He who masters apparel, masters Mercari.
On Mercari,
I want to be able to sell any item quickly.
I want to sell for more than the market price.
"I would like to purchase this."
I want to be told that.
This.
If you are involved in product sales,
you must have thought this at least once.
However,
what is necessary for that,
is not a secret trick,
or a mysterious template,
or a suspicious tool.
The most important thing,
is the quality of your listing.
Right here.
It is incredibly important.
Even for the same product,
it sells when listed by someone who knows how to sell.
It does not sell when listed by someone who does not.
Why?
Photos.
Title.
Description.
Price.
Presentation.
Information that eliminates buyer anxiety.
It's this difference.
Mercari is not
a place where things sell just by listing them.
It is a place to make people want what you have.
In other words,
you need the ability to convey appeal.
If the quality of your listing is low,
this is what happens.
No views.
It stops at just likes.
It doesn't sell even if you lower the price.
Inventory piles up.
Your room gets cluttered.
The funds aren't circulating.
And then,
"Maybe I'm not cut out for Mercari."
That's what happens.
This right here.
I'm Mr. Chin.
Conversely,
people with listing skills are strong.
They sell the moment they list.
They sell at the market price.
Comments from prospective buyers come in.
Unwanted items are cleared out quickly too.
Even if you stock up, you can recover the costs.
It becomes fun because things sell.
This difference is quite significant.
In 2019,
I went on a trip to Thailand.
I went for fun, but,
I also sourced some products while I was there.
The airfare for that trip,
64,000 yen for a round trip.
In 2019, I
went on a trip to Thailand.
I went for fun, but
I also sourced products while I was there.
The airfare at that time was
64,000 yen for a round trip.
I recovered this
in one day of sourcing.
In other words,
I paid for my travel expenses through product sales.
When you can do this,
the freedom in your life increases significantly.
Sourcing while traveling.
Recovering costs while having fun.
Selling the sourced products,
and using that for the next venture's capital.
This,
is the interesting part of product sales.
However,
To make this possible,
you need the power to sell out.
If you have the power to sell out,
the anxiety of holding inventory decreases.
Your capital will circulate.
You can move on to the next purchase.
Your actions will become lighter.
In other words,
the power to sell out is,
the power to make life lighter.
This is super important.
So then,
how do you acquire that power to sell out?
Many people,
start by selling unwanted items.
Of course,
selling unwanted items is extremely important.
Beginners should definitely do it.
Since you are just selling things in your house,
there is little risk.
It also serves as practice for shipping.
You can also learn the flow of Mercari.
There is no mistake here.
However.
In terms of seriously training your ability to sell out,
selling only unwanted items has its limits.
Why?
Books and CDs.
Games.
Small home appliances.
For these kinds of things,
the product itself has value.
There is a model number.
There is a title.
Demand is easy to understand.
People who want them will search for them.
Therefore,
they might sell even if the photos are somewhat sloppy.
In other words,
there is a possibility that they are selling just because the product is excellent.
With this approach,
your listing skills won't be sharpened much.
Moreover, unwanted items,
are limited in number.
Once you've sold off the unwanted items in your house, it's over.
You can't handle a high volume of listings.
It's hard to accumulate experience.
That's why,
while it's good for practicing on Mercari,
to gain the ability to sell out as quickly as possible,
it can be a bit of a detour.
So, should you buy in bulk?
This is also dangerous.
Buying in bulk,
without the ability to sell out.
This,
is quite risky.
Inventory hell.
Cash flow shortage.
Chased by credit card payments.
Revolving credit hell.
I have seen many people
disappear after falling into that trap.
In product sales,
just buying stock doesn't mean you win.
You only win once you've sold it all.
Therefore,
you shouldn't buy in bulk without the ability to sell.
So then,
what should you list?
The conclusion:
Apparel.
If you want to improve your listing skills on Mercari as quickly as possible,
list apparel.
Clothes.
Used clothing.
The clothes you no longer wear at home are fine.
"Wait, apparel?"
"Clothes seem difficult."
"Things like sizes and conditions seem like a hassle."
Some might think so.
That is correct.
Apparel is a hassle.
But,
that is exactly why it builds your skills.
The reason why apparel is powerful.
First, the first reason.
It is because your photography skills will improve.
The purchase button on Mercari,
lies beyond the photo.
If it is not tapped based on the photo,
the description will not even be read.
In other words,
the first battle is the photo.
If you lose here,
no matter how good the product is, it will not be seen.
Apparel is,
a genre where it is easy to make full use of all 10 photos.
Front.
Back.
Side.
Collar.
Cuffs.
Hem.
Fabric close-up.
Brand tag.
Care label.
Areas with scratches or stains.
Silhouette.
Buttons.
Zipper.
There are many places to photograph.
This is the best practice.
With books or CDs,
it is difficult to use 10 photos.
Front cover.
Back side.
Contents.
That is about it.
But apparel is different.
There are many places that need to be photographed.
The impression changes depending on how you show it.
