Last week we told you guys how some people are making money doing what they love, playing video games. And while this might be a great option for those of you who happen to be World of Warcraft experts or Starcraft superstars, what about the people that aren’t so game savvy?
What about the people who just love to shop?
Well, there is hope for you too! Like we said last week, you can make money doing what you love in almost any situation; sometimes you just might have to find a way to do it. I think that point is pretty well proven with shopping. If people can find a way to make money by spending money on clothes and products… Well, if that’s not creative and resourceful, I don’t know what is.
So check out these ways some people are actually making money by shopping. And remember, you don’t have to be a gamer or a shopper to make money doing what you love. Just think of these as inspirational examples.
But hey, if you are a shopper at heart, who am I to stifle your dreams? Read on, take notes, and get out there and shop!
Warning: These jobs are not for the shopping faint at heart. If you have any fears of shopping malls, checkout lines, salespeople, or registers, do not attempt the following.
Mystery Shopper: Companies all over the country hire men and women of all ages to provide feedback of an actual, non-biased customer experience. So rather than just poll the customers, they’ll hire mystery shoppers. Interested? You can search your city and sign up at MysterShop.org, but first, you might want to check out this great article from one experienced pro.
Personal Shopper: According to the Association of Image Consultants International, personal shopping is a relatively small field, though it is pretty lucrative. This biz has generated about $1.5 billion in sales. For those people who want to get in on this, though, note that personal shopping is a serious time commitment and often involves more than just picking out outfits for your clients. Personal shoppers usually have the pleasure of advising businesses on appropriate holiday gifts for customers or employees and many also teach appearance-and-style workshops. If this still sounds like your cup of tea, click here to find out more about getting into the field.
Haul Videos: These videos became wildly popular in the world of YouTube about two years ago. What is a Haul Video you ask? Well, essentially they are self-recorded video blogs (“vlogs”) of shoppers, mostly young women, showing off their latest purchases from various stores, and commenting on everything from their shopping experience to the quality of the fabric. YouTube is simply filled with these videos, and most of the shoppers don’t see any profits, other than some nice comments. For a few of the most popular haulers, though, money is flowing in. Not only do the most watched videos get profits from the ads that run on their page; but some, like the now well-known Blair Fowler, even make money from the stores! Click here to find out more about Hauling.
Reselling on Ebay: Did you ever wonder what happens to all of those unwanted and returned items? Well, not all of them end up back on the shelves—particularly around the holidays when there are just too many. The website Liquidation.com has made a booming business by buying up these unwanted items and selling them at a much lower price online. So how does this allow people like you and me to make money? People are buying these discounted items in bulk from Liquidation.com and then reselling them for profit on eBay, Craigslist, or marketplace websites. Click here to find out more about this latest trend.
Do you earn money doing something you’re passionate about? Share your job below!
Photos Courtesy of: Pink Sherbet Photography, Steve-h, Youtube, Liu Wen Cheng 我希望成為GOW3
Sources: YouTube.com, BudgetsAreSexy.com, Entrepreneur.com, FabulousCareerGuide.com, NPR.org, ABCNews.Go.com
