Prada Shoes Sneakers Dolce and Gabbana Apparel

Sunglasses and spectacles:
Cartier Oakley Chanel Dior Designer Cosmetics

Still worried about winding up with fake goods? Find great suppliers with 100% authentic goods at SaleHoo.com

How to Find Cheap Wholesalers

Are you wondering how some sellers can survive (let alone make any money) on the rock bottom prices they sell their items for? Believe it or not, many long running sellers are not only surviving while selling at those rock-bottom prices, many are also be making more profit than others who are listing the same items at a much higher price! This is because these big-time sellers can get their goods super-cheap from the very best wholesalers, meaning they can buy more, sell more and make more profit!

Why can large retailers can sell goods so cheaply?

Because they buy their items in big bulk (and I mean big!) and as a result, they can sell their items for very competitive prices. They order huge quantities at a time, often spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a single bulk order which considerably reduces the price per unit. Large retailers have often spent years building relationships with their suppliers which means they get the best possible deals when they buy in such high volume. While you might be a few years away from being able to spend a few hundred thousand on making a bulk order, there are plenty of things you can do to help you get the best deals possible from the very best suppliers. Here are a few tips to follow when you search for new suppliers:

• Avoid any suppliers who charge extra fees. This will help to keep your costs per unit down and there are plenty of suppliers out there who will not charge any extra fees such as monthly memberships or charges to access their web site's store - you wouldn't pay a supermarket to look around at what they have to offer would you? So don't do it with any suppliers!
• Be prepared to spend a lot of time do conducting pricing research. This is absolutely essential for all retailer sellers. Top sellers differ from other sellers in that they understand the amount of time that goes into pricing research and they get stuck in and do it! Pricing research will help you to determine whether it is possible for you to compete in a particular market.
• Go for suppliers who offer a guarantee or warranty for all items they sell to you. This is very important for keeping your costs down and profits up, as if you end up with a few faulty items, you need to be able to return them to your supplier, rather than refund your buyer yourself. This also helps to increase your sales as it gives buyers confidence in your products and your customer service. Usually, the warranty will be between you and the supplier - meaning if the items proves to be faulty, your buyer will return it to you then you will return the item to your supplier for a refund or exchange.
• Import your items! You can save (and make!) a lot of money by importing goods from abroad. Countries such as China and India are much cheaper to produce items in than Western countries which means you can make a lot of money when you sell them in your own country.

How do they find these amazing suppliers?

There are several ways to find the very best suppliers out there:

1. Call manufacturers directly - this can help you get in touch with the very best of their retail suppliers, and if you can call and say "Hi, I'm Mike. Gary from Precision Manufacturing gave me your number and told me you are the man to talk to about...". Here you can search for manufacturers by entering the name of the product you are looking into sourcing then following the links to the contact information for the manufacturer.
2. Use online wholesale directories such as SaleHoo which lists over 8,000 of the very best suppliers on the web.
3. Go beyond the Internet. There are other ways to find great suppliers - try trade magazines and trade shows - a great way to build all-important relationships with suppliers. You can find trade shows near you by Googling 'your state + trade fair/trade show'.  By using the above tips and information to find your next supplier, you'll be profiting like an eBay PowerSeller in no time!

Essential Tips for Drop Shipping Clothing

Did you know that clothing, shoes and accessories are eBay's second top seller? Clothing is a great market to get into for several reasons; there are so many different categories; there is always a demand for clothing; shipping of clothing is low risk; and there are many niche markets to explore such as men's plus size swim wear, petite maternity wear, and kids colored jeans.
What does drop shipping clothing involve?
As with all drop shipping, selling clothing through a drop ship supplier starts with finding a reliable supplier who stocks the items you want to sell. Finding a supplier who stocks the items you want isn't always easy, but there are several ways you can go about finding yourself a drop ship supplier:

• Try Googling 'the name of your product you want to sell + drop shipper'. Remember that the best suppliers aren't always on the first page of search results. Keep in mind that when you search for suppliers this way, you run the risk of encountering con artists who prey on taking newbies sellers for a ride (and taking their money for a ride to down to the bank!). One way to check that a supplier is legitimate to visit Domain Tools and enter the URL of a supplier you are looking into. Look under 'Registration Record' and see when the site was created. If it is less than 2 years old, we recommend that you find yourself another supplier, don't be tempted to give them a try because they are the cheapest you can find, they are highly likely to be a fake supplier who is attempting to lure you in then take your money and run!
• Use a reliable supplier directory such as SaleHoo which guarantees their suppliers as safe and legitimate.
• Look through trade magazines - TradePub.com offers free downloadable trade magazines with information on suppliers as well as handy tips about what products are up and coming for the next season

