inadvertently not providing you with everything you need to know to make the sale stick. This happened to me once, and I swore never again to sell something I hadn't seen myself!
If you don't fancy the risk of flogging off second hand junk, then don't panic! There are plenty of drop shipping sites that will let you list items from their inventory, and then pay you a commission on anything you sell. This business model has two major flaws associated with it, though. The first is finding a reliable drop shipper who keeps good stock levels so they are not always just running out of, or discontinuing the item you just sold, and one who processes and ships orders in an efficient and timely manner. The second problem that you may encounter is that, if you do find a good company, you'll likely be using the same firm that everyone else who sells on eBay uses, directly competing with you. That being said, if you can manage to find a reliable drop shipper
with a niche product, then there is money to be made using this business model, and it does have the advantage of saving you from spending many hours in the Post Office queue.
Another option for selling other people's products is to be an affiliate. This method has the advantage of being largely an internet based occupation, meaning that you can work from anywhere on any device with an Internet connection, and your reach is global. Lots of internet companies, including big names like Amazon, have affiliate programs. Usually there is no charge for registering, you just fill in a form and then start advertising the product(s) that you've chosen to represent. This can work well if you already have a blog or YouTube channel for a specific topic, as you can include your affiliate link with your article or video, and then you'll be paid a commission if someone buys from your link.
The downside of these programs is that the links the company provides you are usually long, ugly, and prone to being tampered with. If someone recognizes it as an affiliate link and is of a certain mindset, they can simply remove your affiliate ID from the URL and there goes your commission. Or they can just visit the company's home page without clicking your link, and buy from there. Fortunately, there is a way to stop this type of mean spirited behavior by using a URL ‘cloaker’ which will disguise your affiliate link, thereby protecting your hard earned commission.
The final way of selling someone else's product that we are going to look at in this article is through the social selling model. There are many companies who have adopted this model including big names such as Amway, Norwex, Avon, The Body Shop, and many more. The social selling model is a form of direct sales meaning that products are delivered directly to the consumer rather than
Bracelets and bangles. Bling up your wrists and let ever hand gesture make a statement! https://www.facebook.com/stitchedbead/?hc_ref=SEARCH&fref=nf. Photo: Heather Barlow
Another option for selling other people's products is to be an affiliate.
62 | Ceres Magazine | Fall 2016