Can't get out of the gate - need help with The Flood

[FootballFan]

I'm completely overwhelmed by all the resources we can use to start the flood. Unfortunately, I don't do very well in situations like this because I don't even know where to get started so I don't do anything.

I live in an area without any merchandise marts or trade shows, and none of our libraries have the SRDS. These were the top three resources Sydney recommended to start with. Since they are all out for now, what are the next best options?

And since I have no clue what I want to sell, where do I begin? Do I just start sending emails/postcards to every wholesaler I run across or should I at least narrow it down to wholesalers that sell products in my general areas of interest? And what's a good benchmark to the number of wholesalers I should be contacting right now - 50/week, 100/week, more???

Any direction you guys can provide will be greatly appreciated because right now I'm stuck. Thanks!

[CandaceHCA]

Hi,

What helped me in completing these various tasks into doable steps was to tell myself that I was choosing to just start my eBay product sourcing search. I didn't say to myself "I must sign up with 50 companies tomorrow" since that would be overwhelming. I would say to myself that I was going to just click on the wholesale links that Sydney provided us and complete the simple form and submit it.
The forms are very easy to complete and you have a reply back from the companies very quickly.
I signed up with over 100 + companies in under 2 hours and it was a piece of cake, although the mailman probably hates me now since the catalogs and free samples are delivered here daily.
Just choose to start and make a little progress each day. The momentum will take over after you start and you'll be on your way.

If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me and I'll help you.

Good luck and I hope this helps.

[SydneyJohnston]

Great reply. As Nike says, "Just do it". This is NOT hard.

[FootballFan]

Thanks for the suggestion. I appreciate it. I'll be tackling this starting Monday.

[Carnie64]

Although I already have a large box of catalogs and wholesale supply stuff from the past year, I have dedicated myself to bringing in more of the flood. I live in a very, very, small rural town (population 2000) in South Central Virgina. There are no Merchant Marts, no big libraries, no big city newspapers, no local manufacturers and No big flea Markers. My only source is the computer. I do belong to the Drop Ship Source Directory and the Light Bulk Wholesaler Directory, but I am having more success using Sydneys advice, (www.wholesalecentral.com, directory.google.com, etc) then I have had with other directories. I spend the last hour of my day searching for wholesalers and emailing all I can find. Currently I sell Christian Apparel and Gifts, but I'm looking in a variety of catagories now. If you're feeling overwhelmed, just Pick something you would like to have and search every wholesaler like you were looking for gold.

God Bless

[Carnie64]

Although I already have a large box of catalogs and wholesale supply stuff from the past year, I have dedicated myself to bringing in more of the flood. I live in a very, very, small rural town (population 2000) in South Central Virgina. There are no Merchant Marts, no big libraries, no big city newspapers, no local manufacturers and No big flea Markers. My only source is the computer. I do belong to the Drop Ship Source Directory and the Light Bulk Wholesaler Directory, but I am having more success using Sydneys advice, (www.wholesalecentral.com, directory.google.com, etc) then I have had with other directories. I spend the last hour of my day searching for wholesalers and emailing all I can find. Currently I sell Christian Apparel and Gifts, but I'm looking in a variety of catagories now. If you're feeling overwhelmed, just Pick something you would like to have and search every wholesaler like you were looking for gold.

God Bless

[SydneyJohnston]

I live in an area without any merchandise marts or trade shows, and none of our libraries have the SRDS. These were the top three resources Sydney recommended to start with. Since they are all out for now, what are the next best options?

- - -

The trade shows and merchandise marts have lists of exhibitors which will certainly get you started. These are my favorites, but they're by no means the only choices and we do what we can with our own resources. There are tons more places, like the wholesalecentral site, the directories from Yahoo & Google, local (in your area) dealers and more. Just look over the resources I've given in the last two classes and take notes on what is possible for you. Don't let yourself think that because you don't have nearby trade shows, for example, that you have no chance. And you don't know what the future will bring. One of our shining stars, Sarah, (earlier class) lives in Wichita, Kansas. She was so determined that she and her husband got on a plane and went to Las Vegas for the big ASD/AMD show. Her biz has been in high gear ever since.

- - -

And since I have no clue what I want to sell, where do I begin? Do I just start sending emails/postcards to every wholesaler I run across or should I at least narrow it down to wholesalers that sell products in my general areas of interest? And what's a good benchmark to the number of wholesalers I should be contacting right now - 50/week, 100/week, more???

- - -

As I've said several times, "Don't edit". My suggestion to all of you is to contact anybody and everybody in the supply biz. The more contacts you have, the more products you look at, the more prices and offers you look over, the better you will understand this biz and the more empowered you will be. This kind of exposure and learning isn't just about eBay. Once you have success there, most or all of you will want to expand to your own websites and web stores. This kind of product research will be necessary, too. Even if you don't stock products and focus on affiliate programs like I do, you still have to understand what you're selling, what it costs, etc.

As for the number you contact, only you can answer that. I suggested a quota because it's a way to develop a discipline about this. Otherwise, it's too easy to make excuses and quit. How many you contact depends upon the amount of time you can spend. The Flood is pretty intense these first three weeks or so, and then we move on to other things. So if you're not contacting suppliers, you're behind and you need to get started.

I'm guessing, but it sounds like you're feeling stuck because you're overwhelmed. The way to accomplish anything is to break it down into small steps. This really isn't hard - you're simply going to locate "X" number of suppliers every day and contact them. Set your number and begin. Today. You can adjust later, if necessary. Taking action is the best remedy for worry and over-analyzing.