Once you have found your drop ship supplier, it's time to start listing! Pull the photos and product descriptions from your supplier's site and make your own listings on eBay or wherever you intend to sell. When deciding on a price to sell your goods at, keep in mind the extra charges involved with drop shipping. Usually, a drop shipper will attach around US$2-US$5 onto the advertised price.
When the item sells, visit your supplier's site and buy the item which you have just sold and enter the buyer's delivery address at the checkout.
Your drop shipper will then send the item out to your awaiting buyer. Easy!
Tips for successfully selling clothing

• When selling on eBay, make use of acronyms. These help to give you better item titles and tell the buyer a lot about the item you are selling. For example, NWT = New with tags, so the buyer will know that the item is brand new, unworn and because it still has tags attached, it's suitable as a gift, if necessary. Here are a few more helpful acronyms you may wish to use when selling clothing:

            EUC: Excellent used condition
            FC: Fine condition
            G: Good condition
            HTF: Hard to find
            NBW: Never been worn
            NM: Near mint (condition)
            NWOT: New without original tags

• Describe the item in detail. Does it have pockets? Where? How many? Does it have vintage buttons or perhaps French cuffs? Make sure you describe the item as accurately and with as much detail as possible. This helps the buyer make an informed decision, and prevents any surprises when they open the parcel later
• List basic measurements such as armpit-to-armpit and shoulder-to-waist. If drop shipping, your supplier will have to provide you with these details. This is essential for encouraging buyers when they are skeptical about wasting time and money on buying something online that may not fit them.
• Keep up with trends by reading fashion blogs and articles so you can source next season's hot items
• Sell easy-fit items like scarves, hats and neck ties. People are more likely to buy these as there is little to no risk of them not fitting the buyers.

Finding Wholesale Electronics Suppliers

What to look for in a great wholesale electronics supplier:

• Quality products. To make it big in selling electronics, you need exceptional quality of products. Unless you are dealing in second hand or factory seconds items, you will need flawless products and packaging with manuals and instructions. It's so worth the time it takes to find a supplier with great quality items as it will save you a lot of time spent on processing refunds and dealing with angry emails from frustrated customers.

• Quality Service. You need a supplier who will deliver on time and will respond to any queries thoroughly and quickly. The very best suppliers will communicate with you regularly, even long after you have placed a large order with them. You should also go for a supplier with a strong personal interest in electronics and technology - this will help when you have technical questions and will help to ensure that they will stock the latest products.

• Product guarantees: Of all the products you could sell, electronics is probably one of the most potentially problematic. Your supplier should be able to guarantee all their products.

• A partnership approach. A strong and mutual relationship will benefit both you and your supplier, and will have your supplier acknowledge how important your business is, and you acknowledge how valuable their great service and product range is for your business.

• A clean record. For online suppliers, you can conduct a search on them on the Better Business Bureau's site which can tell you if the site has had complaints laid against them. Look closely at the results - even some of the best sites have had complaints lodged on BBB but if there are many that are consistently about the quality of the products, it's best to take this as a sign that they aren't a great supplier.

Where can I find the best wholesale electronics suppliers?
The best suppliers aren't always easy to find but with a few hours of solid searching and researching, you can definitely find some great online suppliers.

• Google searches work well, but to really narrow your results down to finding only the best search for "award winning + electronics suppliers" or use other key words like "legitimate", "trusted" or "recommended".

• To really ensure that you get the best possible suppliers, use a reputable online supplier directory. The best of these are regularly updated and list only trusted suppliers. To find a list of reputable suppliers, try Googling "product sourcing directories".

• To find local suppliers, you can try visiting local trade fairs or simply pull out your Yellow Pages and looking for manufacturers, suppliers or wholesalers near you.

Building an Online Selling Business from Scratch

If you don't know anything about how to start your own online business, then you have come to the right place. Building an online business really isn't so different from building a regular, brick and mortar one, other than the fact that it can be faster and easier!
Start by putting together a business plan and/or mission statement. Don't be put off by the name, it simply means set some goals and write down what you want to achieve. It could be as simple as "I want to earn $2000 dollars to be able to buy a new car". Once that part is taken care of, ask yourself these few simple questions:

Where will I sell?

