How to Start a Business with Amazon Pallets

Entrepreneurship is based on a person’s attitude and aptitude that allows the individual to initiate new challenges and new projects. This attitude provides a way to move forward and achieve more. It is normal for an entrepreneur to constantly reflect on opportunities and think about where to invest, how to generate additional sources of income, and what ideas can produce revenue streams. It is also common for the initial attempts to produce failure. However, true entrepreneurs are driven by a need to succeed, and those initial failures generally serve as experience and motivation to continue to perfect a concept. Here is an idea on how to become an entrepreneur and take on a simple business concept where an individual will buy Amazon returns pallets to generate income.

Amazon is a global marketplace with more than 310 million buyers worldwide. Most of the revenues that the organization generates come from third-party sellers. The company looks to produce an environment where buyers feel comfortable purchasing any type of product. Therefore, Amazon has set terms and conditions for the sale of merchandise where buyers are protected, guaranteeing that buyers can return items that do not meet the customer’s expectations. As transactions take place, Amazon accumulates items that buyers return, and these are offered to other companies in bulk. These companies purchase truckloads of returns and in turn sell these off to smaller businesses by the pallet.

Many of the companies that purchase the truckloads of returns offer a few ways to purchase the Amazon return pallets. Many are liquidation companies with contracts to handle returns for box stores and online retailers. These will compile items and offer them to people looking to purchase returns where, most of the time, customers will not know what merchandise is in the unmanifested pallet. These types of purchases will be less expensive as the contents are unknown. Meaning, the buyer assumes the risk of the contents. The higher the risk, the lower the price. Taking such a risk is not the only alternative. Organizations also offer other options, including the ability to purchase categorized returns such as houseware, kitchenware, electronics, and others. The company reviews the merchandise, categorizes the items, and price the bulk items accordingly.  

Although the prices vary, the merchandise is typically at 50-80 percent of the value of the item. This is a great option for small businesses that want to specialize in a specific line of product or have an existing business that revolves around a category of merchandise. The modality of this type of offer is perfect for entrepreneurs looking for product ideas or searching for valuable items to sell at flea markets, garage sales, discount retail stores, or online. With very little capital, a person can create and launch a business. As you calculate the return on investment, be sure to consider fixed and variable costs for this type of operation. For example, consider cost of goods sold (COGS), shipping, storage, packaging, electricity, and other costs associated with running the business. As these costs become clearer and more apparent, you will have a better idea of the level of profitability. Also, consider how quickly you can rotate inventory.

It is important to always keep in mind that creativity to market a product is critical to being successful not only with this idea but with any business concept. Creativity is what helped Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, who at the age of 54 is in the Forbes’ list of wealthiest people. Entrepreneurs can start the business with less than 1,000 dollars using their garage as storage and grow to require a forklift and warehouse space. Once your business reaches this level, a Yale forklift dealer in New Jersey can help improve the speed of pallet reception and movement. In the meantime, research different sales avenues for the great products found in the Amazon return pallets.