Looking for a niche on eBay or my own small store

[golotomer]

you can get info for your fed # at : www.irs.gov

That easy?  Boy do I feel like a dummy.   :-

[RMWorld]

 
Hello..... Just some additional info on that tax # and ID. As Molydog stated... it truly is as easy as visiting the federal site where you can easily fill out an application. You will be looking to obtain a "seller's permit" which comes with your tax number. When I applied, the cost was $25.00 and you are nearly guaranteed for approval as long as you have no unpaid state taxes. Many people think there is a ton of paperwork and channels to go through to open a store.... but it's really quite easy. As long as you have this ONE permit. That is all you need, unless you venture into food sales or anything.

And, as you are finding out.... this tax # comes in handy when trying to set up any buying accounts with 'real' wholesalers.

I hope you can make it all work! There is nothing better than making a living doing something you really enjoy!!! I enjoyed having my store open for 10 years until the economy got the best of me, killing sales, (when you deal with collectibles or craft stuff... you have to understand that your goods are not a necessary part of living, so when times get tough people, or collectors have to knock their 'fun' purchases off the list to pay bills to eat, ... house pmt, .. etc.) The struggling economy and loss of sales caused me to have to work endless hours to make enough sales to support having the business... and unfortunately I grew tired of it real fast causing my store closure. I still have a huge inventory of goods that I continuously sell on eBay and supplements the income of my new job.

[golotomer]

.. you have to understand that your goods are not a necessary part of living, so when times get tough people, or collectors have to knock their 'fun' purchases off the list to pay bills to eat, ... house pmt, .. etc.) The struggling economy and loss of sales caused me to have to work endless hours to make enough sales to support having the business... and unfortunately I grew tired of it real fast causing my store closure. I still have a huge inventory of goods that I continuously sell on eBay and supplements the income of my new job.

I so agree.  I guess finding something that is a consumable necessity or providing the best price is the key.  Of course, providing the best price is usually only possible when you can afford to purchase in major bulk quantities, which is what the big corporations such as Wal-Mart are able to do.  For instance, it really angers me when I shop for the best bargain on yarns and can make a really nice hand knitted scarf for 3 dollars, add my time of probably 10-15 hours (and I'm a fast knitter) and ask a price of 10-15 for the finished product and then go to Wal-Mart and see something similar that is mass produced for 8.  The only compensation I get out of my time is that I do it as a form of relaxation, when watching tv or when I have down time as a passenger in a car, etc.   

[RMWorld]

  :star:Yeah, if we could all just have that perfect recession proof business that would be great. Everybody has to eat, and purchase necessities... but the 'necessities' business is quite difficult to compete in, so... must of us with that urge to open a store steer away from those and deal with something that's typically fun and of interest to you or I as a store owner.

And commenting on pricing.... you don't ALWAYS have to have the best price to make sales. Sometimes the convenience, and the importance of good customer service and store atmosphere will make patrons comfortable paying prices that may be a bit more than other stores in the area. When dealing with Collectibles and Hobby Supplies, my small store was always in competition with larger area Hobby Stores such as Hobby Town USA. But because I was a smaller store I was able to pay more attention to my customers, give them the thoughtful answers and help they needed and they grew to like that more than shopping at the bigger stores. And winning them over with those type of things seems to allow them to 'not worry' and be comfortable about paying a bit more.

And... about paying off for time invested making your own craft items.... I can relate, ... The price you get for the item rarely pays for the hours invested in making it.... in this case, yeah, you really have to enjoy doing it. My girlfriend did a lot of ceramics painting which she sold in my store. Never did the price cover the hours of paint time.