While eBay is the most common option, there are also some great alternatives out there such as Amazon, Bonanzle and Craigslist, or you can always set up your own ecommerce store - a great option for those who are looking for independence from fees and rigid selling structures. eCrater is a great provider for this with their free set-up and zero fees and best of all, plenty of support.

What will I sell?

Start by getting some ideas on what sort of products you would like to sell. It's always best to sell things you are interested in or that you have some kind of experience in, e.g. if you have previously worked in a mountain bike store, you will have plenty of background experience and knowledge. Similarly, if you are a keen golfer, selling golfing accessories might be a good idea for you. Research what some the of best items to sell are to get a few ideas, but don't be tempted to enter into highly competitive markets like iPods and DVDs - you are much better off selling a niche item that will appeal to a very narrow audience and then expanding later. eBay Pulse is a great site to find out the latest selling trends on eBay.

Where will I source my items from?

You will need to find a wholesale supplier to work with. Be prepared to spend some time doing this as it is one of the most important steps in creating a good business.
There are several ways to find a supplier: you can visit trade shows and fairs and get to know suppliers directly, or you can search for suppliers online by Googling "your product name + suppliers OR wholesalers". However, beware when using this method as it can make you highly vulnerable to con artists. To ensure you only deal with reputable and legitimate suppliers, try a supplier directory like SaleHoo.com to find verified suppliers which will save you from being scammed. While directories like SaleHoo charge a membership fee, they can save you a ton of money later on when you avoid losing money from being scammed.
There are a few key questions you need to ask when you find a potential supplier:
1.    Do you have a minimum order quantity (MOQ)?
2.    How long have you been a supplier?
3.    Do you ship internationally? (if you are importing from abroad) Which companies do you use? Do they offer tracking information?
So get to it! Your dream of being your own boss and earning money from your own home is just a few clicks away!

Best Wholesale Clothing Suppliers

Are you looking into selling wholesale clothing but don't where to start? Or have you been wondering where your competitors get their amazing products from (and how they get them so cheap!)? Read on to find out how to find the very best clothing wholesalers on the web!

What to look for in a wholesale clothing supplier:

A wide range of products: A supplier who caters for everyone from babies to fashionistas won't just offer you convenience; they will offer you more opportunities to sell to a wider audience.
A taste for what's hot: Fashion moves very quickly with some fads only lasting a few months (remember those awful scarves with skulls on them? Thank God they only lasted a few weeks!), but during those few months, fads can be highly profitable. Therefore you need a supplier who can quickly sniff out the new trends and source them from the manufacturers to bring them to you.
Quality products: Before you place any big orders, get a few samples to take a look at. Suppliers are more than happy to do this - some even expect it. Take a close look at the quality (wear them around and wash them, if you can, you'll get a great idea of how they will wear). Order a few different items like shirts, jeans and coats to really get an idea of their quality standards. Better quality clothing will mean more repeat customers so make sure you spend some time doing this.
Exceptional customer service: When things go wrong, like shipments going astray, or orders are incorrect, the last thing you want is an irresponsive supplier who doesn't return your calls. Before you place an order with your new supplier, make sure you do a little test by emailing or calling them with a few questions. See how helpful they are, how thoroughly they answer your questions and if emailing, how quickly they respond.

How to find the best suppliers

So where will you find suppliers who offer all of the above, I hear you ask? Well, the best suppliers aren't always easy to find but with some time and persistence, you can definitely get there! Unfortunately, it's not really an option to email your competitors and ask them where they source their items from, but with some patience and persistence, you too can find great suppliers who will help to propel you to PowerSeller status before you can say "bootleg jeans"!

• Performing a Google search is a great start, but remember that the best sellers aren't always on the first page of search results. Also keep in mind that when you search for suppliers on Google or any other search engine, you make yourself vulnerable to con artists out there who will take your money and run off into cyber space, never to be heard from again.

• To really ensure that you get the best possible suppliers, use a reputable online supplier directory, such as SaleHoo.com. Be wary of small lesser-known directories, as there are actually only a few reputable ones.

• To find local suppliers, trade fairs or shows are a great way to find out about the latest products and to meet suppliers face to face. Or for a simple option which you can do from home, simply pull out your Yellow Pages and look for manufacturers, suppliers or wholesalers near you.

