If you would like to listen to my mentoring session with Technsports that inspired all of this you can do so here: How to Run an Ebay Business That Actually Works | @technsports ruclips.net/video/aCtqwvbXrIk/видео.html
Oh, I love a before and after makeover show. You broke down what seemed an overwhelming task and didn't waver from the step, next step, step, next step...You spoke about the financial cost of having death piles but for me it's the emotional and social cost to my poor family of the gear stashed all about our home. You're an inspiration to make a difference.
Mel, my house is like yor warehouse was. Full of "death piles" in every room. You took 3 months to "clean up your act" so to speak. I am going to try to do the same, INSPIRED BY YOU. Wifey, agrees to help. We have been watching you on and off for a swhile, but not being book sellers, did not ake your serously. Now we know what wonderful help you can be.
Set whatever realistic time goal you need to be able to achieve the goal but also pushes you to meet it. I knew I needed a few months as I juggle many other things in my life. I’m so glad I didn’t try and do it in a month or I would have cut corners. My goal was hard to meet but achievable at the same time. A lot of what I talk about on my channel relates to people who sell anything! Not just books. I’m all about business practices, systems and helping to motivate and inspire others to take action in their own stores and be better. Everything we sell is just a widget in reality. It doesn’t matter what we sell the process to running a successful business is just the same!
I am working on this as well right now Mel. It is hard to understand what a massive undertaking it is until you go through the process yourself. It is a massive undertaking.
A disk cleaning machine is worth it. I use the JFJ easy pro, and it helps with the $$$ educational DVDs I pick up, changing nothing into 200 USD and up.
Hey Mel, I want to thank you so much. My husband and I are full time everything resellers in New Zealand, we sell on Trade Me (NZ mini version of Ebay) our business also had the same virus as yours! We have found you & Technsports such an inspiration and help in our business. We have watched your discussions and interviews with him several times each. We have also done the "punishment " for the last few months. Just like yours our business is now running much smoother and more profitable too. Thanks to you & Tech we are motivated and inspired to work harder. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Your warehouse looks amazing 🎉
You’re such an inspiration. Your shop looks amazing and so efficient now which definitely leads to production. Job well done and you should definitely be proud of yourself. I’m about to tackle my virus and swallow the punishment. I have been thinking about it for too long now. It weighs heavy and I’m ready to unload the stress of it all. Thanks for giving me an example of what I can definitely accomplish. You’re the best 🥰
Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray! 🎉🥳3 cheers for Mel! Congrats, my friend. U deserve it! I remember when I first started watching u years ago b4 u even got a storage, I think u were in ur garage, and oh man, u just seem so much happier! I am ecstatic for u! U give me so much hope bcuz, as I mentioned b4, I'm in the same boat as far as going through a divorce, still cohabitating, and really needing more money! I'm grateful to have u to watch and turn to when I'm struggling. Thanks for including me and all my love to u and Tom and ur boys! 🙃✌️💜
The scary suspenseful music in the background when you're flashing back to when you came back from America and your warehouse was a mess, that was so funny and perfect! 😂😅
OMG Mel, You have done such an awesome job! It now looks like a welcoming "Book Store" and I imagine you feel more empowered. You encourage me as a beginner to organize and decrease my steps as I learn how to grow my eBay store. Thanks for inviting us in.
Probably far too busy too see my comment Mel, especially as there has been 257 comments before me, but as a long time listener first time caller I would like to sincerely congratulate you on the incredible changes you have made. Tuning in from Mallorca, Spain I work from home - similar business to you, so I know personally what you have been going through. Its a tough gig - reselling - but those that will succeed are tough cookies like you. As a veteran backpacker across Oz in 1995, I would also like to congratulate you & the Nation as a whole on the simple TIM TAM. Go Sydney Swans !!
I know exactly what you mean about going from 2 incomes to 1 over night. My husband passed away in October last year and he was disabled so when he passed away I was immediately the only income in the house. Luckily I had a full time job that paid the bills but with nothing extra. I have started selling on EBay again (I did it before years ago) to try to make enough to have a safety net.
So inspiring, starting in Feb I am moving my business from a storage unit to my land in a shipping container. It is also going to be a major undertaking but at the same time a way to remove the virus in my system. I have learned so much this year. I am looking forward to transforming my space and seeing that bank account go UP! Thanks for showing the world it is possible.
I had a few vogue magazines that didn’t seem to sell is there any trick to selling them? Hey I’ve just subscribed to you Hb one your First subscriber ❤
@@HereatJodstas you have to research all of them. If they sold for under $15 I didn't bother listing them. I had a few that were selling for over $200. I wasn't quite sure about my magazines condition so I priced them $50 bucks cheaper. They sold pretty fast.
Amazing achievement Mel. You must be so proud of yourself for doing this, there is nothing stopping you from getting what you want in life. Take care and enjoy.
Awesome job Mel-all your hard work really shows! You are an inspiration to people like me who are avoiding their death piles. Hope this year is your most profitable yet!!
hang on, you'll be competing with your boy!! Hope he's OK! Your cleanup is great, as a past archivist /librarian I was used to working by the meterage of shelves, it's a specific skill. I dont know if you have thought of this but part of risk management in paper is frequent pest level tests and management when needed. Plus, what are you doing for cross ventilation? The dust will get into you too. There are methods for dealing with this kind of thing tho', you appear to have intuited a lot of it. It's based on physical loications created in the database even if you have to list a location as "floor between unit 2 and unit 3". The methods are based on warehousing and logistics, usu. bottom to top, coding every space and keeping the location database updated. And L to R , front to back, or alternatively based on item dimensions- but books are of course, more on type/genre
Not really competing as we’re at totally different levels 😝 He has over 100k listings! However I’m the number 3 book seller in AU and he is the number 4 so we have some friendly banter and rivalry over that one ha ha
Mel, I am so proud of you. A lot of us know we have problems, business or personal related, and do not address them. You have done an absolutely amazing job. Great work ❤
As a new subscriber, I have been going back and picking some of your old titles to view, to learn more about your operation, life and about reselling in a country other then the US. last night I watched the video where you got into it at your old storage facility with the guy who got up in your face and then mock slapped you because he was upset that your car was in front of his unit. Understanding that this happened some time ago and even while the mock slap was happening it probably happened so quickly that it was over before you had a chance to react, I wanted to make a comment. Often my wife tells me my views are contrary to most opinions, but have found that has served me well for most of my life. Many would have advised you not to engage, not to shout back or to just walk away, but my thought are differnet regarding such incidents, which seem to happen all too often these days. When the hand came up for the mock slap, most folks would pull pack. It's a natural self defense reaction. My thought was lean in and let him tag you. He likely did it to intimidate you and figured as long as he came close, but didn't actually connect, he was safe. You said it came within an inch or 2. So lean in and let him connect. It raises his actions to an entirely different level and in may locals would be considered physical assault. Then, regardless of actual contact, I would have stepped back, snapped a quick photo of him, another of his car/license plate (if I had my phone with me) and left the scene and walked directly to the office and reported it. Often the first report given in "he said, she said" situations is given the most weight. While there, making the office staff aware of the guys behavior, asked if they had security camera footage showing his attempt, or actual assault, using those terms, "such as he tried to slap me", or he slapped me.
