HOW TO SELL HOBBY ITEMS BY MAIL

            You can, if you are ambitious, start a Mail Order Business selling  collectibles to hobbyists by mail.  To begin, you must first find a hobby that appeals to you.  Next, you must spend several weeks researching that hobby.  You must learn what collectors want and how much they are willing to pay for it.  You should also know what other dealers are willing to pay for the merchandise which they sell.  And you must be willing to pay the same amounts.
 

            Perhaps you already know exactly what you want to sell.  If you have been collecting old Valentines, then start a Mail Order business buying and selling old Valentines.  Or stamps.  Or comic books.  The first rule of Mail Order Selling is to sell what you yourself would buy.  To give you an idea of what collectors buy and sell by mail, here is a partial list of today's collectibles!

Phonograph Records               Street Car Tokens                    Boat Photographs

Cigar Labels                            Fruit Jar Labels                        Advertising Cards

License Plates                          Old Magazines                                    Dog Pictures

Beer Labels                              Gun Catalogs                           Movie Magazines

Circus Posters                          Paper Currency                        Autographs

Music Boxes                            Cartoon Books             Dolls

Salt/Pepper Shakers                 Theatre Programs                    Hunting Licenses

Greeting Cards             Political Buttons                      Valentines

Old Pencils                              Baseball Cards                         Cookbooks

Atlases                                     Children's Books                     Beatles Items

Military Medals                       Stock Certificates                     StampsSheet Music

Old Toys                                  Indian Relics                            Doll Clothes

Gems, Minerals                       Railroad Books                        Menus

Belt Buckles                            Fishing Licenses                      Cigar Boxes

Airplane Photos                       Comic Books                           Train Photos

FBI Posters                              Thimbles                                  Old Calendars

Newspapers                             Automobile Manuals               Maps

Coins                                       Diaries                                     Postcards

Arrowheads                             Antique Barbed Wire               Buttons

Old Jewelry                             Railroad Passes

            Here are some suggestions for you send for sample copies of two magazines.  They are read avidly by hobby dealers and hobby collectors alike:

                                    THE COLLECTORS NEWS

                                    Box 156

                                    Grundy Center, IA  50638

                                    THE ANTIQUE TRADER WEEKY

                                    Box 1050

                                    Dubuque, IA  52001

            Each of these publications contain around 70 or 80 pages of ads from dealers and collectors.  Almost every hobby publication, large or small, if listed within its pages.

            Once you have selected your field, start a file.  Keep copies of all the ads selling your kind of merchandise.  Also keep ads showing the dealers buying prices.  If price lists are offered in ads, send for them and STUDY them.  MAKE YOURSELF AN EXPERT IN YOUR FIELD.

            Try to locate any publication that deals with your field.  Often, you can locate small mimeographed publications and newsletters which will give you all kinds of useful information.

            Your next step is to look for merchandise in your own community.  Here are some suggestions:

1.         Start by attending flea markets and antique shows.  Don't be afraid to make inquiries of dealers.  They often have what they consider "junk" stashed away, assuming that it isn't of much value to anyone.  I once discovered a fabulous stamp collection that way!

2.         Browse around through Thrift Shops.

 3.         Study the garage sale ads in your local newspaper.  Visit any that sound promising.  (Sometimes, it pays to telephone for, they may be able to direct you to others who have exactly what you need!)
 
4.         Place "Wanted to Buy" ads in your local Swapper's News, or your local newspaper.  Be sure to list your phone number.
 
            It is amazing what you can find in your local community if you work at it.  However, if you can't find enough merchandise locally, run ads in the Collector's Magazines listed above.  Their rates are very, very low.  And you will soon discover that they are widely read!

 
            Once you have accumulated a decent stock of merchandise, you are ready to begin selling it.  If there are publications specializing in your field, by all means advertise there.  You have a ready-made audience!  Also run ads in the big hobby magazines.

 
            Type up a list of what you have and have an Instant Printer make a hundred or so copies for you.  Hobbyists don't mind typewritten mimeographed, or Xerox copies - it's half the fun of collecting.  Then run your ad.  Your ad can merely offer your list to interested collectors free (or for a stamp, to week out coupon clippers).  Or you can offer to make a sale straight from the ad.  If you do the latter, stick in your price list with the merchandise.  It will read...eagerly!

            Here are a few sample ads run by hobby dealers for your consideration:       

                        *  "Railroad Timetables, 1940's

                             Four Different - $4.00 postpaid."

                        *  "Old Children's Books and Texts.

                             Stamp for List."

                        *  "85,000 Comic Books, Movie Magazines,

                             Funnies, etc., 1900-1957.  Catalog

                             $1.00 (Refundable)."

                        *  "Original Movie Posters, Pressbooks,

                             Stills, 1919-1975.  Catalog - $.50

                        *  "Sleigh Bells!  Stamp for list."

            Just in case you are not familiar with the phrase, "SASE" means "Self-addressed, stamped envelope".  As you progress, you will learn continually.  Most hobby dealers will tell you that they learn more from the collectors who buy from them that they could ever learn from any other source.

 
            Below are some other hobby publications that may interest you.  You can write to these publications and request a sample copy.  However, it would be a good idea to include postage when requesting copies form the publisher.

HOBBIES                                                        LYNN'S WEEKLY STAMP NEWS

1006 S. MICHIGAN AVE.                              BOX 29

CHICAGO, IL  60605                         SIDNEY, OH  45365

THE AUTOGRAPH NEWS                            DOLL CASTLE NEWS

7540 S. MEMORIAL PARKWAY                  BRASS CASTLE

HUNTSVILLE, AL  35802                              WASHINGTON, NJ  07882

WESTERN STAMP COLLECTOR                 JESSIE'S HOMEMAKER

BOX 10                                                           731 BLUE BELL STREET

ALBANY, OR  97321                         FT. COLLINS, CO  80521

COIN & STAMP TRADING NEWS               CANADIAN HOBBY SHOPPER

BOX 11101                                                     BOX 3382 - HALIFAX SOUTH, NS

SANTA ROSA, CA  95406                             CANADA  B3J 3J1

OLD TIME RADIO CLUB                              STAMPS MAGAZIN

EBROADCAST BILLY                                   153 WAVERLY PLACE

BOX 72-C                                                       NEW YORK, NY  1001

4BELPRE, OH  4571
 

Tips, Tricks, and Tools for Promoting Your Business Online