Best ways to source wholesale gifts

Getting into wholesale gifts is a great way to get started in online selling. For existing retailers, it's perfect for expanding your product range. Wholesale gifts encompass so many great markets as well as some highly lucrative niches!
You could get into jewelry, homeware such as vases and wall art, picture frames and candles, or gift cards, bath sets or garden ornaments, so there are plenty of items to keep you interested. Best of all, there are so many people who will buy from you not only for others, but also for themselves!
Gifts can be a relatively competitive market, especially when you sell online. Making sure you are paying only the very best price possible and getting access to the most exciting range of products is paramount to your success. How you go about selling is also important in a competitive market. To really bump up your sales, read below for my 5 top tricks of the trade and watch that bottom line grow!

5 tricks of the trade

1. Gifts sell well all year round but to really make a killing, you should customize your product range according to the season. For example, around Valentine's Day, items such as stuffed toys with sweet messages and lingerie will really pick up. Likewise, around Mother's Day, you can expect candles, bath sets, and cook books to turn a big profit. At Christmas, the sky is the limit on how much you can earn - your regular gift items will sky rocket and any Christmas related products like Christmas tree decorations will also be highly popular.
2. Offer fast shipping. So many gifts that are bought online are last minute gifts. Your buyer may have just remembered their mom turns 60 on Thursday and they need to get them something fabulous ASAP. What might turn some buyers off is the possibility of their gift not arriving on time. To remedy this, make sure you state that your items can be delivered the very next day after payment is received. eBay sellers can make the most of "Get it Fast" which gives buyers the confidence that you can ship to them very quickly.
3. Visit trade shows and fairs to get to know what the hot and up and coming products are. It's also a great way to meet new suppliers. If there are no trade shows or fairs in your area, take a look online by Googling the name of the product you want to sell + "wholesale supplier", or sign up to a trusted wholesale supplier directory where you will find the best and most trusted suppliers on the web and will protect yourself from being scammed by shady suppliers.
4. When listing items on eBay, think carefully about the key words you use in your listing title. This is not only the first glimpse that potential buyers will have of your listing, it's also the best possible way to help your listings rank well when buyers search for items. You only have 55 characters to work with so make sure each one counts! Start by using the most important keywords at the very start, this is called front-loading and is a very basic yet effective keyword optimization technique.
5. Try to focus on one target market - at least to start out with. Think about an audience for your gift store, such as men who need something for their wives or girlfriends. Men often feel overwhelmed when they are left to buy something special for their wives so try to make it easy on them by offering lots of great options and tips on what women like (top 5 or 10 best selling product lists are great for men with no clue). This will really help them make the right decision and increase the chances of them coming back for more when they next have to find the perfect gift.

The Best Baby Product Wholesalers

You have probably heard or read all about how popular baby items are to buy and sell online, and really, it's no wonder - with over 15,000 babies being born every hour of every day across the globe, there is always a huge demand for baby products! Their immense online popularity comes for three reasons:

1. New mum's don't always have time to go out to the store and buy new clothes, toys and other everyday items like feeding equipment and blankets, therefore, buying online suits their lifestyles much more than buying from regular stores.
2. Raising babies is expensive business. Babies grow out of clothes very quickly, they go through dozens of diapers every week, not to mention saving for their education! So it's really no surprise that the average cost of bringing up a baby in a Western country is around US$70,000 just in their first 5 years! For this reason, parents will try very hard to cut any costs they can, and more often than not, buying online will help them out immensely
3. Many stay-at-home moms will use their spare time during the day to sell some of their used baby items online. It's a great way for them to earn some extra cash and helps to get them interacting with the outside world a little more, which is great for curing the dreaded mommy brain syndrome!

There is still plenty of room to make money in this ever-growing market, and finding the best supplier possible is the key to your success. Read on as I let you in on what to look for in a super supplier and how to find the best ones available.

What to look for in a baby product wholesaler:

Stockist of safety equipment: Parents love spending money on safety equipment for their little ones and baby safety equipment is a top seller on eBay.
Great product knowledge: Just as you will be a better seller if you know a lot about baby products, your supplier will be more valuable to you if they know all about the items they are selling.
Flawless customer service and reliability: If they let you down, it could let your customers down so make sure you work with a supplier who understands what it means to offer great customer service.
Quality items: Quality control is especially important when it comes to selling baby products, especially if you are selling something like strollers, walkers or swings and play sets. Quality of clothing is just as important, as even though a baby may only have a few months to wear something before they grow out if it, chances are their clothes will be washed very often after they have spilled food, vomited or played outside in the puddles while wearing them.
Where to find the best baby product wholesalers
Online suppliers are usually the way to go but if you prefer to stay local you can either visit local trade shows or fairs (you might have to travel if you aren't in a large city) or simply refer to your Yellow Pages (look up wholesalers, manufacturers, and suppliers), or Google the name of the product you are looking for + your state or city.
To find great online suppliers, performing a Google search is a great start. Remember though that the best sellers aren't always on the first page of search results. It's important to not to forget that when you search for suppliers on Google or any other search engine, you make yourself vulnerable to con artists out there who will take your money and run off into cyber space, never to be heard from again.
To really ensure that you get the best possible suppliers, use a reputable online supplier directory. For a list of these try Googling "product sourcing directories".