You deserve to feel proud about this nice turnaround. You're evolving into a real business person. Get a little extension cord so that the electrical cord doesn't dangle in the air over your push-cart. You can hang the camping chairs over the green door on some hooks for bikes.
@@HereatJodstas awe!! Thanks! If an item catches my eye 👀 I will put it in my eBay store or my local booth. Doesn't have to be vintage for me. I've come across some very interesting items in my time as a reseller. Thank you for your inquiry.
Mel ... that's something that I deal with all the time .... just trying to get my business redesigned and organized. I got some of it done a couple weeks ago but I can't even find part of the stuff that could be sold or thrown out. If I was able to sort through all of it I bet you I could easily take the business to the next level just by allowing me to find stuff more easily and having place for everything instead of just some stuff. It looks great by the way what you did in the end to it all.
@@backfromburnout I look forward to the day I can take mine to the next level too. I just need a way to substitute the income I get from my job in addition to my income and i can do it. I make about half my income right now from my business and in time could double that ... or maybe I could double it just by changing some of my habits too and putting all my job time into the business. Of course your excited ... I would be too. I just wish my family and friends could so what I see with my business too. They all come from the school that selling online is not a real way to make money .... unless you want to do it just as hobby. And I don't feel most of them support me doing the reselling business.
Mel,,I just to say that I’ve watched you for quite a while now and I’m in the same predicament you were in. I’ve become so overwhelmed by all the unlisted items in my small little shop that now I’ve just stopped all together. I’m depressed and unmotivated to do anything.😢 The Georgia Picker is trying to help me out but it’s just so much. Watching this has lit a small flame to go out and see if I can do something with this virus. Hope this new year will bring us all happiness and self worth. Take care!
Here is something I’ve learnt. Productivity creates motivation. The hardest part is starting. Once you start to be productive and feel productive and start seeing some results I promise it then brings motivation. And you become motivated to do more. And what happens when we’re productive? We start to feel good and it creates happiness. The key to happiness is productivity. Productivity creates the motivation, the feelings of achievement and naturally when you feel productive and like your achieving things in life you feel happy and less depressed. Start slow. But keep going. Focus on daily productivity and I promise your mood and motivation will change. You can do this xxx
9:46 I love the way your face changed and I just knew you were going to mention Thom and then you did. :) Sooo cool. I don't know if it's Thom or Tom, but either way, I'm so happy for you both! Working together, so close to his warehouse....just so much fun! Thank you for sharing your life and romance with us.
Best video ever! Love it! I finally moved my massive death pile into a storage unit because it was becoming a fire hazard taking over my home. Now i just grab a container from storage and list it at home. Then i put them back in my inventory and grab a new container to let. Forces me not to cherry pick. I now have my house back
Congrats Mel on your success of cleaning and organizing the warehouse. It looks fantastic and I’m so happy for you. It’s awesome to see and hear that you listed so much of your death piles. I am looking forward to the day my garages are all organized and merchandise listed. Great job Mel. WTG!
You have inspired me to clean up my work space. I keep trying to convince myself that I shouldn’t do this because I’m not making money, but listing my death pile will change that. Thank you.
My 90 day total over doubled in Q4 as I did more work and listed better and more items. If you want more money you have to take action to change things. Including changing your mindset. 🩷
Static Shelving, Dynamic Inventory: Been watching your older videos to catch up and wanted to comment on the set up of your new warehouse. Great job with the move, but I have to present an observation about your shelving and the way the books are arranged on the shelves, as I watch you pull the items to pack or the way you clutter and struggle when a new big load arrives. Love the packing and pulling part of your operation by the way, very organized. As you set up the warehouse, you kept buying and assembling the same style shelf you had in your rented storage units and at the shed you and your ex built. I suspect it was because it was familiar, available, reasonably priced, matched what you had and could take the weight of all those books. I see the average shelf has 6 stacks, arranged 2 stacks deep and you also stack up on the top. Some shelves have even more stacks, when the book size is smaller. So the questions I present are: Is this the best type of shelving for your operation long term with the size and height of your warehouse and your goals to increase the qty of books on hand? Is this type of shifting of stock handling going to continue to be hard on your body? When you go to pull a book, from a shelf with 6 stacks, there is a 50/50 chance it will not be in a front row. Meaning you now have to move several stacks to get it out from the back and sometimes have to lift a stack off the shelf, just to put it back. If those stacks are one the top, it gets even harder and may involve the time to get and use a ladder. If you left out 1 stack in the front, it would be easier, since you could see 4 stacks immediately and have the room to shift a stack sideways to see behind, but that is still moving a lot of books that are stacked 2 piles deep and doesn't fill the shelf space. You probably initially selected these shelves to fit plastic tote depth back when you were an everything seller and just stayed with them, but the depth of your shelves seems to waste a lot of your time. A couple years ago we moved from a large property on acreage with large metal buildings that we ran a selling everything operation from. Initially the shelving was set to hold what I sold 20 years ago, back when we sourced from clearing estates, delinquent storage units and large auction lots. I needed a wide mix of shelving in my buildings because much of the stock was physically larger. One week I might have bench top shop tools or air compressors that needed 4' deep shelves or totes that were 3 or 4' deep, but most of my shelves were 24" deep to fit regular plastic bins & totes, with a row or two of 18" deep shelves for boxes that size and a row of file cabinets for small items. The file cabinets worked well for items that were shorter then about 12" tall that could be pulled up, after opening a drawer. Once my storage shelving was all set up, it stayed pretty static for years and years, but during that time my type of inventory changed as I got older and began sourcing smaller items and selling more and more on eBay and less locally. By the end of our time on that property, the shelving was no longer working very efficiently. Putting smaller items on 48" deep shelves that were pushed against the wall meant whatever was in back was hidden by what was in front (like your book stacks) and I would have to do a lot of shifting and lifting to get out what sold. Still it