How to Sell Shoes on eBay

Introduction

eBay is the world‘s largest online marketplace, with over 175 million buyers searching for products every day. This massive audience presents a major opportunity for shoe sellers looking to expand their customer base. However, with so much competition it can be difficult to stand out and drive sales on eBay. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the entire process of selling shoes successfully on eBay, from prepping your inventory to shipping orders and everything in between. Follow these tips and you‘ll be well on your way to establishing a thriving shoe business on eBay.

The Size of the Online Shoe Market

Recent data indicates the global online footwear market reached $42.6 billion in 2020. It is forecast to grow at 11% CAGR from 2021 to 2026, reaching nearly $74 billion according to industry analysis firm Statista.

eBay specifically has proven itself as a highly lucrative sales channel for footwear. Over $2 billion worth of women’s shoes alone were sold on eBay in 2020. Now is an ideal time for shoe retailers to take advantage of surging ecommerce demand by selling on eBay.

Table 1: Global Online Footwear Sales 2017-2026

With online now accounting for over 15% of the total footwear retail market according to NPD Group, sellers must capitalize on this fast-growing distribution channel to remain competitive. Those who master digital-first ecommerce sales platforms like eBay can substantially expand their customer reach.

Researching the Shoe Market

The first step to prepare for selling shoes on eBay is understanding the market. You’ll need to research what types of shoes sell well, typical pricing, buyer demand and competition levels. This information allows you to source profitable inventory, set competitive prices tailored to specific shoe models, and determine realistic sales goals.

Here are some best practices for researching the eBay shoe market:

• Browse eBay’s Fashion > Shoes category to analyze current listings and completed sales for different shoe models, brands and sizes. Look for trends in pricing, bids and seller ratings.

• Use eBay’s Advanced Search to filter shoe listings and sales data by criteria like model name, size, condition and more. This gives precise market research tailored to the exact products you plan to sell.

• Check sites like Google Trends to assess search volume and demand over time for specific shoe models and brands. Spikes may indicate opportunities to capitalize on hot products.

• Search Google Shopping tabs filtered to eBay listings only to analyze aggregated pricing data for shoe models across various seller listings.

• Join eBay discussion forums and Facebook Groups related to buying and selling shoes to connect with active shoe sellers and learn directly from their experience in the market.

In addition to the above manual research methods, sellers should leverage the rich analytics and reporting within eBay to gain data-driven insights on market demand, trends and listings optimization opportunities.

The Terapeak research tool allows looking up the best-selling shoe brands, models and sizes on eBay over various time ranges. This reveals most in-demand products worth targeting. Terapeak’s keyword research functions also show the specific terms buyers use to search for shoes, ideal for optimizing listings.

By spending time upfront thoroughly researching the types of shoes currently in demand on eBay along with competitive pricing, you’ll source inventory with the highest profit potential and set your listings up for sales success.

Selecting Shoe Inventory

Finding quality shoes to sell profitably on eBay does require some work. You need to source shoes likely to attract bidding interest rather than sit unsold for long periods. Here are tips for selecting shoe inventory optimized to drive eBay sales:

Popular Brands and Styles
Certain shoe brands like Nike, Adidas and UGG boots tend to attract steady eBay interest due to brand recognition and resale value, making them safer bets compared to unestablished brands. Best-selling specific shoe models are also good targets.

Below is a chart showing 10 of the top women’s shoe brands by eBay search traffic over the past year. Familiarizing yourself with in-demand brands can help guide profitable sourcing.

Table 2: Top Women’s Shoe Brands by eBay Search Traffic

Condition
eBay buyers expect used shoes listed to show wear unless explicitly stated as “New”. Make condition a priority when assessing inventory – gently used shoes still with years of wear left will sell much faster. Check soles, insoles, heels and uppers for excessive signs of use.

Sizes
Standard sizes like 10 and 11 in men’s and 7-9 in women’s typically sell fastest. But less common small and large sizes can still attract buyers needing hard-to-find fits. Cross-list rarer sizes across shoe listing platforms to maximize visibility.

Seasonality
Certain shoes sell better during specific seasons – sandals in summer, boots in winter. Factor seasonality into your purchasing decisions.

With selective sourcing focused on the above in-demand criteria, you’ll build an eBay shoe inventory primed to drive sales year-round.

Pricing Your Shoes
Setting the right prices for your eBay listings is crucial – price too high and shoes may not sell, but price too low and you lose potential profit. Use these pricing strategies:

Compare Completed eBay Listings
Research prices that similar shoe models have actually sold for rather than just what sellers have asked. This gives a reliable benchmark.

Factor In Condition
Price used shoes lower than box-fresh pairs – 60%, 70% or 80% off retail price is typical based on wear level. Clearly state condition in listings so buyers understand pricing.

Consider Shipping Costs
If offering free shipping, make sure to build the average $10-$20 shipping cost per pair into listed prices. Calculate other fees like eBay listing deductions as well.

Monitor and Adjust
Track view counts, watchers and declines across listings to assess if prices need adjustment to spur more interest and sales.

In addition to the above, advanced eBay sellers use repricing tools that automatically adjust listings pricing daily based on averages from completed listings and competition levels. This dynamic approach keeps prices ideally aligned with the market.

By regularly analyzing completed comps and fine-tuning prices for maximum value to buyers, you’ll convert more bids into sales.

