Cleaning and Ironing. Not a lot of other things on your to-do list can elicit the same emotion. The deep sigh. The neck roll. The “but I’d rather be…” thoughts that get thrown around in your head. But let’s face it. Sometimes you have to do it. If you’re one of the lucky ones with a bigger bank roll to do retail arbitrage or only buy resale items with no issues and a higher price tag, then by all means, great for you. However, if your still in the early stages of growing your store and a lower budget for resourcing as I currently am, you know you’ll have to do the elbow work at some point. Just know that the means will justify the end. You want items you sell to show their value. Wash the item. Clean it up. You want to present it in the best possible light. Let the person buying know they are getting something of value. You’ll find you get a bigger pool of potential buyers as well as possible return buyers if they know they are getting a well-cared for item. I sell on multiple platforms so to me, cleaning is part of what I know needs to be done. Yes, some buyers are willing to clean and do what needs to be done to get a better deal, but if you really want to grow your store, keep quality, not just quantity in mind.
To me, it’s sort of like making your bed in the morning. Yes, it’s an extra chore but it really doesn’t take that much of your time to do it. Yes, you’re still going to get into the bed at night and mess the covers back up, but there is just something about seeing a freshly made bed made at the end of a long day that makes me feel good. In my head, I sleep more soundly. The covers are softer. The pillow fluffier. It’s all about the presentation that makes you feel good and the presentation is what you are selling to you customers at the end of the day as well.