pretty much stayed the way it had always been because the idea of a big change would be very time consuming and new shelving would be costly. So I avoided dealing with it. It was at this point when we decided it was time to sell out the large property, move to a smaller place on a lake near our granddaughters and run the business out of much smaller buildings, selling small items that could be mailed. Because my inventory needs had changed and I had way too much shelving to fit the new buildings, I could be selective in what I brought with me. I brought taller shelves, to utilize the 10' wall height of the new building built at the lake (including a loft storage area), but kept the shelves depths at 18 or 24' because I was now using copy paper boxes and smaller totes. I only brought shelves sized to make pulling easier for the size of the new operation. I sold off all those large shelves and file cabinets and began using a mix of fixed shelves against the wall and rolling shelves & carts in the receiving area. I had acquired the rolling pieces the last few years at the old shop and found I liked the mobility, I could roll shelves right to the door for loading, them roll them back. I could take the carts out to the truck for unloading boxes, bins and IKEA bags and roll them out of the way or down and aisle, when the receiving area was too full, as happens. Having rolling storage, made the floor space more versatile, just like having a mix of fixed work benches and folding tables does, so on days when I am receiving and sorting a truck load tables and carts can be used. Anyway, I'm not saying what you have done is by any means wrong, because it obviously works, but seems to cause a lot of extra lifting and labor. I hear you talking in some of your videos about efficiency and having to move stacks to pull and pack and how it slows you down or your back is sore after a big haul. When I see you shifting book stacks around or having to lift them off to get 1 in the back of a shelf, I have to think there must be a better way for you moving forward. Usually if I make an observation about a process, I like to suggest a solution, but in this case I don't specifically know what shelving might work better or what is even available in Australia (I'm in the US). Maybe Thom or other book sellers could suggest something. Around here anyway, there are always businesses closing and their commercial fixtures get sold off directly or at auction for pennies on the dollar. I don't recall ever paying retail for shelving. Enjoying the process and the progress!
Mel! You have come back like a firecracker. Your warehouse looks more like a shop now. Very impressed with your dedication. You set a realistic time limit and you saw it through with flying colours, Well done my friend. Love and hugs from sunny but chilly Spain. xx
The key to hitting goals is setting achievable and realistic time frames. I knew how much work was here and I didn’t underestimate it. It feels so good now!
I need to organise too. My business needs to grow to support me so your vid is very helpful. Organisation has been my goal for the last year, but reverts back to shambles when I'm working on orders.
I am blown away! You are amazing. I can’t believe that is the same space. You did all that in 3 months, how many times did you want to just throw a match in there. You kept at it and now you have every right to be bursting with pride. It is orderly and very detail well thought out . Good on ya 🥰
I had days I wanted to cry. I had days I stood and did 8hrs straight of photography. I had some boxes and piles I dreaded. But the more I did and the more productive I was the more motivated I became to finish it. And in turn productivity turned to happiness. Win win.
Wow Mel my first reaction was OH MY what an amazing difference. I so need to do this at home and in my store. I just went and helped a friend organise her shed funny how I can sort hers out she was amazed at my Tetris skills and sent me a lovely message. It has inspired me though I have done a stocktake of 3/4 of my items. I have sorted all my books into categories. I try not to look at the whole lot though my target is to list 5 in one category while I build up slowly. Listed 500 items In December. I need to take photos of along the way. Today I sorted books and will start a box at a time. I have a whole heap of car magazines to list how did you push through listing your magazines? So proud of you ❤❤ you deserve everything amazing love always Jodie the blonde in the hello kitty top 💗
Hi Mel. Congrats on all of your hard work and reorganisation. What a great space to work in now and much more productive. Would you be able to share with us what you did with all of the books that weren’t worth listing, how many were there, and how have you changed sourcing going forward? Would you consider writing a book on mills and boon ? You could self publish. Maybe you’re not interested in doing that, or of sharing your knowledge. I bet avid readers soul be interested too. Thanks for this video, and I’m so delighted that you’re enjoying life and have Tom to share things.
Oh my goodness Mel!!! The warehouse looks absolutely amazing. It looks like a business now. I am so proud of you 😊 You put in so much hard work and it shows. You are definitely an inspiration to a lot of us resellers. I can’t wait to see the new chapter of what’s in store for you and your business.
Great job! Everything looks great! I always have run your videos while I get my orders pulled. You give me the inspiration to get up and get moving on my listings and sales! .....If I were you I would list all the CDs and only clean them as they sell. That way they are up for viewing and people will start buying. I have over 14,000 vinyl records listed and that is how I do it. It would be near impossible for me to clean them all first.
Yes I would list that way and but worry if I sell too many it will become a nuisance. On weeks I am low sourcing good books I may start to sort the CDs into ones that don’t need cleaning and start listing them slowly that way.
That's super impressive - such a liberating feeling when everything clear, organised & you know what you have & where it is. Congratulations on a fantastic effort Mel.... but I have to admit I am jealous of all that space 😄 Ps. get Thom to quote you a rate per disc to be cleaned (unless you are going big time into media) & save the machine cost for now.
Excellent job Mel….i hope you feel very proud of yourself…great job. 👏 👏👏👏👏👏 you have encouraged the brisbanepicker to start up eBay again. Thank you 😁😁
Wow what a transformation you have done your punishment with great care and you didn’t give up. I’m so happy for you. I see 2024 will be a great profitable year for you. Thanks for sharing this video as I’m sure its inspiration for a lot of people that are watching your videos. Many blessings to you take care 😊
Oh Mel….What a SENSATIONAL job Lovey….I’m SMILING OUT LOUD at this achievement….And APPROPRO that I’m watching this vid in THIS moment bc I’m down at my storage units working on the exact same thing….WAY TO GO you….!!!!!😊😊👊🏻❤️👸
Mel, it sounds like to me that God had a plan for your life. He knows before we do what we need. If you had done this years ago you wouldn't be getting the money in now that you need as a single mom. So, it's a win-win for you! Not the being divorced but knowing that you have done this yourself and not with the help of your ex. You are woman, you are strong - you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!!! God Bless and best wishes for your future!!
