Facebook Marketplace masters reveal their secrets to success
The unused clothes in your cupboard and the plants in your backyard could make you rich – you just need to know these Facebook Marketplace secrets!
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Long has the internet been full of everyday schmucks looking to strike it rich quick on a hare-brained scheme doomed to fail.
But every so often somebody strikes the mother lode.
Since Facebook introduced Marketplace in 2015, sellers have flocked to the platform.
Most sellers using Marketplace are doing it to get rid of old clothes or furniture, but some have capitalised on the immediacy social media provides and the consumerism that comes with it.
From Pokemon cards to rare plants, knowing what to sell on Marketplace can be a fortune just waiting to be discovered. Here are some of the gems.
Mid-century furniture: That Retro Man, Mark Cawdron-White
Mark Cawdron-White was running a successful construction business when he built his first house.
When it came time to furnishing though, he realised he put all his money into building the house.
At the time, mid-century furniture did not have the label it now does and he was able to fill his house with affordable gems, often refurbishing pieces himself.
He posted his refurbishments on Facebook and people let him know they were interested in what he did and wanted to buy from him.
Starting with just $33 and selling things on Marketplace as a side hustle, Mr Cawdron-White now has a booming Australian mid-century furniture restoration and sale business with a store in North Adelaide and plans for a second shop in the works.
He said it was a risk, but it was paying off.
“It was nerve-racking and daunting at the time. Even though I have a partner, I still had house and car loans and I was quitting a relatively successful construction business,” Mr Cawdron-White said.
It all happened in the space of two years.
Mr Cawdron-White recently upgraded his old wagon company car to a sleek Mercedes SUV.
He said there was a few secrets to having a successful full-time business on the back of Marketplace – choosing to do something you are interested in; wanting to learn about it; and realising it is not easy.
After selling his first item on Marketplace for $120, some of his latest offerings are so rare they command upwards of $3000.
Mid-century furniture has become big business.
But with dedication, a cheap find can net a return of thousands for someone with the right eye.
Rare plants: Collector and dealer Kate Edgar
Marketplace can look something like a jungle.
For rare plant collector and dealer Kate Edgar, that is every day.
She offers an array of plants ranging in price for $50 to $3000.
And while some might scoff at $3000 for an indoor plant, an elusive philodendron ilsemanii has a price tag of up to $30,000.
Ms Edgar, who chose not to disclose her suburb because of a wave of crime targeting rare plants, said her collection was worth about $120,000.
While it had taken her about a decade to get to that point, the past 18 months had seen her collection boom after transitioning from eBay to Marketplace.
Ms Edgar said selling plants for a tidy profit was positive and that the sales were necessary to prevent her house from being overrun by the 300 plants that swamped her kitchen, living room and backyard.
While she works as an insurance broker and financial planner, she hoped she could one day live entirely off selling her plants.
Ms Edgar is just one of a host of plant enthusiasts selling greenery on Marketplace and other Facebook groups.
Women’s clothing: Renter Chelsea Tucker
From Bec & Bridge, to Mister Zimi and Zimmermann, fashionistas from around Adelaide are increasingly turning to Marketplace to cut costs in the name of beauty.
For registered nurse and southern suburbs woman Chelsea Tucker, the move was one she thought she could capitalise on.
With a wardrobe full of dresses she had only worn a few times after buying them for special occasions, she decided to chuck a few on Marketplace for rent.
Despite Covid having an impact on her earning capacity with events on the backburner, the decision has landed seen Ms Tucker hire out several dresses every week.
Countless dress hirers have carved out a Marketplace niche with a temporary hire setting you back between about $50-150.
For someone with a wardrobe full of clothes, the earning possibilities are endless.
Lego sets: Trader John Tarasiuk
John Tarasiuk was building Lego sets with his son when he saw an opportunity to upgrade without catching the ire of his wife.
So instead of going out to the shop and splashing out on a $1300 Star Wars Millennium Falcon set, he traded up.
For others, Lego sets are big business and the price people are willing to pay is staggering.
Fancy a shiny red Lego Ferrari? That’ll be $500. Or a 5963-piece Taj Mahal tribute? Cough up $630.
How about another Star Wars set with a Republic Dropship and AT OT Walker (whatever that is)? Make it $1600.
Pokemon and other collectable cards
Millennials grew up with Pokemon cards and Facebook, so naturally a combination of the two is a match made in paradise.
Throw in basketball cards, football cards, Pogs, Tazos and anything else you can collect, turning a quick buck goes from pipe dream to reality.
For those who are lucky enough to hang on to collectables from their youth, there is a fortune to be had.
If you can deal with parting with your 1999 holographic Blastoise you could be looking at about a $600 or so payday. The same goes for the rest of the 1999 originals Venasaur ($600+) and Charizard ($900+).
When cards get a little more unique prices start to soar.
A currently listed 2002 Neo Destiny Shining Charizard is advertised for $3000.
It’s time to ride the Pokemon collectable wave.
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