Every day, I track what I list: number of items, total expected sales value, and my average sales price per order and number of orders. This gives me a simple scoreboard that tells me whether I am actually moving toward my goals, instead of guessing based on how today feels. Sales go up and down all the time, but my decisions are not allowed to swing with them. When sales are slow, I look at the data: Has my listing volume dropped? Has my average sales price changed? Am I still building pipeline even if the cash has not arrived yet? When things are going great, the same data stops me from getting lazy or overconfident. I am not a fan of corporate buzzwords, but having my own “KPI’s” has become non‑negotiable. For me it is as simple as: listings created, total listed value, average sales price, weekly revenue, and sell‑through rate. Those few numbers tell me if today was a win and what I need to adjust tomorrow. From my data and sell through rate I know that I can expect to sell 12 percent of my inventory each year. Now I’m focusing on replacing the slow, low value vintage items with high price industrial automation items when my stock sells. This is where being a small business owner is a massive, underrated advantage. Big companies also talk about being data‑driven and agile, but their decisions have to pass through layers of meetings and approvals. I can look at yesterday’s numbers and change today’s behaviour immediately: raise or lower listing targets, shift to higher‑value items, or double down on what is working. “Slow and steady wins the race” is not about moving slowly. It is about picking a pace you can sustain for years and using data to stay on course. One listing at a time, one small decision at a time, the elephant gets eaten.

Just landed the biggest buys ever from a recent auction: a massive 37-pallet lot of industrial electrical components straight out of Kolding Denmark. I won the lot for $6,250 USD (ex VAT) — a serious investment, but with a serious upside. To give this a proper home (and room to scale!), I’ve just rented a 35 m² heated garage to handle the overflow and to streamline sorting, storing, and listing everything. The next step is to pick up the items in 2 vans - start processing, batching, and listing the inventory on eBay. The crazy part? Based on conservative estimates, I expect to multiply this investment by at least 12–15x over the next year as things get listed and sold. That means potentially turning this buy into over $75,000–$93,000 sales value, piece by piece! Maybe even more, I'll know more when I get my hands on the stock itself. This is exactly the type of deal that makes running KLJ Trading so exciting — constant problem-solving, scaling challenges, and, of course, big opportunities. Looking forward to sharing more behind-the-scenes updates as the process unfolds and diving deeper into workflow automation to handle the volume. Exciting times ahead!

Big carrier changes can feel disruptive—especially for international sellers used to stability. Recently, a major European postal service (PostNord) announced it would stop handling letter deliveries from 2026. I do send some 1500 letters yearly with lightweight movie memorabilia this way. ​ As an online seller moving hundreds of parcels and letters worldwide each month, postage is a critical expense. Like many, the initial reaction to news of a postal shakeup was concern over rising costs and added hassle. But after exploring alternatives and negotiating new shipping arrangements, this “forced” change ended up saving my business around 2,000 USD per year in postage fees from 2026—proof that change can spark unexpected wins! What You Can Learn and Apply: - When a carrier changes or pulls out, don’t assume higher costs—dig deep, compare rates, and seize the chance to optimize your workflow.​ - New providers or market entrants often introduce more competitive rates or better parcel services to win business. - For any international seller: Change in logistics is inevitable. Whenever it happens, proactively seek volume discounts, consolidate shipments if possible, and ask your provider about business pricing rather than default consumer rates. - Even long-standing mail habits can be reimagined for lower costs and better performance—in this case, the outcome was reliably cheaper rates for outbound mail. Change isn’t always comfortable, but it can often be a hidden gem for anyone willing to adapt quickly. Are you facing similar changes or logistical upgrades in your business? Share your experience and tips below—let’s keep helping each other thrive through market shifts!

The numbers don't lie - sometimes LESS really is MORE! After analyzing my listing data from 2024 vs 2025, I had to share this eye-opening transformation with the community. The results completely changed my perspective on eBay selling strategy. The Shocking Numbers 2024 (High Volume Approach): - Listed 5,821 items across 49 weeks - Average 119 items per week - Average value per item: $67.47 - Total value: $331,565 2025 (Quality Focus Approach): - Listed only 1,296 items across 37 weeks - Average 35 items per week (70% FEWER!) - Average value per item: $267.78 (4x HIGHER!) - Total value: $298,535 Quality Over Quantity: The transformation from high-volume, low-value to low-volume, high-value eBay listings The Game-Changing Realization I'm listing 70% fewer items but achieving nearly the same total value with 4x higher profit per item. This isn't just about working smarter - it's about spending significantly less time listing for better results. Instead of grinding through 119 listings per week in 2024, I'm now focusing on just 35 carefully selected, higher-value items on average per week. The Quality Strategy in Action Some of my best weeks in 2025 prove this approach works: - Week 25: 12 items = $11,400 ($950 per item!) - Week 39: 33 items = $28,500 ($864 per item) - Week 35: 54 items = $46,300 ($857 per item) Why This Matters for Your Business Time Investment: - 2024: Massive time spent on research, photos, descriptions for 119 items/week - 2025: Same effort concentrated on 35 premium items/week in much less time Profit Margins: - Higher-value items typically have better margins - Less competition in premium categories - Buyers willing to pay more for quality items Work-Life Balance: - 70% less listing work means more time for sourcing, packing orders, strategy, or life - Less stress from managing massive inventory - Better focus on what actually sells My Key Takeaways 1. Research deeper, list fewer - One $500 item beats ten $50 items 2. Focus on industrial/vintage premium categories where expertise adds value 3. Better photos and descriptions for fewer items = higher conversion rates 4. Quality sourcing is everything - spend time finding the gems 5. Buy in bulk!!!

When the Ukraine–Russia war erupted back in 2022, gas prices across Europe skyrocketed. Everyone started dismantling their household gas boilers, switching to alternative heating systems in panic. While most were reacting, I saw an opportunity. I started purchasing gas boiler spare parts in bulk — valves, burners, sensors, boards — often for next to nothing. Fast forward to 2023, gas prices normalized, and demand for boiler repairs surged as people realized they weren’t getting rid of their systems after all. That early risk turned into one of my most profitable niche categories. Even today, I still move these parts steadily to markets all over Europe. A good reminder that when everyone’s rushing in one direction, sometimes it pays to look the other way. Earned more than 200 usd in pure profits yesterday, just to put into perspective. What’s a moment when you went against the market trend and it paid off for you?