Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a small commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at absolutely no cost to you.
Suggested Supplies to Get You Started
You've got your amazing products sorted and ready to start selling online. If you're selling on platforms such as eBay, Etsy, or even your own shop, you'll need to have some basic supplies on hand to list and ship your products once they're sold.
Customers will want to know what their shipping costs are up front which you will enter upon listing your item(s). And you, as the seller, will want to make sure that the dimensions and weight are accurate so you're not losing any money from a miscalculation.
In addition, there are some cleaning and prep supplies that will come in handy, especially if you are selling second-hand items. It's important to make sure that dusty items are cleaned, stickers are removed (when possible), silver and brass are polished, minor wood imperfections are treated and pencil marks are erased. While these supplies are secondary to basic listing and shipping supplies, they will come in handy to make your items desirable.
There might be a few variables, depending on what you are selling. For example, if you are selling LP Record Albums, you will want to purchase special boxes to ensure they don't break in transit. But more on that later.
Before I move on to the supply list, there's one money-saving program that you should sign up for to save the most money and that is Ebates. I've earned about $500 back from making purchases that I needed to make anyway. They have a button you can install on your computer, and every time you visit an online store to buy products, a drop down box appears with a percentage of cash back that you can earn. I use it when I buy anything. While 4% (or 40 cents on a $10 purchase) doesn't seem like much, it adds up and they send you a check or credit your Paypal account quarterly.
SHIPPING SUPPLY LIST
Other than a printer to get started, the basics are as follows:
- Boxes. When possible, I repurpose boxes I've received from inbound shipments. Depending on your storage space, you might have to use a box cutter to flatten them and then re-tape as necessary. If you don't have the storage space, then you'll need to buy a variety of sizes, so repurposing seems an economical option. If you are selling multitudes of the same item, then you can buy the same size of box in quantity discounts through sellers on Amazon or even Uline. When determining the size of the box you will need for your item, make sure that you leave plenty of space for packing material. If you are sure you'll be shipping USPS Priority Mail, then those boxes are free at the post office.
- Bubble Wrap. I am a big proponent of bubble wrap vs. packing foam. Peanuts are messy when the customer tries to retrieve their item from the package and they stick to everything. Bubble wrap is somewhat economical and can buy it by the roll at Amazon or Office Depot. Make sure you buy the right size -- small is okay for small items, but if you are shipping breakables you should opt for the medium to large bubbles. If you are selling particular items in a consistent size, i.e. books, jewelry, etc., then buying self-sealing bubble envelopes might be a quicker way to package.
- Envelopes. It is wise to keep at least 2-3 sizes of shipping envelopes on hand for smaller, less breakable items such as fabric, lace, papers, patterns, some jewelry, small hardware, electronic accessories, etc. Envelopes are available in a variety of styles -- bubble mailers, kraft paper, and cardboard are the main types and can be used for different purposes. I seldom use kraft paper except to send business documents that are unrelated to shipping products, but if you send packs of papers as a product, then they might come in handy. I keep both bubble mailers and cardboard mailers on hand for my products.
- If you are selling paper items such as post cards, old photos, ephemera and old documents, the hardness of the envelope walls protects the items from bending or creasing. For everything else, bubble mailers are the way to go. One thing to remember, though, is that sometimes the bubble mailer isn't protection enough. It never hurts to double bubble! I buy all my mailers from Amazon because of the discounts, but if you're in a hurry, any local department store, mailing store or post office will carry them.
- Packing Tape & Dispenser. Essential items. There's not much to explain with this one except I recommend that you use clear tape, especially when affixing a shipping label. While a tape dispenser is not 100% necessary if you are low on funds, you will wish you had a good one the first time you try to cut your packing tape while making sure you don't lose the edge! Dispensers range from $10-$20 and will last you a very long time. Regarding the tape, it is much cheaper in the long run to buy them in multiple packs. I buy them in six-packs and they last a few months depending on how much I'm shipping out. To save even more money, use Amazon's Subscribe & Save option for auto-delivery every 3-6 months.
- Black & Red Permanent Markers. While not a requirement, I find Sharpie indelible markers to be the best. I use them to write on boxes ("fragile" in red) and on mailers and plastics. They don't wipe off after a minute of drying and smudge-proof is essential to avoid any ink transfer. The pens to last quite a long time.
That's it. That's the beginners bundle.
If you are selling on Amazon, it would also be wise to buy a bundle of UPC codes on eBay if you are setting up new products and bundles. Please note that there are some less than stellar sellers of these codes. I don't know the good ones from the bad, but the link above is who I purchased mine from a couple of years ago, and I have had no problems at all with using these codes on Amazon.
As you navigate through the shipping process and gain experience with the types of products you are selling, you'll get a feel for what supplies you will use the most.