Our holiday shopping season will be ending soon. What to do with seasonal items? Put most seasonal items in your backroom after December 31. This will save you from re-listing them. Store them until a Red Tag Sale, Christmas in July event, or until next November.

What are other backroom uses? I was putting up new item and received a phone call. I listed the item but kept in my backroom until I could add photos. This is helpful if you are listing an item and need to retake the photos.

If a customer wishes to purchase an item but is on vacation. Put the item in the backroom until they are ready to purchase. I often do a sale pending on a phone order. I can email an invoice.

The modifying items tool is a helpful feature. I use this tool if I find a second or third identical item. I can modify the description of an item using more key words. If I wish to reduce the price of an item, this is a handy tool.

I will modify the wording of red glassware after Christmas or Valentine's Day. Red glassware is popular year round.

Whats the best day for listing new items? A free or reduced price listing day is the best day. Some shops tell regular customers that they list new items on a Friday or a Monday. Shop owners who work may list one or two items a day. There is really no best day since customers shop 24 hours a day. Some customers checkout our site weekly or when they need an item. Email customers who have requested items before listing them. You can word the listing so shoppers know it is being reserved for someone.

Don't forget the "What is it?" feature if you have a neat but unknown item. Try listing the item in the "What is it?" shop and you will receive help from shop owners.

I check reference books on unknown items and take it to the shop where I have a booth. My co-vendors try to identify the item. If this fails, I'm off to the bakery. The old timers drink morning coffee and I often find two local auctioneers eating doughnuts. This may solve the mystery. They recognize farm primitives but not all glassware. I presently have a glassware item in the "What is it?" shop.

Many new shoppers have visited my shop this month. Some are new to online shopping. Quite a few are using Amazon to checkout. I have sent PayPal invoices to some shoppers. Amazon checkout is easy but we can also request money and email an invoice. Most people have shopped Amazon and have a password and know its reputation. The Amazon order payment is not coming up on my iPhone. I check the Ruby Lane site and Amazon Payments a few times a day.

Customers enjoy immediate feedback and prompt shipping. Keep organized so you can locate, pack, ship and email that day. We as shop owners provide a valuable service daily. That is what makes the Ruby Lane site special.

Written by Noel Merkel

Chessie & Nestor Go Antiquing on Ruby Lane