Writing Effective Listings

Well-written eBay listings are essential – they generate critical first impressions that determine if buyers click to learn more or move on. Optimizing your shoe listings for relevance and readability drives more auction views and bids.

Follow these listing writing best practices:

• Concise, descriptive titles with target keywords e.g. “Nike Air Force 1 Low Mens Size 11 Sneakers White Blue”

• Detailed descriptions calling out brand, model, key features, dimensions, defects, wear patterns and more.

• Relevant attributes selection like gender, style (sneaker, boot, etc), occasion, material, etc to help buyers find the perfect shoes

• Condition noted upfront with specifics on any flaws

• 5+ high-quality images from multiple angles showcasing identifying logos, tread, measurements and condition

• Brand, size, style information prominently formatted for easy skimming

• Accurate shipping and return policies building trust

In addition, optimize listings for search visibility by:

• Conducting keyword research on eBay search terms buyers use to find shoes

• Incorporating frequent search keywords naturally within listing titles, specs and descriptions

• Tagging all visual elements in listings to associate relevant search terms

Properly structured listings catching buyer search queries will achieve much higher visibility in search results. Listing views are critical for generating interest and sales.

Top Tips For eBay Shoe Photography

Great photos are absolutely vital to convert eBay shoe listing views into sales. With so much competition, buyers can quickly move on from grainy, dimly lit or inaccurate photos showcasing shoes at unflattering angles.

Implement these photography tips for visually compelling listings:

Camera

• DSLR or quality point-and-shoot digital cameras capture sharper, more color accurate images than phones

Lights

• Continuous photo lamps eliminate shadows and provide 100W of bright white light

Backdrop

• Seamless white photo backdrops keep focus on the shoes themselves

Angles

• Capture top-down, profile, side, underside and detail shots for complete view from every angle

Editing

• Post process in free software like GIMP applying corrections like brightness adjustments, cropping and white balance

By showcasing your eBay shoe inventory looking it’s very best from all angles, buyers can inspect pairs closely and bid with confidence.

eBay Account Setup & Best Practices

Before listing shoes available for sale, take some time to optimize your eBay seller settings and account infrastructure for smooth operations at scale.

Here are key areas to focus on:

Seller Profile

• Expand profile with detailed descriptions, logo and competitive advantages over other shoe sellers to build trust with buyers.

Listing Defaults

• Configure default settings globally applied to new listings like shipping rates, return windows, payment methods and more so listings stay consistent.

eBay Store

• Open an eBay store subscription providing more exposure and credibility. Anchor store for premium branding capabilities.

Seller Dashboard

• Leverage data within the dashboard on views, watchers, sales and more to actively monitor and improve performance.

Returns Policy

• Define return timeframe and restocking fee rules balancing buyer satisfaction with fraud protection.

In addition, outfit your back-end operations to scale efficiently:

Inventory Management

• Use platforms like Linnworks to sync inventory across channels like eBay, Shopify and Amazon while tracking real-time order status.

Shipping

• Integrate scanning solutions like ShipStation for rapid order processing and label printing across all sales channels.

With optimized account infrastructure in place, it’s much simpler to manage listings at scale, understand performance trends and maintain buyer happiness.

Listing Shoes & Post-Sale Best Practices

When launching those polished listings you’ve carefully built, implement these practices to keep sales momentum going strong:

Promote Listings

• Share new listings via eBay social channels and niche shoe groups drawing immediate interest from engaged audiences.

Offer Discounts
Strategic coupon codes, multi-item discounts or holiday sales timed with peak demand incentivize buyers.

Prompt Shipping

• Ship sold shoes within your stated 1 business day handling time to prevent post-purchase frustrations.

Follow Up

• Check in post-delivery that buyers are satisfied and shoes arrived as described to identify any issues immediately.

Re-list Unsold Shoes
Rather than accumulating stale inventory, relist shoes not receiving bids weekly with pricing adjustments to spark renewed interest.

By driving visibility of listings old and new while streamlining post-purchase logistics, you’ll scale your shoe sales efficiently on a thriving eBay store.

Risks & Challenges When Selling Shoes on eBay

While eBay provides access to millions of buyers, sellers need awareness of key risks when selling there:

Counterfeits – Fake shoes illegally copying brand designs undermine seller reputations and risk account suspensions if not carefully screened. Leverage buyer-protection programs like eBay Authenticity Guarantee to certify legitimacy of high-risk brands.

Fraud – Scams by buyers claiming fake non-deliveries or deceptive returns for unwarranted refunds can quickly sink profits. Consistently capture shipping proofs of delivery and inspect returned items thoroughly.

Inventory Investment – Any unsold shoes accumulate as a growing liability that needs financed. Carefully manage supply purchasing to demand levels using analytics, or margin erosion results.

By knowing the most pressing hazards and taking steps to mitigate them through preventative measures, shoe sellers can thrive sustainably on eBay.

Conclusion

Selling shoes through eBay provides access to an incredibly large buyer pool, but succeeding against fierce competition is certainly achievable with the right preparation and strategies. By researching buyer demand trends for shoe models, leveraging analytics tools for data-driven decisions, sourcing appropriately in-demand inventory and optimizing eBay listings utilizing keyword and search best practices, your shoe store can maximize sales potential on this platform. Implement these expanded tips and you’re well on your way to eBay shoe retailing success.