What did you do before starting your online business?

I started my eBay business in 1998 and quit the old day job back in 2002. While still trapped in the work a day world I was able to run my eBay feedback up to nearly 1000 as a part time venture. I had been working as an information systems asset control coordinator with wide area network of over 5000 desktop pc’s.

How and why did you start selling online?

In the late 90's I started buying pc hardware from an internet auction site called onsale and admired the sales platform. This introduced me to online auctions and I discovered eBay soon after. I had always known that I would be better working for myself and it always upset me to see some working far less yet being paid more. I began selling computer salvage and comic books and was amazed at what some items would sell for. I even felt a little guilty at times, but in the early days people paid big bucks for computer garbage on eBay. Before I began selling computer salvage I purchased about 50 long boxes of comics on my first comic shop buyout and ventured into the graded comics market. That also was profitable at times as I could turn $20 into $200 if the proper grades were returned. Collectibles are volatile and I have since chosen significant diversification in my internet offerings.   Today we are offering 100's of excellent unread Near Mint comics at well under guide prices in the cosmic-king ebay store. 

Tell us about your company.

I am an internet toy merchant selling comics, collectibles, toys, diecast and more. Unlike many internet merchants I have a wide diversification of offerings that I think both benefit and weaken my market position. Upon attending the San Jose ebay live event I was invited to Corp. HQ where I discovered that I was a top category performer in both toys and collectibles. After years of hard labor on eBay I was able to move from my basement operation to leasing a 3,000 sq. ft. warehouse near my home and hired a full time employee. A couple of years back I became a member of IMA the internet merchants association.   Participation in our IMA forum and tips from others lead me to the decision that I must sell in the Toys category on Amazon.

The addition of Amazon to my eBay sales has allowed me to purchase a small warehouse on the north side of  Springfield MO. I will begin some local selling this fall of 2008 with my discount outlet as the new warehouse location has a smaller showroom like area. In addition I have a Amazon Webstore for cosmic-king located at www.cosmic-king.com. 

What were some of your biggest stumbling blocks/mistakes in business? How did you overcome them?

Limitations of being a one man business are significant. Having the awareness shift that I can not do it all - all of the time has allowed my business to grow. Also making critical choices as to the cost benefit gained of using additional tools. I have found myself caught in the automated auction grinder selling at under my cost. Realizing that nobody will manage your money as well as you will is also important. Not having significant financial resources has placed me on a slow but solid growth pattern. I made it an early goal to keep my inventory paid for. Watching inventory turn over has been a mistake in my business and I am currently working to increase my turn rate.

What do you know now that you wish you knew when first starting your business?

That when I first started my eBay business it was in its peak and thatcI was not even close to tapping into the deep profits offered by eBay. I regret that I did not seize the moment. In addition to that I should have moved beyond eBay sooner than I did.

What has been your greatest business success?

The freedom of not being stuck working for the machine. I have had dreams of going back to work for somebody else and it was like a prison sentence in my view. The mind set of working for yourself is both liberating and oppressing as I never leave work but yet I enjoy it so. Purchase of my warehouse is significant but the state of mind offered by owning my business is priceless. It is hard to put a price on state of mind.

What are your goals for your company?

 My current goal is to do $1,000,000 annual in sales.

What would you tell aspiring entrepreneurs?

 Never give up Never give up Never give up. Where the mind goes the body will follow. You can will your business to succeed but it takes complete devotion. Believe in yourself and so will others. Never listen to anybody that tells you it can not be done. Associate with those that do what you would like to do.

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Cosmic-King Toys Collectibles Comics

