American earned $ 25 million by selling unwanted items online.

Purchase and sale sites like eBay, Amazon are usually perceived as an opportunity to purchase something at a bargain price, but it doesn’t make a fortune. However, the creative approach to the network trade in small things, such as clothing and cosmetics, can work financial miracles: 53-year-old American Linda Lightman will readily confirm this. Moreover, she believes that everyone can get a tangible financial benefit, getting rid of unnecessary things, and gives some advice to those who want to follow her example and enrich themselves in the sale of used goods.

15 years ago, Linda, a lawyer from a suburb of Philadelphia, decided to rake up a mess in her son’s room. The American collected what she understood was rubbish (including a pile of old video games that the guy hadn’t been interested in for a long time) and successfully sold off online.

It turned out that for someone it is not a scrap at all, but desired things. Linde liked not only the result, but also the process itself: photographing, creating descriptions, communicating with customers. Since she was still a shopaholic, she decided to sell something from her wardrobe.

The financial results again pleased her. Having heard about Linda's new profitable hobby, her friends and acquaintances began to ask her to sell their stuff, too. Then she decided that it was necessary to combine all the goods in the store - and an online boutique appeared. Linda's stuff.

Today in Linda's stuff they send clothes, accessories and cosmetics from all over the country, and Linda takes her percentage from sales. In addition to second-hand, are offered and completely new things, and valuable vintage.

“On the day we exhibit about five thousand items. In total, there are usually about 140 thousands of things on the site, ”explains Linda. Now, of course, she does not work alone: ​​Linda's stuff has 110 employees, the company has a large office and a spacious storage room. Linda's stuff has become a family business: both her husband and two sons work with Linda.

In 2014, the profit of Linda's stuff reached 25 million dollars. In August, 2015 Inc. magazine introduced the company to Inc. 5000 is its annual ranking of the fastest growing firms in the country.

So far, Linda's stuff, though, is only in the 4789 place, but the start is still good - such giants as Yelp, Pandora, Timberland, LinkedIn are located at higher positions in the top list.

Such enterprises as Linda's stuff have been around the world for a long time. However, Linda and her business may have been one of the pioneers.

Linda gives some advice to those who wish to try themselves as an online merchant and are ready to start with all sorts of trivia, as she herself once was.

- Most people do not know what treasures are stored in their home. On average, in each dwelling 52 idle things are worth a total of about three thousand dollars, if not more.

- It is not necessary to be limited to what is in the apartment. You can offer your friends to sell what they don't need for a certain percentage. Or resell something bought at a very competitive price.

- Monitor the prices of similar products offered by other sellers to decide how much to evaluate a thing.

- It is important to come up with a beautiful, memorable network name. Let your store and is part of a large site sales, but it is an independent enterprise, and it is better if it will be recognizable.

- Photos of good quality and detailed descriptions of each item are very important. “Take so many pictures,” advises Linda. Not only that too detailed descriptions do not happen, warn any question that may arise from customers when viewing photos of the goods. Be prepared to answer additional questions.

- Come up with a catchy headline for your ad. But do not waste your space on empty words like “Wow!”, It is better not to forget to specify the brand, size, color and other parameters according to which buyers are looking for a product.

- Everyone is interested in the terms of payment, delivery and return of goods, specify them as clearly as possible.

- Buyers will definitely return if the purchase is as convenient as in a regular online store. Send the goods promptly, not "when there will be free time."

- Organize the process so as to receive joy from it. “They say that if you make your main occupation something that gives you pleasure, you will not have to work a day in life. I did not understand the meaning of this expression until I had my own shop, ”admits Linda.