Extra income/ home working/ eBay trader ideas

[Mr_B]

OK, been working as an LGV driver and this job has come to an end now. Can't say I like doing it much and it been thinking of trying something different and trying to control my own income.
The Lady who used to live next door to me built-up her own premium baby clothes business and has done quite well for her self and was working from home.
Now I will have to go back to driving 5 days a week as the pay off wont last long, but would like to find something extra I can do from home in the evenings or over the weekend which will just provide a little extra income , possibly leading to a point where I could do less and less driving and switch to the home working.

Basically, I just at least want to try something and not just be forever working for someone, so any ideas or stories to relate ?

Thanks

[rog007]

The million dollar question? It's got to be your idea and inspiration if you're to buy in to it and do the neccesary toiling. There is no answer to this question.

[Eric Mc]

What can you do?

What is your background?

Do you have experience of any industry?

[bazking69]

If anyone has a good idea, they wouldn't share it with you or post it on an internet forum.

Most ebay traders are usually doing something that they already have experience or work in because it's what they know and can work from.

[singlecoil]

What are the advertising opportunities in your area?

Reason I ask is that in my last location there was a free weekly magazine that was well read and covered quite a big area, and not too expensive to advertise in. I placed an advert offering kitchen revamps, basically replacing the doors and drawer fronts, and sometimes the worktops, sinks etc. In my own case I used to make my own doors, but you can easily buy them from other suppliers. The money was pretty good, and the visiting/measuring pretty much had to be evenings/weekends anyway.

[Anthony Micallef]

I have a DVD thats a 6 step course to starting up your own business on eBay. If you want me to send you a copy PM me your address. Might give you something to think about.

[Mr_B]

OK,not looking for someone to tell me a magic way of making lots of cash while I sit at home, more just wishing to hear from others who may have been in the same situation and started something that may just generate a small income.
I think there was a thread on here ( can't find it now ) where one guy was buying a pallet load of a popular car cleaning product and then selling it on via eBay and various car forums. It took up just a few hours a week and provided little income at first, but then he was working full time so it didn't matter, but did slowly build up to buying several pallet load of different products and taking more and more time and generating more and more income where he was able to ask to work a 4 day week for his employer and so on.

Anthony - tried to email you via your profile page, but says you don't accept emails.

Thanks

[singlecoil]

Mr_B said:

OK,not looking for someone to tell me a magic way of making lots of cash while I sit at home, more just wishing to hear from others who may have been in the same situation and started something that may just generate a small income.
I think there was a thread on here ( can't find it now ) where one guy was buying a pallet load of a popular car cleaning product and then selling it on via eBay and various car forums. It took up just a few hours a week and provided little income at first, but then he was working full time so it didn't matter, but did slowly build up to buying several pallet load of different products and taking more and more time and generating more and more income where he was able to ask to work a 4 day week for his employer and so on.

The problem with buying wholesale and selling and selling on ebay is that the barriers to entry are very low, anyone can do it and more and more people are joining in. Maybe you will be lucky and come up with sommething where only a few people are already doing it, or maybe you won't be.

IMO you would be better off to find something that isn't quite so easy to get into.

[Munter]

singlecoil said:

IMO you would be better off to find something that isn't quite so easy to get into.

Arabian nose flute playing?

Mr_B there's always pornography. And with less jobs young women (and men) are more desperate for work.

A computer, a web cam, a pretty girl or 2, and an account on certain websites. Et voila, part of the uk adult industry is yours.

(this may not be a perfect plan...)

[singlecoil]

Munter said:

A computer, a web cam, a pretty girl or 2, and an account on certain websites. Et voila, part of the uk adult industry is yours.

(this may not be a perfect plan...)

Probably not perfect, there's plenty of porn for free out there (or so I'm told) apparently if you turn off result filtering and look at google videos, there's more than you can shake a stick (or anything else) at.

[Munter]

singlecoil said:

Probably not perfect, there's plenty of porn for free out there (or so I'm told) apparently if you turn off result filtering and look at google videos, there's more than you can shake a stick (or anything else) at.

You'd think that. But people actually phone up the babe stations, at premium rate, just to talk to a woman live. Plus if it's not on TV they can do ... err.. requests not covered by broadcast regulations.

There was a guy set up a website, showing such material live, where he also had a nursery (in another room obviously), so young mums could work in front of the camera for a few hours while the kids were looked after. Genius.

I think it's harder than it looks on paper to do it. But those TV stations, and similar websites have to be making money.

[Mr_B]

Slight thread drift me me thinks..

[Munter]

Mr_B said:

Slight thread drift me me thinks..

Well whatever you chose, it'll have to be something you know about/are interested in. Because if you are doing it part time, from home, if you're not motivated it'll not happen.

All I have to go on is that you know about truck driving. So what can you offer to truckers over the net, that your experience says they need/buy a lot of? (Dash mounted fans? "Wee in a bag" bags?)

Say you like badminton. You would know which shuttlecocks were good value, which ones were gold plated, and you'd know they don't last forever, and rarely need returning due to defects when new. So you could start with shuttlecocks, move on to rackets, tennis balls etc. Avoiding anything that could be the "wrong size" or is complex and likely to be broken on delivery. So Balls, Rackets, Bags are all good.

But what area of "stuff" do you know about? Then go here: www.alibaba.com Buy some and try and flog it.

[singlecoil]

Mr_B said:

Slight thread drift me me thinks..

Indeed, let's get back on the topic

Mr_B said:

OK,not looking for someone to tell me a magic way of making lots of cash while I sit at home, more just wishing to hear from others who may have been in the same situation and started something that may just generate a small income.
I think there was a thread on here ( can't find it now ) where one guy was buying a pallet load of a popular car cleaning product and then selling it on via eBay and various car forums. It took up just a few hours a week and provided little income at first, but then he was working full time so it didn't matter, but did slowly build up to buying several pallet load of different products and taking more and more time and generating more and more income where he was able to ask to work a 4 day week for his employer and so on.

The problem with buying wholesale and selling and selling on ebay is that the barriers to entry are very low, anyone can do it and more and more people are joining in. Maybe you will be lucky and come up with sommething where only a few people are already doing it, or maybe you won't be.

IMO you would be better off to find something that isn't quite so easy to get into.

[Anthony Micallef]

Mr_B said:

Anthony - tried to email you via your profile page, but says you don't accept emails.

Thanks

Ooops!! Sorry about that, its now fixed so try again