RESELLING has become a profitable business for many.
Craig Andrews refers to himself as a pioneer in online sales.
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When eBay became popular, Andrews, 41, noticed that people wanted to buy unique items like old video games and textbooks.
He began selling things he had as eBay created a rapidly growing resale industry.
Andrews was at university and sold his Xbox and some Nintendo games.
“I realized there was an opportunity for me to maybe go to garage sales and see if I could find video games and things like that and sell them and pay for my school books and stuff,” he exclusively told The US Sun.
read more about second hand sales
He continued it as a side gig, usually earning around $500 a year, and in 2017 he realized he could turn it into something bigger.
The business grew in 2020, at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and online shopping soared.
“When Covid hit, prepared online stores saw a huge increase in business because people were at home and wanted to buy things to pass the time,” he said.
That’s when his daughter, Paighton Jane, suggested he make TikToks featuring some of his bestsellers, including everything from Happy Meal toys to old board games.
Andrews began posting clips of himself playing with the toys he sold before sending them to customers.
O CPJ Collectibles Store He was already making money, but when he launched his TikTok, he was dubbed the “King of Nostalgia” and saw sales skyrocket.
TikTok opened up another money-making opportunity for him when the History Channel asked him to make videos about rare antique toys.
“I wasn’t making any money because in Canada we don’t make any money from TikTok,” he said.
“But when I got to about 75,000 subscribers, the History Channel approached me to do a video for them, and I got paid for these little nerdy videos I make.”
The clips opened him up to a whole new audience of customers, and he quickly gained over 558,000 followers while also racking up over 16 million likes.
FROM SCREEN TO PURCHASE
Andrews has found that many parents are not impressed with the quality of today’s toys.
“I wasn’t making any money because in Canada we don’t make any money from TikTok. But when I got to about 75,000 subscribers, the History Channel approached me to make a video for them, and I got paid for these little nerdy videos that I make.”
Craig Andrews
They want their kids to play with the fun, sturdy toys they have, and they go to his store to find them.
“My kids got a Barbie accessory now, and it’s molded plastic, one color, which isn’t that amazing. If you’re a parent, you think, ‘That blender accessory is rubbish,’” he said.
Andrews shared plenty of older Barbie accessories on her TikTok that had moving parts, like a blender with rotating blades and a popcorn machine with Styrofoam balls.
“Parents go to eBay to buy the old models so the kids can see how cool they are,” he said.
This is especially true for classic toys that are still made today, like Fisher-Price and Little People.
“A lot of parents are doing this for their children. They’re saying, these new toys are fine; We’re going to buy you new toys, but I’m also going to show you what I played with.”
HIGH PRICE
Some of Andrew’s bestsellers are surprising.
Fisher-Price hard plastic foods are actually very hard to find.
Andrews introduced some McDonald’s game sets that are especially valuable.
The drive-thru set looked real and featured friendly food characters.
There was a fake grill, ice cream machine, deep fryer, drink dispenser and cash register.
Of course, it also came with plastic chicken nuggets, fries, burgers, drinks, and cups of McDonald’s ice cream.
The playset even works with the sounds of the grill starting up, customers placing orders and the cash register calling people.
A countertop set that was just an ice cream maker sold for $40 when it was released in the early 2000s.
Now, it can be found on eBay for as much as $300.
An 18-piece McDonald’s food set for making Happy Meals at home is on sale for $150 on eBay now.
Andrews found a McDonald’s cash register set, with food and all original parts, at a thrift store for just $25.
Another of his best discoveries was a Teddy Ruxpin bear. The animatronic bear was a technological feat read to children.
Andrews also found Teddy’s companion, Grubby the caterpillar.
The 1985 toy sells today for as much as $499.
He constantly buys classic toys, but his fans definitely love the toys that come from kids’ meals.
Andrews features McDonald’s Happy Meal toys as far back as the 1980s, from iconic brands like Peanuts, Star Wars and Sega.
Toys typically cost no more than $10 at his store, but he sells hundreds a month.
Other items on your site, such as old board gamescan be sold for up to US$50.
Viewers of his TikTok have even started selling their old toys so he can sell them to others who will appreciate them.
Andrews takes his role as King of Nostalgia seriously and doesn’t plan on leaving TikTok anytime soon.
He regularly makes sales on his eBay and Etsy storesand viewers should check in regularly as inventory is constantly updated.
In other news, a Costco shopper expected a free replacement car battery but was blindsided by a new warranty policy.
And a major furniture retailer is closing numerous stores amid bankruptcy speculation.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
