Last week my husband left town a few days for work. Here is the text I sent him midway through his first travel day:

Since he is an amazing husband, he just laughed and responded with, "It's better than 1,000 armoires."

So over the next two days, my teenage boys helped me load up 1,000 books plus 10 book shelves from this guy's storage unit, and haul them into my house.

I made a reel about it on my Facebook page, and it prompted lots of questions.

I'm not known for buying in bulk like this . . . in fact, preaching out overbuying is one of my main reselling soapboxes.

But there are times bulk buying can work. Here's my thought process.

🧐 I had a set inventory budget for December I had not yet used, so this wasn't "extra" spending that was unplanned.

🧐 Books sell well for me online and are great fillers for displays in my local retail.

🧐 When listing online, having a lot of the same items makes listing easier (copying basics and switching just details/photos), and helps your shop become known as a destination for these items.

🧐 One of my goals for next year is to grow EBay, and books do well there. Having a large quantity will help me list consistently, and that's required to get my shop's algorithm up and running

🧐 Sourcing smarter, not harder. Get a large amount of inventory in one place for super cheap.

If I can sell 25 books at $20 a piece, I will have made back my investment. And then still have over 900 more to sell for profit.

Now, I have finished sorting them, and some were pure trash. I threw away about 30, and think another 100 may not ever sell. But there are also some real winners in there, some that I think are $100+ books. So all in all, I feel good about the buy.

I still 100% believe that overbuying is one of the biggest issues resellers face. I don't need to go out and buy another 1000 books next month, no matter how good the deal is!

The point is to understand your business - your sales goals, your inventory needs, and your available time - and to shop in a way that meets that need.

Sometimes that may mean buying 1,000 books 😊

1883 German Text Hymnal This stunner is the very last of my books I brought home from England! It's just been marked down in the online shop and would be a fantastic centerpiece for your own religious book collection. Shop Here

How to Think Like a Business Owner Accompanying my How to Think Like a Business Owner Course is a 21 page workbook that guides you through your own business strategies for 2026. Maybe you need to buy 1,000 books? Or maybe that's a terrible idea? Get clarity on what is right for your specific needs - that's thinking like a business owner! See More Here

Thank you so much for being with me this year! I hope all of you have a wonderful holiday with your friends and loved ones, and here's to an amazing 2026.

Melanie Alexander Owner Lost & Found ​LostandFoundDecor.com​ Shop our Vintage Treasures at LostandFoundVintageShop.com​ ​