You're an inspiration. My ebay shed is exactly like your before video. Time for the punishment. I used to love shipping. Now I dread it because of the mess I have to work around. I always try to keep my shipping table clear. Doesn't always happen.🤷♀️
Great to see the improvements that you have made!! You are an inspiration! I am sure many of us will be reorganizing our work spaces because of what you have shown us!!
Your warehouse is looking pukka now! Well done Mel for completing stage 1 of the mission, feeling good and in control !! Oh I hope you can run faster than Thom when you're out and about sourcing together, now competing for the best CDs Lol 😂😂
Thank you Ian, it feels so good to have this done! Ha ha, my eyesight is so poor these days for reading and I struggle with tiny writing on the cd's in low light stores! I might need to get a big magnifying glass to walk around with LOL
The step-by-step transformation walkthrough was excellent! Congrats to you on streamlining your setup. I particularly like the setup of your packing area and will definitely be stealing the trash bin idea! All the best in the future and you're well on your way to making up that missing income!!!
You have every reason to be singing from the rooftops! Your warehouse looks Amazing! You've done a fabulous job, and I can hardly believe you got it all done in three months. If your shop had a virus, you have definitely found the vaccine, which you might have to package up and send on over to the US, because I definitely have the making of a pandemic going on in my shop. Thanks for showing us that there is a way out.
You got lots of stacks of money there on your shelves. Wrapped up products like bricks for sale. Great to see everything coming into form. I watched ur interview with tech when you first put it out and it was very inspiring. I dont have a lot of items, but I have been listing a lot more and less piles.
Good to see you back on RUclips, Mel! I am not seriously motivated to tackle my own warehouse space and organise everything after watching your own makeover. It's amazing how much getting your space sorted and organised can motivate and improve productivity and in turn increase profitability! I've been experiencing the same issues you have with bending down over bins to throw out rubbish and love your idea of having the bins on the edge of the benches. Would you mind sharing with us where you got them from?
It feels so good now in a clean space. I bought the bins in a recent trip to Melbourne. It was a shop that sold used office furniture. But I don’t know the name of it sorry but I know they had several stores around Melbourne. I got them for only $10 each!
Mel... 🎉HAPPY NEW YEAR!🎉The warehouse is looking ship~shape!☺️👍Looking forward to continued episodes of "Back from Burnout" and... Some collaborations with Tom, with your new found partner! Turning a NEW page in the "Book of Life!"🤗👍🐿
If you would like to listen to my mentoring session with Technsports that inspired all of this you can do so here:
How to Run an Ebay Business That Actually Works | @technsports
ruclips.net/video/aCtqwvbXrIk/видео.html
I sure will love to listen to your mentoring session.
I totally already did a few weeks ago. That one was great too. 💗💗💗
@@marcellaabel-curtis1150 that is so cool.
Yes, I sure have and what an awesome guy, very down to earth. Thanks again. 💜
@@Nana_Tink I agree with you.
You have inspired me to get everything together in one place, shorten my steps, and feel happy doing it!
Oh, I love a before and after makeover show. You broke down what seemed an overwhelming task and didn't waver from the step, next step, step, next step...You spoke about the financial cost of having death piles but for me it's the emotional and social cost to my poor family of the gear stashed all about our home. You're an inspiration to make a difference.
100%. It’s been a weight off my shoulders and when it’s in your house it’s even worse!!! It’s freeing once it’s cleared.
Mel, my house is like yor warehouse was. Full of "death piles" in every room. You took 3 months to "clean up your act" so to speak. I am going to try to do the same, INSPIRED BY YOU. Wifey, agrees to help. We have been watching you on and off for a swhile, but not being book sellers, did not ake your serously. Now we know what wonderful help you can be.
Set whatever realistic time goal you need to be able to achieve the goal but also pushes you to meet it. I knew I needed a few months as I juggle many other things in my life. I’m so glad I didn’t try and do it in a month or I would have cut corners. My goal was hard to meet but achievable at the same time.
A lot of what I talk about on my channel relates to people who sell anything! Not just books. I’m all about business practices, systems and helping to motivate and inspire others to take action in their own stores and be better. Everything we sell is just a widget in reality. It doesn’t matter what we sell the process to running a successful business is just the same!
You have been doing such a great job! I can already tell (without watching the whole video yet) this is going to be very encouraging to your viewers.
Technsports is definitely a mentor. Master Yoda and we are the padawan
He’s the hest
A man of many titles. Boyfriend, #1 CD seller and #1 camera operator in the souther hemisphere
🤣🤣🤣
I am working on this as well right now Mel. It is hard to understand what a massive undertaking it is until you go through the process yourself. It is a massive undertaking.
A disk cleaning machine is worth it. I use the JFJ easy pro, and it helps with the $$$ educational DVDs I pick up, changing nothing into 200 USD and up.
Hey Mel, I want to thank you so much. My husband and I are full time everything resellers in New Zealand, we sell on Trade Me (NZ mini version of Ebay) our business also had the same virus as yours! We have found you & Technsports such an inspiration and help in our business. We have watched your discussions and interviews with him several times each. We have also done the "punishment " for the last few months. Just like yours our business is now running much smoother and more profitable too. Thanks to you & Tech we are motivated and inspired to work harder. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Your warehouse looks amazing 🎉
This is amazing and thank you for sharing. I’m so glad it also helped you, that makes me feel so good that it can also help someone else.
You’re such an inspiration. Your shop looks amazing and so efficient now which definitely leads to production. Job well done and you should definitely be proud of yourself. I’m about to tackle my virus and swallow the punishment. I have been thinking about it for too long now. It weighs heavy and I’m ready to unload the stress of it all. Thanks for giving me an example of what I can definitely accomplish. You’re the best 🥰
You’ve got this Pamela! I am there with you and determined to follow Mel’s example.
Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray! Hip hip hooray! 🎉🥳3 cheers for Mel! Congrats, my friend. U deserve it! I remember when I first started watching u years ago b4 u even got a storage, I think u were in ur garage, and oh man, u just seem so much happier! I am ecstatic for u! U give me so much hope bcuz, as I mentioned b4, I'm in the same boat as far as going through a divorce, still cohabitating, and really needing more money! I'm grateful to have u to watch and turn to when I'm struggling. Thanks for including me and all my love to u and Tom and ur boys! 🙃✌️💜
You can do. If I can you can! Baby steps!
Lol with the Mills and Boone.yes I remember.WOW IM PROUD OF YOU TOO
Looks great Mel. You have inspired me to.
The scary suspenseful music in the background when you're flashing back to when you came back from America and your warehouse was a mess, that was so funny and perfect! 😂😅
it was a scary sight lol
@@backfromburnout haha 😂
Would you be able to post the link for the disc cleaning machine that you recommend, for CD's. Thank you!
I will be in Sydney soon;) My first trip to Australia 😊 I'm so excited.!🎉
Oh wow!! Exciting! Sydney is a few hours from me!
I’m going to Sydney Australia Day weekend my birthday
OMG Mel, You have done such an awesome job! It now looks like a welcoming "Book Store" and I imagine you feel more empowered. You encourage me as a beginner to organize and decrease my steps as I learn how to grow my eBay store. Thanks for inviting us in.
Decreasing the amount of steps we need to take in our systems is very important. It saves a lot of time to our processes.
Probably far too busy too see my comment Mel, especially as there has been 257 comments before me, but as a long time listener first time caller I would like to sincerely congratulate you on the incredible changes you have made. Tuning in from Mallorca, Spain I work from home - similar business to you, so I know personally what you have been going through. Its a tough gig - reselling - but those that will succeed are tough cookies like you. As a veteran backpacker across Oz in 1995, I would also like to congratulate you & the Nation as a whole on the simple TIM TAM. Go Sydney Swans !!
I know exactly what you mean about going from 2 incomes to 1 over night. My husband passed away in October last year and he was disabled so when he passed away I was immediately the only income in the house. Luckily I had a full time job that paid the bills but with nothing extra. I have started selling on EBay again (I did it before years ago) to try to make enough to have a safety net.
I’m so sorry for your loss and I hope you’re ok. You’ve got this ♥️
Hang your camp chairs on the end of the very front shelving unit. Out of the way storage and blocks the dust from the books. Win! Win! Great job!
Great idea!
So inspiring, starting in Feb I am moving my business from a storage unit to my land in a shipping container. It is also going to be a major undertaking but at the same time a way to remove the virus in my system. I have learned so much this year. I am looking forward to transforming my space and seeing that bank account go UP! Thanks for showing the world it is possible.
At 15:20 - Delicious Magazine is a great cooking magazine!
They sell well for me!
I bought a storage unit full of magazines. It's amazing how much some of them are worth. Especially the Vogue magazines.
I had a few vogue magazines that didn’t seem to sell is there any trick to selling them? Hey I’ve just subscribed to you Hb one your First subscriber ❤
@@HereatJodstas you have to research all of them. If they sold for under $15 I didn't bother listing them. I had a few that were selling for over $200. I wasn't quite sure about my magazines condition so I priced them $50 bucks cheaper. They sold pretty fast.
Amazing achievement Mel. You must be so proud of yourself for doing this, there is nothing stopping you from getting what you want in life. Take care and enjoy.
Awesome job Mel-all your hard work really shows! You are an inspiration to people like me who are avoiding their death piles. Hope this year is your most profitable yet!!
I hope it inspires others to clean theirs up and make their own businesses stronger.
You pushed through and did it! OK, now I need to do this. Thanks again!
You can do it!
It all looks great, warehouse, you and life, thanks for sharing. Excellent work sweetie ❤
Thanks so much Nana! 😊
hang on, you'll be competing with your boy!! Hope he's OK! Your cleanup is great, as a past archivist /librarian I was used to working by the meterage of shelves, it's a specific skill. I dont know if you have thought of this but part of risk management in paper is frequent pest level tests and management when needed. Plus, what are you doing for cross ventilation? The dust will get into you too. There are methods for dealing with this kind of thing tho', you appear to have intuited a lot of it. It's based on physical loications created in the database even if you have to list a location as "floor between unit 2 and unit 3". The methods are based on warehousing and logistics, usu. bottom to top, coding every space and keeping the location database updated. And L to R , front to back, or alternatively based on item dimensions- but books are of course, more on type/genre
Not really competing as we’re at totally different levels 😝 He has over 100k listings! However I’m the number 3 book seller in AU and he is the number 4 so we have some friendly banter and rivalry over that one ha ha
WOW Mel, your warehouse looks so good now, very organised. Well done, the hard work paid off. What happened to your Library Sign?
Well done Mel Inspired my to organise my Garage.
You can do it!
Mel, I am so proud of you. A lot of us know we have problems, business or personal related, and do not address them. You have done an absolutely amazing job. Great work ❤
As a new subscriber, I have been going back and picking some of your old titles to view, to learn more about your operation, life and about reselling in a country other then the US. last night I watched the video where you got into it at your old storage facility with the guy who got up in your face and then mock slapped you because he was upset that your car was in front of his unit. Understanding that this happened some time ago and even while the mock slap was happening it probably happened so quickly that it was over before you had a chance to react, I wanted to make a comment. Often my wife tells me my views are contrary to most opinions, but have found that has served me well for most of my life. Many would have advised you not to engage, not to shout back or to just walk away, but my thought are differnet regarding such incidents, which seem to happen all too often these days.
When the hand came up for the mock slap, most folks would pull pack. It's a natural self defense reaction. My thought was lean in and let him tag you. He likely did it to intimidate you and figured as long as he came close, but didn't actually connect, he was safe. You said it came within an inch or 2. So lean in and let him connect. It raises his actions to an entirely different level and in may locals would be considered physical assault. Then, regardless of actual contact, I would have stepped back, snapped a quick photo of him, another of his car/license plate (if I had my phone with me) and left the scene and walked directly to the office and reported it. Often the first report given in "he said, she said" situations is given the most weight. While there, making the office staff aware of the guys behavior, asked if they had security camera footage showing his attempt, or actual assault, using those terms, "such as he tried to slap me", or he slapped me.