5 Amazing Niche Markets

Finding a niche market is one of the key ingredients to really making it in online selling. Did you know that beginner sellers are much more successful when they appeal to a very small market, rather than trying to appeal to everyone?
Finding a niche isn't always easy - it takes time and persistence to find the right product to sell. To get you thinking, and to give you a few inspiring ideas, we have researched 5 product niche ideas to share with you. While some niche ideas might seem abstract to newbie sellers, that is exactly what a great niche is - very precise and seemingly difficult to source.

Niche Item #1: Heart Rate Monitors

These are used by athletes and gym bunnies or by people who need to keep an eye on their heart rate.
Why they are an exciting niche item:

• They have a 75% success rate on eBay (75% of all monitors listed on eBay in the last three months sold!)
• They are lightweight and easy to ship and store
• One size fits all

Niche Item #2: Plus Size Shoes

Many big-foot's out there find it very difficult to find shoes that will fit them comfortably from regular retail stores.
Why they are a super niche item:

• While these are commonly made by popular shoe makers, stores often order only a handful of pairs in larger sizes, which means that more and more, our big-footed friends must turn to buying online to get what they need.
• They have a high success rate on eBay (women's size 11 sell at 61.9% and men's size 14 at 75%
• Both men and women alike can require plus size shoes (Hot tip: women's size 11+ high heels could make a great little niche)

Niche Item #3: Plus Size Maternity Wear

Another plus-size item with huge success on eBay
It's a profitable niche because:

• Maternity and baby gear always works because people are always going to have babies, so you'll never run out of customers!
• Clothing items are easy to ship as they light and not fragile.

Niche Item #4: Military Insignia

Collectibles always make great niches and you can dig really deep to find the best ones. They are also perfect for people who are interested in them - you'll find it much easier and much more rewarding when you sell something you enjoy. To really niche it up, go for US military insignia from the Vietnam War which is big on eBay.
Why military insignia makes an excellent niche:

• It rarely dates or goes out of fashion
• There are so many sub-niches to discover like Russian war medals and World War 2 helmets.

Niche Item #5: Antique Clocks

Another great collectible item
They are a first-rate niche because:

• You'll appeal to both collectors and home decorators
• They have an eBay success rate of over 67%
• You can often pick these up very cheaply from flea markets and yard sales, then sell them on to make a profit

Niche items really are the way to go for newbie sellers and there are so many out there to keep you interested and best of all, make you money!

Best Wholesale Clothing Suppliers

Are you looking into selling wholesale clothing but don't where to start? Or have you been wondering where your competitors get their amazing products from (and how they get them so cheap!)? Read on to find out how to find the very best clothing wholesalers on the web!

What to look for in a wholesale clothing supplier:

A wide range of products: A supplier who caters for everyone from babies to fashionistas won't just offer you convenience; they will offer you more opportunities to sell to a wider audience.
A taste for what's hot: Fashion moves very quickly with some fads only lasting a few months (remember those awful scarves with skulls on them? Thank God they only lasted a few weeks!), but during those few months, fads can be highly profitable. Therefore you need a supplier who can quickly sniff out the new trends and source them from the manufacturers to bring them to you.
Quality products: Before you place any big orders, get a few samples to take a look at. Suppliers are more than happy to do this - some even expect it. Take a close look at the quality (wear them around and wash them, if you can, you'll get a great idea of how they will wear). Order a few different items like shirts, jeans and coats to really get an idea of their quality standards. Better quality clothing will mean more repeat customers so make sure you spend some time doing this.
Exceptional customer service: When things go wrong, like shipments going astray, or orders are incorrect, the last thing you want is an irresponsive supplier who doesn't return your calls. Before you place an order with your new supplier, make sure you do a little test by emailing or calling them with a few questions. See how helpful they are, how thoroughly they answer your questions and if emailing, how quickly they respond.

