Why I Love Resale

I have been in luxury consignment resale since June 2016. It has been an unmatched journey marked with highs and lows (mostly highs). Resale has provided me with a lot of personal and professional opportunities. Here are my 5 reasons and 1 bonus on why I love resale!

I get to find my items nice, new homes

I have so many items that I haven’t worn in over 1-2 years. I love sending them to new homes and buyers who appreciate them.

I help people save money (it’s the economist in me)

One of the reasons for getting into resale is because I’ve seen how outrageous some of the prices are. I know that you need to make a profit (my store does turn one) but gouging people is not the way to do business.

Tip : I price my pre-owned (worn before) ½ the original price. That’s market value and fair use. I have a 100% customer feedback rating so people agree with me!

Resale community

I like being a part of the resale community. I have learned so much from Raiken Profit’s YouTube channel. It’s great to have a support system where people are reaching a common goal.

Improved my sales pitch

Resale has improved my sales pitch. I have had to become a fashion blogger, create sales images in Canva, and do livestreams on Periscope, Facebook Live and YouTube Live. Resale has helped me improve professionally.

Provided me with an income stream

Resale has given me extra money along the way. I have saved and used that money to prepare for my ITIL Foundation certification course. I use my resale money to pay for the GreyCampus Udemy ITIL Foundation prep course.

Bonus : Instant PayPal

Instant PayPal is a feature you receive when you have high customer feedback rating. I have a 100% customer feedback rating so I instantly receive my PayPal money transferring it directly to my bank account the next day. It is like a reward for supplying high quality customer service.

These five reasons (and one bonus) are my reasons why I love resale. What are yours? Feel free to shop my tall women’s luxury consignment store: www.ebay.com/usr/carljenkin_6

Quick 1st Half of 2014 Assessment

                I must admit that I hadn’t expected to be where I am at today, June 21, 2014. On January 1, 2014, I expected to have my PMI-ACP certification but then PMI announced that it was having a PMI-PBA pilot program. Immediately I jump at the opportunity.  I must also admit that in the past 6 months I have become a Small Business Book Award judge, attended the White House spring garden event snapping photos, and have an article published.  With today being 9 days until the halfway mark, I do see myself accomplishing these key objectives:

·         PMI approving my PMI-PBA certification application

·         Completely outlining PMBOK chapters 5, 8 and 13 to prepare for the PMI-PBA

·         Finished reading BABOK chapters 2 and 3

·         Scored 80% on the RMC Project’s PMP scope, quality and stakeholder management knowledge area practice exams.

·         Completed Ed2Go Introduction to SQL and Advanced Excel 2010 online courses

·         Enrolled in the USDA Graduate School SQL course for in-person assistance

·         Expand my personal and professional network

·         Have fun the entire time

Although this looks like a lengthy list, I am already in the process of completing many of these tasks so I will meet all of these obligations before June 30, 2014. Furthermore, here are my prospective 2^nd half of 2014 goals below:

·         Transfer the PMI-PBA knowledge and start studying for the Certified Business Analyst Professional (CBAP) exam by October at the latest. I think that I will finish it before then.

·         Get promoted

·         Seek more challenges

·         Travel more

·         Improve my SQL and Oracle programming skills

·         Pass the PMI-ACP certification test

Synergy!

Things are moving fast. Today while working on applying for jobs and enjoying my snow day, I receive an email congratulating me on becoming a Small Business Book Awards judge.  I am honored because there will probably a whole lot of applicants. It just feels good to be acknowledged. I’ve submitted my two topics (economics and technology). Possessing economics work experience, I am well-versed in the topics. Furthermore, I have over 10 years’ data mining experience and am a Trekker so technology is right up my alley. Most importantly, I love reading books because I can always learn something from them. With the Small Business Book Awards, I intend to read all of the cutting edge business topics to stay on top of my game.

                This announcement comes on the heels of receiving Chaz’s Careeranista book and being mentioned in the acknowledgements. I will build upon this momentum by considering freelance writing. I might even restart my fiverr.com page to earn more income. $5 is better than nothing. I think it’s even my 1% cost of living adjustment (COLA) from the federal government.  And it doesn’t just stop with this new book judge announcement. It gets better.

                While reading my graduate school’s alumni newsletter, the university says that it is looking for bloggers. Since the alumni department follows me on Twitter, I know that I am a frontrunner. Furthermore, I have stayed in the alumni notes page with my promotions and project management certification accomplishments. I will use my writing as my ticket to get out of this predicament.

Spending Small Business Saturday at Marvin Restaurant

            Today is Small Business Saturday where Americans are encouraged to patronize small businesses.  Though I know quite a few entrepreneurs, I do this often, I’ve decided to eat dinner at a restaurant I’ve never gone.  Checking the promotion’s website, I find Marvin restaurant in DC.  I’ve heard of it but never known its location until searching for online directions. I come to learn that it is two doors down from Lost Society.  Who knew? Certainly not I!  I enter the establishment meeting with the hostess who takes me to the second floor.  Even with the steep stairs, as a non-drinker, I don’t want to share space with the lushes!  I get there and the music is blasting from four speakers. Immediately my memory goes back to 1905 restaurant where I gotten a headache from being seated right underneath the speaker.  However, this isn’t the case.  My waitress/bartender is very nice and knowledgeable.  I order the shrimp & grits as an appetizer.  It has three shrimp with the heads detached.  This is awesome presentation and the first time I’ve ever seen the heads as part of the dish. 

Marvin Restaurant Shrimp & Grits

Combined with the grits and this deal is filling.  I order the chicken and waffles.  After finishing the waffles and the chicken leg, I ask for the rest of the chicken to be wrapped.  Initially, I ask the waitress for the dessert menu but decide against it since I am stuffed.  I leave Marvin full and confident that I will be frequenting this neighborhood gem beyond Small Business Saturday.  

Marvin Restaurant Chicken and Waffles

Participating in Small Business Saturday has given me new options that I wouldn’t have tried with the promotion.  I think that American Express and the Small Business Administration should do this promotion on a quarterly especially since small business is the cornerstone of the American economy.