HI Mel thanks for sharing. I totally relate to what you have gone through. I'm in punishment mode.
Stay strong! As you see and feel the productivity it will turn into motivation.
Congratulations Mel you've done a fantastic job.
13:50 yes!!! Guard that back!!! 😊❤
You deserve to feel proud about this nice turnaround. You're evolving into a real business person. Get a little extension cord so that the electrical cord doesn't dangle in the air over your push-cart. You can hang the camping chairs over the green door on some hooks for bikes.
12:50 so true!! Your mind can't get past the clutter That's why it shuts down. Once the clutter is cleared you can focus. Simple stuff.
Love your name what treasures do you sell?
@@HereatJodstas awe!! Thanks! If an item catches my eye 👀 I will put it in my eBay store or my local booth. Doesn't have to be vintage for me. I've come across some very interesting items in my time as a reseller. Thank you for your inquiry.
Mel ... that's something that I deal with all the time .... just trying to get my business redesigned and organized. I got some of it done a couple weeks ago but I can't even find part of the stuff that could be sold or thrown out. If I was able to sort through all of it I bet you I could easily take the business to the next level just by allowing me to find stuff more easily and having place for everything instead of just some stuff. It looks great by the way what you did in the end to it all.
I plan to increase mine now to the new level. It’s exciting!
@@backfromburnout I look forward to the day I can take mine to the next level too. I just need a way to substitute the income I get from my job in addition to my income and i can do it. I make about half my income right now from my business and in time could double that ... or maybe I could double it just by changing some of my habits too and putting all my job time into the business.
Of course your excited ... I would be too. I just wish my family and friends could so what I see with my business too. They all come from the school that selling online is not a real way to make money .... unless you want to do it just as hobby. And I don't feel most of them support me doing the reselling business.
Holy moly, Mel! Your space looks fantastic! So organized!! ❤🎉keep winning! 🙌🏻
Thank you! Will do!
Mel,,I just to say that I’ve watched you for quite a while now and I’m in the same predicament you were in. I’ve become so overwhelmed by all the unlisted items in my small little shop that now I’ve just stopped all together. I’m depressed and unmotivated to do anything.😢 The Georgia Picker is trying to help me out but it’s just so much. Watching this has lit a small flame to go out and see if I can do something with this virus. Hope this new year will bring us all happiness and self worth. Take care!
Here is something I’ve learnt.
Productivity creates motivation. The hardest part is starting. Once you start to be productive and feel productive and start seeing some results I promise it then brings motivation. And you become motivated to do more.
And what happens when we’re productive? We start to feel good and it creates happiness.
The key to happiness is productivity. Productivity creates the motivation, the feelings of achievement and naturally when you feel productive and like your achieving things in life you feel happy and less depressed.
Start slow. But keep going. Focus on daily productivity and I promise your mood and motivation will change. You can do this xxx
9:46 I love the way your face changed and I just knew you were going to mention Thom and then you did. :) Sooo cool.
I don't know if it's Thom or Tom, but either way, I'm so happy for you both! Working together, so close to his warehouse....just so much fun! Thank you for sharing your life and romance with us.
Thank you :) He shortens Thomas to Thom x
Best video ever! Love it! I finally moved my massive death pile into a storage unit because it was becoming a fire hazard taking over my home. Now i just grab a container from storage and list it at home. Then i put them back in my inventory and grab a new container to let. Forces me not to cherry pick. I now have my house back
List…not let! Hatte Auto correct sometimes
Yay that’s awesome. So good to have it out of the house.
It looks fantastic. Great job. If I lived in Australia I'd snap those Mills and Boon books straight up. I love them.
They are soooo popular!
AWESOME you got organized and cleaned up . for the new year i committed to my self to list minimum 5 items each weekday
You can do it!
Congrats Mel on your success of cleaning and organizing the warehouse. It looks fantastic and I’m so happy for you. It’s awesome to see and hear that you listed so much of your death piles. I am looking forward to the day my garages are all organized and merchandise listed. Great job Mel. WTG!
You have inspired me to clean up my work space. I keep trying to convince myself that I shouldn’t do this because I’m not making money, but listing my death pile will change that. Thank you.
My 90 day total over doubled in Q4 as I did more work and listed better and more items. If you want more money you have to take action to change things. Including changing your mindset. 🩷
I’ve been in a similar situation to you with my relationship but it’s time to move forward. I’ll be getting that virus out of my storage unit!!
Looks so good Mel, hashtag goals. I'm hoping when I get my outside-the-house space that I can keep it tidy like this =]
Yes! Make sure you do!
Static Shelving, Dynamic Inventory: Been watching your older videos to catch up and wanted to comment on the set up of your new warehouse. Great job with the move, but I have to present an observation about your shelving and the way the books are arranged on the shelves, as I watch you pull the items to pack or the way you clutter and struggle when a new big load arrives. Love the packing and pulling part of your operation by the way, very organized.
As you set up the warehouse, you kept buying and assembling the same style shelf you had in your rented storage units and at the shed you and your ex built. I suspect it was because it was familiar, available, reasonably priced, matched what you had and could take the weight of all those books. I see the average shelf has 6 stacks, arranged 2 stacks deep and you also stack up on the top. Some shelves have even more stacks, when the book size is smaller.
So the questions I present are: Is this the best type of shelving for your operation long term with the size and height of your warehouse and your goals to increase the qty of books on hand? Is this type of shifting of stock handling going to continue to be hard on your body?
When you go to pull a book, from a shelf with 6 stacks, there is a 50/50 chance it will not be in a front row. Meaning you now have to move several stacks to get it out from the back and sometimes have to lift a stack off the shelf, just to put it back. If those stacks are one the top, it gets even harder and may involve the time to get and use a ladder.
If you left out 1 stack in the front, it would be easier, since you could see 4 stacks immediately and have the room to shift a stack sideways to see behind, but that is still moving a lot of books that are stacked 2 piles deep and doesn't fill the shelf space. You probably initially selected these shelves to fit plastic tote depth back when you were an everything seller and just stayed with them, but the depth of your shelves seems to waste a lot of your time.
