How to decide between online vs in-person sales
May 2, 2025
Choosing the Right Sales Channel for Your Reselling Business
If you’re starting a reselling business, one of your first big decisions is whether to focus on online sales, in-person sales, or a blend of both. Each path has unique advantages and challenges, especially when it comes to managing inventory, coordinating team roles, tracking sales and fees, and handling delivery or pickups. Here’s a straightforward guide to help beginners make the right choice—and set up foundational tools and processes for smooth operations from day one.
1. Weighing Online vs In-Person Sales: Key Differences
Online Sales—Think eBay, Etsy, Facebook Marketplace, or your own website. Customers buy remotely and you ship or arrange delivery.
In-Person Sales—Think pop-up shops, local events, flea markets, or even curbside pickups. Customers see, touch, and buy your items face-to-face.
Pros and Cons at a Glance
Aspect | Online | In-Person |
|---|---|---|
Audience Reach | Wide – regional, national, global | Local only |
Personal Touch | Lower | High (face-to-face) |
Setup Costs | Lower (no venue), but may pay platform fees | Venue/table fees, signage, travel |
Shipping/Delivery | Required | Usually not needed |
Inventory Management | Must sync listings across sites | Physical stock on hand |
Payment Handling | Online payments (PayPal, cards, etc.) | Cash, card, mobile payments |
2. Key Questions to Help You Decide
Who are your target customers? If they’re local, in-person might be best. If they’re spread out or niche, online expands your reach.
What are you selling? Unique, collectible, or high-value items often do well online. Bulky or low-cost items might be easier to sell locally to avoid shipping hassles.
Do you enjoy face-to-face interaction? In-person sales let you build rapport and trust instantly.
How much time do you have? Online sales require daily management of listings and shipping; in-person may involve less frequent but longer events.
Are you comfortable with shipping? If not, in-person lets you skip it entirely.
3. Essential Steps for Getting Started—Online, In-Person, or Both
A. Setting Up a Central Inventory System
As soon as you have more than a handful of items, it’s crucial to track what you own, where it’s listed, and what’s sold. This prevents overselling, double-listing, and confusion.
Simple Start: Use a shared spreadsheet (like Google Sheets) to list each item, quantity, price, and where it’s listed.
Level Up: Consider a dedicated inventory tool. Gavelbase offers seamless tracking of inventory, listings, and sales across online and in-person channels. Alternatives include Zoho Inventory or Ecomdash.
B. Assigning Team Roles (Even If It’s Just You)
Inventory Manager: Keeps the inventory list accurate and updates stock as items sell.
Sales Lead: Handles listing, pricing, and customer interactions—whether online or at events.
Shipping/Logistics: Packs and ships online orders, or arranges pickups for in-person sales.
For a solo operation, you’ll do all these roles, but writing them down clarifies your workflow and helps if you bring in help later.
C. Tracking Sales and Fees
Track every sale—where it happened, for how much, and what fees were taken out (platform, payment processing, venue, etc.). This gives you a clear picture of your profits and what channels work best.
Simple Start: Add a "Sales" tab to your spreadsheet. Log date, item, selling price, channel, and any fees.
Level Up: Use your inventory tool’s reporting features. Gavelbase and similar platforms can calculate profits and fees automatically.
D. Handling Shipping or Pickup Cleanly
Whether you ship or arrange meetups, clear communication is key.
Online Sales: Have a standard process for packing and shipping. Use printable labels from Pirate Ship or Stamps.com. Always provide tracking info to buyers. Set clear shipping timelines in your listings.
In-Person Sales: For pickups, choose safe, public places and set clear pickup windows. For events, bring enough change, a card reader (like Square), and packaging if buyers want to take items home.
4. Hybrid Approach: Syncing Everything
Many resellers do both online and in-person sales to maximize their audience. If you do this, a central system is even more important. Remove sold items from all listings immediately to avoid double-selling and unhappy customers. If you use a tool like Gavelbase, it can sync your listings across platforms and track inventory in real-time—saving you lots of headaches.
5. Final Tips for Beginners
Start small—test one or two channels before committing heavily.
Use free tools first, and upgrade as you grow.
Keep your records simple but consistent.
Review your sales and fees monthly—see which channel is actually working best for you.
Prioritize good communication with buyers, whether online or in-person.
Summary
Both online and in-person sales offer compelling benefits for resellers. Choose the path that fits your customers, product types, and comfort zone. Set up a basic but reliable system for inventory, sales tracking, and team roles right from the start—using a spreadsheet or a dedicated tool like Gavelbase—to keep things running smoothly as you grow. With these foundations, you’ll be ready to adapt, expand, and succeed on whichever sales channel you choose.