Reselling items through popular online marketplaces such as eBay, Poshmark, and Mercari offers a remarkably accessible way to generate additional income. For some individuals, this activity begins as a simple method to earn a modest amount of extra spending money in their free time. Yet, with strategic effort and persistence, that small-scale operation can mature into a thriving full-time enterprise capable of producing seven-figure annual profits. A clear example of this transformation is Richard Senko, who initially started selling cellphones on eBay back in 2008 after he was unexpectedly laid off from his previous job. What began as a means of financial survival gradually grew into an immensely profitable business.
Similarly, for Yinka Ogunsunlade—an accomplished attorney who began his selling journey on eBay in 2005—reselling functions as a substantial secondary income stream. His side hustle, which generates six figures annually, effectively serves as a “double salary,” supplementing his full-time career in law. Both Senko and Ogunsunlade demonstrate that reselling can adapt to different lifestyles and ambitions: for some it remains a side hobby that brings in regular pocket money, while for others it evolves into a dynamic, multi-layered business venture.
Drawing from their extensive combined experience spanning decades, Senko and Ogunsunlade offer valuable guidance for individuals considering this flexible pathway to income. Their first piece of advice centers on simplicity: start with what you already have. Most new resellers possess untapped potential sitting quietly within their own homes—unused items tucked into closets, garages, or drawers that can easily be listed online without a single trip to a store. Senko stresses that aspiring sellers should resist the temptation to spend heavily on initial inventory. Instead, evaluate personal belongings you no longer need or use. His own journey illustrates this perfectly: when transitioning from electronics to apparel, the first clothing piece he listed for sale was a vintage Buffalo Bills jersey pulled directly from his wardrobe. He emphasizes that there is absolutely no reason to deplete your savings when your home itself contains the raw materials for your first sales.
This strategy minimizes risk and provides a low-pressure entry point into the reselling world. By beginning with household items, you can determine whether you actually enjoy the process—researching product values, photographing inventory, communicating with buyers, and packaging shipments. If the experience excites you, then you can gradually begin sourcing new items for resale; if not, you have invested little time or money in the experiment.
Once you have validated your interest, the next logical step is acquiring profitable inventory. Both Senko and Ogunsunlade emphasize the importance of strategic sourcing. Senko frequently visits budget-friendly locations such as Goodwill, Salvation Army, and local thrift stores, while Ogunsunlade prefers discount retailers like Neiman Marcus Last Call and Saks OFF 5th. In recent years, he has expanded his approach to include online luxury outlets like YOOX and NET-A-PORTER, where he finds high-quality merchandise at discounted rates. Both of these veteran sellers adopt a data-driven approach to pricing, carefully comparing the cost of potential purchases with completed sales on eBay rather than current listings. This distinction is crucial, as the “sold items” filter reveals the actual market value of similar products and prevents overestimating demand.
Senko identifies his ideal profit formula as purchasing an item around $5 and reselling it for $30. After accounting for shipping expenses and eBay fees, that leaves approximately $20 in net profit per transaction. He further illustrates the potential scalability: selling fourteen such items daily could yield roughly $280 in profit each day—adding up to more than $100,000 in annual earnings. Nonetheless, Senko explains that even lower price points can sustain a lucrative business model, though they require greater operational volume. For example, finding $1 items that can sell for $10 may lead to significant profits, albeit with more time spent photographing, listing, and processing multiple items.
As your business develops, narrowing your focus on a specific niche becomes essential. Specialization allows you to build expertise and predict trends within your chosen category. Senko’s company, Technsports, focuses primarily on pre-owned men’s apparel, while Ogunsunlade’s enterprise, Fashionably Legal, is dedicated to athletic footwear and sportswear. This focus allows them to anticipate shifts in demand. Ogunsunlade, for example, recognizes that as football season approaches, demand for cleats spikes—parents across the country suddenly need gear for their children’s sports teams. Such insights, available only to those immersed in a particular market, create a competitive edge.
When selecting a niche, both experts advocate pursuing categories that align with personal interests. Selling products you genuinely care about helps sustain motivation and reduces the likelihood of burnout. Passion also fosters familiarity with brands, materials, and market values, making it easier to source quality items and craft convincing listings.
Crafting listing pages that attract buyers is the next critical component of online selling success. According to Senko, constructing an accurate, keyword-rich, and visually appealing product listing constitutes the most important phase of the process. Sellers must first identify their target customer. The person shopping for a Tommy Bahama shirt, for example, is entirely different from someone searching for Nike skateboarding apparel. Recognizing these distinctions allows the seller to choose the right tone, keywords, and imagery. Generic titles such as “Tommy Bahama shirt” are insufficient. Instead, a detailed title—including color, size, fabric, or design pattern—enhances search visibility and differentiates your listing from hundreds of others.
High-quality photographs and comprehensive item descriptions reinforce buyer confidence, particularly in categories like apparel where customers cannot physically examine the product. Measurements, fabric details, and any visible flaws should be clearly documented. Ogunsunlade evaluates each listing from a buyer’s perspective, asking whether all potential questions are answered and whether any discrepancies are transparently addressed.
Excellent customer service is another foundation of lasting success. Senko notes that the most significant expense for most companies is acquiring new customers, so maintaining relationships with existing buyers is far more cost-effective. Implementing return policies and communication standards encourages repeat purchases. Senko’s own business offers a 60-day free return policy—one of eBay’s most generous options—which builds trust and fosters long-term loyalty. Ogunsunlade concurs that open communication, fast shipping, and strong feedback ratings are essential for remaining competitive. Just as consumers research a dealership’s reputation before buying a car, eBay customers seek sellers with consistent positive reviews.
Finally, both entrepreneurs caution against expecting instant results. Success in reselling requires patience, perseverance, and steady effort. Ogunsunlade recalls that his first year yielded only modest returns—his initial target was merely to cover his monthly cellphone bill. By setting incremental goals and reinvesting effort year after year, he gradually expanded his business. Now, although he dedicates around thirty hours per week to his eBay venture, he enjoys the tangible link between his input and financial outcomes. As he succinctly puts it, there is effectively no upper limit to potential earnings. The more dedication you apply, the more the marketplace rewards you—a philosophy both Senko and Ogunsunlade embody through years of consistent and disciplined work.
Sourse: https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-make-money-reselling-ebay-according-to-top-sellers-2025-11