A couple years ago we moved from a large property on acreage with large metal buildings that we ran a selling everything operation from. Initially the shelving was set to hold what I sold 20 years ago, back when we sourced from clearing estates, delinquent storage units and large auction lots. I needed a wide mix of shelving in my buildings because much of the stock was physically larger. One week I might have bench top shop tools or air compressors that needed 4' deep shelves or totes that were 3 or 4' deep, but most of my shelves were 24" deep to fit regular plastic bins & totes, with a row or two of 18" deep shelves for boxes that size and a row of file cabinets for small items. The file cabinets worked well for items that were shorter then about 12" tall that could be pulled up, after opening a drawer.
Once my storage shelving was all set up, it stayed pretty static for years and years, but during that time my type of inventory changed as I got older and began sourcing smaller items and selling more and more on eBay and less locally. By the end of our time on that property, the shelving was no longer working very efficiently. Putting smaller items on 48" deep shelves that were pushed against the wall meant whatever was in back was hidden by what was in front (like your book stacks) and I would have to do a lot of shifting and lifting to get out what sold. Still it pretty much stayed the way it had always been because the idea of a big change would be very time consuming and new shelving would be costly. So I avoided dealing with it.
It was at this point when we decided it was time to sell out the large property, move to a smaller place on a lake near our granddaughters and run the business out of much smaller buildings, selling small items that could be mailed. Because my inventory needs had changed and I had way too much shelving to fit the new buildings, I could be selective in what I brought with me.
I brought taller shelves, to utilize the 10' wall height of the new building built at the lake (including a loft storage area), but kept the shelves depths at 18 or 24' because I was now using copy paper boxes and smaller totes. I only brought shelves sized to make pulling easier for the size of the new operation. I sold off all those large shelves and file cabinets and began using a mix of fixed shelves against the wall and rolling shelves & carts in the receiving area. I had acquired the rolling pieces the last few years at the old shop and found I liked the mobility, I could roll shelves right to the door for loading, them roll them back. I could take the carts out to the truck for unloading boxes, bins and IKEA bags and roll them out of the way or down and aisle, when the receiving area was too full, as happens.
Having rolling storage, made the floor space more versatile, just like having a mix of fixed work benches and folding tables does, so on days when I am receiving and sorting a truck load tables and carts can be used.
Anyway, I'm not saying what you have done is by any means wrong, because it obviously works, but seems to cause a lot of extra lifting and labor. I hear you talking in some of your videos about efficiency and having to move stacks to pull and pack and how it slows you down or your back is sore after a big haul. When I see you shifting book stacks around or having to lift them off to get 1 in the back of a shelf, I have to think there must be a better way for you moving forward.
Usually if I make an observation about a process, I like to suggest a solution, but in this case I don't specifically know what shelving might work better or what is even available in Australia (I'm in the US). Maybe Thom or other book sellers could suggest something. Around here anyway, there are always businesses closing and their commercial fixtures get sold off directly or at auction for pennies on the dollar. I don't recall ever paying retail for shelving. Enjoying the process and the progress!
Good on you! Nicely done 🎆
Thank you!
Your work area looks very efficient. Mel, you have accomplished so much, and the organization will increase your productivity.
Mel! You have come back like a firecracker. Your warehouse looks more like a shop now. Very impressed with your dedication. You set a realistic time limit and you saw it through with flying colours, Well done my friend. Love and hugs from sunny but chilly Spain. xx
The key to hitting goals is setting achievable and realistic time frames. I knew how much work was here and I didn’t underestimate it. It feels so good now!
Looks fantastic, i had anxiety just looking at your piles of boxes everywhere.
Feels so good to
I need to organise too. My business needs to grow to support me so your vid is very helpful. Organisation has been my goal for the last year, but reverts back to shambles when I'm working on orders.
While I really missed your videos here on RUclips the last few months it was really smart of you to focus on getting your shop more operable!
I am blown away! You are amazing. I can’t believe that is the same space. You did all that in 3 months, how many times did you want to just throw a match in there. You kept at it and now you have every right to be bursting with pride. It is orderly and very detail well thought out . Good on ya 🥰
I had days I wanted to cry. I had days I stood and did 8hrs straight of photography. I had some boxes and piles I dreaded. But the more I did and the more productive I was the more motivated I became to finish it. And in turn productivity turned to happiness. Win win.
You are the cat's meow! What a lot of hard work and dedication. Congrats, Mel!!!!!! Great accomplishment. Now make the $$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
Wow Mel my first reaction was OH MY what an amazing difference. I so need to do this at home and in my store. I just went and helped a friend organise her shed funny how I can sort hers out she was amazed at my Tetris skills and sent me a lovely message.
It has inspired me though I have done a stocktake of 3/4 of my items. I have sorted all my books into categories. I try not to look at the whole lot though my target is to list 5 in one category while I build up slowly. Listed 500 items In December. I need to take photos of along the way. Today I sorted books and will start a box at a time. I have a whole heap of car magazines to list how did you push through listing your magazines? So proud of you ❤❤ you deserve everything amazing love always Jodie the blonde in the hello kitty top 💗
Amazing great job! I’d would of liked to know a percentage increase in sales that you noticed. But you are inspiring I can relate to the mess before
My 90 day total over doubled in Q4.
Yay Mel! Your efforts are so inspiring to me! I’m going to go and attack my death pile right now! Love from 🇨🇦
Hi Mel. Congrats on all of your hard work and reorganisation. What a great space to work in now and much more productive. Would you be able to share with us what you did with all of the books that weren’t worth listing, how many were there, and how have you changed sourcing going forward? Would you consider writing a book on mills and boon ? You could self publish. Maybe you’re not interested in doing that, or of sharing your knowledge. I bet avid readers soul be interested too. Thanks for this video, and I’m so delighted that you’re enjoying life and have Tom to share things.
Oh my goodness Mel!!! The warehouse looks absolutely amazing. It looks like a business now. I am so proud of you 😊 You put in so much hard work and it shows. You are definitely an inspiration to a lot of us resellers. I can’t wait to see the new chapter of what’s in store for you and your business.
What an achievement! Superhero award for you! Can't wait to see what you achieve in 2024. Thanks for sharing your journey - its a joy to join you on.
Way to turn the warehouse around! 👏🏾
I love it!
