Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicholas Esposito.
Hi Nicholas, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I started my first business when I was 10 years old. I purchased a box of Lolli pops from a local wholesale grocery store, brought them to middle school, and sold them individually to my classmates for 25 cents each. A few years later while attending a local yard sale I purchased a CD Burner from a garage sale for 5 bucks. The intention was to install it and actually use it, but it was not compatible with my computer. It was at that point I decided to try this new website a chance. That website was called eBay. Seven days later, the auction ended and I had profited $75. Week after week we would hit yard sales all over Miami and come back with carloads of antiques, collectibles, vintage clothing, and anything under the sun we could flip for a decent profit.
After high school, I moved to Gainesville to attend the University of Florida. While I was going to classes, I was always thrifting and flipping things to help pay the bills. After about 5 years of changing majors, I finally earned a degree in Sociology. But unfortunately, I really had lost all interest in pursuing a career in the field.
So, there I was. It was 2008, the economy was struggling, the job market was poor, and I owed thousands in student loans. I moved back to Miami and worked part-time jobs that allowed me the freedom to slowly build up my eBay business. For several years I was the manager of a popular Miami-based food truck while growing my re-selling business on the side until it got so big that I was able to leave my job, start a corporation, and become fully self-employed as a reseller.
My advice to anyone out there that wants to start your own business would be to try to do something you’re passionate about. Not just something you kind of like. It needs to be something you’re obsessed with. You want to be addicted to seeing the business go from one level to the next. You need to be losing sleep at night because you’re so excited about setting and reaching goals.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I could tell you about the time my warehouse flooded, damaged items in the mail, increase in shipping costs, increase in taxes, etc. But it’s more about how you adapt and face those obstacles. It’s more about learning from those mistakes and moving on. Dwelling on the past will not make you money but learning from the past will. There were so many times when I thought maybe I was crazy for thinking I could make a living doing this. Would people buy my stuff? Would I sell enough stuff to afford living in Miami, affording the lifestyle I want, while also reinvesting in the business? I was very close to giving up many times because some weeks or months could be slow. But I decided rather than make excuses, I would just find ways to increase productivity. I changed the ways I did some things, hired some part-time help, and I’ve been able to consistently increase my revenue year over year.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I sell art, antiques, collectibles, vintage clothing, cars, electronics, etc. You name it, I’ve sold it.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Perseverance. Trusting in yourself. Realizing that if it was easy, more people would be doing it. Understanding that in order to achieve great things, it comes with great struggles.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ebay.com/str/wesellitallmiamidadebroward
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_vintage_concierge/
- Other: https://www.ebay.com/str/wesellitallmiamidadebroward