The quality of the photos changes how well it sells.
That is why,
your listing skills will be sharpened.
Once you learn how to make full use of 10 photos for apparel,
you can apply it to other products as well.
Home appliances.
Miscellaneous goods.
Bags.
Shoes.
Accessories.
No matter what you are selling,
you will develop a sense for:
What to show to make it easier to buy,
What the buyer might be anxious about,
And in what order to show the photos to get the message across.
This is a powerful skill.
The reason why apparel is strong.
The second reason.
Because it allows you to practice moving people's emotions.
The reason people buy things is simple.
Because they want them.
That is it.
They don't buy based on specs alone.
They buy because their emotions are moved.
Apparel is,
incredibly well-suited for practicing how to move these emotions.
The version of yourself wearing this outfit.
The version of yourself going on a date.
The version of yourself being complimented by friends.
The version of yourself making a better impression at work.
The version of yourself standing out at an event.
It is easy to imagine this kind of future.
In other words,
it is a genre where it is easy to create a Before → After.
For example,
a woman trying on clothes in a fitting room,
is not just looking at fabric.
She is imagining herself wearing that outfit,
You, going to a party.
You, being told
"You look beautiful"
by those around you.
You, being told
"That outfit looks great on you"
on a date with your boyfriend.
That is the future they are envisioning.
This is the psychology of purchasing.
However,
you cannot try things on at Mercari.
You cannot touch them.
You cannot directly feel the texture of the fabric either.
That is precisely why
you need to make them imagine it through photos and descriptions.
This is the difficulty of listing apparel,
and also what makes it interesting.
What is it that the buyer wants to know?
How it fits.
The feel of the material.
Sheerness.
Stretchiness.
Color tone.
Seasonality.
Occasion for wear.
Condition.
Brand.
Care instructions.
Present these details carefully.
By doing so,
the buyer's anxiety is reduced.
And then,
they think, "It seems safe to buy this."
This is what happens.
This is a listing that sells.
The skills you acquire through apparel,
are truly numerous.
How to use the 10 photos.
How to convey appeal.
How to create a title.
Structure of the description.
How to include information that eliminates buyer anxiety.
How to write condition descriptions.
How to present size information.
How to read market trends.
Price adjustments.
Handling comments.
All of this,
is the fundamental strength of product sales.
That is why I,
believe that he who masters apparel, masters Mercari.
That is what I think.
Once you can sell apparel,
you will be strong even if you move to other genres.
Because,
it builds the most important foundation for listing.
Many of my students,
also started with apparel.
At first, everyone struggles.
The photos are dark.
The wrinkles are noticeable.
I can't write the size.
The description is too thin.
I don't know how to set the price.
But,
it changes as you do more of it.
Your photos will get better.
You'll learn how to present items.
You'll learn what titles sell.
You'll understand the buyer's concerns.
You'll get used to handling comments too.
And your ratings will start to build up.
This speed of growth is what's important.
So,
what should you do starting today?
First,
take out one piece of clothing you don't wear anymore from your house.
It doesn't have to be a luxury brand.
It can be a no-brand item.
A shirt you bought a long time ago.
A dress you no longer wear.
Pants that don't fit.
Outerwear you aren't using.
Start with just one item.
Try listing it.
At that time,
make sure to take 10 photos.
Front.
Back.
Tag.
Material tag.
Sleeves.
Collar.
Hem.
Close-up of the fabric.
Any areas of concern.
The overall vibe.
Just by taking these,
it's great practice.
The description, too,
Instead of just saying "it's used,"
Size.
Color.
Condition.
Signs of wear.
Recommended occasions for wearing it.
Try writing about these things.
Just by doing this,
the quality of your listings will improve.
Clothes sleeping in your closet will sell.
Your room will get tidied up.
You'll get some extra income.
You'll acquire listing skills.
Mercari will become fun.
This,
is more than just killing three birds with one stone.
It's an incredibly good exercise.
Today's summary.
If you want to acquire the power to sell everything on Mercari,
I recommend listing apparel.
Selling unwanted items is important.
However,
relying only on categories where the products themselves are strong, like books or home appliances,
can make it difficult to develop selling skills.
Bulk purchasing is also,
dangerous if done without the ability to sell.
That is why, first of all,
you should train with apparel.
Use 10 photos to convey the appeal.
Eliminate the buyer's anxiety.
Make them imagine their future after wearing it.
Practice this.
Apparel is difficult.
But,
it is precisely because it is difficult that you grow.
Once you can sell clothes,
it becomes easier to sell other products as well.
Photos.
Description.
Title.
Pricing.
Buyer psychology.
Because all of it is sharpened.
If you have the power to sell out,
product sales become fun all at once.
Sourcing items while traveling to cover your travel expenses.
Clearing out unwanted items at lightning speed.
Turning over the products you have sourced.
Such movements also become a reality.
First, today,
try listing one piece of clothing you no longer wear.
He who masters apparel,
masters Mercari.
Let's change your product sales life starting from here.