Making Cha Ching On Chow

Making Cha-Ching on Chow: How to Sell Regional Food Specialties on EBay

When travelers visit other states and cities, one of the most popular ways to take in the culture and ambiance of the destination is to sample the regional cuisine. New York style pizza, Chicago style hot dogs, Maine lobster, and New Orleans Cajun gumbo are famous dishes for visitors and natives alike. And even though it may not be possible to sell a hot dog or slice of pizza on eBay, certain more shippable and less perishable food items can be sold on eBay that will well represent your region and will delight customers with a little nostalgia for home or longing for a place once enjoyed. Food is very powerful, and knowing how to properly sell it on eBay can make you some real money.

First, brainstorm food specialties from your region that might make good sellers. For example, if you live in Maine, you might want to sell packets of lobster boil from a famous local restaurant. If you're in New Orleans or Louisiana, you might want to offer pralines or Cajun spices. Floridians might want to ship oranges, although you'll have to ship these special handling through the post office. From Chicago, Italian beef seasoning might be a big seller. Those in New York, specifically in Manhattan, might offer specialty items from Dean & Deluca, such as chocolate bars, tea, or coffee. Texans might sell chili seasoning or hot sauce for chili from an award-winning location. Folks in Atlanta might sell jarred peach preserves. And those in Kentucky might offer a mint julep mix with real mint. These are only a few suggestions, but only those who have lived in a city or town can truly know the regional food items that would sell best.

Next, you should list your food item under the "home" category in the "food & wine" section. Make sure to put the state and city in the title of your listing, along with the name of the food item. This will increase exposure since anyone looking for "chili" can pull up your listing, but also someone doing a search for "Texas" can find it as well and it just might spark his or her taste buds. Your description must create the same effect for the bidder as walking into a grocery store on an empty stomach. Tempt them. Tell them about the flavors. It's okay to use superlatives like "sumptuous" or "delectable," but that doesn't really make the experience real for the bidder. Describe the flavor by relaying an anecdote about serving the item, to your guests, and what they thought of it. Such as; my guest said, “It was creamy and left a pleasant aftertaste of nutmeg," or my boss tried it at our event and said, “The nutty flavor of the coffee reminded him of the Kona blends he enjoyed in Hawaii.” These types of descriptions tell much more than, "It was flavorful.” Moreover, personal anecdotes give the food personality and make the seller seem like a regular Joe that is easy to like.

Finally, photos are essential. Without a photo of the food, the sale will likely not happen. People like to see exactly what they are getting. Saying the size of the portion in the description is important, but it is hard to visualize how much 6 ounces of chili mix really is. Plus, your photograph will show the bidder how the food will be packaged - in a can, in cellophane, in a jar, etc. Make sure the resolution is good and the lighting is warm and inviting. You might even want to show food prepared with the item, such as a bowl of chili or a cup of steaming coffee.

Tempting bidders to bite into a purchase can be rewarding if you know how to drive traffic to your listing. By properly headlining your item, describing your food, and showing what the food looks like, you can turn your chow into Cha-Ching.

Resources:

http://pages.ebay.com/education/selling.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marketing