In 2024, I've reached a significant milestone in my Pokémon business, achieving over $1.4 million in gross revenue. This article aims to break down the three primary avenues that contributed to my sales as well as share key metrics that guide my business decisions. It’s been quite a journey, and I hope to provide insights that might help others in the industry.
Upon analyzing my sales, I found that my revenue primarily came from three business models: sales to streamers, sealed Japanese wholesale, and my eBay operations. It’s noteworthy that I only began focusing on the sealed Japanese wholesale and streamer sales around April or May, meaning these numbers represent only eight or nine months of activity. In contrast, my eBay sales reflect a full year’s operations.
To give you some context, last year I grossed just under $270,000 on eBay. Fast forward to this year, and my eBay sales increased to $344,000—an impressive 27.5% growth rate. Interestingly, my net revenue saw an even larger increase at 29.2%. This is noteworthy and can be attributed to several factors including lower promotional costs and the introduction of the eBay Vault, which allowed for zero seller fees on items valued over $250.
Analyzing further, I opted to streamline my business approach on eBay. This year, I reduced auction listings significantly—by about 54%—and instead focused on fixed-price sales, which increased by 35%. This shift exemplifies a growing understanding of market dynamics and consumer preferences, leading to a healthier profit margin.
While my total quantity sold decreased, the average sales price per item rose by 30%. My goal for 2025 is to elevate my average sales price to above $100 while potentially reducing the quantity of items sold, striving for a scenario where I earn more without increasing my workload. This 'work smarter, not harder' approach has been a recurrent theme in my business model, and I remain optimistic about hitting revenue targets between $400,000 and $450,000 for next year.
Understanding Inventory Turnover
Another key metric I track is my inventory turnover rate, a critical indicator of my operational efficiency. In the past 90 days, I completed almost 1,100 orders totaling $115,000 in sales. When annualized, this puts my projection comfortably at around $450,000 for the next year.
Breaking down the numbers reveals that out of 1,281 total listings, a significant portion were out of stock. After accounting for these, I realized I had 753 actively in stock. This provides insight into my turnover rate: I am managing to sell approximately 1.46 times my total inventory every 90 days, which translates to an annual turnover rate of about 5.83 times. This is reassuring as it indicates that I am successfully moving products without allowing inventory to stagnate.
Another successful venture this year was partnering with Dan from Catch All Collectibles to fulfill Japanese booster boxes. Since May 2024, our sales in this category have surpassed $120,000. The opportunities in this segment are promising, and I look forward to scaling this in the coming year.
Reflecting on My Journey
It's easy for some to overlook a gross of $1.4 million, but for me, it represents a dream realized. Coming into this business with no inventory and minimal knowledge amidst the pandemic, my journey has evolved into something I never imagined possible. I’ve worked diligently and with humility to build my business from scratch, learning valuable lessons along the way.
This year, I finally decided to throw myself wholly into the Pokémon venture, assessing the potential for growth and productivity. As I step into 2025, I anticipate exploring new opportunities and partnerships while sharing more content to promote my experiences and insights further.
I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has supported me throughout this journey. The solidarity within the Pokémon community has been incredible, and witnessing fellow collectors and sellers thrive alongside me is inspiring. Together, we're redefining what’s possible within the collectibles space.
As I look ahead to 2025, I’m optimistic about not just my future, but also that of the Pokémon market as a whole. There’s considerable potential for growth, and while market ebbs and flows are inevitable, I'm primed to adapt and expand. If anyone is interested in Japanese wholesale or simply wants to connect, feel free to reach out to me on Instagram or through the links provided below.
Thank you so much for being part of this journey, and here’s to a successful and prosperous 2025!
Part 1/9:
Exploring My Pokémon Business Journey in 2024
In 2024, I've reached a significant milestone in my Pokémon business, achieving over $1.4 million in gross revenue. This article aims to break down the three primary avenues that contributed to my sales as well as share key metrics that guide my business decisions. It’s been quite a journey, and I hope to provide insights that might help others in the industry.
The Three Arms of My Business
Part 2/9:
Upon analyzing my sales, I found that my revenue primarily came from three business models: sales to streamers, sealed Japanese wholesale, and my eBay operations. It’s noteworthy that I only began focusing on the sealed Japanese wholesale and streamer sales around April or May, meaning these numbers represent only eight or nine months of activity. In contrast, my eBay sales reflect a full year’s operations.
Part 3/9:
To give you some context, last year I grossed just under $270,000 on eBay. Fast forward to this year, and my eBay sales increased to $344,000—an impressive 27.5% growth rate. Interestingly, my net revenue saw an even larger increase at 29.2%. This is noteworthy and can be attributed to several factors including lower promotional costs and the introduction of the eBay Vault, which allowed for zero seller fees on items valued over $250.
Key Metrics from eBay Sales
Part 4/9:
Analyzing further, I opted to streamline my business approach on eBay. This year, I reduced auction listings significantly—by about 54%—and instead focused on fixed-price sales, which increased by 35%. This shift exemplifies a growing understanding of market dynamics and consumer preferences, leading to a healthier profit margin.
Part 5/9:
While my total quantity sold decreased, the average sales price per item rose by 30%. My goal for 2025 is to elevate my average sales price to above $100 while potentially reducing the quantity of items sold, striving for a scenario where I earn more without increasing my workload. This 'work smarter, not harder' approach has been a recurrent theme in my business model, and I remain optimistic about hitting revenue targets between $400,000 and $450,000 for next year.
Understanding Inventory Turnover
Another key metric I track is my inventory turnover rate, a critical indicator of my operational efficiency. In the past 90 days, I completed almost 1,100 orders totaling $115,000 in sales. When annualized, this puts my projection comfortably at around $450,000 for the next year.
Part 6/9:
Breaking down the numbers reveals that out of 1,281 total listings, a significant portion were out of stock. After accounting for these, I realized I had 753 actively in stock. This provides insight into my turnover rate: I am managing to sell approximately 1.46 times my total inventory every 90 days, which translates to an annual turnover rate of about 5.83 times. This is reassuring as it indicates that I am successfully moving products without allowing inventory to stagnate.
The Rise of Japanese Booster Boxes
Part 7/9:
Another successful venture this year was partnering with Dan from Catch All Collectibles to fulfill Japanese booster boxes. Since May 2024, our sales in this category have surpassed $120,000. The opportunities in this segment are promising, and I look forward to scaling this in the coming year.
Reflecting on My Journey
It's easy for some to overlook a gross of $1.4 million, but for me, it represents a dream realized. Coming into this business with no inventory and minimal knowledge amidst the pandemic, my journey has evolved into something I never imagined possible. I’ve worked diligently and with humility to build my business from scratch, learning valuable lessons along the way.
Part 8/9:
This year, I finally decided to throw myself wholly into the Pokémon venture, assessing the potential for growth and productivity. As I step into 2025, I anticipate exploring new opportunities and partnerships while sharing more content to promote my experiences and insights further.
I want to express my gratitude to everyone who has supported me throughout this journey. The solidarity within the Pokémon community has been incredible, and witnessing fellow collectors and sellers thrive alongside me is inspiring. Together, we're redefining what’s possible within the collectibles space.
A Bright Future Ahead
Part 9/9:
As I look ahead to 2025, I’m optimistic about not just my future, but also that of the Pokémon market as a whole. There’s considerable potential for growth, and while market ebbs and flows are inevitable, I'm primed to adapt and expand. If anyone is interested in Japanese wholesale or simply wants to connect, feel free to reach out to me on Instagram or through the links provided below.
Thank you so much for being part of this journey, and here’s to a successful and prosperous 2025!