How to find the best suppliers

So where will you find suppliers who offer all of the above, I hear you ask? Well, the best suppliers aren't always easy to find but with some time and persistence, you can definitely get there! Unfortunately, it's not really an option to email your competitors and ask them where they source their items from, but with some patience and persistence, you too can find great suppliers who will help to propel you to PowerSeller status before you can say "bootleg jeans"!

• Performing a Google search is a great start, but remember that the best sellers aren't always on the first page of search results. Also keep in mind that when you search for suppliers on Google or any other search engine, you make yourself vulnerable to con artists out there who will take your money and run off into cyber space, never to be heard from again.

• To really ensure that you get the best possible suppliers, use a reputable online supplier directory, such as SaleHoo.com. Be wary of small lesser-known directories, as there are actually only a few reputable ones.

• To find local suppliers, trade fairs or shows are a great way to find out about the latest products and to meet suppliers face to face. Or for a simple option which you can do from home, simply pull out your Yellow Pages and look for manufacturers, suppliers or wholesalers near you.

7 Reliably Profitable eBay Markets

Do you want to find out about eBay's consistently popular categories? I have just compiled this hot list to show you what's profitable on eBay, season after season, year after year.

Clothing, shoes and accessories

Clothing is such an exciting category to get involved in as it encompasses so many niches such as plus size gym wear, novelty underwear, and comfort shoes. Clothing is also easy to sell and ship, and best of all, there will always be a demand for clothing (at least until global warming really kicks in).

Selling tip: Always give buyers as much information as possible in your eBay listings, especially about the item's size. This helps buyers to assess whether it will fit them - one factor which can easily cause uncertainty in potential buyers.

Collectibles

eBay is without a doubt the world's most popular place to buy and sell collectible items. Collectibles can include antique items, baseball cards, posters, medals and war artifacts, comics and branded items like Coca Cola and much more.
Sourcing Tip: Visit yard and estate sales for arbitrage items which you can buy very cheaply and sell on to make a pretty profit.

Electronics

Possibly the most competitive, yet potentially profitable markets on eBay - particularly when it comes to items such as iPods and mobile phones. The best way to approach this market is in a big way - to really make a profit, you will need to do a big bulk buy and sell in big volumes. Consider supplementing your product range with accessories such as iPod skins, spare cords, or hands free kits for mobile phones.

 CDs and DVDs

Did you know that eBay sells over 1 million DVDs and CDs and each month? However, for every one million sold, there are around 2 million listed. Yip, you guessed it, this is another highly competitive market. The trick to making it in DVDs and CDs is to niche it up - go outside of mainstream movies and TV series', or music albums and find a new niche market like exercise DVD's, classic films or learning languages.

Gaming systems

Many gaming enthusiasts use eBay to buy and sell their games and gaming systems. A typical gamer will buy the latest system, play it for 8 hours a day for four weeks then sell it on and find something new to entertain them, which means there is always an abundance of buyers on the hunt for a new system to entertain them.

Healthy and Beauty

There are so many items within the Health and Beauty market: weight loss supplements, anti-aging creams and vitamins, hair care, dental care, makeup (nail polish, lip gloss, lip stick, lip balm, concealer, powder, foundation, eyeliner, mascara, eyeshadow, illuminators, bronzers and blushers - phew!), perfume and cologne, moisturizer, eye cream, microdermabrasion kits, hair and makeup brushes and applicators, hair removal kits or razors and shaving creams, manicure kits, eyelash curlers, tweezers and much more!
As with all categories, it really helps to sell something which you are really interested in or have experience with. For example, if you suffer from dandruff, selling dandruff treatments would be ideal as you can relate to your audience and give them a few tips along the way (would be great in your eBay About Me page).
Hot Tip: While brand-name items are top sellers in health and beauty, be very weary of Chinese suppliers offering these items very cheaply - they are likely to be fake and eBay cracks down very hard on anyone selling these

Baby Gear

From toys to feeding equipment and strollers, baby gear is a highly profitable eBay market. Like clothing, there will always be  a market for baby equipment and with the huge costs associated with bringing up a baby, it's no wonder parents turn to buying online to find bargains and save themselves some money.
Hot Tip: Don't be afraid to source second-hand or sample grade baby clothing - babies are messy little things and parents need them to have an abundance of cheap clothing to change them into after they splash around in the puddles, play with mud or start a food fight with their sweater.
Keep in mind these markets are reliably profitable only when they are well executed! The above categories are highly competitive so when selling them, you must work hard to stand out from your competitors with great key words and item descriptions, and flawless customer service!