Where to find inventory to resell locally

Your Quick Start Guide to Sourcing and Managing Local Resale Inventory

Reselling locally is one of the fastest ways to start a side hustle or even build a full-time business. But the first challenge is always the same: where do you find inventory worth reselling? From finding your first items to keeping everything organized and picking the right systems, here’s a straightforward, beginner-friendly guide to help you hit the ground running.

1. The Best Places to Source Local Inventory

• Garage & Yard Sales: These are gold mines for underpriced items. Use apps like Yard Sale Search or search Facebook Marketplace for local sale events. Arrive early for the best selection, and don’t be afraid to negotiate.

• Thrift Stores: Goodwill, Salvation Army, and local charity shops frequently have hidden gems—especially in clothing, electronics, and books. Visit regularly, as new inventory arrives daily.

• Estate Sales: Estate sales often offer quality goods at lower prices, especially toward the end when organizers want to clear out inventory. Look for listings on EstateSales.net.

• Online Marketplaces (Local Pickup): Check Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, OfferUp, and Nextdoor for items listed as “pickup only.” Often, sellers price aggressively to move items fast.

• Flea Markets: Browse on weekends. Many vendors are willing to make deals, especially late in the day.

• Retail Arbitrage: Buy discounted or clearance items from big box retailers (Target, Walmart, Home Depot) and resell them locally, especially seasonal goods.

• Friends and Family: Let your network know you’re buying inventory. Many people are happy to offload unwanted items for free or cheap.

2. How to Choose What to Buy

Stick to items you can quickly check for value, easy to test, and simple to photograph and ship or hand off. Some safe bets for beginners:

• Popular electronics (phones, tablets, headphones)

• Brand-name clothing (especially new or gently used)

• Small appliances (coffee makers, blenders)

• Tools and outdoor gear

• Collectibles (trading cards, vintage toys, records)

Before buying, research recent sold prices using eBay’s “sold” filter or apps like eBay’s Terapeak and PriceCharting for games and collectibles.

3. Keep Your Inventory and Listings Organized

Once you have inventory, the next hurdle is keeping track of it all. Here’s how beginners can stay organized without getting overwhelmed:

• Assign a Number or Code to Every Item: Use sticky notes or labels with a simple number or code for each product. Store items in bins or on shelves, grouped by type or listing platform.

• Use a Centralized Inventory System: Even if you’re just starting, it pays to track what you own, where it’s listed, and its status (listed, sold, shipped or picked up). Tools like Gavelbase make this easy, letting you list on multiple platforms, sync inventory, and track sales and fees in one place. If you prefer spreadsheets, Google Sheets with basic columns (Item Name, Source, Purchase Price, Listed Price, Platforms, Status) can work when you’re small.

• Sync Listings Across Platforms: If you list on both eBay and Facebook Marketplace, make sure to mark items as sold everywhere as soon as they sell to avoid double-selling. Central platforms (like Gavelbase) help automate this, but manual updating is fine when you’re starting out.

4. Assigning Basic Team Roles (Even If You're Solo)

If you’re working with a friend or family member, split up tasks to stay efficient:

• Sourcing: Finds and buys inventory

• Listing: Photographs and creates listings

• Communications: Handles buyer messages

• Shipping/Pickup: Packs and hands off sold items

• Bookkeeping: Tracks sales, fees, and profits

Even solo, assigning these “roles” as steps in your workflow ensures nothing falls through the cracks.

5. Tracking Sales, Fees, and Profits—The Easy Way

It’s tempting to ignore the numbers, but tracking your sales and fees helps you spot what’s working and avoid losses. Here’s a simple method:

• Log Every Sale: Date, item, platform, sale price, fees, and shipping cost.

• Calculate Profit: Sale Price – (Purchase Price + Fees + Shipping) = Profit.

• Central Apps: Tools like Gavelbase automate this and give you a clear dashboard. For manual tracking, a spreadsheet works when starting out.

6. Handling Shipping and Local Pickup Smoothly

• Shipping: Use USPS, UPS, or FedEx online tools to print labels at home. Save on shipping with platforms like Pirate Ship. Always pack items securely.

• Local Pickup: Meet in public places (police station lobbies, busy parking lots). Use cash or digital payments (Venmo, PayPal) and confirm payment before handing off items.

• Keep Communication Clear: Message buyers promptly and confirm pickup or shipping details. A central system helps you track which orders are awaiting pickup or shipment.

Next Steps for Beginners

Start small—pick one or two sourcing methods, track your first ten items manually or with a basic inventory system, and focus on learning what sells well in your area. As you grow, consider moving to a central platform to keep everything in sync and make scaling easier. Remember, consistency is more important than perfection, especially early on.

For more ideas and tools, check out resources like ResellingRevealed and Flea Market Flipper. Happy reselling!