Listings

To protect bidder privacy, when the price or highest bid on an item reaches or exceeds a certain level, User IDs will be displayed as anonymous names. For auction items, a bold price means at least one bid has been received. Note: Anonymous names may appear more than once and may represent different bidders. 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617 NM MINT OLD DC COMICS COMIC LOT Available 230415155360 Dec-21-09 Feb-19-10 13:10:42 $13.59 BATMAN 609 x 2 610 x 2 NM MINT DC COMICS COMIC LOT Available 230415167427 Dec-21-09 Feb-19-10 13:49:05 $8.59 BATMAN 500 x 2 Anl 14 x 2 NM COMICS COMIC LOT Available 230415177674 Dec-21-09 Feb-19-10 14:31:23 $11.99 BATMAN 433 x 3 435 x 3 John Byrne ART NM COMICS Available 230415415928 Dec-22-09 Feb-20-10 09:28:39 $11.89 CAPTAIN AMERICA 132 - 221 OLD MARVEL COMICS COMIC LOT Available 230415418713 Dec-22-09 Feb-20-10 09:37:27 $7.99 CAPTAIN AMERICA 291 - 370 NM MARVEL COMICS COMIC LOT Available 230415419484 Dec-22-09 Feb-20-10 09:40:49 $6.79 CAPTAIN AMERICA SPECIAL NM MINT UNREAD COMICS COMIC LOT Available 230415422317 Dec-22-09 Feb-20-10 09:50:38 $8.49 CLAW THE UNCONQUERED DC COMICS DEALER LOT #4 x 8 COMIC Available 230415714550 Dec-23-09 Feb-21-10 05:38:31 $9.34 DAREDEVIL 142 144 x 3 BRONZE AGE MARVEL COMICS LOT Available 230415715011 Dec-23-09 Feb-21-10 05:41:25 $7.47 DAREDEVIL 144 x 2 203 x 3 Anl 6 COMIC COMICS LOT Available 230415715791 Dec-23-09 Feb-21-10 05:46:22 $13.99 DAREDEVIL 175 180 182 FRANK MILLER NM MINT HIGH GUIDE Available 230415748734 Dec-23-09 Feb-21-10 07:25:46 $12.74 DAZZLER #1 x 9 NM 1981 UNREAD COMICS COMIC LOT Available 230415752507 Dec-23-09 Feb-21-10 07:44:26 $11.04 DC COMICS PRESENTS LOT 41 - 70 DC SUPERMAN COMICS COMIC Available 230415755013 Dec-23-09 Feb-21-10 07:52:28 $7.64 DC COMICS PRESENTS LOT 82 - 86 NM MINT 1985 SUPERMAN Available 230415756880 Dec-23-09 Feb-21-10 08:02:12 $16.99 DEADMAN DC COMICS DEALER LOT 26 COMICS COMIC BOOKS 1986 Available 230415758227 Dec-23-09 Feb-21-10 08:07:18 $11.99 THE DEFENDERS COMIC LOT 31 - 50 BRONZE DC COMICS HULK Available 230415759280 Dec-23-09 Feb-21-10 08:12:04 $7.99 THE DEFENDERS COMIC LOT 47 - 71 BRONZE DC COMICS HULK Available 230415760224 Dec-23-09 Feb-21-10 08:15:39 $7.64 THE DEFENDERS COMIC LOT 71 - 88 BRONZE DC COMICS HULK Available 230418325188 Dec-30-09 Feb-28-10 14:46:27 $10.19 FANTASTIC FOUR COMIC LOT JOHN BYRNE COMICS # 232-263 NM Available 230418325189 Dec-30-09 Feb-28-10 14:46:27 $7.64 GREEN LANTERN GREEN ARROW COMIC LOT COMICS # 102-122 VF Available Go see all current items for sale by this member.

FeedBacks

User:rangerbrennan( 369)  Date:Feb-09-10 20:31:23 PST Praise: fast shipping and nice item! User:1evlevo( 128)  Date:Feb-09-10 19:05:46 PST Praise: FINALLY FOUND 1 User:dragnhawk60( 375)  Date:Feb-09-10 18:09:48 PST Praise: Very Accurate Description--Fast Shipping--Very Satisfied--Great Seller--AAA User:spacepatroler( 1037)  Date:Feb-09-10 16:36:06 PST Praise: Excelent service. Item as described, fast and careful shipping. Recommended! User:vminnovations( 136397)  Date:Feb-09-10 16:26:46 PST Praise: Thanks for Buying from VMInnovations! Here to be Your #1 Online Shopping Source! User:jamesws1972( 795)  Date:Feb-09-10 11:17:33 PST Praise: fast shipping, great seller User:jamesws1972( 795)  Date:Feb-09-10 11:17:27 PST Praise: fast shipping, great seller User:ddm227( 120)  Date:Feb-09-10 00:06:38 PST Praise: Quick ship, items as described, Great! User:qbert2655( 338)  Date:Feb-08-10 22:02:42 PST Praise: Item as described. User:qbert2655( 338)  Date:Feb-08-10 22:02:42 PST Praise: Item as described. To see all feedback for this member, go to the Member Profile page.

Cosmic-King Toys and Collectibes