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What Are the Best Tips for Selling Watches?

Nick Mann
Nick Mann

Selling watches can be a potentially lucrative business endeavor for individuals with the right know how. Like any other business, there are certain techniques and strategies that can improve one's odds of turning a significant profit. Whether the individual wants to start selling watches online or locally, following four tips should help maximize earnings. These tips include performing watch market research, choosing appropriate brands and models to sell, getting products at a reasonable price, and choosing an effective sales platform.

The first step to take when selling watches is to perform some essential market research. For example, the individual should spend some time looking online at which types of watches are popular. Depending on the economy, there may be a big demand for expensive, luxury watches. In times of recession, however, people may only want lower-end watches without the high price tag. Trends and economic conditions will ultimately dictate which types of watches a salesperson will want to invest in.

Luxury watches, such as Rolex, are often in demand.
Luxury watches, such as Rolex, are often in demand.

In addition, it's important to consider how large the operation should be. For beginners, it's usually best to start off with buying only a few wholesale watches and selling online. That way, the initial financial risks are limited. If that venture is successful, then the operation can expand later on.

Once the initial research has been completed, it's time to choose which brands and models to sell. When starting out in the watch industry, it's usually best to stick with fairly common products that are affordable and known to consistently sell. Selling watches that are specialized and overly expensive could create difficulties.

Watches are often sold through mall kiosks.
Watches are often sold through mall kiosks.

The next step is to find watch makers that carry the type of product the individual is interested in at a reasonable price. This can be accomplished by looking online and contacting at least three or four different watch makers. During this time, it's important to record what types of deals each vendor has and what their average prices are. Comparing each company should make it possible to find the best deal.

Traditional clocks and watches use a system of gears and pulleys to keep time.
Traditional clocks and watches use a system of gears and pulleys to keep time.

It's also crucial to choose an effective sales platform when selling watches. In most cases, beginners will want to start off by selling exclusively online. Doing so will allow the person to sell a minimal amount of watches without starting up an entire store or mall kiosk. Brick and mortar businesses require significantly more in start up capital, so beginning online has financial advantages for those starting out at selling watches.

One of the most efficient ways to quickly sell watches is by joining a bidding website. Most of these websites allow the individual to sell products at a minimal cost. In fact, many only take a small percentage from each sale. When joining a bidding website, it's also important to choose one with a secure payment system to prevent loss of income. A website's credibility can often be determined by checking out multiple reviews from current sellers.

Discussion Comments

Feryll

If I were going to try to make money selling watches I would try to find old antique watches and then repair them. I agree with @Drentel that not nearly as many people own watches as there were people who owned them 20 years ago. I'd be willing to bet that the majority of the people who do own them wear the watches as a fashion statement.

I think I would stand a better chance selling a few expensive watches at high prices rather than competing with all the other retailers selling medium priced and cheap new watches.

Drentel

When I was a kid, all adults wore watches. Even most kids got watches when they were old enough to tell time. That was part of growing up for most of us. I thought I would never stop wearing watches. I felt naked without one on my wrist. Then I accidentally left my watch in my pants' pocket and it went through the washing cycle in the washing machine.

I took the watch to the local jewelry store and the owner said he couldn't repair it, and I needed to send it back to the company where it was made. That's what I planned to do, but I kept putting it off, and in the mean time I was getting accustomed to not having a watch on my arm.

We have so many other devices today to the point that watches are more of a habit than they are a necessity. When I'm at my desk, I can look at my computer to get the time. When I'm out in the field, I only have to pull my cell phone out of my pocket to check the time.

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    • Luxury watches, such as Rolex, are often in demand.
      By: Vit
      Luxury watches, such as Rolex, are often in demand.
    • Watches are often sold through mall kiosks.
      By: Photocreo Bednarek
      Watches are often sold through mall kiosks.
    • Traditional clocks and watches use a system of gears and pulleys to keep time.
      By: tycoon101
      Traditional clocks and watches use a system of gears and pulleys to keep time.