Great job! Everything looks great! I always have run your videos while I get my orders pulled. You give me the inspiration to get up and get moving on my listings and sales! .....If I were you I would list all the CDs and only clean them as they sell. That way they are up for viewing and people will start buying. I have over 14,000 vinyl records listed and that is how I do it. It would be near impossible for me to clean them all first.
Yes I would list that way and but worry if I sell too many it will become a nuisance. On weeks I am low sourcing good books I may start to sort the CDs into ones that don’t need cleaning and start listing them slowly that way.
That's super impressive - such a liberating feeling when everything clear, organised & you know what you have & where it is. Congratulations on a fantastic effort Mel.... but I have to admit I am jealous of all that space 😄
Ps. get Thom to quote you a rate per disc to be cleaned (unless you are going big time into media) & save the machine cost for now.
Fantastic! You have done so so well for yourself! I am stunned by the value of those magazines…😮😮😮😮
Excellent job Mel….i hope you feel very proud of yourself…great job. 👏 👏👏👏👏👏 you have encouraged the brisbanepicker to start up eBay again. Thank you 😁😁
Wow what a transformation you have done your punishment with great care and you didn’t give up. I’m so happy for you. I see 2024 will be a great profitable year for you. Thanks for sharing this video as I’m sure its inspiration for a lot of people that are watching your videos. Many blessings to you take care 😊
I hope it can inspire others to take control of their own businesses. That would be amazing.
Bravo Mel!! Super inspired by you!!!
I'm so excited for you!!! Looks completely different and bright. All those piles made the warehouse look gloomy and dark.
It feels so much better.
Omg Mel you have worked so hard. It must be a pleasure to work in now. Well done ❤
Oh Mel….What a SENSATIONAL job Lovey….I’m SMILING OUT LOUD at this achievement….And APPROPRO that I’m watching this vid in THIS moment bc I’m down at my storage units working on the exact same thing….WAY TO GO you….!!!!!😊😊👊🏻❤️👸
Mel, it sounds like to me that God had a plan for your life. He knows before we do what we need. If you had done this years ago you wouldn't be getting the money in now that you need as a single mom. So, it's a win-win for you! Not the being divorced but knowing that you have done this yourself and not with the help of your ex. You are woman, you are strong - you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!!! God Bless and best wishes for your future!!
Hard work and consistency is paying off. Very inspiring video ❤🇨🇦🙂
lovely to see you back Mel. Missing the picking and packing videos though. Would be great to see now the warehouse is sorted
I will do a pick and pack soon!
Very happy for you. The stress reduction must be huge. Motivated me to tackle my pile.
You're an inspiration. My ebay shed is exactly like your before video. Time for the punishment. I used to love shipping. Now I dread it because of the mess I have to work around. I always try to keep my shipping table clear. Doesn't always happen.🤷♀️
Wow! What a difference. I’m sure this will improve your business so much! So inspiring!
It already is, sales are increasing which is great
Great to see the improvements that you have made!! You are an inspiration! I am sure many of us will be reorganizing our work spaces because of what you have shown us!!
The warehouse looks amazing. Well done!
Your warehouse is looking pukka now! Well done Mel for completing stage 1 of the mission, feeling good and in control !! Oh I hope you can run faster than Thom when you're out and about sourcing together, now competing for the best CDs Lol 😂😂
Thank you Ian, it feels so good to have this done! Ha ha, my eyesight is so poor these days for reading and I struggle with tiny writing on the cd's in low light stores! I might need to get a big magnifying glass to walk around with LOL
@@backfromburnout Just a hint use the camera on your phone as a magnifier
Welcome to the new Mel! 🥰
Standing ovation 👏 👏👏👏🫶
The step-by-step transformation walkthrough was excellent! Congrats to you on streamlining your setup. I particularly like the setup of your packing area and will definitely be stealing the trash bin idea! All the best in the future and you're well on your way to making up that missing income!!!
Hello. Mell.❤❤ Tom ...yes so happy for you mell. On geting your deth. Pile sorted.
Mel....good job. Your space looks great.
Thank you! 🤗
I'm so happy for you smashing it out, being with positive people can make such a difference.
It really does!
You have every reason to be singing from the rooftops!
Your warehouse looks Amazing! You've done a fabulous job, and I can hardly believe you got it all done in three months.
If your shop had a virus, you have definitely found the vaccine, which you might have to package up and send on over to the US, because I definitely have the making of a pandemic going on in my shop. Thanks for showing us that there is a way out.
Thank you! Box by box or pile by pile you can do it!
Wow, huge congratulations Mel, what an amazing transformation. And how encouraging and inspiring you are. Thank you, thank you !
Looks great Mel. You have inspired me to get my butt in gear and get my polymer clay business working ❤
Wow Mel the warehouse looks fabulous! Job well done!! So inspiring.
You got lots of stacks of money there on your shelves. Wrapped up products like bricks for sale. Great to see everything coming into form. I watched ur interview with tech when you first put it out and it was very inspiring. I dont have a lot of items, but I have been listing a lot more and less piles.
Good to see you back on RUclips, Mel! I am not seriously motivated to tackle my own warehouse space and organise everything after watching your own makeover. It's amazing how much getting your space sorted and organised can motivate and improve productivity and in turn increase profitability! I've been experiencing the same issues you have with bending down over bins to throw out rubbish and love your idea of having the bins on the edge of the benches. Would you mind sharing with us where you got them from?
It feels so good now in a clean space. I bought the bins in a recent trip to Melbourne. It was a shop that sold used office furniture. But I don’t know the name of it sorry but I know they had several stores around Melbourne. I got them for only $10 each!
Congratulations your hard work is paying off for you.
Thank you so much
It's wonderful watching all this coming together for you!
Mel that’s fantastic! All of your hard work is going to pay off 🎉
Mel... 🎉HAPPY NEW YEAR!🎉The warehouse is looking ship~shape!☺️👍Looking forward to continued episodes of "Back from Burnout" and... Some collaborations with Tom, with your new found partner! Turning a NEW page in the "Book of Life!"🤗👍🐿
Great work Mel! Very inspiring. I totally need a sort out like you’ve done, I’ve got books and stuff everywhere.
Wow amazing work Mel… well done ❤
Thank you! Cheers!