There is no doubt that it's crucial to keep your home office organized if you sell on eBay or anywhere else. This issue is such a challenge to so many that I've decided to cover it here but it will also be the upcoming theme of episode 24 of my online radio show.
Since my office actually looks like the one on the right ----->, I've decided to get help with this one!
Below is an outline that my friend and co-host Mitzi Swisher has put together on the subject. You can find her at Vintagegoodness.com
Organizing Your Home Business
One of the most difficult parts of running a business selling antiques and vintage collectibles from your home is, well, your home! You are given a finite amount of space to work with that is already full of your personal things, and somehow you are supposed to fit a business in there?!?
It can be done, if you have a plan. There are several factors to consider:
Inventory Space
What are you going to be selling? This is the single most important question, because the amount of space you are able to create in your home for storing inventory really dictates the answer. How much of your personal space are you able - and willing - to give up for your business?
Zones
Dividing your home into zones is the easiest way to tackle the problem. You will need to create 6 different work related areas:
Office Space - Desk, Filing Cabinets, Bookshelves, etc. - Command central, where you will spend a lot of your time!
Shipping - Storage for Supplies, Work Table - Having a permanent shipping area will save you so much time and headache! Think assembly line, with everything you need on a regular basis nearby - envelopes, boxes, packing materials, tape, etc.
Photography - Storage for Supplies, Work Table - Again, having a permanent photo area is a real time saver. Setting up and tearing down for taking photos or shipping packages is really worst case scenario. Sometimes it is unavoidable, if you just don't have the room, but it is something that you should really strive for - you'll thank me later, really!
Incoming Inventory - Shelves, Tables or other Storage - all the great stuff that is coming into your house has to land somewhere - preferably not all over your personal space!
Auction Inventory - Shelves, Tables or other Storage - If you are running online auctions, you need an area for holding those items that are currently listed. If they don't sell, then you will move them to your store inventory space while they wait for the right buyer.
Store Inventory - Shelves, Tables or other Storage - Usually a basement or garage, an area farther away from your main work area for long term storage. Shelves and storage bins or boxes will work for most things, except maybe paper items.
I know, it seems like a lot, and it is - but with creativity and a bit of sacrifice you can make it work!
Inventory Management
Once you have created space for your business, your next task is to establish the "flow". You need to be able to keep track of every item from the moment it enters your house to the moment it is on the way to its happy new owner!
Inventory Sheet - I know, paper is so 20th century... but really it is still the easiest way to organize your items. Each listing will have its own sheet and its own inventory number. On the sheet will be all the info you need to know - what the item is, size and weight, when you bought it, how much you paid for it, etc. You can also label each item with its item number.
Shelf Numbers / Box Numbers - Each shelf and box you use to store inventory will also have a number. When you move an item, the shelf or box number gets written on the inventory sheet. No more losing items!
Filing Cabinets - Of course over time you will build up hundreds - or thousands! - of inventory sheets, and they need to be organized so that you can find them when you need them. Filing cabinets are ideal - but binders or folders are an option if you are short on space.
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Mitzi
Thanks for reading AW.
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