How to Sell Rare Seashells

Rare seashells can be used to make expensive jewelry or to create displays in homes or nice hotels. If you want to sell rare shells, the best way to do this is over the Internet. You can start selling on eBay right away and then build up your business later. Just bring along your passion for collecting and this will constantly drive you.

Things You'll Need

• Website software
• Internet connection
• Digital camera
• Start-up money

Instructions

1. Create a tool to market your business. For instance, building a website to sell your rare seashells is a wonderful idea. It's a very popular method of late with a number of international buyers, sellers and traders in this field. Your website need not be fancy or expensive to produce. In fact, a simple design might be the best way to show off your seashells.

2. Take digital photos of your rare seashells. Position them on velvet or other solid-color backdrops. Upload the images to your website or post at auction sites.

3. Sell your rare seashells on eBay. Offer detailed information about your seashells with accompanying photos showing the shells from all angles. Think about creating an eBay store so you can highlight your business's website.

4. Visit other rare seashell dealer stores to explore ideas and get a feel for how the market is. You'll find a list of dealers at the Man and Mollusc website (see Resources below).

5. Offer market rate prices for your rare seashells. Sell a wide range of shells that are unique. You never know what someone will need for his collection.

6. Travel as much as you can. Do a lot of research on the best locations to buy, hunt and trade for seashells. Visit places like the Philippines and the Virgin Islands, where you can find very rare shells.

7. Keep up on the trends in the rare seashell industry. Subscribe to groups and get involved in chat discussions to connect with other traders. Visit the Seashell-Collector website for discussions and buying and selling help (see Resources below).

Tips & Warnings

• Offer direct mail catalogs to list your rare seashells. This can be another way of entering the market and reaching more buyers.

• Establish a solid reputation. Follow good business practices, ship items in a timely and safe fashion and offer prompt customer service. This will help you build a name for your business.

Resources

• Visit Man and Mollusc for links
• Visit The Seashell-Collector website for rare tips