Month: March 2026

What is batching inventory and how does it help?

On By wisdomlaneantiquesIn InventoryLeave a comment

When it comes to listing items, you will quickly see that you need four things—a good description, good tags, good photos and a good idea on how much shipping will cost.

In reality, I list around 10 to 20 items per week.  Because of this, I started to pull my hair out because I was getting lost—I would get started working and I had no idea where I was the day before.  Did I take pictures of this item?  What about a description?  Did I pack something along the way?

It would take me a long time to get my head wrapped around to see what I was doing the day before.  I had to get a better system so I could see what I did before I lost my mind.

What I did was I started with a spreadsheet on my computer—I made a column for the items that I was working on.  Then from there, I made checklist-style columns for the decription, photos and packing.  Then I created another one for if it was listed, and then a final column for where the item was to be listed.  After I wrote down what I had done for each item, I realized I had a little of everything done for those items.

Then I made the realization that I need to batch the work together—meaning that I group all of the photos together, then I do the videos, then all of the descriptions.  When all of that gets done, I will pack every item.

Then I get to spend the time to list the item on either Etsy or eBay so it can be for sale.

Spending the time to batch all of the like items together (or to group it) and write down what I have done has actually helped save me time in the long run.

You don’t have to use a spreadsheet when you do this.  You could use a pad of paper or even a dry erase board—you can use whatever you feel comfortable with.

So, take the time to batch what you have to do on the items you want to sell.  It really helps!

What is a good piece of advice for finding inventory to sell?

On By wisdomlaneantiquesIn Inventory, Selling tips, Shopping tips, Tips for the beginnerLeave a comment

You have just decided to sell some items on your favorite website, and now what?  Well, the first thing to do is to find some items to sell. Here’s the thing—you don’t need to go to a flea market or estate sale to get that inventory.

There is a very simple trick to help you find that inventory, and you do not need to go very far at all.  All you need to do to find a few things to sell is to shop your own house.

That’s right, shop your own house.  I know I know, this surprised you when you first heard this.  There is a reason that I recommend this trick to you.  Several years ago, I got to looking at what was going on with what I was doing with the items that I had in inventory.

I saw that when I had an item that was no longer being sold online.  I was taking items down from being sold online because they were not selling.   I would set them on a shelf and I was going to sell them at a garage sale, and then I began to stack items on that shelf with items that I was going to list online.

The thing was was that I began to walk around those items or just plain forgot about them.  I kept walking around them, and before you knew it, the shelf was full of items.

I finally broke down and took those items and listed them.  I started with the items that I had taken down from selling.  I gave them brand new photos that were a lot better and a completely refreshed description and new tags.

Do you know what?  They sold pretty fast.  I then moved on to the new inventory that was on that shelf and got it up to.  Then it got to the point where I went to my own bedroom and saw many more items to sell that I never even bothered to put into inventory.  I have been moving through my house and I am amazed how much inventory there is for me to sell off.

And that is what I would do if I were you—start in an area that you use for storage.  You will be amazed how much you will find because you either have no use for that item or don’t particularly like the item.

You don’t have to list everything at once.  Start with 2 or 3 items at first and then go from there.

You will be amazed at how much inventory you will find!