For a pet shop with end-of-line stock, or a pet business thinking about adding products to its services, eBay could offer another way to reach buyers. But what should you consider before buying stock and creating your first listing?
SortedPets spoke to Denise from Everyday Charms and Paws, a Rugby-based online retailer who has been selling since 2009, with over 98k items sold and a feedback score of 99.6%. Her business began with a computer game her late husband sold after being made redundant. When it sold for almost as much as he had paid, they started looking around the house for other things to sell.
That small beginning developed into a business selling cosmetics and mirrors. More recently, Denise has expanded into pet products, sourcing customer returns at auction alongside new stock from a wholesaler. Her experience offers some useful lessons for anyone getting started.
You do not need shelves full of products to test an idea. Denise recommends starting with a few items, learning how listing, packing and dispatch work, and seeing what customers actually buy before committing to more stock.
For an existing pet business, that might mean trying a small selection of accessories or surplus stock. Start with products you understand and check your account’s selling limits before buying more than you can list. Denise also suggests concentrating on UK customers initially, to keep delivery arrangements manageable.
Denise’s first question when considering wholesale stock is simple: can she afford to sell it at a competitive price? A low purchase price does not necessarily mean a profitable sale.
Before buying, compare similar listings and work out the cost of the product, marketplace fees, packaging and postage. Allow for the time you spend preparing orders and the possibility of returns or delivery problems.
“If I can’t afford to sell it, I don’t buy it.”
Check the current business seller fees for your category and account. These can include listing fees as well as fees when an item sells, so do not assume you only pay once you make a sale. If you are buying products to resell, eBay requires you to register as a business seller.
Check eBay’s current business seller fees before setting your prices.
Denise includes delivery in the advertised price on many of her products. Her example is an item priced at £10 with £5 postage, offered at £15 with delivery included. This gives buyers one clear price upfront, making it easier to compare products and avoiding an extra delivery charge at checkout. As Denise points out, the postage is still a cost to the seller, so it needs to be built into the price.
Storage matters when you are working from home. Denise previously used a warehouse, but moved the business home when it was no longer cost-effective. She now uses shelving in a spare bedroom and racking in the garage.
Compact products such as harnesses and dog jackets suit her available space. Large dog beds or heavy products may need more room and cost more to send. Think about where you will store stock and how you will pack it before placing an order.
Customer return job lots have helped Denise build her pet range, but she describes buying them as a gamble. You are paying for a mixed selection, and some items will be easier to sell than others.
She uses her knowledge of products and brands that have sold well to decide what a lot is worth to her. Beginners should avoid assuming every item in a box will sell at its full retail price. Inspect each product and make its condition clear in the listing.
Denise also generally avoids buying products with a very short selling season. A Halloween costume left unsold in November could tie up money and storage space until the following year.
A useful title tells buyers what the item is. For a harness, Denise includes the recognised brand, harness type, colour and size, followed by a description of the features.
Photos need to answer practical questions too. When selling lunch bags, Denise found that showing everyday objects beside them helped customers understand their size. For harnesses, she includes size charts and measurements, but also likes to use familiar breed examples, such as “suitable for a Labrador”, particularly during live selling sessions. This helps buyers picture the size of dog a harness might fit and makes the information easier to understand.
Keep the title, pictures and description consistent. Photograph the actual item where its condition matters, including any wear or marks. Use your own images or content you have permission to use; finding a photograph online does not automatically give you the right to copy it.
Denise uses AI to help draft descriptions, but always reads and edits the result. Treat it as a starting point and check every product detail before publishing.
Compare delivery services using the packed parcel’s size and weight. Check regional surcharges, restrictions and compensation terms, as well as the headline price. A convenient drop off point can save time; a regular drive to dispatch orders adds to your costs.
Denise’s approach to customer problems is practical. In one case, a buyer sent photographs of a damaged harness and she refunded them without asking for it back. Paying to return a damaged, low value item would not have made sense in that situation.
Have a clear process for responding to messages, delivery issues and returns. Check the current rules that apply to your business and products before setting your returns policy.
Denise has tried paid advertising, but found that some products did not have enough margin to support it. She often uses sales instead, and also runs live selling sessions where she demonstrates products and answers questions. Results vary depending on what buyers want.
You do not need to try every sales tool immediately. Review which products attract interest and which sell, then use that information to guide your next purchase. For Denise, the lesson is to keep hold of your costs and grow from what you learn.
Why not take a look Everyday Charms and Paws eBay page. She is offering SortedPets users 5% off with offer code SORTEDPETS26
